BMW’s RR sportbike line now starts at 420cc. The 2027 BMW F 450 RR uses the parallel-twin engine that debuted on the F 450 GS, set in its own supersport chassis and flaunting styling taken from the S 1000 RR. It is due in US dealerships in summer 2027 in M Sport trim and priced at $7815. “What I particularly like about the new BMW F 450 RR is how light, direct, and precise it is to ride,” says BMW Motorrad CEO Markus Flasch. “For me, it is the perfect entry into the world of BMW RR motorcycles.”
The M Sport is the only F 450 RR offered in the US. It comes in Snaefell White/M Motorsport, with a white frame and wheel decals in M Motorsport colors. It comes standard with Riding Modes Pro, which includes a rider-configurable Race Pro mode; BMW’s Sport Suspension, with compression and rebound damping adjustment for the fork; and a quickshifter. The lone factory option is the $330 Innovation Package, which adds the Easy Ride Clutch and brings the total to $8145. Every 2027 BMW motorcycle includes the Ultimate Care Break-In Service, so the 600-mile service is covered, provided it is done within six months of the in-service date or before the bike reaches 750 miles, whichever comes first.
The styling comes straight from the S 1000 RR. The F 450 RR has a nose-down, tail-up stance, a split face, winglets, and asymmetrical side fairing panels, with gills on the right side only. The tail is slim, with the passenger grab handles built into it. “With the new BMW F 450 RR, we have consistently translated the iconic design language of the S 1000 RR into the 48-hp class,” says BMW Motorrad Head of Design Alexander Buckan. “At the same time, the asymmetrical side fairing panels with their characteristic gills, the split face, and the striking light signature take up defining elements of RR DNA and reinterpret them in a standalone, compact, and dynamic form.”
The DOHC 420cc parallel twin has a 135-degree crankpin offset, which BMW says is unique among motorcycles. The offset gives uneven firing intervals, and a spur-gear-driven balance shaft ahead of the crankshaft cuts vibration. Bore and stroke are 72mm and 51.6mm, and the compression ratio is 13.0:1. BMW tuned the engine specifically for supersport use in the RR. It makes 48 horsepower at 8750 rpm and 32 lb-ft of torque at 6750 rpm, with 80% of that peak torque available at 3000 rpm.
The cylinder head has four valves per cylinder, worked by rocker arms designed for high rpm. A toothed chain on the right side of the engine drives the exhaust cam, which turns the intake cam through a pair of gears. BMW’s BMS-Z engine management uses a ride-by-wire throttle and runs port fuel injection through 38mm throttle bodies. Lubrication is wet sump, with a chain-driven oil pump. The clutch and transmission covers are magnesium.
Race Pro, Race, Road, and Rain riding modes are standard on US models. All four modes are linked to ABS Pro, Dynamic Traction Control, and MSR engine drag torque control. Race Pro lets the rider set throttle response, traction control, and ABS individually. Race lets traction control, wheelie control, and MSR intervene less. Road has direct throttle response, with traction control balanced between stability and performance. Rain softens throttle response and sets every system for maximum stability. Traction control can also be switched off.
The muffler sits under the engine. The stainless steel exhaust system carries two catalytic converters, and BMW says the central muffler location helps cornering clearance and lowers the risk of passenger or luggage contact with hot metal. BMW claims a top speed of 110 mph and acceleration from a standing start to 62 mph in 5.6 seconds.
The quickshifter-equipped 6-speed transmission drives an X-ring chain on the left side. The shift pattern is reversible, and the standard first-down arrangement can be switched to a first-up GP pattern for the track. The hydraulically actuated wet multiplate clutch has a slipper function.
The $330 Innovation Package adds the Easy Ride Clutch. It is a centrifugal clutch that engages by engine speed, so the rider pulls away by opening the throttle while in gear, preferably 1st gear. Unlike conventional centrifugal designs, it stays engaged when the rider rolls off the throttle, so engine braking holds until the bike is nearly stopped. The clutch disengages only when the engine drops to idle, which keeps it from stalling. Paired with the standard quickshifter, the clutch lever becomes optional from a standstill through every gear change. BMW aims the Easy Ride Clutch at stop-and-go traffic and twisty roads, saying it does not compromise the RR’s supersport character.
BMW built the F 450 RR around supersport geometry. The frame is a welded tubular steel space frame with forged sections, and the engine is a load-bearing member. The double-sided swingarm is hollow-cast aluminum. The wheelbase is 55.3 inches, with 23.4 degrees of rake and 4.3 inches of trail. Clip-ons attach directly to the forged aluminum triple clamp, and the two-piece seat is 31.1 inches off the ground. The bodywork is shaped to give the rider’s knees a secure hold. The shift lever, brake pedal, and sidestand are forged aluminum to save weight. Both foot levers are adjustable, as are the clutch and brake levers. The passenger footpeg brackets bolt to the rear frame. Curb weight is 392 pounds with the 3.7-gallon fuel tank filled. BMW’s estimated 62 mpg fuel consumption rate works out to about 228 miles per tank.
