2026-on BMW F450GS review | A mega sub-500cc adventure bike

At the launch in Sicily, we had our first taste of the new F450GS on the Sport model; the initial feeling is one of ease. Although the seat height may seem relatively high at 845mm (there are lower and taller seat options available), thanks to the narrow chassis, finding the floor is a doddle, and the balance is impeccable at slow speeds, with a nice, tight turning circle.

The dash, interface and switchgear all mimic the style used by the bigger and more premium GS models and are absolutely exceptional in their layout for ease of use, and you even get heated grips as standard. The F450GS instantly feels light on its feet, and it’s by no means intimidating, with a smooth, light clutch lever too. But it’s on the tight and twisty Sicilian roads where the baby BMW really comes into its own, thanks to its lightweight and agile nature.

It effortlessly flicks from side-to-side and is happy to be placed just about anywhere on the road, with minimal effort or input needed from the rider. It’s on the softer side, but it’s really pleasant – a little play with the suspension adjustment would go a long way, especially when loading up with a pillion or luggage. As an aside, it’s not the most pliant over really brutal road surfaces, but for the most part it soaks up bumps and potholes to a reasonable standard.

The engine is used as a stressed member within the new steel trellis frame, which is completed by a beefy Brembo front brake caliper, along with a 19in & 17in wheel combination. Those brakes do a cracking job of getting the GS stopped, and that motor is more than happy to sit a gear or two high and still pull.

It never feels laboured and has more than enough shove to overtake or accelerate, while offering a nice, linear amount of poke, completed by the quickshifter, which has a quality, positive feel for traversing through the cogs. In fact, the only real downer for those twisty road rides comes in the form of the Maxxis Max Pro Adv tyres, as although they offer plenty of grip and we never really had any major issues, they don’t offer a great deal of feel and feedback, especially on the wetter stretches of road.

But the F450GS really is a pleasure to ride on the twistier tarmac, with its only foible on the longer A-road stints where it doesn’t quite feel as at home. There’s no cruise control (and no option to retrofit), but there is a comprehensive suite of riding aids that are powered by a 6-axis IMU, with the spec varying between the different variants. Neither the Sport nor Trophy screens offer a huge amount of wind protection, leaving the top half of the body quite exposed to the elements. On the flipside, however, the use of a shorter screen does mean that there’s very little helmet buffeting or high-up turbulence found on other adventure bikes.

Even so, the actual overall comfort of the F450GS is still impressive. After hours in the saddle, it isn't uncomfortable, with very few aches and pains creeping in as a result of the good rider triangle ergonomics. It’s roomy enough to accommodate a slightly taller ride too, thanks to the reasonable gap between the seat, ‘pegs and ‘bars.