To ensure that the bike can be a winner in national as well as international competition, the designers went to town to create a leading edge machine, featuring:

· A tubular frame without the omnipresent front down tube and undercarriage engine cradle (lightness).
· A composite skid plate to protect the engine (light and tough).
· A fuel tank located under the rear part of the seat (reduces the elevated mass in front and increases nimbleness when turning).
· A seat that stretches forward almost to the handlebars (to allow riders to shift their weight almost up to the handlebar and increase front wheel traction when entering corners).
· The swingarm and countershaft mounted co-axially (the length of the chain remains constant throughout the swingarm's travel).
· The engine tilted forward (to increase weight forward and low in the chassis, to help corner entry).
· The clutch mounted on the crankshaft and gear-driven primary drive (light, compact, eliminates the tensioner and reduces play in the drive train).
· A compact engine (enabling the use of a longer swingarm without having to increase the wheelbase, to improve traction on exit).
· A rigid frame in the vertical longitudinal plane, that also allows some lateral flexibility (to optimise the absorption of larger bumps when leaned over).

And after two years of intense development, the combination works, and how!

The G450X will suit those who enjoy a good romp not only on dirt trails, but on snow- or ice-covered ones as well.

Nimble, easy to use
We tested the G450X on the Enduro track of the new X-Town complex near Saint-Antoine-des-Laurentides, Quebec, on a four-kilometre course that tests all of the machine's - and the rider's - skills, to the delight of our star tester as well as the photographers and cameraman.

Despite the cold that stiffened the tires and the suspension, the nimbleness of the new bike became apparent right from the get-go, as Guy could move forward on entry and slide backwards to increase traction on corner exits, urged on by the 51 gloriously snorting ponies. The well calibrated stiffness of the frame ensures great stability at full throttle, while efficiently absorbing large bumps without unduly tossing the bike (and rider) around.

The standard adjustable Öhlins shock and the adjustable Marzocchi fork worked well despite the limits imposed by the frigid conditions and icy trail, even allowing Guy to validate that the broad adjustment range front and rear would suit the vast majority of enthusiasts and seasoned racers alike.

And precisely because of the cold, Guy was able to demonstrate the soundness of the machine in a variety of conditions, enough to say that the 450X will suit those who enjoy a good romp not only on normal dirt trails, but on snow- or ice-covered ones as well - definitely not for the faint of heart!

The only weakness Guy noted was that the lightness of the rotating masses of the engine did cause the odd stall at low speed, such as in a very tight trail. While it is true that lightness is next to Godliness, Guy felt that a little more rotating mass in the flywheel/primary gear would add the necessary momentum to the engine to correct this small flaw, without unduly punishing the throttle response or power at high rpm.

Looking good for the Canadian Enduro Championship
Look for some serious riders on G450Xs taking on the cream of the off-road crop produced by the Japanese and specialized Euro manufacturers. Despite the newness of the bike, we can expect to them close to the front - BMW are certainly looking for wins.

We, on the other hand, can look forward to quite a show.


Photo Credit : Philippe Champoux