Who should buy a BMW F 450 GS? It is characterful, encourages you to push a little harder |
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Who should buy a BMW F 450 GS? It is characterful, encourages you to push a little harder
A brand-new parallel-twin engine with a 135-degree crank gives the bike a slightly off-beat, throaty note that feels more alive than the numbers suggest.
I don’t usually ride motorcycles. I’m too worried about making a wrong move and embarrassing myself in front of people who make it look effortless.
So when BMW Motorrad invited me to Goa to ride something they claimed was “made for people like me”, I wasn’t sure whether to feel reassured or mildly offended. But curiosity got the better of me.
The motorcycle in question is the F 450 GS, the newest addition to BMW’s storied GS lineup. This is the kind of badge that usually comes with images of seasoned riders crossing continents.
On paper, it sounds serious. A brand-new parallel-twin engine with a 135-degree crank. It gives the bike a distinctive character, a slightly off-beat, throaty note that feels more alive than the numbers suggest. And yes, it does sound rather nice when you wind it up, which I did… carefully.
But the real trick is the Easy Ride Clutch or ERC. Think of it as a halfway house between a manual and an automatic. Above a certain engine speed, you don’t really........