- Range to begin with BMW F450 GS
- To include a roadster and a full faired model
- Likely to be unveiled next year
BMW has confirmed that its long-running 310 motorcycle range is nearing the end of its life, with a new twin-cylinder 450 platform set to take over.
BMW Motorrad CEO Markus Flasch revealed that the new engine, already seen in the F450GS, will underpin a wider family of models. The new 450 range will be designed in Germany and built in partnership with Indian manufacturing giant TVS. The transition to the larger-capacity platform is already underway, led by the launch of the F450GS. Next in line is expected to be a replacement for the G310R naked bike. While the fully faired G310RR is not sold in New Zealand, BMW currently offers it in India, where it is based on the TVS Apache RR310.
With demand for fully faired sportbikes growing again, BMW could also introduce a 450cc sports model. Such a bike would likely target rivals including Yamaha’s R3, Aprilia’s RS 457, and Honda’s CBR500R.
Future 450-based models are expected to share the same steel frame and aluminium swingarm as the F450GS. This mirrors the cost-saving approach used with the outgoing 310 range, although road-focused versions would likely feature shorter suspension travel and 17-inch wheels at both ends.
BMW has said that customer and engineering feedback pointed to a 19-inch front wheel as the best compromise for mixed on- and off-road use. That decision may also help maintain chassis compatibility across multiple 450 variants, rather than adopting the 21-inch front wheel used on the more upmarket F900GS.
Alongside the arrival of the new platform, BMW has also hinted that its automated gearbox technology will be rolled out across the future 450 line-up.
