2024 BMW R 12 nineT and R 12 Preview

In 2024 BMW Motorrad riders will have two new motorcycles that rock a retro vibe, the R 12 and the R 12 nineT. These successors to the popular R nineT will be available during the first quarter of 2024 with pricing to be announced early next year.

These streetbikes have several similarities, sharing the same 1,170 air/oil-cooled boxer twin with updated cylinder head covers. The airbox has been relocated as well, now integrated underneath the seat. Both come equipped with a six-speed shaft-drive transmission, Dynamic Traction Control, and Engine Drag Torque Control. There are dual 310mm discs and radially mounted four-piston Monoblock calipers and a single 265mm disc, two-caliper setup at the rear. Both bikes also come with BMW Motorrad ABS Pro standard. Full LED lighting features on each machine as well.

A new steel trellis frame also features among the updates shared by both machines, which is now a single piece rather than the two-piece design utilized on the previous R nineT. As a result of the design change, engineers were able to eliminate a number of fastenings and drop overall weight.

There are numerous optional upgrades available for both bikes, including but not limited to heated grips, Hill Start Assist Pro, Cruise Control, Option 719 packages, Shift Assist Pro, and many other accessories and systems to let riders get the optimally customized ride.

The R 12 nineT is distinguished by a new aluminum tank with brushed and clear-coated panels along with a tail hump that integrates into the lines of the seat and rear section of the bike. Edgar Heinrich, head of BMW Motorrad Design, explained the aesthetic approach to the 12 nineT in a company press release:

“The purist design language is dominated by the clear tank/seat/rear line, in the style of the traditional /5 or the legendary R 90 S of the ‘70s. At first glance, the tank itself is a classic BMW boxer tank, with a typical bend in the lower edge and classic knee contact. The new R 12 nineT also features side covers in the area of the frame triangle for an authentic Roadster look—another reminiscence of BMW motorcycles of the 1970s.”

The 12 nineT also comes with dual round instruments, smoked rear turn signals, and a twin pipe exhaust system with chrome-plated pipes and front muffler. The second, rear muffler is electro-polished.

Engine output is slightly more impressive on the 12 nineT as well, with 109 hp available at 7,000 rpm and 85 lb.-ft. of torque on tap at 6,500 rpm. Additionally, the engine performance is managed by various ride modes, with Rain, Road, and Dynamic.

In terms of chassis elements, the R 12 nineT has 17-inch cast, light-alloy wheels front and rear and a slightly shorter wheelbase than the R 12. Its 45mm fork is fully adjustable and offers 4.7 inches travel. The paralever swingarm is linked to the rear shock which features rebound damping and spring preload adjustability.

The R 12 nineT will be available in three colors: Blackstorm Metallic, San Remo Green Metallic, or an Option 719 Aluminum in brushed aluminum and Night Black.

The R 12 is visually separated by its teardrop-shaped steel tank, which pays homage to “Toaster Tanks” featured on ‘70s-era /5 models. It comes with a single round instrument panel and the new exhaust layout features electro-polished pipes and front muffler along with a brushed finish rear muffler.

The mill on the R 12 offers 95 hp at 6,500 rpm and 81 lb.-ft. of torque at 6,000 rpm. It features just two ride modes, Roll and Rock. Roll is the mellower of the two, while Rock lets riders access the full power of the machine thanks to more immediate throttle response and less invasive DTC. Rock also initiates an irregular idle setting, presumably to improve the visceral feel of the machine at a standstill.

The R 12 also features a 45mm fork, but without the gamut of adjustability options available on the R 12 nineT. Suspension travel is less too, with 3.5 inches available front and rear. It rolls on cast light-alloy wheels, with a 19-inch front and 16-inch rear setup. Wheelbase is slightly longer than its sibling at 59.8 inches.

The R 12 will come in Blackstorm Metallic, Aventurine Red Metallic, or an Option 719 Thorium in Avus Silver Metallic.