Issue:
March/April 2008

Text:
Ramona Eichhorn

Photography:
BMW AG

Pages:
60 - 62

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The BMW G 450 X is pure dirt bike and addresses young hobbyists as well as professional racers. Although it is street legal, the fun factor on pavement is zero. With a seat as hard as a board, a short range and no windshield, this sport enduro is uncompromisingly designed for the sandbox.

Perfectly combining on- and off-road capabilities the BMW F 800 GS is the light twin for the big trip. Lengthy spring travel, a 21-inch front wheel, a 4.2 gallon tank and a butt-friendly seat are value-added points that will appeal to the off-road oriented, long-distance traveler.

The strength of the BMW R 1200 GS is paved twisty roads, whether good or bad. Although street-oriented, this enduro performs quite well on gravel roads too. The Adventure setup aims even more at long-distance riders.

BMW G 450 X

BMW's first sport enduro in the 450 class is full of innovations.

Where drive and frame are concerned, the Bavarians differentiate from their competitors with sophisticated high-tech solutions. The frame geometry is designed to be as off-road capable as possible. The central element of this concept is the amalgamation of the bearing axle of the swing arm with the axis of rotation for the output shaft so that there is no change in length of the chain on compression and rebound. By keeping the vehicle mass closely concentrated to the center of gravity, this configuration minimizes the effects of the final drive on the vehicle's overall response....