P116
RIDE REVIEW I 2027 BMW F 450 GS
Our road-focused Sport model was
equipped with the optional Sport Pack
(again, we don't know the final U.S.
prices of the following equipment).
The more off-road-oriented Trophy,
equipped with the Easy Ride Clutch
(ERC) and spoked wheels, looks like
a perfectly scaled-down F 900 GS.
However, our test machine had a
few more extras that do not include
those wheels, which are currently out
of stock at BMW, so no price or part
number has been supplied.
There is much to get your teeth
into in terms of spec. The 6.5-inch
TFT dash is similar to that of the
R 1300 GS and is supported by
the same multi-controller naviga
-
tion wheel and switchgear. Even
the same heated
grips are fitted as
standard. The 450 GS also features
multiple riding modes, plus ABS and
traction control that, unlike some of
the competition, are lean-sensitive.
Sprinkle in a little front-wheel lift
control and engine drag control,
plus a premium feel to the finish
and touchpoints, and the price will
inevitably start to add up.
THE F 450 GS
HITS THE DIRT
We started the test on dirt aboard
the top-spec Trophy model fitted
with the Easy Ride Clutch and off-
road-biased Metzeler Karoo 4 rubber,
and the first job was figuring out
how to get moving.
There's a clutch lever on the left
bar, should you want to use it, and
a gear selector at your foot, but the
ERC lets you stop and start without
manually engaging the clutch. Once
moving, you can change gear con
-
ventionally or with the optional Gear
Shift Assist Pro
up-and-down quick-
shifter, just like a Rekluse clutch on
many an
enduro bike.
