Engine: 109 hp—Identical to the nineT, Just as Strong

1,170 cc, air/oil-cooled, DOHC, four radially arranged valves per cylinder, central balance shaft, Euro 5+: identical to the R 12 nineT and R 12 G/S. 109 hp at 7,000 rpm, 115 Nm at 6,500 rpm. The higher output reflects that the R 12 S uses the full-output nineT engine tune—no restriction like the R 12 cruiser.

The engine is the common thread running through the R 12 family: the same character, the same fundamental vibration, the same air/oil-cooled boxer punch. In the S, however, it sits in a motorcycle that showcases it particularly well. The cockpit fairing and the sound of the twin exhausts on the right combine to create a cohesive sporty presence.

Three riding modes come standard: Rain, Road, and Dynamic. That is the standard setup of the nineT platform and suits the S’s sporting ambitions. DTC, MSR, and ABS Pro come standard. According to BMW dealer websites, Shift Assistant Pro with blipper—allowing clutchless upshifts and downshifts—is standard on the R 12 S.

That gives it an advantage over the nineT. An A2 restriction to 35 kW / 48 hp is available.

When parked, the design is the R 12 S’s strongest argument. On the road, it is the engine. The boxer pulls smoothly and characterfully from low rpm, while the compact windscreen provides surprisingly good protection at moderate speeds. At 130 km/h on the highway, protection remains acceptable. Beyond that, it becomes tiring. Like every R 12 model, the R 12 S is a motorcycle for backroads and city riding, not sustained highway use.

Chassis: nineT Foundation—and Exclusive Spoked Wheels as the Visual Highlight

The chassis is identical to the R 12 nineT’s. Up front is a 45 mm USD fork, fully adjustable for rebound and compression damping. At the rear is a cast-aluminum Paralever swingarm with a monoshock, adjustable for spring preload and rebound damping. Suspension travel is 120 mm front and rear. A steering damper comes standard.

What differentiates the R 12 S from the nineT in chassis terms is the ergonomics: the footpegs are mounted higher and the handlebar sits lower, creating a sportier riding position. The R 12 S’s exclusive chassis feature is its wheels: Option 719 Classic II wheels measuring 19 inches at the front and 17 inches at the rear, made from naturally anodized, polished aluminum.

These silver spoked wheels are available exclusively on the R 12 S. Combined with Metzeler Roadtec Z8 Interact tires—a high-quality sport-touring tire—the result is a blend of appearance and tire performance appropriate to the price. Wheelbase is 1,511 mm, identical to the nineT.

Braking hardware is also identical to the nineT: dual 310 mm front discs with Brembo four-piston monobloc radial calipers and a 265 mm rear disc with a two-piston floating caliper. Lean-angle-optimized ABS Pro comes standard. For a heritage motorcycle at this price, this is a good braking system. Ride aggressively and you will respect the brakes. As on the nineT, the footpegs touch down earlier than on modern sportbikes.

Ergonomics: 795 mm Seat Height, Solo Seat Standard—No Passenger Possible

Seat height is 795 mm—identical to the nineT. The R 12 S riding position is sportier than the nineT’s, with a flatter handlebar and higher-mounted footpegs. The result is a forward-leaning posture somewhere between a classic roadster and a modern sportbike. The solo rear section comes standard and cannot be converted. The R 12 S cannot accommodate either a passenger seat or passenger footpegs.

That is a deliberate design decision that optimizes the motorcycle for solo riding—but also excludes potential buyers who occasionally want to ride two-up. The cockpit windscreen is fixed and non-adjustable. It provides protection at city speeds and moderate backroad pace. As a styling element, it is the S’s most important visual distinction from the nineT. It directly references the 1973 R 90 S, the first BMW to feature a cockpit fairing. The round instrument complements the historically inspired cockpit perfectly.

Handling: €22,000—and the Legitimate Question of Finish Quality

220 kg fully fueled—identical to the R 12 nineT. The riding experience is correspondingly similar: no heavier or lighter than the nineT, but with a more active riding position and greater composure at higher speeds thanks to the windscreen.

Like the nineT, the R 12 S is a motorcycle for backroads, twisty routes, and urban riding. As a long-distance touring motorcycle, the 16-liter fuel tank—with a range of around 275 km—is limiting.

At a €22,000 base price, the question of finish quality inevitably arises. Tests have noted that BMW uses plastic in several areas of the R 12 S—the heat shield, side covers, and front fender—and those materials do not feel entirely appropriate at this price level. The handlebar switchgear is also identical to that of the considerably less expensive F 900 R. The Shadow Billet Pack and silver spoked wheels substantially increase the perceived value. Look more closely, however, and the plastic components create a noticeable contrast with the motorcycle’s premium positioning. What still makes the R 12 S unique is its ability to attract attention. For a motorcyclist, it is almost impossible not to turn around and look at a BMW R 12 S.

The Lava Orange paint with double red pinstripes and brushed aluminum, the silver spoked wheels, and the numerous machined-aluminum components on the cylinder covers, hand levers, footpegs, brake and shift levers, oil filler cap, and bar ends combine into a total work of art with no real rival on the road.

