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2026 BMW R 12 G/S Review
The R 12 G/S is part of BMW’s Heritage lineup, which includes all R 12 and R 18 models. The standard color is Night Black Matte. Optional colors include Light White (below) and Sand Rover Matte/Racing Red Matte/Mineral Gray Metallic Matte (above). (Photos courtesy BMW)
Celebrating 45 years in 2025, BMW’s GS line gets better with age. The R 1300 GS was Rider’s Motorcycle of the Year in 2024, previous versions were our MOTY in 2005 and 1995, and the F 800 GS was MOTY in 2009.
BMW went retro in 2017 with the R nineT Urban G/S, one of several variants in the R nineT lineup under the Heritage banner powered by the air/oil-cooled 1,170cc opposed-Twin rather than the liquid-cooled boxers in the R-GS series. Based on the R nineT Scrambler, the Urban G/S paid homage to the original R 80 G/S with a white gas tank, high front fender, and headlight cowl, blue accents on the tank, and a bright red seat.
An engine guard is included in the optional Enduro Package Pro.
The R nineT name debuted in 2013 to honor BMW Motorrad’s 90th anniversary. In 2024, BMW changed the name to R 12 to conform to its usual model naming convention. Bikes in the R 12 lineup include the R 12 cruiser, the R 12 nineT roadster, the R 12 S cafe racer, and new for 2026, the R 12 G/S.
Cross-spoke wheels are tubeless.
BMW has produced motorcycles powered by boxer Twins since 1923, so they’re a Big Deal. To test the new R 12 G/S, BMW invited us to Munich, Germany. In addition to paved backroads, we did some testing at BMW’s legendary Enduro Park in Hechlingen. (I must give a shoutout to U.S.-based BMW off-road coaches Owen Balduf and Gina De Pasquale who have taught me so much over the years at the BMW Performance Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and RawHyde Adventures in Castaic, California. Their tutelage allowed me to concentrate more on the R 12 G/S’s characteristics than my own competence.)
The Urban G/S had unmistakable style, but it was a streetbike with 19-inch front/17-inch rear cast-aluminum wheels and 4.9/5.5 inches of front/rear suspension travel. For the R 12 G/S, BMW created an off-road-capable bike that’s an ode to the original G/S that won the Paris-Dakar Rally in 1983, 1984, and 1985. It has 21-inch front/17-inch rear cross-spoke tubeless wheels, 8.3/7.9 inches of front/rear travel, an Enduro ride mode, and an optional Enduro Package Pro that adds an 18-inch rear wheel and other off-road-ready upgrades.
Retro style.
The 1,170cc boxer in the R 12 G/S has been in continuous production since the R 1200 GS debuted for 2005. Back then it was rated at 100 hp and 85 lb-ft of torque. Refinements and revisions have bumped horsepower up to 109, but torque remains the same. Yes, there are plenty of bikes out there with higher numbers, but do you really need more?
The R 12 G/S feels well-balanced whether seated or standing.
Twist the throttle in the real world – especially on forest switchbacks, gravel climbs, or a dusty two-track windmill access road like we did – and the boxer’s state of tune feels just right. Smooth, linear, and full of character, the engine makes riding – especially at slow speeds – more intuitive and less like a mental math equation. No throttle drama. No clutch abuse. Torque climbs from just off idle, delivering a predictable, confidence-inspiring surge whether you’re standing on the pegs or carving through curves.
At the Enduro Park, we put the R 12 G/S through its paces on a mix of mud, gravel, sand, water crossings, and even some singletrack. I could swear the boxer beneath me was smiling back while I grinned inside my helmet. The R 12 G/S was taking me places my own 2015 R 1200 GS hasn’t.
Ground clearance is 9.4 inches (10 inches with optional Enduro Package Pro).
