BMW’s R 12 S Brings Back the R90S… Kind Of

Cycle World

The 2025 BMW R 12 S revives the classic R90S look with modern engineering, but does it still capture the soul that made the original so beloved? Powered by BMW’s 1170cc air-oil-cooled boxer twin, the R 12 S shares its DNA with the R 12 nineT, featuring a new trellis frame, upgraded 45mm forks, revised suspension geometry, and Euro 5-compliant exhaust. In this full review, we test how those changes affect real-world performance, ride comfort, and character on canyon roads and in everyday use. From its heritage-inspired Daytona Orange paint and aluminum tank to its modern ride modes and quirks, this video explores whether the R 12 S is a true evolution of BMW’s heritage lineup or just a beautiful compromise.   Check out the story at https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-reviews/bmw-r-12-s-review/   Become a Channel Partner: https://octanemedia.co/home/become-an-advertiser/   Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6CLI74xvMBFLDOC1tQaCOQ  Read more from Cycle World: https://www.cycleworld.com/  Buy Cycle World Merch: https://teespring.com/stores/cycleworld

Transcript

00:00This is the 2025 BMW R12S, which BMW presents as the modern embodiment of the vintage R90S.

00:08Now, how well it embodies that retro style and spirit,

00:11and how well it performs as a modern bike, is what we're going to find out today.

00:14The S model is based on the R12 9T, which is the predecessor to the R9T, with a new chassis, suspension, brakes, as well as intake and exhaust to now meet Euro 5 requirements,

00:38which changed the same engine's character, but we'll get more into that in a bit.

00:42From a distance, you'd hardly notice the changes. It's obviously a part of BMW's heritage play.

00:46It looks and feels a bit longer. The intake trumpet is gone, which sleekens up the look a bit.

00:51It's a very similar silhouette, but underneath the skin, BMW did some smart work.

00:55We're talking a new trellis frame, lighter by a couple of pounds with a bolt-on subframe.

00:59Bigger forks, 43s are now 45s. The rear shock sits at an angle instead of straight up and down.

01:054.7 inches of travel, front and rear. Wheelbase is stretched almost an inch to 59.5.

01:11Steering rake is kicked out a touch more relaxed at 27.7 degrees and trail at 4.4 inches,

01:17which translates to a generally more stable machine at speed.

01:21Though, without an R9T here to compare directly, I can't really comment on tip-in and low-speed handling.

01:26But riding the R12 S, I'm not wanting for any changes in those areas.

01:30The Boxster engine remains the same. It's that same 1170cc, air-cooled, eight-valve unit.

01:39It still has the claimed 109 horsepower. We measured 92.89 on our dyno, just hits a little bit sooner now.

01:46Torque does take a little hit at 71.39, hitting at 6,500 RPM, but that feels strong and adequate when you're riding it.

01:53We have a new airbox underneath the seat and the twin exhaust pipes sticking out on the left side here.

01:58The old R9T had a low-decibel exhaust valve that was designed to kill some noise at low speeds.

02:03This system has a cat underneath the trans, which can be a little bit big both visually and physically,

02:09but it leads to a more direct and more pure-sounding exhaust.

02:13The cockpit's a bit of a mix. You know, elbows are relaxed, handlebars are comfy, easy reach.

02:21But, you know, between the 31.3-inch seat height and the rear-set foot pegs, the lower body can be a

02:27little bit cramped up. Not like sport bike cramped up, but a little bit cramped up. And you're more likely

02:33to stop for a break at the bottom of this 4.2-gallon gas tank than you are, you know, because of discomfort.

02:40The weird thing is that this bike has passenger pegs on the back, and it's obviously designed to be a

02:45solo rider bike. It has a removable subframe, and those passenger peg mounts are removable,

02:51although on the left side it does double as an exhaust mount. Still, visually, it looks extraneous.

02:58There's obviously no room for a passenger, so it makes me just wonder, why? Why not? Why not take that off

03:04for a cleaner look? Three ride modes. Rain, road, and dynamic. Rain softens the throttle

03:13for slick days. Road is balanced. Enough punch, not overwhelming. Dynamic is crisp, sharp, perfect

03:19in the mountains. A little jumpy in traffic, but up in the twisties, it'll give you a little more fire

03:24when you want it. I like a throttle application that matches my wrist action throughout the turn,

03:28not giving me more at first, so I do prefer to just ride it in road mode and twist harder when I want

03:33it. The gearbox is still a bit clunky, but that almost feels like part of the heritage play. The

03:37optional quickshifter is nice if you hit it just right, but it can also make the shifts jerky and

03:42abrupt. But with the given power delivery, it's easy enough to just hit third or fourth gear in the

03:46canyons and just ride through it, lugging a bit and revving a bit and enjoying yourself to the fullest.

