Based on the R 12 platform that underpins a number of Heritage series motorcycles from the German marque, the BMW R 12 G/S is, we feel, the right kind of throwback. The price in the UK is identical to that of the R12 nineT roadster, coming in at £14,420 (approximately ₹15.96 lakh before duties). Considering the BMW R 12 nineT costs ₹21.10 lakh in India, we expect the BMW R 12 G/S to carry a similar price tag when it reaches our shores.
For those who remember, the BMW R 80 G/S was where the famed G/S moniker first appeared. In the annals of BMW history, G/S stands for Gelande/Straße or in English, terrain and street, underscoring the dual-purpose nature of the motorcycles associated with the G/S tag, the forebears of modern adventure motorcycles.
The BMW R 12 G/S carries this illustrious legacy forward, as it has been developed with this dual-purpose usage in mind. Powered by the familiar 1,170cc, air/oil-cooled, DOHC boxer motor, making 109PS at 7,000rpm and 115Nm at 6,500rpm, the motorcycle comes with ride-by-wire and thus has three ride modes as standard – Road, Rain and Enduro, with an optional fourth mode, called the Enduro Pro, becoming available if you select the eponymous package. There’s also an optional quickshifter.
It rolls on large 21-inch/18-inch wheels, though the 18-inch at the rear is optional, the standard one being a 17-incher. Tyre size is 90/90-21 at the front, with 150/70 at the rear irrespective of wheel size. Consequently, the 18-incher increases the ground clearance by 15mm and the wheelbase by 5mm. The suspension is fully adjustable with dual-piston axial calliper brakes with 310mm rotors at the front and a 265mm disc at the rear with a mono-pot calliper. The bike weighs a reasonable 229kg.
We expect the new BMW R 12 G/S to reach India later this year or early next year.
