Motorcycle specifications BMW1200 R 12 G/S 2026 Making Bavaria out of everything

Feeling nostalgic for the R 80 G/S? Want to recapture the style of the very first Gelände Strasse? No problem, BMW has thought of you with the R 12 G/S. This new interpretation of the most famous trail bike on the market takes over from the Urban G/S (2017 - 2023) and offers an off-road version of the NineT.

No change of scenery, no visual shock. The profile of the R 12 G/S is very similar to that of theUrban G/S. The round, hooded headlamp, the front mudguard touching the muzzle, the deceptively vintage silhouette... but very quickly, the differences catch the eye. With a more qualitative upside-down fork, spoked rims replacing stick models, a more vintage tank, rounder cylinder head covers, a less custom rear frame and a slightly more substantial bodywork, this neo-retro GS "mark II" shows a deeper interpretation of the concept.

The Boxer gets the best seat

Is the same true of the engine? Not really. BM remains faithful to the 1170 cm3 air/oil Boxer. This was the last generation before the switch to liquid cooling. An engine more suited to the "old school" way of doing things, without compromising on performance. 109 horsepower at 7,000 rpm, accompanied by 11.7 mkg of torque. Values very close to those of the previous model, capable of delivering a thrust that's frank and rumbling, but without voracity.

The chassis is of a different calibre. The frame base is the same as that of the other R 12 models, with the exception of the steering column, which has been redesigned for off-road use. Unlike the NineT GS, the suspensions are fully adjustable, their travel is much more generous at 210 mm at the front and 200 mm at the rear, the front rim really wants to taste the excusions (21 inches instead of 19) and the tires feature some tread. Be careful, I said "taste", not "devour".
As for braking, the equipment doesn't go for show-offs but for efficiency, with 310 mm discs bitten by 2-piston Brembo calipers. Not spectacular, just calibrated for the machine's use and profile. The rear will also have something to say, with its 265 mm disc and double clamp.

Climb aboard and feel for yourself. BMW has taken great care with rider ergonomics, with a handlebar-seat-footrest triangle offering just the right compromise for seated or standing riding, an eccentrically adjustable shifter tip, a steel tank flaring downwards and adjustable handlebars.

Vintage outside, modern inside

What's most pleasing is the preservation of a needle-type speedometer. Mind you, this doesn't mean that technology has been sidelined. Sometimes we'd like to... The R 12 G/S concocts driving with traction control (deactivatable), engine torque management, cornering ABS and three Driving Modes.
- Route" offers direct throttle response, mid-level traction control and optimized electronics for maximum stability.
- There's no mystery to "Rain", which softens all systems.
- The "Enduro" mode unlocks freedoms: ABS is more permissive at the rear, wheeling, traction and torque controls are partially asleep, while the throttle is as homogeneous as possible.

There's also an optional 4th player, the "Enduro Pro". It cuts out the ABS at the rear, reduces traction control to a minimum, and lets the throttle express itself on the road.

I'm not telling you anything new when I say that some tempting features are optional. Except that here, even the passenger is optional; the R 12 G/S is a single-seater by design. If you want to take someone with you, you'll need the appropriate package; the one you'll find in the catalog, alongside the 3.5-inch TFT screen, adaptive cornering light, Keyless, Bluetooth, shifter, heated grips, and all that. There's even a "Cold Country" option, with the installation of a 14 Ah battery for better starting in harsh climates.

A desire to make a statement

To fully justify its Gelände side, the G/S offers the "Enduro Pro" package. This includes an 18" rear rim, enduro footrests, a 20 mm handlebar riser, a more accessible brake pedal, and an increase in seat height from 860 to 875 m. Ground clearance increases from 240 to 255 mm.

After the R 12 "custom" and the R 12 "roadster", here's the 3rd member of the family. It claims to be a Bavarian trail bike.
It's no scoop that the GS dynasty dominates both the BMW range and the motorcycle market. We're not trying to beat it into people's heads, as the national media do to create a climate of anxiety - it's just a fact.

BM maintains this climate generation after generation, starting with a certain R 80 G/S. The filiation with the original model is so important that a reinterpretation saw the light of day in 2017 via the R NineT Urban G/S. Just under 10 years later, the machine has been updated to perpetuate the memory, while the 1300 GS / GSA continues to ply the roads and summits. A modern souvenir that makes you pay for its image, but allows you to appreciate an engine taste that the 1300s left behind.

M.B. - Manufacturer's photos