First Look: BMW R 12 G/S – Retro Spirit, Modern Grit

You don’t get many motorcycles that wear their heritage so proudly and yet feel like they’ve just burst out of the prototype lab.

BMW’s new R 12 G/S does exactly that. It’s the spiritual successor to the legendary R 80 G/S, the bike that pretty much started the adventure segment back in 1980. Btw, G/S is short for Gelände / Straße (Off-road / Street) .

If you’re into bikes that can take you from the tarmac to the trail without a whimper, this one deserves your attention.

Let’s talk about design first. BMW has clearly dipped into its own archives here. The R 12 G/S takes a big gulp of nostalgia and exhales a fresh, modern take on the original G/S. That iconic high front mudguard, the round headlamp with the new “X” LED signature, and those cross-spoke wheels all scream proper enduro. It’s a handsome brute.

Even the Light White colour option with blue accents and a red seat gives a cheeky wink to the 1980 Dakar era. Or if you fancy a stealthier look, there’s Night Black Matt, or the very premium Option 719 Aragonit, which is as close as bikes get to tailoring.

Sit On It – You’ll Want To Stay Awhile

BMW hasn’t just nailed the look; they’ve properly thought through the ergonomics too. It comes with a flat solo seat as standard — 860mm high — which puts you right over the pegs and gives that nice, commanding stance. Add the Enduro Package Pro, and you’re nudging 875mm. Taller still? Grab the Rallye Seat, which boosts you up to 895mm for serious off-road body positioning.

Handlebars are butted aluminum, with optional risers to suit those of us who like to ride standing more often than not. And the enduro footpegs? Grippy, tough, and built for muddy boots.

There are lashing points, too. Steel eyelets on the frame, fabric straps under the seat, and plenty of add-on luggage options.

Now to the beating heart — the 1,170cc air/oil-cooled boxer that BMW fans will recognise immediately. It puts out 109bhp and 115nm of torque, but it’s not the numbers that matter — it’s the way it delivers them.

There’s low down torque where you want it, and that signature boxer rumble that’s equal parts charm and menace. It’s got the kind of powerband that flatters your riding. Smooth on the road, urgent when you ask for it, and reliable off-road.

Add in the single-sided exhaust with a high-mounted silencer — black and brushed steel — and it sounds as good as it looks.

The ‘Enduro’ and ‘Enduro Pro’ ride modes are where it gets serious. ‘Enduro’ calms everything down, softens the throttle, and reins in the electronics just enough. ‘Enduro Pro’ strips it all back. Minimal traction control, minimal ABS, no hand-holding. It’s just you, the terrain, and a whole lot of boxer torque.

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No Fuss Gear Changes

BMW’s optional Shift Assistant Pro is a bit of magic. No clutch needed on upshifts or downshifts, and it works brilliantly. It’s slick, fast, and keeps things moving — especially handy when you’re bouncing between gears in the dirt.

And here’s a little detail I loved — the shift linkage is hidden, tucked away behind the swingarm. It’s small touches like that that give this bike such a tidy, well-thought-out finish.

Suspension Tuned for the Wild

Suspension is where BMW really flexes its engineering muscle. Up front, you get 45 mm upside-down forks with a huge 210mm of travel. The rear runs a Paralever swingarm with a fully adjustable angled shock, and 200mm of movement.

Throw on the Enduro Package Pro and you also get a bigger 18-inch rear wheel and proper knobbly tyres. Combined with the 21-inch front, you’ve got a setup that’ll eat rocks for breakfast.

Off-road geometry is dialled in too — wide steering angles, raised headstock, and a long wheelbase. It promises to be stable, planted, and flickable, even with all that suspension travel.

Braking is handled by twin 310mm discs up front, and a 265mm disc at the rear. There’s also BMW’s ABS Pro, which works even when leaned over.

For hillstarts, the optional Hill Start Control Pro is a gem. Auto-hold when you stop, and a smooth release when you pull away — perfect for those loose inclines where you don’t want to roll backwards.

Modern Touches

You get a classic analogue round dial as standard — which I adore — with just enough digital info hidden inside. But if you want the bells and whistles, there’s a micro 3.5in TFT display available too.

LED lighting is standard, and the optional Headlight Pro adds adaptive cornering lights.

There’s also Keyless Ride, Bluetooth connectivity, and optional Connected Ride Control to link up your phone and display navigation and ride data via BMW’s app. And yes, there’s a phone mount and clamp designed for it, because it’s German.

The customisation list is massive. BMW’s gone all out with ex-works options: parts, luggage collections (Urban, Soulfuel, Adventure), heated grips, cruise control, chrome manifolds, titanium exhausts, you name it. Whether you’re kitting it out for daily riding or a Dakar-style expedition, it’s got you covered.