BMW F 450 R Specs & India Price: 48 BHP Twin to Rival KTM 390 Duke

For years, Indian bike lovers wanted an affordable BMW motorcycle that felt like a true multi-cylinder big bike. While BMW’s old entry-level street bike—the G 310 R—carried the famous blue-and-white German badge, its 313cc single-cylinder engine felt rough at highway speeds and lacked modern electronics.

BMW F 450 R naked streetfighter motorcycle with KYB upside-down forks, Brembo front brakes, and 420cc twin-cylinder engine
Manufactured in India by TVS Motor Company, the new BMW F 450 R replaces the single-cylinder G 310 R with a 48 hp 420cc parallel-twin engine, KYB USD forks, and a 6.5-inch TFT screen. (Photo: BMW Motorrad)

Now, BMW Motorrad has completely fixed that complaint with the all-new BMW F 450 R. Following our initial announcement when the BMW F 450 R was first unveiled for India, full technical specifications and manufacturing details are now out. Built right here in India at TVS Motor Company's factory in Hosur, this 48 hp twin-cylinder streetfighter is getting ready to take on the KTM 390 Duke, Aprilia Tuono 457, and Yamaha MT-03. Here is everything you need to know about the bike, explained in simple, everyday language.

Quick Highlights at a Glance (TL;DR)

  • Goodbye Single Cylinder, Hello Twin Engine: The F 450 R permanently replaces the old G 310 R and uses a brand-new 420cc liquid-cooled, two-cylinder (parallel-twin) engine.

  • Punchy 48 HP Performance: It produces 48 hp of power at 8,750 rpm and 43 Nm of pulling power (torque) at 6,750 rpm, while weighing just 175 kg.

  • Superbike-Level Safety Electronics: Comes loaded with Lean-Sensitive ABS Pro (Cornering ABS), Dynamic Traction Control, a bidirectional quickshifter, and a huge 6.5-inch colour TFT screen.

  • Made in India for a Lower Price: Because TVS builds the bike locally in India instead of importing it from Europe, expected prices start around ₹4.50 Lakh (ex-showroom).

1. All-New 420cc Twin-Cylinder Engine: Why Two Cylinders Matter

If you are wondering why a parallel-twin (two-cylinder) engine is such a big upgrade over a single-cylinder bike like the KTM 390 Duke, think of it like two people pedalling a tandem bicycle instead of one person doing all the hard work alone.

  • More Power, Less Vibration: Instead of one large piston shaking the handlebars at high speeds, the BMW F 450 R splits the work between two smaller cylinders totaling 420cc (BMW Motorrad UK). It produces 48 hp at 8,750 rpm and 43 Nm of torque at 6,750 rpm—that is 14 hp and 15 Nm more than the old BMW G 310 R.

  • Big-Bike Exhaust Sound: BMW engineers used a special 135-degree crankpin offset inside the engine along with a balance shaft. In simple words, the two pistons fire at a slightly uneven rhythm that makes the exhaust sound deep and grumpy—just like BMW’s flagship BMW R 1300 R Superhooligan roadster—while keeping the seat and footpegs completely smooth.

  • Featherlight 175 kg Weight: Even with two cylinders and a larger 14-litre fuel tank, the bike weighs just 175 kg ready to ride. That makes it just as light and easy to flick through city traffic as a 300cc bike.

2. Smart Tech Suite Explained Simply: ABS Pro, Quickshifter & 6.5-Inch TFT

BMW has packed the F 450 R with electronic safety features that were once found only on ₹20-lakh superbikes. Here is what each feature actually does for you on Indian roads:

  1. Lean-Sensitive ABS Pro (Cornering ABS): Normal ABS stops your wheels from locking up when you brake in a straight line. However, if a dog or pothole suddenly appears while you are leaning into a curve and you grab the front brake hard, a normal bike can slip and slide out. ABS Pro uses tilt sensors to measure how far the bike is leaning and carefully controls the Brembo 4-piston front disc brake so you don't crash mid-turn.

  2. Dynamic Traction Control (DTC): If you twist the accelerator hard on a wet monsoon road, a sandy patch, or painted white zebra crossings, the rear tyre can spin out and cause a skid. Traction control instantly senses the rear wheel slipping and gently cuts engine power for a split second to keep you upright.

