BMW F 450 GS Review: One Week In and the CHIGEE AIO-6 Test

Toruń, July 2026 — One of the first BMW F 450 GS units in Poland arrived at our office, in the range-topping GS Trophy trim. For a week, riders of different heights, experience and riding styles took turns on it. The first part of this article is our honest riding impressions. The second part covers the CHIGEE AIO-6 mounted on this bike, because the level of integration surprised even us.

The Trophy looks like more than it costs

In person, this motorcycle makes a better impression than in press photos. White handguards, a tinted Rallye screen, an aluminum skid plate and gold-anodized suspension make the F 450 GS in GS Trophy trim look more expensive and a class above its price tag. In Poland, pricing starts at 30,490 PLN for the base model, with the GS Trophy at around 34,000 PLN. The front end, with its X-shaped LED light signature, is by BMW's own description modeled on the R 1300 GS, and it shows. The small GS borrows heavily from the big one.

Ergonomics from 170 to 190 cm

Riders on our team measuring 170 cm and 190 cm both spent time on it, and both got off satisfied. The taller one never felt like they were riding a toy, the shorter one reached the ground with confidence. The standard seat sits at 845 mm, with low and tall Rallye options available as genuine BMW accessories. Adjustable brake and clutch levers take care of the rest. The riding position is classic GS, upright with a wide handlebar, so a few hours in the saddle pass without complaints.

48 horsepower. Enough, if you know what you are buying it for

The all-new 420 cc parallel twin produces 48 hp and 43 Nm, and the whole bike weighs 178 kg ready to ride. In town and on twisty roads there is genuinely enough to play with. The engine, with its 135-degree crankpin offset, sounds characterful and meaty.

Things change above 100 km/h. The power reserve shrinks and overtaking on expressways takes planning. BMW quotes a top speed of 165 km/h. For some riders that is a dealbreaker, for others a non-issue. For relaxed touring, commuting and weekend trips this output is fully sufficient. If your riding is mostly fast intercity routes, you will feel the A2 ceiling.

The Easy Ride Clutch split our team

Technically, this is the most interesting part of the bike. The Easy Ride Clutch (ERC) is a centrifugal clutch paired on the GS Trophy with the Shift Assistant Pro quickshifter. You pull away without touching the lever and shift up and down without the clutch. The lever itself stays on the bar and works normally, so you can use it, you just never have to.

And this is where the debate starts. The manual-gearbox fan on our team rates the ERC as a negative. First contact feels strange, a bit like a quickshifter crossed with Honda's E-Clutch, and when riding hard the system is not as fast or aggressive as a good quickshifter on a conventional drivetrain.

A team member with a fresher license sees it completely differently. For her, the ERC simply adds confidence. The bike will not stall at takeoff, everything happens more smoothly, and she can focus on the road. In her view it is the best thing about this motorcycle.

If you have been riding for years and enjoy full control, treat the ERC as something to test before you buy. If you are just starting out or coming back after a break, this system genuinely makes starting out easier.

A cockpit from a class above

The biggest positive shock of the week. The F 450 GS gets the 6.5-inch TFT display known from BMW's bigger models, including the R 1300 GS. It is operated with the multi-controller wheel on the left bar, and the switchgear and mirrors will look familiar to anyone who has sat on a big GS. There is also a Sport Screen showing live lean angle, braking force and traction control activity. Sport instrumentation on an A2 motorcycle is not something we expected. The GS Trophy also gets the full set of riding modes: Rain, Road, Enduro and the configurable Enduro Pro, which among other things lets you switch off rear ABS for riding off-road.

CHIGEE AIO-6 on the F 450 GS. Like they rolled off the same line

The factory cockpit has one gap. The TFT pairs with your phone over Bluetooth through the BMW Motorrad Connected app, but navigation is limited to simple arrows, not a full map. That is why our unit has been running a CHIGEE AIO-6 since day one, mounted directly above the factory instruments.

On the F 450 GS, the AIO-6 works as if it were part of the factory equipment:

• Full wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Waze on a large map, Spotify, phone calls and intercom within thumb's reach.
• Live motorcycle data. RPM, current gear, lean angle with recorded left and right maximums, range, charging voltage and ambient temperature.
• Control via the factory BMW wheel. You navigate the AIO-6 screens with the same multi-controller you use for the TFT. Your hands never leave the bars.
• A mount that looks stock. The screen sits above the instruments without blocking them and stays within the fairing outline.

We rode this setup for a full week in mixed conditions, including rain. No connection dropouts, very good readability in direct sunlight, and switching between the map, music and bike data never requires taking a hand off the grip.

Verdict

The BMW F 450 GS is a well-thought-out motorcycle that looks and is equipped like a machine a class above. It has its limits, mainly the power reserve at expressway speeds, and one feature that divides opinion, the Easy Ride Clutch. Everything else is solid, polished work. Paired with the CHIGEE AIO-6, it gains what the factory left out: full navigation, CarPlay, Android Auto and live bike data in one place.

Planning an F 450 GS, or already waiting for delivery? See the CHIGEE AIO-6.

What's next for our F 450 GS

This unit is staying with us and the build continues. Over the coming weeks we will be adding front and rear cameras, which will let the AIO-6 double as a dashcam, plus tire pressure sensors. A curious detail here: BMW does not offer tire pressure sensors for the F 450 GS, not even in the factory configurator. The Front and Rear Tire Pressure fields on the AIO-6 screen will cover something you simply cannot order from a dealer.

Expect plenty of videos and photos of this motorcycle on our channels. And if you would rather see everything in person, stop by our place in Toruń for a coffee. For the coming weeks the bike will be on display at the CHIGEE Poland store at Mazowiecka 52-68.

Read next: AIO-6 and BMW, everything you need to know

FAQ

Does the BMW F 450 GS have Apple CarPlay?

Not from the factory. The TFT display pairs with your phone over Bluetooth through the BMW app, which provides arrow-based navigation. Full wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with maps can be added with the CHIGEE AIO-6.

How much does the BMW F 450 GS cost in Poland?

BMW's price list starts at 30,490 PLN for the base trim. The top GS Trophy version, with the Easy Ride Clutch as standard, costs around 34,000 PLN.

Is the Easy Ride Clutch an automatic gearbox?

No. The gearbox remains a conventional six-speed and the clutch lever stays on the bar, fully functional. The ERC is a centrifugal clutch that handles takeoff and low revs on its own, and combined with the Shift Assistant Pro it allows clutchless shifts in both directions.