Let's not sugar coat this or cause any confusion. BMW screwed up with this bike. The suspension is so bad and confusing that we could not get confident on the bike or ride it in any way where we could get a good feel for how the bike might be capable of handling.
Compounded that was the fact the we were forbidden by BMW to ride it in California any longer (because the bike is not C.A.R.B. compliant) and we still, two months later, are waiting for parts that are broken on the machine. We need a fender, a mud flap (which are still backordered) and the rest of the Akrapovic exhaust system that we asked for. The header and a selection of sprocket showed up the other day but we are so unmotivated to ride this bike it is just sitting and waiting till all the stuff shows up.
What went wrong? Why is the suspension so bad? We have no idea and we had a lot of riders ride this bike to see what it was trying to accomplish and no one was truly happy. Especially if they'd ridden any of the other machines we have around.
The suspension has a stiff or stiction feel at the top of the stroke, especially the fork. Then it blows through the stroke, with little control and will bottom way too easy. It makes turning difficult and makes riding hard and charging difficult to do. Somehow they valved the rear shock to match this horrible performance and the bike is balanced, which is only a good thing if you like a stiff feeling ride that blows through the stroke and bottoms frequently. Do not jump the bike. If it is cold out the jarring will break the fender and you'll be like us, all duct taped up.
Yes, you can ride it just...
Yes, you can ride it just fine (everywhere but California) and it does most of the stuff you'll need, but it really lacks in other areas, especially in the suspension department.
The G 450 X has some off-road...
The G 450 X has some off-road manners, but we were never totally confident with them, especially on tougher trails.
When you start getting aggressive...
When you start getting aggressive with the bike the gaps in the transmission start getting aggressive with you. At least the clutch can take the abuse.
Aside from that we can talk about the motor. It is really good and puts out some strong torque and revs out to a decent top end power build. And even with the non-race map activated, this bike gets along just fine. As long as you don't need to shift. First is a granny, great for super technical trails, but the gap to second is gigantic, there needs to be another gear in between. Then if you think that gap is bad, try the jump to third. And it gets worse all the way to sixth. Tighter final drive gearing will help, and it will still have plenty of spread, first will just become useless. And I like a wide ratio gear box, this was just way too much, again the victim of attempting to meet street mandated regulations with a bike that is supposed to be a dirt bike. The crank mounted clutch took a lot of abuse and never whimpered at us, something we were concerned with. But BMW has a lot of experience with fast-spinning clutches on crank ends and materials have gotten a lot better since this was not possible.
The other strong point for the BMW is its very thin and roomy layout. If you are tall, you will instantly feel at home on this bike. Its bars are far forward and tall, the seat holds your legs up from getting folded and the bike is narrow where you sit and ride on it. You can get as far forward as you'd ever need. Smaller riders tent to feel a little stretched out and are best suited riding standing up most of the time. After all, this bike has a stiff seat with a really hard spot where the gas cap is. And with that you can never tell how much of the 1.9 gallons of fuel is left, we were running out anywhere from 40-60 miles depending on the terrain.
As mentioned we could not get a feel for the handling. The bike feels stable and acts stable but the steering is also heavy. And awkward looking to the rider as the beak on the front looks bulky and drops off steep. Since the steering is heavy it seems the overall handling takes on that feel as well, the weighty muffler and mellow build of power can also amplify this feeling. It reacts best to riders standing in the pegs and steering the bikes with a lot of footpeg influence. We could not pinpoint any advantages or disadvantages from the countershaft on the center of the swingarm pivot and had no issues with the chain, we just ran it tight.
The brakes are strong and not quite as aggressive as some. The shifting is adequate. The brake lever takes some time to find. Most riders liked the look of the BMW but anyone who worked on it wondered why it took so many screws or nuts to get anything off or on.
She is a pretty bike just...
She is a pretty bike just don't leave her out in the cold for too long, the plastic is brittle and replacements hard to come by.
Where does this leave the G 450? We don't know. BMW has a tradition and a history of doing things different and making them appeal to a certain kind of rider who can appreciate the bikes for being unique. But there bikes fit into niche markets (of sorts, ones that are not serviced by the Japanese) and they are not going head-to-head in a well established arena of high performance machines. The marketing and direction worked on the street side. BMW still produces a number of bikes that are just plain weird to conventionalists but are praised by riders who love them. I have a BMW 1200 GSA and I really like it, it is my favorite street bike. So if you hate good suspension and love big transmission gaps, this could be a dirt bike for you. For the rest of us, something needs to be done.
Specs:
MSRP: $8198
Claimed Weight (tank full): 267 lb.
Actual Weight (tank full): 274 lb.
Seat Height: 37.7 inches
Footpeg Height: 16.7
Ground Clearance: 13.0
Street Legal (y/n): Y
Fuel capacity: 1.8 gal.
Transmission: 5-speed
Manufacturer Website: www.bmwmotorcycles.com