03:51The R12S is planted. It doesn't bounce or waver through the turns. Mid-turn adjustments don't

03:57easily upset the chassis, and it eats rough roads well. It's heavy, yeah, at 485 pounds, but planted.

04:05Effort goes in, reward comes out. It's smooth and easy to ride. Not twitchy or sluggish, just a willing

04:11partner, curb after curb. It's not exhausting to ride. This isn't the bike that you take out to get your

04:16knees down, but if you know how to ride, you can still push it and find excitement where you want to.

04:20Fire it up and the boxer does its classic, you know, pull to one side. That, you know,

04:28really nostalgic feel. It idles a little bit lumpy, a little bit classic, really cool sound,

04:33and then you twist the throttle and it gives you that really pleasing sort of grrrr. You know,

04:39it's hard not to love. This is how boxers used to feel, you know, a little rough, a little raw,

04:44just really alive. Sort of feels like soul. This part of the experience feels so well designed,

04:49and as someone that rode a, you know, R90 slash 6, I had a 74 model in my 20s, it hits. It really,

04:57like, does strike that same nostalgic feel. It does remind me of my old bike,

05:01and I love that. That part feels really true and really authentic.

05:05Our R12S comes equipped with Quick Shifter Pro, Cruise Control, Heated Grips, and Hill Start Assist.

05:11The R12 9T bikes have some more options for screens and displays, even some HUD glasses if you want to drop

05:17$700 on a pair of shades that will totally kill your look. Something tells me the R12S rider cares

05:22a bit more about appearances and aesthetics than the rider that'll just take the one shape fits all

05:27smart glasses from BMW. Like the foot pegs, I hate that this bike has a multi-controller on the left grip.

05:32It has retro style round gauges and the multi-controller doesn't do anything other than take up room,

05:37both physically and visually, on your bars. If you want the things, you can buy them and install them, but why give us a remote with no TV?

05:43This is a retro play, just leave it off and keep it clean. Brakes are twin 310mm rotors with Brembo's up front.

05:50Plenty strong, plenty feel. Rear brake exists, but not in a way that I rely on them for anything other

05:55than trail braking. ABS is tuned well, wet or dry, and never interesting.

06:02The original R9T was designed and built by a very small group from BMW, including Ola Stenegard and Roland Stalker,

06:10and they were sort of always waiting for the other shoe to drop, for BMW executives to find out

06:15how much time and effort they were putting into this project and can it before it ever came to fruition.

06:20In the end, the model that resulted from their work was something very important.

06:25It's relaunched BMW's heritage line and the public responded.

06:29You know, the R9T was a bike that sold, the customers loved, that they rode, that they posted.

06:34And so, when they're working on the predecessors to that and the next, you know, heritage models

06:39in BMW's lineup, like the R18 and the R12, BMW was much more aware of the importance of these models

06:45and everyone had to sort of touch it. So, that original unity of vision was lost,

06:53and the bike sort of became a camel. You have these badges that sort of point to the sky,

06:58you know, the R12 badge down here just covers up a wiring void. The frame lines that are, you know,

07:04clearly meant to sort of match the tank shape here are all just a little off and it lacks that unity

07:11of vision and aesthetically just gets a little bit muddy compared to the original. It shares the same

07:16silhouette. It shares the same general aesthetic. It just doesn't feel as pure and authentic as that

07:24first one that was built by such a cool, just small team.

07:33BMW has made an all-around better bike. It rides well, it's more stable with better brakes and

07:38suspension, but the changes aren't huge and there were aesthetic compromises made to make those

07:43improvements possible. On a bike like the R12S, I don't want to see aesthetic compromises for modest

07:48performance gains. I want to see aesthetic mastery, beauty, refinement, but that's hard without unity

07:53of vision and unity of vision is hard with a huge team. But what remains is a bike that's easy to enjoy.

07:58It works well as a modern standard and it's fun to ride with plenty of power and a stable chassis.

08:03It looks good, especially this model, but it just lacks the magic of that first R9T and the magic is

08:08what I imagine riders are after with a model like this.

08:12Rip through a canyon and dynamic. Don't shift too much and let the boxers sing.

08:15It's not revolutionary, not all new, but it's fun. It's still soulful. It's a great bike to show up on.

08:21I mean, look at the pain. The R12 9T celebrates BMW's heritage in a way that feels imperfect in just

08:27the right ways. Analog in a digital age. And even if I do think the R9T did it better, BMW was going to have to

08:34go Euro 5 sometime and this one still hits.

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