BMW Motorrad is bringing back one of its most iconic looks with the R 90 S inspired R 12 S for 2025.
One of the first BMW motorcycles I was exposed to was a brilliant R 90 S owned by an acquaintance. The classic BMW was one of the most beautiful classics I have had the pleasure of seeing parked in my driveway and it made a lasting impression. Now BMW is finally paying homage to this iconic bike of the past with the new R 12 S which brings the same classic race-inspired aesthetic into the modern age.
"The defining design elements of our R 12 S include the handlebar-mounted cockpit fairing with the tinted windshield, the seat with contrast stitching, and the Lavaorange metallic paint finish as a nod to the legendary R 90 S Daytona Orange from 1975. The design is perfectly complemented by details such as the red-laid 'S' on the side covers, the red double line, and the brushed and clear-lacquered aluminium surfaces of the tank and seat hump," explains Alexander Buckan, Head of BMW Motorrad Design.
Building the R 12 S into a bike worthy of its sporty heritage saw BMW slap it with numerous standard product features such as the Option 719 Classic II wheels with wire spokes and shiny, naturally anodized aluminium rims, plus other high-quality components. The handlebars and fork tubes are in black, and the components of the Billet packs Shadow and Shadow II set, particularly high-quality technical accents. Components of the Billet pack Shadow are the left and right ignition coil covers, the oil filler screw, and the cylinder head covers coated in Avus black metallic matt. The Billet pack Shadow II includes the footrest system including foot brake and gear shift levers, the pillion footrests, the hand brake and clutch levers, the expansion tank covers for the front brake and clutch, as well as the handlebar end mirrors.
Better yet, all the same accessory products for the nineT such as titanium exhaust systems, soft bags, or navigation preparation can be added to the R 12 S.
With the BMW R 12 S, BMW Motorrad is expanding its Heritage range with a fitting tribute to the iconic R 90 S, which in 1973 not only set a sporty exclamation mark for BMW Motorrad with 67 hp and a top speed of 200 km/h in terms of riding dynamics.
Moreover, the then Chief Designer Hans A. Muth skillfully expressed the sporty ambitions in the design language and sent the BMW R 90 S, as the world's first production motorcycle, with a handlebar fairing designed according to aerodynamic aspects and a red-laid "90" in the R 90 S emblem of the engine, successfully into the race for the buyers' favour.
BMW Motorrad NZ is yet to announce local availability or pricing for the new R 12 S for the New Zealand market at the time of writing.