The BMW F 450 GS gives buyers in the lower midsize adventure motorcycle category a promising new option. While we’ve already looked at how this bike measures up against more obvious rivals like the KTM 390 Adventure S and Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, it also competes with the Honda NX500, sharing several similarities on paper. Here’s how they compare.
BMW F 450 GS vs Honda NX500: Engine and output
Both bikes feature parallel-twin engines with nearly identical output
Both motorcycles feature parallel-twin engines, making this a like-for-like comparison in terms of configuration. While the Honda has the displacement advantage, the BMW produces slightly more power and matches it on torque. Interestingly, both bikes deliver their peak output at similar points in the rev range and even use a 6-speed gearbox.
BMW F 450 GS vs Honda NX500: Weight and dimensions
The BMW is significantly lighter with a higher seat
The BMW F 450 GS is significantly lighter at 178kg compared to the Honda NX500's 196kg – an 18kg advantage. Combined with its marginal power advantage, this gives the BMW a notably stronger power-to-weight ratio of 269.66hp per tonne. The Honda's power-to-weight figure works out to around 242.86hp per tonne.
The BMW has a taller seat height at 845mm compared to the Honda's 830mm, which could make it slightly less accessible for shorter riders. The NX500 also gets a larger 17.5-litre fuel tank compared to the BMW's 14-litre capacity, giving it an advantage for long-distance touring.
BMW F 450 GS vs Honda NX500: Suspension, brakes and tyres
The BMW gets higher-spec braking hardware
Both motorcycles use a similar suspension setup on paper, with USD forks up front and a rear monoshock. However, the top-spec GS Trophy variant of the BMW offers adjustable suspension, which the Honda doesn’t offer at all. Both bikes run a 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheel combination with alloy wheels as standard. That said, the BMW can also be optioned with spoked wheels.
BMW F 450 GS vs Honda NX500: Features
The BMW offers more variant options and a larger display
In our market, the BMW F 450 GS is available in three variants – Basic, Exclusive, and GS Trophy – each offering a different level of equipment. The Exclusive variant adds off-road footpegs, knuckle guards, an engine guard, and BMW's Shift Assistant Pro for clutchless upshifts and downshifts. The GS Trophy builds on this further with higher-spec suspension. The F 450 GS also features a 6.5-inch TFT console.
The Honda NX500 comes in a single variant with a more straightforward feature set. It gets a 5-inch TFT display with smartphone connectivity via Honda's RoadSync app, LED lighting, and dual-channel ABS.
BMW F 450 GS vs Honda NX500: Price
The Honda is priced notably higher than the BMW
In terms of engine performance, there’s little separating the two. Beyond that, however, the differences become more apparent. The Honda is based on a well-established platform and, in our experience, is a smooth and capable machine. The BMW, on the other hand, stands out for being lighter, better equipped, and more competitively priced.
Ved Janve
Dinshaw Magol