Equipment: Billet Parts, Spoked Wheels, Windscreen—Everything Standard

Standard equipment on the R 12 S includes ABS Pro, DTC, MSR, steering damper, three riding modes—Rain, Road, and Dynamic—Shift Assistant Pro with blipper, Option 719 Classic II wheels with silver 19/17-inch spokes, Shadow & Shadow II Billet Packs with cylinder covers, hand levers, footpegs, brake and shift levers, oil filler cap, bar-end mirrors, ignition-coil covers, and reservoir caps, cockpit fairing with dark-tinted windscreen, solo seat with Lava Orange Metallic hump, LED headlight, 16-liter aluminum fuel tank, and twin exhausts on the right.

The R 12 S is available in a single color combination: Lava Orange Metallic with white and black accents, or the darker Carbon Black version.

BMW offers the same accessories for the R 12 S as for the R 12 nineT: short rear section, titanium muffler, side bags, and rear bag. Headlight Pro with cornering light is optional. Passenger accommodation is not possible—neither as standard nor as an accessory.

Costs: €22,000—the Most Expensive Motorcycle in the R 12 Family

The base price is €22,000. That is €4,590 more than the R 12 nineT at €17,410 and €7,540 more than the R 12 cruiser at €14,460. The R 12 S is therefore the most expensive motorcycle in the R 12 family and one of the most expensive heritage motorcycles in BMW’s lineup.

What justifies the premium over the nineT? The exclusive Option 719 Classic II wheels, which cannot be purchased separately; the Shadow Billet Pack as standard; cockpit fairing and windscreen as standard; Shift Assistant Pro as standard; Metzeler Roadtec Z8 tires as standard; and the unique Lava Orange paint scheme. Order these elements individually for the nineT and you begin to approach the S’s price.

In direct competitive terms, the R 12 S has no real rival.

A Triumph Speed Twin 1200 RS costs around €14,000 but follows a different concept with distinctly British character. Ducati offers nothing comparable to the R 12 S in the retro segment. The R 12 S is a niche product for buyers who want to own the most beautiful motorcycle of the season—and are willing to pay a substantial premium for it.

Service is required every 10,000 km. Valve-clearance inspection is required every 10,000 km. Warranty: two years with unlimited mileage.

Verdict

The BMW R 12 S is the motorcycle for buyers who uncompromisingly want the most beautiful machine—and have no interest in negotiating over the price. €22,000, one color, no passenger, limited range, and several plastic components despite the premium price.

And yet: on a backroad on a summer day, with the Lava Orange paint glowing in the sunlight and the twin exhausts accompanying the boxer in chorus, this motorcycle has no competition. That is its only argument. And it is a strong one.

 

Quick Check

+ Unique design—no real competition on the road

+ Exclusive Option 719 Classic II wheels—available only on the R 12 S

+ Shadow Billet Pack standard—the most extensive standard equipment in the R 12 family

+ Cockpit fairing with windscreen standard—a tribute to the R 90 S

+ Shift Assistant Pro with blipper standard

+ 109 hp, 115 Nm—full nineT engine output

+ Metzeler Roadtec Z8 standard—high-quality sport-touring tires

+ 220 kg—same weight as the nineT

 

– €22,000—€4,590 more than the R 12 nineT

– Solo seat standard—no passenger accommodation, even as an accessory

– Only one color scheme (Lava Orange or Carbon Black)

– Plastic components in several areas despite the premium price

– Switchgear identical to the F 900 R—the parts-bin approach is visible

– 16-liter fuel tank—around 275 km of range

– 120 mm of suspension travel—backroads yes, gravel no

 

Technical Specifications: BMW R 12 S (2026)

Country of manufacture: Germany (Berlin-Spandau)

Engine: Air/oil-cooled flat-twin boxer, DOHC, 4 radially arranged valves per cylinder, central balance shaft, Euro 5+

Displacement: 1,170 cc

Power: 80 kW (109 hp) at 7,000 rpm

Torque: 115 Nm at 6,500 rpm

Transmission: 6-speed, Shift Assistant Pro with blipper standard

Final drive: Shaft, cast-aluminum Paralever swingarm

Frame: Tubular-steel bridge frame with bolt-on subframe, identical to R 12 nineT

Front suspension: 45 mm USD telescopic fork, fully adjustable for rebound and compression damping, 120 mm travel; steering damper standard

Rear suspension: Cast-aluminum Paralever swingarm, monoshock, adjustable spring preload and rebound damping, 120 mm travel

Front brakes: Dual 310 mm floating discs, Brembo four-piston monobloc radial calipers

Rear brake: 265 mm disc, two-piston floating caliper

Wheels: Option 719 Classic II spoked wheels, naturally anodized polished aluminum, exclusive to R 12 S; 19-inch front, 17-inch rear

Front tire: 120/70 ZR19, Metzeler Roadtec Z8 Interact

Rear tire: 170/60 ZR17, Metzeler Roadtec Z8 Interact

Rider aids: ABS Pro (lean-angle optimized), DTC, MSR; 3 riding modes standard (Rain/Road/Dynamic)

Standard equipment extras: Shadow & Shadow II Billet Packs, cockpit fairing with tinted windscreen, solo seat, twin exhausts on the right, Shift Assistant Pro with blipper

Passenger: Not possible—neither standard nor available as an accessory

Wet weight: 220 kg

Seat height: 795 mm

Wheelbase: 1,511 mm

Fuel capacity: 16 liters, aluminum

Price (Germany): €22,000 plus additional charges

Warranty: 2 years, unlimited mileage