Oberdan Bezzi He never ceases to surprise us with his virtual creations around new future motorcycle models from the leading brands in the sector. On this occasion he breaks down the F 450 GS concept to end up giving life to what the well-known designer has called R40GS; we would probably be facing “the dream of every young motorcyclist, both Indian and Western”or so he claims.
An “old known concept” in Bezzi’s creations
This is not the first time that Oberdan has focused on highlighting the scrambler qualities of BMW Motorrad’s ADV models. There are many virtual designs around the GS acronym that the one from Bologna has given us in recent years. Without going any further, in 2017 he showed us a similar approach to what at that time stood as one of the entry-level frames to the Munich company’s range: the G 310 GS.
Then the transalpine genius showed the world his BMW G 310 Classic GS Concept, halfway between a mount classified within the scrambler segment and another with clear off-road capabilities. When asked why such a version was made, Obi himself responded critically, referring to the original design on which he based his virtual preparation:
This is “certainly a nice, agile and light scrambler, perhaps with a look reminiscent of the original “real” GS, with attention to equipment and details, would have been more suitable for the displacement and more welcome for those who want a BMW that does not look like a… toy!”
2025 will mark the return of this idea
In the summer of last year 2025, with the upcoming presentation of the F 450 GS, Bezzi returned on his own with his new BMW R 45 G/S Concept. And once again it advocated a design with a clear off-road focus without leaving aside that scrambler touch already seen before. “In our opinion, if BMW launched a 450cc single-cylinder motorcycle with similar general characteristics as its competitors from Royal Enfield, Honda and Triumph”he explained after the public presentation of his new design.
At the time he opted for a completely traditional, simple and robust motorcycle, “no dangerous technical or aesthetic fantasies, but rather a comfortable and easy-to-use motorcycle, designed for Western users, with performance on par with its best competitors and attractive aesthetics,” explained. And he concluded by making his personal bet by stating that, if so, it would be “It would certainly be a resounding success!”
Ultimately “if the new “little one” had a scrambler look, perhaps freely inspired by the old and legendary G/S, a vehicle suitable for any use and circumstance, discreet, but evocative, useful and… fashionable, a true “must-have”!”he concluded. Furthermore, he warned that regarding the price, “We could assume that it is around 25% more than the most expensive of its competitors… But we are still talking about a BMW!”
The BMW R40 GS maintains the initial bet
Almost a decade has passed since that first conceptual render that we told you about at the beginning of this article, but Bezzi’s vision of what should be a lightweight, versatile and classic-looking variant of BMW’s new Adventure mount has not deviated one bit from his initial philosophy. The new R40 GS maintains the main design elements already seen in the online concepts shown previously:
- Radial wheels shod with mixed tires
- High outlet side exhaust system
- One-piece two-tier seat
- Classic image with a marked “Baja style” front
- High front fender
- Metallic skid plate of good dimensions, etc.
In short, a clear commitment to a dual-purpose motorcycle capable of moving with total autonomy on and off the road. Thanks, among others, to a long-travel suspension kit and the standard equipment already mentioned, it is also equally efficient in urban use as it is when traveling a route of hundreds of kilometers thanks to offering a good load capacity. At this point the question is obvious: Will BMW dare to launch a motorcycle like this on the market?…
