As I’m flying through the air over the trail, missing the hard right turn I’m supposed to make, my first thought is, “Wow, the R 12 G/S climbed that 25-foot, near-vertical trail much better than I expected. I guess I didn’t need that much throttle.” My second thought? The really great brakes on this bike don’t do much good when you’re airborne.
When I landed, I grabbed every ounce of braking I could and skidded to a stop halfway into the woods. Phew. Death avoided. Now, I had to drag 500 pounds of motorcycle out of the woods and back onto the trail. The new 2026 BMW R 12 G/S is still a big bike. If you couldn’t tell already, I like this bike.
Before we get to my adventures with the R 12 G/S, hop in the WABAC Machine with me back to 1980. After a couple of years spent cobbling together engines, frames, and off-road parts into rough prototypes, BMW officially unveiled the R 80 G/S motorcycle—G for Gelände (terrain/off-road) and S for Straße (street). The adventure motorcycle category was born.
Although a lot has changed since then, some things remain the same. Strong, ongoing interest in retro bikes has manufacturers, including BMW, continuing to build modern motorcycles with classic styling. BMW’s R nineT retro roadster, launched in 2014, was a huge success. While the R nineT Urban G/S variant nodded to the original, it lacked the off-road chops to be taken seriously as an authentic Gelände machine.
Enter the 2026 BMW R 12 G/S.
With the latest iteration of this retro platform—the R12 roadster launched two years ago—BMW had the chance to design the chassis from the ground up to better accommodate different variants of the classic-styled bikes. The 2026 BMW R 12 G/S truly pays homage to the original R 80 G/S in both form and function, and, boy, did 21st-century BMW nail it.
- The 2026 BMW R 12 G/S is a beaut. The ground-up redesign of the R 12 platform enabled BMW to design the G/S not only to look fantastic, retaining the wonderful design lines of classic bikes, but also to function at the level BMW buyers have come to expect. BMW wanted a bike that looked like the original R 80 G/S, and the resemblance is remarkable. The 2026 iteration is genuinely a beautiful retro adventure bike.
- The R 12 motor didn’t need much tweaking to work as a G/S powerplant. There’s a reason the boxer engine has been the cornerstone of BMW’s adventure lineup for decades. The 1170cc air- and oil-cooled variant isn’t cutting-edge tech. However, with 109 horsepower and 85 ft-lbs of torque available, it’s more than enough—and über-reliable. It also brings some serious advantages off-road. The gearing, torque, and engine inertia offer great flexibility on the trail. First gear covers a broad range of situations, from slow-speed crawling to quicker trail runs. Off-pavement, I never needed anything above second gear. Yes, you’ll be slipping the clutch a bit in some tight spots, but the engine’s tractability keeps that to a minimum.
- The airborne episode I started this review with gave the 2026 BMW R 12 G/S an unexpected suspension test—and it passed with flying colors. Landing the 504-pound bike felt smooth and composed. The fully adjustable 45mm inverted fork has an 8.3-inch stroke, while the fully adjustable shock controls 7.9 inches of wheel travel. Overall, the suspension is surprisingly plush for a retro-styled bike.
- Geometry feels more relaxed than the spec sheet suggests. The long-feeling front end and tall, rolled-forward bars can make steering feel vague at times, requiring a bit more attention to where you’re pointing the bike. Once adjusted to it, the ride is both fun and confidence-inspiring.
- While ergonomics are subjective, they were spot-on for me. The pegs allow a reasonable knee bend, along with the short reach to the grips, making the G/S cockpit a very comfortable place to be. The handlebars can be rolled forward for better standing comfort and control or back for more precise steering while seated.
- Seat height was a concern before I got on—it shouldn’t have been. Even with Enduro Package Pro, I was nearly flat-footed and never felt the bike was too tall. The tank shape also allows for a secure grip when standing, while the brake pedal has two height positions to accommodate sitting and standing.
- The 2026 BMW R 12 G/S has two main variants, and one soul. The standard G/S has a 21-/17-inch wheelset, a flat solo seat, road-oriented footpegs, a traditional round speedometer with a digital LCD inset and 12-volt socket (a slim micro-TFT display is optional), and keyless ignition. The Enduro Package Pro ups the off-road ante. It gets an 18-inch rear wheel, off-road tires, enduro footrests, a large engine guard, handguards, a 20mm bar rise, and a longer sidestand. Going with the Enduro Package Pro setup, the seat height increases from 33.85 inches to 34.45 inches. In practice, the Enduro setup is more manageable than the numbers suggest. If you’re planning to leave the pavement, get the Enduro Package Pro upgrade.
