Entering the classic sportsbike segment is the 2025 BMW Motorrad R12S, celebrating the Munich firm’s racing successes from five decades ago. The R12S is a homage to the BMW Motorrad R90S from 1973 which was designed by the legendary Hans A Muth, the man also responsible for the iconic 1981 GSX1100S Katana.
Race laurels for the original R90S, produced from 1973 to 1976 include the Production TT on the Isle of Man, where Hans-Otto Butenuth and Helmut Dähne celebrated a class victory in 1976. The R90S also saw success at the 200 Miles of Daytona where the race was won by Steve McLaughlin and team mate Reg Pridmore became the first AMA Superbike Champion.
Coming to the present day, the R12S is a retro sportsbike that takes the BMW Motorrad R12 nineT as its basis. Notable is the handlebar-mounted cockpit fairing with tinted windshield, seat with contrast stitching, and Lavaorange metallic paint finish, a nod to the legendary R90S Daytona Orange from 1975.
This is complimented by design details such as the red-laid ‘S’ on the side covers, the red double line, and the brushed and clear-lacquered aluminum of the tank and seat hump. Completing the look is Option 719 Classic II wheels with wire spokes and anodised aluminium rims.
Billet Packs I and II from the BMW Motorrad catalogue are added to the R90S, including left and right ignition coil covers, the oil filler screw, and cylinder head covers coated in Avus black metallic matt. From Billet Pack II comes the footrest system including foot brake and gear shift levers, the pillion footrests, handlebar levers, expansion tank covers for brake and clutch, as well as the handlebar end mirrors.
Other standard features include the Comfort Package, which includes Hill Start Control, Shift Assistant Pro, Heated Grips, and Cruise Control. For safety during night rides, the adaptive cornering light Headlight Pro ensures better illumination of the road in corners.
Aside from the cosmetic components, the R12S remains otherwise unchanged from the standard model R12 nineT. Power comes from BMW Motorrad’s EU5+ compliant boxer-twin, displacing 1,170 cc and producing 109 hp at 7,000 rpm with 115 Nm of torque.
Going through shaft drive to the rear wheel, the R12S gets a quickshifter equipped six-speed gearbox with hydraulic single-plate dry clutch. The electronic riding suite includes traction control and three riding modes – Rain, Road, and Dynamic, as well as engine brake control.
Braking is done with twin floating brake discs in front with four-piston Monobloc radial-mount brake callipers. At the back, a single disc with two-piston calliper stops the rear wheel and BMW Motorrad Integral ABS Pro with partial integrated braking is standard equipment.
Suspension in front comes with fully-adjustable 45 mm diameter upside-down forks with a monoshock on single-sided swingarm in the rear, adjustable for preload and rebound damping. Wheel sizing on the R12S is 17-inches front and rear, wearing 120/70 and 180/55 tyres.
Seat height is set at 795 mm, with the R12S weighing 220 kg with 16-litres of fuel in the tank. In Malaysia, pricing for the base model R nineT starts at RM99,500.
Holy crap. This goes to the top of my list of beautiful BMWs
WARNING – BMW new R1300GS has some serious issues with the new electronic suspension system.
A lot of customers already complained about it, the bike can suddenly lost its electronic regulation and make the ride extremely dangerous as the circuit stays open (no more dampening-rebound control)
The bike will become unstable and cannot be ridden sadly. ALSO, THIS FAILURE DO NOT TRIGGER WARNING MESSAGE ON DASH.
For those who already purchased the R1300GS, do check with your dealer and place report to BMW HQ to help investigate.
Test the bike when ignition on and see if it bounce without any rebound resistance at all. If the electronic control is working, you should feel an increase of stiffness while bouncing the bike.
When the failure happens the bike suddenly feel unstable and sketchy. The geometry of the bike feel weird gas the bike seat lower.
BMW has to make a public announcement about it and recall their bike immediately.