GEAR UP:
Helmet: Arai Contour-X
Jacket: Held Carese Evo
Gloves: Held Sambia 2
Pants: Held Torno Evo
Boots: BMW GS Competition
On the pavement, the R 12 G/S rides like a sport-tourer in the twisties, with its low center of gravity helping the motorcycle feel much lighter than its wet weight of 505 lb. It tips in predictably, holds its line, and feels unflappable. The firm seat is far more supportive than it looks, and vibes are minimal even at 80 mph. This is a solid all-day tourer that just happens to love getting dirty too.
The selectable ride modes – Road, Rain, and Enduro (a fourth mode, Enduro Pro, comes with the optional Ride Modes Pro and Enduro Package Pro) – all deliver the desired effect. Road mode provides a crisp and balanced ride; Rain softens throttle response and ramps up ABS and TC intervention; and Enduro mode is optimized for low-traction conditions with smooth throttle response and minimal ABS/TC intervention.
This bike is outfitted with Option 719 cylinder head covers and other accessories.
The fully adjustable suspension – a 45mm inverted fork and a single shock on the Paralever single-sided swingarm – are tuned to maintain control on a wide range of on-road and off-road conditions, and there’s plenty of travel to absorb hits from potholes, rocks, and roots.
Riding trails while standing up, the bike flowed under me, graceful and well-balanced. Engine response, gear changes, and braking felt intuitive, neither too relaxed nor too aggressive. I was able to tackle steep gravel climbs, loose descents, and singletrack with surprising ease. The R 12 G/S is a proper adventure bike that can go as far into the backcountry as your comfort and skills will allow.
Channeling the spirit of the three-time Dakar-winning R 80 G/S.
Upright and natural, with wide bars for leverage and a narrow tank for control, the GS rider triangle is ideal whether seated or standing. At 5-foot-7, I found the 33.4-inch seat height manageable. An optional Rallye seat increases the height to 34.2 inches, but – surprisingly – there are no low seat options.
The controls are intuitive, the ergonomics have been thoughtfully refined, and the whole bike felt just right whether cruising, exporing, or charging hard. The analog-meets-digital dash – borrowed from the R 12 cruiser – adds some retro flair with a round speedometer and a small TFT for gear position, fuel level, ride mode, and other info. Simple, clean, and effective.
Sand = gas on + brain off.
As with most BMWs, options abound. The Premium Package ($1,805) adds Hill Start Assist, Shift Assistant Pro, Headlight Pro, heated grips, cruise control, and tire-pressure monitoring. The Enduro Package Pro ($880) adds Ride Modes Pro, enduro footpegs, an 18-inch rear wheel, off-road tires, a large engine guard, silver handlebar risers (+0.79 inch), black handguards, and a long sidestand. There are many more individual options and accessories to enhance or provide comfort, style, protection, navigation, and storage.
The BMW R 12 G/S isn’t about chasing a spec sheet. It’s not trying to outdo the competition in terms of power or technology. It’s a fusion of old-school cool and new-school performance. And it delivers on the promise of an honest, balanced, soulful adventure bike that is fun to ride on your favorite roads and trails or those you have yet to discover.
2026 BMW R 12 G/S in Light White
2026 BMW R 12 G/S Specs
Base Price: $17,690
Price as Tested: $20,720 (Premium Pkg., Enduro Pkg. Pro, Light White)
Website: BMWMotorcycles.com
Warranty: 3 yrs., 36,000 miles
Engine Type: Air/oil‑cooled longitudinal opposed‑Twin, DOHC, 4 valves per cyl.
Displacement: 1,170cc
Bore x Stroke: 101 x 73.0mm
Horsepower: 109 @ 7,000 rpm (factory claim)
Torque: 85 lb‑ft @ 6,500 rpm (factory claim)
Transmission: 6‑speed, hydraulically actuated single‑plate dry clutch
Final Drive: Shaft
Wheelbase: 62.2 in. (62.4 in. w/ Enduro Pkg. Pro)
Rake/Trail: 26.9 degrees (26.8 degrees w/ Enduro Pkg. Pro)/4.8 in.
Seat Height: 33.9 in. (34.4 in. w/ Enduro Pkg. Pro)
Wet Weight: 505 lb (factory claim)
Fuel Capacity: 4.1 gal.
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