- Despite its dirt-focused styling, the BMW R 12 G/S is surprisingly capable and enjoyable on pavement. It’s stable, smooth, and reasonably nimble on back roads. Sure, you’re upright in the wind with a stretched-out front end. However, wide handlebar and comfortable seat help soak up miles with ease. If you get the Premium Package—hill start assist, a quickshifter, heated grips, cruise control, and TPMS—the R 12 G/S becomes a legit light ADV tourer. The 4.1-gallon fuel tank should offer decent range, but the lack of a fuel gauge or range display is a miss for Enduro Package Pro customers.
- The 2026 BMW R 12 G/S offers modern tech in retro clothes. One of the perks of a modern retro bike is technology. The R 12 G/S comes standard with traction control, motor slip regulation, and ABS—all cornering-aware. Three riding modes—Rain, Road, and Enduro—have corresponding preset throttle response, traction control, and ABS settings. Upgrade to Enduro Package Pro, and you get a fourth mode—Enduro Pro. Switching between Ride modes and turning off TC is facilitated by dedicated handlebar buttons, making personalization for changing terrain quick and easy. Ride modes cannot be individually customized, unfortunately—BMW engineers call the shots.
- The brakes do the job, provided the wheels are on the ground. Up front, it’s dual 310mm discs with traditionally mounted Brembo two-piston calipers and steel-braided lines. Out back, you get a 265mm disc with another two-piston caliper. ABS Pro is standard, providing confident, lean-angle braking in the corners.
- This is a BMW, so naturally, there’s a long list of individual extras to customize the bike. The gamut runs from headlight upgrades, Rallye seats, and engine guards to a pillion package, BMW GPS system, and Intelligent Emergency Call. The two Packages cover the most important things and are well worth the asking prices; budget $880 for Enduro Package Pro and $1805 for the Premium Package.
- Pricing starts at $16,995, but you’re going to need a bigger wallet. Fully equipped as I tested it, with the Enduro Pro and Premium Packages plus a few other nice additions, brings the cost of the 2026 BMW R 12 G/S close to $21,000. The style and functionality of motorcycles in the BMW Heritage lineup doesn’t come cheap.
- The 2026 BMW R 12 G/S is its own animal. If you appreciate retro styling, simple lines, and modern performance, and want a machine that can hang with any middleweight ADV out there, the R 12 G/S should be high on your list. Even if retro isn’t your thing, you can love the boxer engine’s unique character and proven off-road performance despite the bike being in BMW’s Heritage lineup, rather than under the Adventure umbrella. If you want a boxer, but don’t want a heavier, more complex R 1300 GS, this might be the bike you’ve been waiting for.
Action photography by Markus Jahn
RIDING STYLE
2026 BMW R 12 G/S Specs
ENGINE
- Type: Horizontally opposed twin
- Displacement: 1170cc
- Bore x stroke: 101 x 73mm
- Maximum power: 109 horsepower @ 7000 rpm
- Maximum torque: 85 ft-lbs @ 6500 rpm
- Top speed: 124+ mph
- Compression ratio: 12.0:1
- Valvetrain: DOHC; 4 vpc
- Fuel delivery: EFI w/ 50mm throttle bodies
- Cooling: Air and oil
- Transmission: 6-speed
- Clutch: Dry; hydraulically actuated
- Final drive: Shaft
CHASSIS
- Frame: Steel trellis w/ bolt-on rear subframe
- Front suspension; travel: Fully adjustable Marzocchi inverted 45mm fork; 8.3 inches
- Rear suspension; travel: Fully adjustable BMW Paralever progressive-damping shock; 7.9 inches
- Wheels: Wire-spoked w/ aluminum rims
- Front wheel: 21 x 2.15
- Rear wheel: 17 x 4.00 (Enduro Package Pro: 18 x 4.00)
- Front tire: 90/90 x 21
- Rear tire: 150/70 x 17 (Enduro Package Pro: 150/70 x 18)
- Front brakes: 310mm discs w/ Brembo 2-piston calipers
- Rear brake: 265mm disc w/ Brembo 2-piston floating caliper
- ABS: BMW Motorrad ABS Pro
DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES
- Wheelbase: 62.2 inches (Enduro Package Pro: 62.4 inches)
- Rake: 26.9 degrees (Enduro Package Pro: 26.8 degrees)
- Trail: 4.8 inches
- Ground clearance: 9.4 inches (Enduro Package Pro: 10.0 inches)
- Seat height: 33.9 inches (Enduro Package Pro: 34.4 inches)
- Fuel capacity: 4.1 gallons
- Curb weight: 505 pounds
COLORS
- Standard: Night Black Matte
- Optional: Light White
- Option 719 Aragonit: Sand Rover Matte / Racing Red Matte / Mineral Grey Metallic Matte
2026 BMW R 12 G/S Price: from $16,395 MSRP
