One of the most successful of all retro roadsters – modern machines with the latest dynamics and equipment but whose styling has been inspired by iconic bikes of the past – is BMW’s RNineT. Originally introduced in 2013, it was replaced by the R12 NineT in 2024 and, like its forebear, has now spawned a series of derivatives including the R 12 custom, R 12 G/S adventure and this, the new-for-2026 R 12 S.
It pays glorious tribute to BMW’s legendary 1973 R90S which, with its flashy two-tone burnt orange paint was the first production bike with a cockpit fairing. It also had an enlarged engine, making it the most potent bike in that point in BMW’s history and giving it enough performance to win 1976’s first AMA American Superbike championship and that year’s Production TT on the Isle of Man. The new R 12 S is based on the modern R12 NineT so is competent, capable, comfortable and surprisingly versatile, but its greatest pleasure is its gorgeous styling and details. It all adds a fair bit to the price, but if you want the most eye-catching German retro this is almost certainly it.
Those R12NineT mechanicals mean the 12 S is not only familiar on the mechanical front, but well proven too. Its updated but ‘old school’ air/oil-cooled, 1170cc boxer twin can trace its roots back to the R 1200 GS of 2013. Sure, it’s outpaced by BMW’s latest 145bhp, liquid-cooled R 1300 boxer, but that’s not really the point. With 109bhp at 7000rpm and 85ft-lbs of torque 500rpm lower down, in this Euro5+ retro roadster form it’s more than enough. It also benefits from BMW’s traditional shaft drive and has three riding modes – Rain, Road and Dynamic. It’s all rumbly familiar and effective, and with proven reliability.
Its chassis is also based on that of the R12NineT and although the handlebars are different, all other dimensions are the same. That means the suspension is by Sachs and comprises fully adjustable, inverted, 45mm forks with a multi-adjustable rear monoshock, while the fancy alloy-rimmed wire wheels allow quality tubeless tyres, in this case sporty Metzeler Sport M9RRs.
Due to the flat twin engine layout, the CofG is reassuring low, and the result is easy and intuitive with a refined ride; quick, nimble steering and all-up weight that is manageable rather than imposing. Overall, it’s neutral but with an air of premium quality and also has braking that’s better than most, too, thanks to twin 320mm discs which are gripped by twin BMW-branded, radial-mount four piston calipers all aided by cornering ABS.
You may remember BMW’s previous attempt at a ‘sports’ variant of the then RNineT, the RNineT Racer, launched in 2017. That bike had a frame-mounted half-fairing rather than a nose cowling (or bikini fairing, as they were known back in the day). Unfortunately, however, despite great looks and decent performance, its low clip-on bars mounted under the top yoke, made its riding position excruciating and the Racer was dropped in 2020.
The R 12 S avoids that by having a conventional roadster riding position due to straight, one-piece tubular handlebars, so looks sporty but is comfortable and easy. That said, the bars are a little wide, something emphasised by its bar-end mirrors, while the nose fairing is so small it offers very little weather protection, but neither are a problem for this style of bike and its likely use.
The R 12 S may be more about style than substance but BMW has also learned the lesson of the RNineT Racer to create a bike that’s also a reasonable all-rounder. Long distances, luggage and pillions may not be part of its core repertoire and nor is it an off roader (there’s the R 12 G/S for that) but the R 12 S is also stunning to look at, it rides as well as any R 12, is decent around town and also more than capable on sunny Sunday A and B road blasts, so there are plenty of compensations.
While the R 12 S may seem like an R12 NineT with fairing, wire wheels and fancy paint, there’s more to it than that. As well as a good selection of cosmetic ‘Option 719’ parts, it also has premium suspension and brakes, decent electronics, smart twin analogue dials plus BMW’s ‘Comfort Package’ which includes Hill Start Control, Shift Assistant Pro, heated grips, and cruise control.
There are also some official BMW accessories you can add, such as mini luggage. A cynic might note that many of those extras are already available as accessories for the R12NineT so it may be possible to spec up an R12 NineT to virtually the same spec for possibly less than the R12S’s £18k price. But that ignores the R 12 S’s distinctive paint, which successfully evokes the spirit of the 1973 R90S (but with modern comforts and performance) and also has the air of a truly premium machine.
At the time of writing the R 12 S costs a fairly salty £18,850 which makes it by far the priciest of the R12 NineT family (the R 12 cruiser is £12,060, the R 12G/S £14,420 and the R12 NineT £14,500) but it’s also beautifully executed and probably far more than the sum of its parts.
The now R12 NineT has always been one of the best ‘retro roadsters’ due to its ideal blend of nostalgic style with modern performance and practicality. Style-wise the new R 12 S takes that further still. While the slightly generic, R32-inspired, black and silver of the R12 NineT is possibly a little subtle, there’s no mistaking the inspiration for the R 12 S. The result looks fabulous and it has lost nothing dynamically. If they and the BMW boxer/shaft drive appeal, there are few better retros available.
BMW R 12 S Specification
Price: £18,580
Engine: 1170cc boxer-twin, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, air/oil cooled
Power: 109bhp (80kW) @ 7,000rpm
Torque: 115Nm (84.8lb-ft) @ 6,500rpm
Transmission: Six-speed, shaft
Frame: Tubular steel space frame
Suspension: (F) Sachs 45mm USD telescopic forks, preload, compression and rebound adjust (R) Sachs Paralever monoshock, preload and rebound damping adjustable.
Wheels: Aluminium rimmed wires, (F) 17 x 3.5in (R) 17 x 5.5in
Tyres: Metzeler Sportec M9 RR (F) 120/70 x 17, (R) 180/55 x 17
Brakes: (F) Two x 320mm disc, four-piston radial Monobloc calipers, (R) 265mm disc, twin piston caliper, ABS
Weight: 220kg (wet)
Wheelbase: 1511mm
Seat height: 795mm
Fuel tank: 16 litres
Fuel consumption: 46mpg (claimed)
Service intervals: 6000 miles/12 months (minor), 12,000 miles (major)
Warranty: 36 months unlimited mileage
Contact: www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk
Words: Phil West
Photos: Phil West/BMW