KYB supplies the suspension, with 5.5 inches of wheel travel at each end. The gold-anodized 43mm inverted fork is adjustable for compression and rebound damping, and it is held by a forged aluminum triple clamp with weight-saving cutouts. A cantilevered KYB shock mounts directly to the swingarm with no linkage, and is adjustable for spring preload and rebound damping. The cast aluminum wheels have hollow spokes to save weight. Rim widths are 3.00 inches front and 4.00 inches rear, mounting 110/70-17 and 150/60-17 tires. We don’t know yet which tires will come stock on the 2027 BMW F 450 RR.
Brembo supplies the front brake caliper. A BMW-branded 4-piston monobloc caliper grips a single 310mm disc, and the rear runs a 240mm disc with a Bybre single-piston caliper. BMW Motorrad ABS Pro is standard and works with the bike leaned over, reducing the tendency to stand up under hard braking in a corner. Dynamic Brake Control is also standard; when the system detects hard braking, it keeps the throttle valves closed even if the rider opens the throttle.
Heated grips are standard, as is full LED lighting with self-canceling turn signals. The 6.5-inch color TFT display is operated with the Multi-Controller on the left side of the handlebar. The default Pure Ride Screen is laid out for sport riding. Three Sport screens show traction control, braking force, and lean angle, plus a lap timer. Bluetooth connects a smartphone and a BMW Motorrad Communication System helmet unit to the TFT for calls and music without an app. The free BMW Motorrad Connected app adds turn-by-turn navigation on the display. A powered USB-C port sits in the cockpit.
BMW’s accessory list for the F 450 RR covers luggage, protection, comfort, and maintenance. Luggage includes 16.5-liter soft cases with holders, an expandable magnetic tank bag, a roll bag, and rear bags of various capacities. Protection parts are a radiator guard, front and rear axle protectors, and a left-side engine protector. A low seat drops seat height to 30.5 inches, and a high Sport seat raises it to 31.9 inches. A high clear Sport windscreen, M hand-lever protectors, and front and rear paddock stands with mounts round out the list. Map navigation requires optional navigation preparation, plus the ConnectedRide Navigator or the ConnectedRide Smartphone Cradle.
At $7815, the 2027 BMW F 450 RR is priced above competitive-on-paper parallel-twin sportbikes. Aprilia’s RS 457 lists at $6849; Benelli’s Tornado 550 is $5999; CFMoto’s 450SS is $5199; Honda’s CBR500R is $6399; Kawasaki’s Ninja 500 is $5899. What the $7815 buys is hardware: an adjustable KYB fork, a Brembo monobloc caliper, cornering ABS, a quickshifter, a reversible shift pattern, and a configurable Race Pro mode with a lap timer, along with the S 1000 RR’s styling and a muffler tucked under the engine. The biggest decision left for the buyer is whether to spend $330 on the Easy Ride Clutch.
2027 BMW F 450 RR Specifications
ENGINE
Type: Parallel twin w/ 135-degree crankpin offset
Displacement: 420cc
Bore x stroke: 72 x 51.6mm
Maximum power: 48 hp @ 8750 rpm
Maximum torque: 32 lb-ft @ 6750 rpm
Compression ratio: 13.0:1
Valvetrain: DOHC; 4 valves per cylinder w/ rocker arms
Hello and welcome again to the Motos and Friends Podcast. This episode is brought to you by Leod Escapes.
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Aprilia is bringing a scooter to North America, and it’s one designed to appeal to adventure motorcyclists. The SR GT 400 is a mid-size scooter built around a steel motorcycle-style frame, a 399cc single, and off-road-ready hardware. It reaches US dealers as soon as this month. Don Williams and Kelly Callan spent some time riding the Aprilia and were surprised by what they discovered. Is this a real motorcycle or just a good-looking urban scooter?
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Cat McLeod is founder and owner of Leod Escapes, the ultimate tour company for sport-minded motorcycle riders. Cat talks to us this segment about some of his amazing European experiences and tours that include of course, riding some amazing MotoGP tracks on new BMW S1000RRs. If you like what you hear, now is the time to book your trip of a lifetime, so visit LeodEscapes.com to find out more.
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Our guest this episode is Terry Vance, the multiple Motorcycle and Motorsports Hall-of-Famer. Terry is of course the former professional motorcycle drag racer, team owner, and co-founder of the high-performance parts company Vance & Hines. Teejay Adams chats with Terry about his incredible career that includes being the first rider to hit 200 mph in the standing quarter-mile.
Having won this year’s MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers championship with Hayden Gillim riding the Vance & Hines factory Indian Challenger, and with Harley-Davidson’s recent withdrawal, Terry gives us his thoughts on where the series might go from here.
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