BMW Motorrad Unveils F 450 RR, a Lightweight 420cc Sportbike

BMW Motorrad presented the new F 450 RR on October 15, 2026, adding a lightweight sportbike to its RR performance lineup, according to the company's official press release. The model sits below BMW's larger S 1000 RR and is built around a 420cc engine rather than a liter-class powerplant.

Engine and performance

The F 450 RR uses a liquid-cooled, fuel-injected parallel-twin engine with a 420cc displacement, a 72mm bore and 51.6mm stroke, according to figures reported by Topspeed. BMW states the engine produces 35 kW (48 hp) at 8,750 rpm and 43 Nm of torque at 6,750 rpm, delivered through a six-speed gearbox.

BMW's press release describes a 135-degree crankpin offset paired with a balance shaft, intended to give the engine a distinctive feel while keeping vibration low. The company says 80 percent of peak torque is already available from 3,000 rpm.

BMW lists ready-to-ride weight at 177 kg, rising to 178 kg with the optional Easy Ride Clutch. The company says fuel consumption is rated at 3.8 liters per 100 km, with a 14-liter tank giving a range of more than 350 km.

Design and chassis

According to BMW, the F 450 RR adopts a nose-down, tail-up stance with the brand's RR flyline, winglets on the fairing, and asymmetrical side panels with gills. Autocar India and Topspeed both note that the styling echoes BMW's larger S 1000 RR, including a split nose fairing and aerodynamic winglets, even though the engine and performance figures are far from the liter-class flagship.

The bike rolls on 17-inch wheels with a 110/70-17 front tire and 150/60-17 rear tire, BMW says. Autocar India reports a 43mm KYB upside-down fork at the front and a KYB monoshock at the rear, with adjustable rebound and preload, plus adjustable compression on higher trims. Braking comes from a 310mm front disc with a Brembo four-piston caliper and a 240mm rear disc, paired with dual-channel, lean-angle-sensitive ABS.

Electronics and trim levels

BMW says the bike comes with a 6.5-inch TFT display, three standard riding modes (Rain, Road and Race), ABS Pro, Dynamic Brake Control and Dynamic Traction Control. Higher trims add a Shift Assistant Pro quickshifter, Riding Modes Pro with an optional Race Pro mode, and an Easy Ride Clutch as part of an Innovation Package. A USB-C port and heated grips are standard across the range, according to the press release.

BMW and Autocar India both describe four equipment levels: a base trim in Cosmic Black; a Sport trim in Racing Red with the quickshifter and sport suspension; an M Sport trim in Snaefell White/M Motorsport colors adding Riding Modes Pro; and an M Sport trim with the Innovation Package, which adds the Easy Ride Clutch.

Pricing and availability

BMW's global press release does not disclose pricing. Topspeed reports a U.S. manufacturer's suggested retail price of $7,815 for the M Sport configuration, described as the only U.S. trim available at launch, rising to $8,145 with the Innovation Package, before destination charges. Topspeed says this positions the F 450 RR above rivals such as the Aprilia RS 457, which it lists at a $6,849 base price. BMW expects the F 450 RR to reach the U.S. market in summer 2027, per Topspeed.

Autocar India separately reports an expected Indian launch in the first quarter of 2027, with pricing anticipated to sit between the existing F 450 R and the F 450 GS, the latter of which starts at ₹4.95 lakh in India. BikeWale estimates a starting price of roughly ₹4.80–4.90 lakh (ex-showroom), lists an expected India launch around June 2027 based on a product-listing page, and names the Aprilia RS 457 and Kawasaki Ninja 500 as competitors in that market — a different timeline estimate than Autocar India's.

Autocar India states the F 450 platform, including this model, is manufactured by TVS in Hosur, India, under BMW's existing partnership arrangements for its smaller-displacement motorcycles.

Background

The F 450 RR is described by BMW as targeting A2-licence holders — a category common in European licensing systems that caps motorcycle power — as well as experienced riders seeking a lighter, more accessible sportbike for road and track use. BMW Motorrad CEO Markus Flasch was quoted in the company's release saying he particularly liked how light, direct and precise the new model felt, though the full context of the quote was not detailed further in the release.

The model joins BMW's existing 450 platform, which already includes the F 450 R and F 450 GS, extending the RR sportbike naming convention — previously used for the S 1000 RR — down to the smaller-displacement segment.