2026 BMW R 12 G/S First Look
A modern take on the classic R 80 G/S
BMW announced a new R 12 G/S model for 2026, adding a new adventure model to its air/oil-cooled Boxer platform.
The new R 12 G/S essentially replaces the R nineT Urban G/S from the previous-gen platform, drawing similar styling inspired by what many consider to be the first adventure bike, the BMW R 80 G/S. Unlike the nineT model, the R 12 G/S drops the “Urban” aspect and puts more emphasis on the G/S, or “Gelände / Straße”, German for “Off-road / Street” side of its name.
That means a 21-inch aluminum cross-spoke front wheel instead of the Urban G/S’ standard 19-inch alloy cast wheel (a 19-inch wire spoke was also available), inverted fork, longer suspension travel, and ergonomics optimized for off-road riding.
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The R 12 G/S is powered by a 1,170cc air/oil-cooled Boxer, similar to the one powering the R 12 cruiser and R 12 nineT roadster. On the G/S, the engine claims an output of 109 hp at 7,000 rpm and 84.8 lb-ft. at 6,500 rpm. The engine is mounted to a one-piece tubular bridge steel spaceframe shared across the R 12 range, but with the steering head raised and moved further forward to support upright riding and a wider steering angle. The tubular steel rear frame is bolted onto the main unit.
The G/S comes standard with three ride modes, Rain, Road, and Enduro, with an additional Enduro Pro available as part of the Enduro Package Pro option. The standard modes manage throttle response as well as settings for Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), engine drag torque control (MSR), front wheel lift detection, and anti-lock braking systems. The ABS is lean-sensitive, and can be turned off for the rear wheel, and the DTC system can also be disabled for off-road use.
The front wheel is suspended by a fully-adjustable 45mm Marzocchi inverted fork, while the rear is attached to a Paralever swingarm with an angled fully-adjustable shock absorber. Suspension travel is 8.3 inches up front and 7.9 inches at the rear, both considerably longer than the Urban G/S which offered just 4.9 inches at the front and 5.5 inches at the back.
The braking system consists of dual axially-mounted two-piston Brembo calipers and a 310mm rotor for the front wheel, and a single two-piston caliper and 265mm rotor for the rear.
The R 12 G/S comes standard with a flat solo seat that rests 33.9 inches from the ground, with a two-person seat available as an option with the same saddle height. BMW is also offering a Rallye Seat option which raises the seat height to 34.6 inches. Those seat heights are for the standard 17-inch wheel, but the R 12 G/S will also be available with the Enduro Package Pro option which swaps in an 18-inch wheel and adds another 0.6 inches to the seat height.
Enduro Package Pro also adds off-road optimized footpegs with a larger contact area and three rows of spikes, plus a handlebar riser that raises the controls 0.8 inches higher. With or without the riser, the aluminum handlebar is adjustable.
The R 12 G/S comes standard with a round analog instrument dial with a small display and a 12 V socket. BMW also offers an optional 3.5-inch TFT display.
The lighting system is all LED, including the 5.75-inch headlight (the smallest round light in BMW’s range) and a 12V socket. An adaptive Headlight Pro upgrade is also available.
Other optional features include the Shift Assistant Pro bidirectional quickshifter, Hill Start Control Pro with auto mode, Bluetooth-enabled Connected Ride Control, a tire pressure monitoring system and, in markets where it’s available, Intelligent Emergency Call.
The 2026 BMW R 12 G/S starts at $16,395 for the standard model in Night Black Matte with a black frame, gold-colored forks and a black seat. The Light White paint option featured in most of the supplied photos costs extra, as does the Option 719 Aragonit which comes in Sand Rover Matte/Racing Red Matte/Mineral Grey Metallic Matte (U.S. pricing for these paint options is not yet available). U.S. market launch is expected by early Q3 2025.
2026 BMW R 12 G/S Specifications | |
|---|---|
Engine Type | Air/oil-cooled two cylinder boxer motor, four valves per cylinder |
Displacement | 1,170cc |
Bore x Stroke | 101.0 mm x 73.0 mm |
Horsepower | 109 hp at 7,000 rpm (claimed) |
Torque | 85 lb-ft. at 6,500 rpm (claimed) |
Compression Ratio | 12.0:1 |
Engine Control | BMS-O with throttle-by-wire |
Clutch | Single-disk dry clutch, hydraulically operated |
Transmisson | Constant-mesh 6-speed manual, cardan drive shaft |
Frame Type | Tubular steel space frame |
Front Suspension | Inverted 45 mm Marzocchi fork, compression, rebound and spring preload adjustable; 8.3 inches of travel. |
Rear Suspension | Aluminum Paralever swinging arm, directly linked WAD spring strut, spring base, rebound and compression damping adjustable; 7.9 inches of travel. |
Front Brake | Twin 310 mm floating disks with axially-mounted two-piston Brembo calipers. |
Rear Brake | Single 265 mm disk with 2-piston floating caliper. |
ABS | BMW Motorrad ABS Pro (lean angle optimized) |
Rake/Trail | 26.9° / 4.76 inches (standard) 26.8° / 4.78 inches (Enduro Package Pro) |
Wheelbase | 62.2 inches (standard) 62.4 inches (Enduro Package Pro) |
Front Wheel | Aluminum cross-spoke, 2.15x21" |
Rear Wheel | Aluminum cross-spoke, 4.00x17" (standard) Aluminum cross-spoke, 4.00x18" (Enduro Package Pro) |
Front Tire | 90/90-21 |
Rear Tire | 150/70 R 17 (standard) 150/70 R 18 (Enduro Package Pro) |
Length | 86.6 inches |
Seat Height | 33.9 inches (standard) 34.4 inches (Enduro Package Pro) |
Curb Weight | 505 pounds (claimed) |
Fuel Capacity | 4.1 gallons |
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Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.
More by Dennis Chung
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Im holding out for the 1800 cc model !
Ok, so I sold my old 1983 R80ST to a friend. Stupid me.
Comparatively, this thing is a tank with H.P. I would never use.
Will have to remain happy with my 1991 R100 Classic model or my 1975 R90S. The S model goes to my son. He got his Cal motorcycle drivers license on it when he was 16.