BMW R 12

Which R 12 is sold in France, and at what price?

BMW Motorrad France lists the R 12 at €15,000 (maximum recommended price as of 1 January 2026) in the standard Blackstorm metallic paint. Gravity Blue metallic, new for 2026, costs €640 more. The Option 719 Beryllium package (€2,190) adds Meteoric Dust II metallic paint, the design exhaust with chrome-plated headers, a specific seat and billet parts. The A2 version is simply a factory power reduction to 35 kW (48 hp), priced at €0 in the configurator: same price, same bike.

For orders signed between 1 October and 31 December 2026 and delivered before the end of the year, participating dealers offer €2,100 off or in gear, hence the “from €12,900” headline. In February 2025 BMW France also launched a limited series of 15 bikes, the R 12 Julie Wood, priced at €21,400 at launch. In the United States, the 2026 R 12 sells for $13,145 plus destination.

The standard seat is a solo saddle: the passenger kit (seat and footrests) costs €215. The Comfort Package (€1,145) bundles Shift Assistant Pro (clutchless gear changes), cruise control, Hill Start Control Pro and heated grips; the Finition Pro package (€1,780) adds the alarm, the Headlight Pro and tyre pressure monitoring. The tubeless Option 719 spoked wheels cost €900 (black) or €895 (gold).

How does it differ from the R 12 nineT?

The R 12 shares its engine, one-piece tubular steel frame, under-seat airbox and “Twin Pipe” exhaust with stacked silencers with the R 12 nineT. Everything else is changed to make it a cruiser:

• 95 hp at 6,500 rpm and 110 Nm at 6,000 rpm, versus 109 hp and 115 Nm;
• a 19-inch front and 16-inch rear wheel instead of two 17-inch wheels;
• a 754 mm seat instead of 795 mm;
• a 14-litre steel tank inspired by the “Toaster” tanks of the 1970s BMW /5 models, instead of a 16-litre aluminium tank;
• a non-adjustable fork and 90 mm of travel, instead of a fully adjustable fork and 120 mm;
• Roll and Rock riding modes instead of Rain, Road and Dynamic, and a single round dial.

It weighs 227 kg ready to ride (220 kg for the nineT) and costs €3,300 less. The R 12 S, a 109 hp retro sports model sold alongside the R 12 nineT in the US, is not in BMW France’s catalogue.

What is the engine like?

The 1,170 cc (101 x 73 mm) air/oil-cooled flat-twin (boxer) has two overhead camshafts per cylinder, four radially arranged valves per cylinder and a balance shaft. On the R 12, BMW tuned it for low-down torque. Rock mode sharpens throttle response and gives the idle a deliberately uneven beat. It meets the Euro 5+ standard (BMW press kit and French spec sheet).

1000PS describes the boxer as powerful yet smooth and refined. Le Repaire des Motards finds it docile and pleasant between 4,000 and 6,000 rpm, but a little short of pull in sixth gear around 3,000 rpm. RevZilla Common Tread reports vibration through the bars and pegs from 5,600 rpm, and peak power and torque that arrive high in the rev range for a cruiser.

How does it handle?

The geometry is pure cruiser: a 1,520 mm wheelbase, 132.5 mm of trail and a 29.3° rake, on narrow tyres (100/90-19 and 150/80-16). Braking relies on twin 310 mm floating discs with radial four-piston monobloc calipers, with cornering-optimised ABS Pro and partially integral braking (the front lever also applies the rear brake).

Testers praise a stable, easy bike: Le Repaire des Motards says its overall balance “approaches perfection”, 1000PS finds it agile despite the cruiser styling, and RevZilla credits quick steering and brakes that “far exceeded” expectations. The criticisms are just as consistent: with 90 mm of travel and firm damping, the ride turns harsh on poor surfaces, and the footpegs touch down early in corners. Le Repaire des Motards also finds the front brake lacking progression.

What equipment does it have?

Standard: Roll and Rock modes, DTC traction control, engine drag torque control (which limits rear-wheel slip on downshifts), ABS Pro, Keyless Ride, full LED lighting, USB-C and 12 V sockets. The round dial only shows speed, gear and riding mode; a rev counter is an accessory, while the 3.5-inch TFT screen is an option (€140), as is Connected Ride Control (€300). RevZilla regrets the lack of a fuel gauge or range readout.

Who is it for?

BMW pitches its low seat at beginners and returning riders, and the A2 version opens it to newly licensed riders. At €15,000 it sits between the Harley-Davidson Nightster (€11,390) and Honda Rebel 1100 (€12,099) on one side, and the Indian Scout Bobber (€15,390) and Triumph Bonneville Bobber (€16,695) on the other.

What about fuel and servicing?

BMW claims 5.1 L/100 km on the WMTC cycle: with 14 litres of usable fuel, the calculated range is about 275 km. In its test, German magazine Motorrad & Reisen recorded 5 L/100 km, and the low-fuel warning came on after 190 km of brisk riding. The rider’s manual calls for a service with oil change every 10,000 km or every year, including a valve clearance check. BMW France’s warranty runs for 3 years with unlimited mileage.

Any recalls?

In November 2024 BMW registered a recall with Germany’s KBA covering R 12, R 12 nineT, R 1300 GS and R 1300 GS Adventure bikes built up to October 2024: moisture can get into the right-hand switch unit and cause electrical failures, up to the engine stalling while riding. The switch is replaced free of charge with an improved part, which BMW says has been fitted at the factory since 1 October 2024, so 2026 R 12s are not affected. In the United States the same fault was handled through a service campaign rather than an NHTSA recall; no other recall was found (NHTSA, RappelConso).