Sub 450cc BMW Naked Bike Incoming: Here’s What To Expect
The first of BMW’s upcoming sub-450cc parallel-twin motorcycle will be an Aprilia Tuono 457 rival
Quick Highlights
- BMW Motorrad to completely discontinue its 310cc motorcycle range
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The new 420cc platform will replace the 310 lineup
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The first bike will likely be a streetfighter, expected to debut at 2026-end at EICMA
BMW Motorrad will soon phase out its entire 310cc motorcycle lineup. In its place, the brand will reportedly introduce an all-new range of motorcycles based on the 420cc engine seen on the BMW F 450 GS. This new platform will reportedly be co-developed in Germany, while TVS Motor Company will take care of all the manufacturing. These updates were confirmed by BMW Motorrad CEO, Markus Flasch during an interaction with a media house.
A few months ago, BMW discontinued the G 310 R and G 310 GS in India. At present, only the BMW G 310 RR is on sale, but it is also expected to be discontinued soon. This will mark BMW Motorrad’s complete exit from the 310cc segment. BMW Motorrad had already unveiled the F 450 GS at EICMA 2025. However, its India unveiling has been postponed, and is now expected to be launched in January 2026. With the F 450 GS now in focus, BMW’s future product strategy is becoming clearer. The next motorcycle based on the 420cc parallel-twin engine is expected to be a sporty naked bike, as Flasch indirectly confirmed that it will follow the same strategy as the 310 platform.
BMW F 450 R: What To Expect?
In terms of design, the upcoming streetfighter (could be called the BMW F 450 R) could draw inspiration from BMW’s larger naked motorcycles like the S 1000 R. Expect a sharp and aggressive design with a compact yet muscular stance. Consequently, the design will (hopefully) be much different from the BMW G 310 R, which honestly, looks dated at this point of time. Obviously, BMW Motorrad will have to somewhat substantially rework the F 450 GS’s steel chassis for this new model.
The engine on the BMW F 450 R is also expected to be tuned differently from the F 450 GS, offering a more aggressive power delivery to match its streetfighter character. The F 450 GS already features the Easy Ride Clutch (ERC), which reduces clutch effort and makes riding easier. This system is a simpler version of BMW’s Automated Shift Assistant (ASA) found on larger models, and is aimed especially at newer riders. This will be carried over to the naked bike, and along with this, all the other features which we saw on the BMW F 450 GS (bidirectional quickshifter, 6.5-inch TFT console, ride modes and more), are expected to be carried over as well.
Currently, the segment is dominated by the Aprilia Tuono 457, which is priced at Rs 3.95 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The upcoming BMW streetfighter is expected to be slightly more expensive than the Aprilia, at around Rs 4.10 lakh (ex-showroom) factoring in the badge value. Since the BMW F 450 GS is likely to be priced around Rs 4.50 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), the naked version will be positioned slightly lower, making it a more accessible option in the segment. It will be accessible not just in terms of pricing, but will also be a more manageable bike for riders (in terms of dimensions, compared to the bulky F 450 GS).
The upcoming BMW F 450 R will also be the cheapest BMW bike in India, provided the G 310 RR is discontinued before that. Expect the brand to unveil the bike at the 2026 EICMA show in Milan, Italy, followed by the launch in early 2027.
User Reviews
It was my dream bike and it's so reliable and smooth. It has many features, like multiple riding mods and the trophy version has a ERC that means (easy riding clutch) it is very helpful to the beginners. The handling of the bike is very smooth and it gives around 20 to 24 milage on an average in highways and its seats are so much comfortable and it has a heating grips which helps me in early morning rides. I like to recommend this bike to the proper off-road bikers and they love this very much because of its handling and ERC you can also adjust the suspensions of both side and have a good off-road experience. Read More
Best bike to buy under this market price. it has good features and the main thing obviously brand value. i have just purchased this bike a few days ago. no issues as such yet. Cosmic black edition has it perks. just a ppf and no worries for years to come. The handling for this bike in sports mode, rain/urban mode is the best part.Read More