Celebrating 45 years in 2025, BMW’s GS line will get higher with age. The R 1300 GS was Rider’s Bike of the 12 months in 2024earlier variations have been our MOTY in 2005 and 1995, and the F 800 GS was MOTY in 2009.
BMW went retro in 2017 with the R nineT City G/S, one in all a number of variants within the R nineT lineup underneath the Heritage banner powered by the air/oil-cooled 1,170cc opposed-Twin fairly than the liquid-cooled boxers within the R-GS collection. Primarily based on the R nineT Scrambler, the City G/S paid homage to the unique R 80 G/S with a white gasoline tank, excessive entrance fender, and headlight cowl, blue accents on the tank, and a brilliant pink seat.
The R nineT identify debuted in 2013 to honor BMW Motorrad’s ninetieth anniversary. In 2024, BMW modified the identify to R 12 to adapt to its ordinary mannequin naming conference. Bikes within the R 12 lineup embody the R 12 cruiser, the R 12 nineT roadster, the R 12 S cafe racer, and new for 2026, the R 12 G/S.
BMW has produced bikes powered by boxer Twins since 1923, in order that they’re a Massive Deal. To check the brand new R 12 G/S, BMW invited us to Munich, Germany. Along with paved backroads, we did some testing at BMW’s legendary Enduro Park in Hechlingen. (I need to give a shoutout to U.S.-based BMW off-road coaches Owen Balduf and Gina De Pasquale who’ve taught me a lot through the years on the BMW Efficiency Middle in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and RawHyde Adventures in Castaic, California. Their tutelage allowed me to pay attention extra on the R 12 G/S’s traits than my very own competence.)
The City G/S had unmistakable model, however it was a streetbike with 19-inch entrance/17-inch rear cast-aluminum wheels and 4.9/5.5 inches of entrance/rear suspension journey. For the R 12 G/S, BMW created an off-road-capable bike that’s an ode to the unique G/S that gained the Paris-Dakar Rally in 1983, 1984, and 1985. It has 21-inch entrance/17-inch rear cross-spoke tubeless wheels, 8.3/7.9 inches of entrance/rear journey, an Enduro trip mode, and an non-obligatory Enduro Package deal Professional that provides an 18-inch rear wheel and different off-road-ready upgrades.
The 1,170cc boxer within the R 12 G/S has been in steady manufacturing for the reason that R 1200 GS debuted for 2005. Again then it was rated at 100 hp and 85 lb-ft of torque. Refinements and revisions have bumped horsepower as much as 109, however torque stays the identical. Sure, there are many bikes on the market with increased numbers, however do you actually need extra?
Twist the throttle in the actual world – particularly on forest switchbacks, gravel climbs, or a dusty two-track windmill entry street like we did – and the boxer’s state of tune feels good. Easy, linear, and stuffed with character, the engine makes driving – particularly at gradual speeds – extra intuitive and fewer like a psychological math equation. No throttle drama. No clutch abuse. Torque climbs from simply off idle, delivering a predictable, confidence-inspiring surge whether or not you’re standing on the pegs or carving by means of curves.
On the Enduro Park, we put the R 12 G/S by means of its paces on a mixture of mud, gravel, sand, water crossings, and even some singletrack. I might swear the boxer beneath me was smiling again whereas I grinned inside my helmet. The R 12 G/S was taking me locations my very own 2015 R 1200 GS hasn’t.
GEAR UP:
On the pavement, the R 12 G/S rides like a sport-tourer within the twisties, with its low middle of gravity serving to the motorbike really feel a lot lighter than its moist weight of 505 lb. It suggestions in predictably, holds its line, and feels unflappable. The agency seat is much extra supportive than it appears to be like, and vibes are minimal even at 80 mph. It is a strong all-day tourer that simply occurs to like getting soiled too.
The selectable trip modes – Street, Rain, and Enduro (a fourth mode, Enduro Professional, comes with the non-obligatory Journey Modes Professional and Enduro Package deal Professional) – all ship the specified impact. Street mode supplies a crisp and balanced trip; Rain softens throttle response and ramps up ABS and TC intervention; and Enduro mode is optimized for low-traction situations with clean throttle response and minimal ABS/TC intervention.
The totally adjustable suspension – a 45mm inverted fork and a single shock on the Paralever single-sided swingarm – are tuned to take care of management on a variety of on-road and off-road situations, and there’s loads of journey to soak up hits from potholes, rocks, and roots.
Driving trails whereas standing up, the bike flowed underneath me, sleek and well-balanced. Engine response, gear modifications, and braking felt intuitive, neither too relaxed nor too aggressive. I used to be in a position to deal with steep gravel climbs, free descents, and singletrack with shocking ease. The R 12 G/S is a correct journey bike that may go as far into the backcountry as your consolation and expertise will permit.
Upright and pure, with extensive bars for leverage and a slender tank for management, the GS rider triangle is right whether or not seated or standing. At 5-foot-7, I discovered the 33.4-inch seat peak manageable. An non-obligatory Rallye seat will increase the peak to 34.2 inches, however – surprisingly – there aren’t any low seat choices.
The controls are intuitive, the ergonomics have been thoughtfully refined, and the entire bike felt good whether or not cruising, exporing, or charging onerous. The analog-meets-digital sprint – borrowed from the R 12 cruiser – provides some retro aptitude with a spherical speedometer and a small TFT for gear place, gas stage, trip mode, and different information. Easy, clear, and efficient.
As with most BMWs, choices abound. The Premium Package deal ($1,805) provides Hill Begin Help, Shift Assistant Professional, Headlight Professional, heated grips, cruise management, and tire-pressure monitoring. The Enduro Package deal Professional ($880) provides Journey Modes Professional, enduro footpegs, an 18-inch rear wheel, off-road tires, a big engine guard, silver handlebar risers (+0.79 inch), black handguards, and an extended sidestand. There are various extra particular person choices and equipment to boost or present consolation, model, safety, navigation, and storage.
The BMW R 12 G/S isn’t about chasing a spec sheet. It’s not attempting to outdo the competitors when it comes to energy or know-how. It’s a fusion of old-school cool and new-school efficiency. And it delivers on the promise of an sincere, balanced, soulful journey bike that’s enjoyable to trip in your favourite roads and trails or these you could have but to find.
2026 BMW R 12 G/S Specs
- Base Worth: $17,690
- Worth as Examined: $20,720 (Premium Pkg., Enduro Pkg. Professional, Gentle White)
- Web site: BMWMotorcycles.com
- Guarantee: 3 yrs., 36,000 miles??
- Engine Kind: Air/oil?cooled longitudinal opposed?Twin, DOHC, 4 valves per cyl.
- Displacement: 1,170cc
- Bore x Stroke: 101 x 73.0mm
- Horsepower: 109 @ 7,000 rpm (manufacturing unit declare)
- Torque: 85 lb?ft @ 6,500 rpm (manufacturing unit declare)
- Transmission: 6?velocity, hydraulically actuated single?plate dry clutch
- Remaining Drive: Shaft
- Wheelbase: 62.2 in. (62.4 in. w/ Enduro Pkg. Professional)
- Rake/Path: 26.9 levels (26.8 levels w/ Enduro Pkg. Professional)/4.8 in.
- Seat Top: 33.9 in. (34.4 in. w/ Enduro Pkg. Professional)
- Moist Weight: 505 lb (manufacturing unit declare)
- Gasoline Capability: 4.1 gal.
