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New BMW R 12 G/S Is a Retro Ride for the Road and Trail
BMW has wound the clock back to 1980 with an homage to one of its most famous motorcycles; the R 80 G/S.
The original Gelände/Straße (off-road/street) bike was revolutionary in the way it combined serious trail-ability with on-road comfort and handling, and the new R 12 G/S brings the concept bang up to date in every way except one.
At first glance the R 12 G/S looks like a classic, especially in the historic color-combo of a white tank with twin blue decals and a red seat, but underneath you’ll find a one-piece tubular bridge steel chassis, with a bolted-on steel rear frame. A 21-inch front wheel and 17-inch rear is standard, with an 18-inch option for those wanting do more serious exploring.
Long-travel suspension is key to off-road capability and the fully-adjustable upside-down front fork offers 8.3 inches of travel, with the rear Paralever arm allowing 7.9 inches of movement. Braking is by a 12.2-inch disc at the front and a 10.4-inch disc at the back. ABS Pro is a standard feature and allows riders to brake safely even with a lean on.
Further driver aids include a dynamic traction control system with modes for rain, road, and enduro, plus there’s an engine drag torque control feature which prevents rear-wheel lock up on downshifts. On the subject of gears the G/S can also be optioned with Shift Assistant Pro for faster, clutch-free changes.
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At the heart of the R 12 G/S is a boxer engine, of course. With a capacity of 1170 cc and traditional air/oil cooling system, the 109-hp motor can trace its roots back to 1923 when BMW first installed a flat-twin into a motorcycle.
The R 12 G/S comes in three versions—there’s a basic edition in all black, the color iteration featuring white tank, blue decals and red seat, and the 719 Arangonit edition in Sandrover, red or Mineral Grey with a choice of colors for the seat. Beyond that it can be accessorized with a range of options from the BMW catalog.
It’s available to hit the trails now, priced from $16,395 plus destination charges.
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Good for BMW. A real GS again. I’ve had six BMW’s, two R1150 GS’s and this is a worthy successor. Air/oil cooled and not a giant overteched out barge like the last few iterations on the GS.
I love it but with the seat heights starting at 34″ I don’t see one in my future. Take a note BMW: the average American male is about 5’9″ to 5’10” tall. Women are about 5’4″.