Presentation BMW R 12 S: Homage in orange
The R 12 S is intended to pay homage to the legendary R 90 S from 1973, the first BMW machine to have a handlebar fairing.
- Ingo Gach
The BMW development department had noticed that the 1973 R 90 S designed by Hans A. Muth, the brand's first machine with a handlebar fairing, still looks very proper today. Interestingly, BMW presented the "Concept Ninety" in 2013 as a commissioned work by designer Roland Sands. With its small fairing, it was already clearly reminiscent of the R 90 S and was painted in a striking orange. 51 years after the R 90 S and eleven years after the "Concept Ninety", BMW finally brought the R 12 S production motorcycle onto the market.
Strictly speaking, the R 12 S is actually just a special model of the R 12 NineT, because the key components of the R 12 S – handlebar fairing, rear seat cover, short license plate holder, handlebar end mirror, twin-tube exhaust and wire wheels – have been available from BMW as accessories for some time. Only the "lava orange metallic" paint finish has not yet appeared in the range.
Successful retro model
However, BMW wants the R 12 S to be seen as an independent model and the retro bike can be considered a success. The R 90 S is clearly recognizable as a role model and yet the R 12 S does not deny its modernity. The handlebar fairing is amazingly similar to the original, just a tad smaller. Even if the 16-liter aluminum tank looks more voluminous, the predecessor even had two liters more in the steel tank.
At the time, the R 90 S was the first BMW to feature a rear apron behind the long seat – a steep template for today's designers, who turned it into a pillion seat cover and ended the rear much earlier. This is why a short wheel cover sticks out behind it, complete with license plate holder and indicators. The front mudguard is also considerably smaller than the original.
BMW R 12 S Teil 1 (7 Bilder)
BMW
)Great attention to detail
It speaks for the attention to detail of the developers that the forked bracket of the mudguard is also back, albeit in a more modern interpretation. The double, stacked rear silencers on the left-hand side are perhaps a little exaggerated, although they are on the basic R-12 series, but the R 90 S had an elongated exhaust pipe on each side.
The wire-spoke wheels are very classic; cast rims would be a stylistic incongruity here. BMW very wisely chose the widespread combination of 120/70-17 front and 180/55-17 rear tires, which opened up a wide selection of tire models for retrofitting. To the delight of nostalgics, the cockpit features two round instruments with pointers indicating speed and revs. As the icing on the cake, BMW also provides handlebar end mirrors – which are in fashion, but are not found on the original model.
Orange connects
The orange – described by BMW as "lava orange metallic" – serves as a link to the R 90 S, but is darker than the "Daytona Orange" of the original model. While the paintwork of the R 90 S on the tank, fairing and rear end changed to a very light, almost white gold tone, on the R 12 S it is a color that BMW defines as "brushed aluminum". Nevertheless, it also features the thin, red double finish. Enthusiasts may be disappointed that BMW did not choose the original color from 1973, but the "lava orange metallic" still looks extremely good. The seat bench is then also given orange stitching. The cylinder head covers with milled aluminum parts are also striking.
Technically the R 12 NineT
Technically, the R 90 S is unsurprisingly completely the same as the R 12 NineT. However, it offers a very good basis, even though the air-cooled 1170 cm3 boxer made its debut 20 years ago, it is still in good shape and is considered to be very reliable. In its current version, it produces 109 hp at 7000 rpm and a beefy 115 Nm at 8500 rpm. The R 12 S is said to weigh 220 kg unladen, which is interestingly five kilograms more than the 1973 model, which was the first BMW to break the 200 km/h sound barrier with 67 hp, while the successor reaches 215 km/h.
BMW R 12 S Teil 2 (8 Bilder)
BMW
)Dynamic, but no handling miracle
Even though experience has shown that the R 12 NineT is not a real handling miracle due to its wheelbase of 1511 mm and a steering head angle of a rather flat 62.3 degrees, it still negotiates bends of all radii smoothly and poses no problems for any rider. The R 12 S has a seat height of 795 mm, so that even those around 1.70 m can still reach the ground with both feet. The two radial four-piston brake callipers on the front wheel with 310 mm brake discs provide very good deceleration. The R 12 S offers the three riding modes Rain, Road and Dynamic as well as ABS Pro, DTC, quickshifter, keyless ride, adaptive cornering lights, cruise control, hill start assist and heated grips as standard.
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Not cheap
BMW is pricing the R 12 S, which will be available from March 2025, at 22,545 euros. That sounds a lot at first, as the R 12 NineT is already available from 17,410 euros. But if you add all the extras that come as standard on the R 12 S, it is even cheaper, because the handlebar fairing alone costs 827 euros.
The decisive difference is the orange-silver paintwork on the R 12 S, which is not available for the R 12 NineTauch for an extra charge. Fun fact at the end: BMW advertises the R 12 S with the slogan "Let's paint the town orange", whereas up to now the competitor KTM had leased the color orange for itself with the corresponding advertising slogans.
(mfz)