BMW Motorrad teases new 450cc naked bike: Is the F 450 R coming?

After the F 450 GS, BMW Motorrad is following up. A first teaser image shows a compact roadster based on the new 450 platform. The world premiere takes place on 1 October 2026.

BMW Motorrad has published the first image of a new motorcycle on its social media channels. It shows the darkened silhouette of a naked bike against red-lit fog in a nighttime city setting. BMW has not revealed a name yet, but based on the brand's naming scheme, everything points to a BMW F 450 R. The official unveiling is scheduled for Thursday, 1 October 2026, at 5:00 pm CEST.

What the teaser reveals

Despite the moody staging, quite a lot can be made out:

• Upside-down fork up front and a new, stepped headlight

• A muscular tank with pronounced shrouds and a compact, raised tail section

• Five-spoke cast wheels and a single front disc, as on the F 450 GS

• Header routing, oil filter and swingarm also match the GS

• The exhaust appears to sit beneath the engine (underbelly)

• Handlebar, seat and footpegs look lower and sportier than on its adventure sibling

One important note: BMW states that the image was edited with AI, so the production model may still differ in detail.

Technology: The twin from the F 450 GS

The 420cc liquid-cooled parallel twin from the F 450 GS is considered a given. It features a 135-degree crank offset. In the GS it produces 48 hp (35 kW) at 8,750 rpm and 43 Nm at 6,750 rpm, paired with a six-speed gearbox. There is no official data for the F 450 R yet. A slightly different tune for road use is conceivable, along with shorter suspension travel and firmer damping than on the GS.

Clearly tailored to A2

With 35 kW, the new roadster squarely targets riders with an A2 licence. Under A2 rules, the power-to-weight ratio must not exceed 0.2 kW/kg, which means around 175 kg ready to ride at 35 kW. The F 450 GS weighs 178 kg, so the unfaired R should hit that figure almost exactly.

What remains open

It remains to be seen whether the Easy Ride Clutch (ERC) will make it into the roadster. On the F 450 GS it is only available on the GS Trophy variant. Trim levels, electronics and pricing are also still unknown. Like the GS, the naked bike is likely to be built in cooperation with TVS in India. In its class, the F 450 R will face rivals such as the KTM 390 Duke and the Aprilia Tuono 457.

The 450 family is growing

The move comes as no surprise. When the F 450 GS Concept was presented at EICMA 2024, BMW Motorrad boss Markus Flasch announced plans to carry the spirit of R, RR and GS into new segments, including the 450cc twin-cylinder class, adding that the GS would not remain the only model. The order R, RR, GS is telling. A fully faired prototype on the 450 platform has already been spotted in India, possibly a future F 450 RR.

With the presumed F 450 R, the new 450 platform gets its second model after the GS. It would be the sporty, urban entry-level naked bike that could take the role of the previous G 310 R to a new level. All details will follow on 1 October. We will report.

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