Rahul Gandhi recently visited BMW Welt and the BMW plant in Munich, Germany, where he undertook a guided tour of the group’s manufacturing and heritage facilities. During the visit, the politician and Indian National Congress member was seen checking out the upcoming BMW F 450 GS adventure motorcycle, a model that has garnered much attention in India due to its development and manufacturing link with the TVS Motor Company.

In a social media post from the visit, Gandhi described the experience as “an incredible look at world-class manufacturing up close,” highlighting the F 450 GS as a key moment of the tour. The F 450 GS is being developed and manufactured at TVS’s Hosur facility in Tamil Nadu as part of BMW Motorrad’s long-standing partnership with the Indian two-wheeler manufacturer.

Apart from the upcoming ADV, Gandhi also took a look at several other vehicles on display at BMW Welt and the museum, including electric models such as the BMW iX3, ultra-luxury offerings such as the Rolls-Royce Phantom, and even classic icons such as the BMW Isetta. He used the visit to highlight the importance of manufacturing ecosystems, stating that manufacturing is central to building strong economies and creating high-quality jobs.

BMW F 450 GS: What you need to know

The BMW F 450 GS is an upcoming middleweight adventure motorcycle that will sit above the G 310 GS in BMW’s global adventure lineup. Earlier showcased as a concept at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo earlier this year, it has been officially unveiled in full production form at this year’s EICMA trade show in November 2025. Once launched, it will serve as BMW Motorrad’s new entry-level adventure offering in India, with the G 310 GS now being discontinued on our shores.

Powering the F 450 GS is a newly developed 420 cc parallel-twin engine co-engineered with TVS. The motor produces 48 bhp and 43 Nm of torque and features a 135-degree crankpin offset and a balancer shaft aimed at delivering a distinctive exhaust note and smooth power delivery. While it is mated to a 6-speed gearbox, BMW will offer a quickshifter on most variants. Higher trims will feature the Easy Ride Clutch system that completely eliminates the need to operate the clutch manually.

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On the hardware front, the ADV is equipped with USD front forks and a rear monoshock with load-sensitive damping. It rides on a 19-inch front and 17-inch rear tubeless wire-spoke wheel setup, and the kerb weight hovers around the 175 kg mark. Design highlights include an aggressive front profile with a quad-LED DRL arrangement, a tall windscreen and an upswept tail section.