BMW launched the F 450 GS in April this year, and it looks like it’s not stopping there with its entry-level bikes. The brand has just teased another motorcycle launch for October 1 on its social media page, and the new model could very well be a roadster based on the same platform as the F 450 GS.
- BMW’s new roadster likely to be called the F 450 R
- Likely to slot in below the F 450 GS
- To be revealed on October 1
New BMW roadster motorcycle
What can we expect from the G 310 R’s replacement?
Previously, BMW 310s were the brand’s entry-level offerings in India; the G310R and G 310 GS have been discontinued. The track-focused G 310 RR, which still exists, is a joint project with TVS. In April, the German manufacturer debuted the F 450 GS built on a completely new platform, with a 420cc twin-cylinder engine that develops 48hp and 43Nm of torque, intended to be an adventure tourer. With a segment-first ERC (Easy Ride Clutch) and a 178kg kerb weight, the F 450 GS turned the spotlight onto itself quite successfully.
Now, BMW appears to be expanding the platform with a naked roadster motorcycle, and it likely will share the engine with the F 450 GS, if not the entire platform. If we go by BMW’s naming convention, this should be called the F 450 R. While the image doesn’t reveal a lot of details about the motorcycle, we can see that it has a USD fork. The F 450 GS has a 43mm USD fork with 180mm of travel, but with this being a roadster, we can expect the travel to be reduced. The same should also apply to the monoshock. The GS Trophy variant of the F 450 GS offers adjustability at both ends, but it remains to be seen whether BMW extends the same kind of flexibility to the new bike.
BMW recently increased the F 450 GS’s prices, which now start at Rs 4.95 lakh. It remains to be seen where this new motorcycle will slot in. For context, the Aprilia Tuono 457 Special Edition – this one’s would-be direct rival – is priced at Rs 3.99 lakh. The KTM 390 Duke R, on the single-cylinder side, costs Rs 3.45 lakh. BMW has mentioned that the launch will take place on October 1, 2026, at 5:30pm IST, and we should get more details leading up to then.