BMW Motorrad unveils the F 450 R, a 48 hp naked bike for the A2 licence class

The BMW F 450 R is a new standalone naked bike within the BMW F 450 model family, developed for the 48-hp class. BMW Motorrad says the focus was signature riding pleasure, delivered through a carefully engineered chassis and geometry layout, rigorous weight optimization and a powerful parallel-twin engine. Its design follows the current design language of the high-performance S 1000 R naked bike, visually underscoring its sporty ambitions. Its engine and chassis concept were first developed for the F 450 GS.

At the heart of the F 450 R is the newly developed fuel-injected parallel-twin engine first used in the F 450 GS, tuned here for road riding and paired with a stainless-steel underfloor muffler with two catalytic converters. It produces 35 kW (48 hp) at 8,750 rpm and 43 Nm of maximum torque at 6,750 rpm, with as much as 80 percent of torque already available at 3,000 rpm. A balance shaft and a 135-degree crankpin offset make the 420 cc unit smooth and characterful, while high-tech materials and optimized internal friction help deliver those figures. It meets Euro 5+ requirements and consumes just 3.8 liters per 100 km, giving a range of more than 350 km from the 14-liter fuel tank, with a service interval of 10,000 km. BMW calls it one of the most compact and powerful units in the A2 parallel-twin segment.

The chassis is built on a tubular steel space frame of welded steel tubes and forged components, with the parallel-twin engine integrated as a load-bearing element and tuned specifically for road use with a short wheelbase. Front wheel control comes from a torsionally rigid 43 mm KYB upside-down telescopic fork, which on the Sport Suspension offers adjustable rebound and compression damping, while the rear uses a closed, lightweight hollow-cast aluminum double-sided swingarm with a directly mounted KYB central spring strut with adjustable spring preload and rebound damping. Braking is handled by a 310 mm front disc with a Brembo four-piston monobloc fixed caliper and a 240 mm rear disc with a floating ByBre single-piston caliper, with BMW Motorrad ABS Pro, Dynamic Brake Control and a dynamic brake light as standard. The bike rides on lightweight cast-aluminum wheels with tubeless tires measuring 110/70-17 at the front and 150/60-17 at the rear.

Electronics include the standard Rain, Road and Dynamic riding modes, plus ABS Pro, Dynamic Brake Control, Dynamic Traction Control and engine drag torque control (MSR). Riding Modes Pro adds an individually configurable Dynamic Pro riding mode. A six-speed transmission transfers torque to a left-side secondary drive via an X-ring chain, and Shift Assistant Pro enables fast upshifts and downshifts without operating the clutch; it is standard on every variant except the Base model, where it can be retrofitted. Ergonomics centre on a tapered aluminum handlebar, a two-piece seat at 790 mm (a 775 mm low seat or an 810 mm high Sport seat are available), forged-aluminum gearshift and footbrake levers and side stand, and passenger footpeg brackets bolted to the rear frame, while the shift pattern can be reversed quickly for occasional track outings. A 6.5-inch TFT display with the Pure Ride Screen, a USB-C port in the cockpit, full LED lighting with bracket-shaped daytime running lights and heated grips are standard, and M Sport models with Riding Modes Pro add three Sport screens showing DTC, braking force and lean angle data plus a lap timer, along with phone calls, music and navigation.