  3. Bidirectional Quickshifter & Optional Easy Ride Clutch: With Gear Shift Assist Pro (bidirectional quickshifter), you can shift gears both up (1st to 6th) and down without pulling the clutch lever. BMW will also offer an optional Easy Ride Clutch (ERC) that lets you start and stop in traffic without touching the clutch lever—very similar to the technology we explained today in our guide to the Honda Rebel 500 E-Clutch India Launch: Price, Specs & BigWing Details.

  4. Three Riding Modes (Rain, Road & Dynamic): At the press of a button, you can make the throttle gentle for slippery weather (Rain), balanced for daily commuting (Road), or super-sharp for highway fun (Dynamic) .

  5. Massive 6.5-Inch Connected TFT Screen: Instead of a small calculator-style LCD screen, you get a bright 6.5-inch full-colour TFT display that connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth for turn-by-turn navigation, phone calls, music controls, and a USB-C fast-charging port.

3. Friendly Seat Height & Sharp Street Suspension

Unlike the tall adventure-focused BMW F 450 GS (which uses a 19-inch front wheel for broken dirt trails), the BMW F 450 R is built purely for paved roads and twisty highways:

  • 17-Inch Alloy Wheels & KYB USD Forks: It rides on 17-inch tubeless street tyres front and rear, suspended by thick KYB upside-down (USD) front forks and a hollow-cast aluminium swingarm with an adjustable KYB rear monoshock.

  • Three Seat Height Options: The standard seat height is a comfortable 790 mm, and BMW also offers a 775 mm low-seat option for shorter riders and an 810 mm high seat for tall riders.

4. BMW F 450 R vs KTM 390 Duke vs Aprilia Tuono 457 vs Yamaha MT-03

Here is how the Made-in-India BMW F 450 R compares on paper against its biggest streetfighter rivals in India:

Specification / Feature

BMW F 450 R

KTM 390 Duke

Aprilia Tuono 457

Yamaha MT-03

Engine & Cylinders

420cc, Parallel-Twin

398.6cc, Single-Cylinder

457cc, Parallel-Twin

321cc, Parallel-Twin

Max Power

48 hp @ 8,750 rpm

46 PS (45.3 hp) @ 8,500 rpm

47.6 PS (46.9 hp) @ 9,400 rpm

42 PS @ 10,750 rpm

Peak Torque

43 Nm @ 6,750 rpm

39 Nm @ 6,500 rpm

43.5 Nm @ 6,700 rpm

29.5 Nm @ 9,000 rpm

Kerb Weight

175 kg

168 kg

175 kg

167 kg

Seat Height

790 mm (775 mm Low Option)

800 mm

800 mm

780 mm

Screen & Console

6.5-Inch Colour TFT

5.0-Inch Colour TFT

5.0-Inch Colour TFT

Basic LCD Screen

Safety Electronics

ABS Pro, Traction Control, Quickshifter, Ride Modes

Cornering ABS, Traction Control, Quickshifter

Traction Control, Ride Modes, Dual ABS

Dual-Channel ABS Only

India Ex-Showroom Price

~₹4.50 Lakh (Expected)

₹2.95 Lakh

₹3.95 Lakh

₹3.45 Lakh

Comparison data compiled from Autocar India, CarAndBike, and CarAndBike BMW F 450 R Guide.

5. Made-in-India Pricing & Other Bikes to Watch

Because TVS Motor Company manufactures the 420cc twin platform locally in India, BMW avoids the heavy import duties that make foreign twin-cylinder bikes so expensive. Expect the BMW F 450 R to be priced right around ₹4.50 Lakh (ex-showroom) when bookings open.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Is the BMW F 450 R made in India?

Yes. The BMW F 450 R is manufactured in India by TVS Motor Company under the long-standing BMW-TVS partnership, making India one of the first markets globally to receive the bike.

Q2. What is the engine specification and horsepower of the BMW F 450 R?

It is powered by an all-new 420cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin (two-cylinder) engine that produces 48 hp at 8,750 rpm and 43 Nm of torque at 6,750 rpm, mated to a 6-speed gearbox.

Q3. What is the expected price of the BMW F 450 R in India?

Thanks to local manufacturing by TVS, the BMW F 450 R is expected to start around ₹4.50 Lakh to ₹4.60 Lakh (ex-showroom) in India.

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