It seems to have been a week or two of retro bikes. We bumped into this R12-S at Motorrad East Rand. As far as we understand it, only 15 of these bikes were imported into SA, so we figured that we’d take it for a ride before it’s snapped up…
In 2025, BMW Motorrad expanded its Heritage range with a tribute to the R 90 S which, in 1973, was a big model for BMW Motorrad.
That bike boasted 67 hp and a top speed of 200Kph. It had double disk front brakes and a sporty riding position.
The original R90 S enjoyed much racing success for BMW – including a class win in the 1976 Production TT race on the Isle of Man. It also won the Daytona 200 in the same year at the hands of a guy called Steve McLaughlin. His teammate, Reg Pridmore used the bike to win the first ever AMA Superbike Championship in the USA.
That’s something!
Ffwd to 2025 and BMW came up with this tribute model that is, well just a little bit more advanced than the original.
It might still be powered by an air-cooled boxer engine, but that pushes a slightly stronger 109 horsepower and accelerates and tops out at quite a bit more than the old one.
The smoky silver bits and twin red pinstripes are faithfully carried over from the R90S, while a unique ‘S’ logo on the side covers pays homage to the distinct engine badging on the R90S.
This specific model is the R 12 S Daytona package dressed in a Lava Orange Metallic skin of paint. It has a beautiful cockpit fairing and a short rear tail with integrated LED lighting.
Both the handlebars and upside-down fork tubes are also finished in black – helping to contrast against the orange livery. Also coming in matte black are the left and right ignition coil covers, oil filler screw, and cylinder head covers. The two tone seat is a lesson in stitching.
This one is littered with BMW’s option 719 detail, from the laced aluminum wheels to the little billet covers on the brakes. Bar-end mirrors and the detail on the tappet covers. Billet aluminum goodies include the levers, foot controls, fluid reservoir covers, and more.
It all looks pretty damn gorgeous.
Look closer and you’ll see that the silver sections on the fuel tank and seat cowl are actually a brushed aluminum finish. The aluminum tank and tail are optional extras for the regular BMW R 12 nineT, but they’re standard issue on the R 12 S.
Included is a properly modern electronics package, seriously beefy suspension and the very latest in braking technology. The list of stuff is long, you can look it all up if you like – but this is a thoroughly modern motorcycle that’s dressed as a classic.
Our short spin took us from the busy East Rand dealership, out to the local golf club for a photo shoot and back in again. It drew envious looks wherever we parked her.
There is a sense of indestructibility around a bike like this. It’s a solid, comfortable performer with a tasty big bore engine and that definitive Boxer throb as you open her up a bit and shift through that quickshifter. She’s deceptively grunty. While it might ‘only’ have 110 hp, that 115 Nm of torque is fun, providing much thrust from low revs.
It’s a brilliant bike to ride, comfortable, powerful and oh – so- good looking!
And this one’s on the floor with very low mileage at BMW Motorrad East Rand.
Go and have a looksee. They also have lots of other pre loved bikes on the showroom floor.
Engine: Air/oil-cooled two-cylinder, four-stroke boxer engine with two overhead camshafts, four radially arranged valves and central counterbalance shaft
Capacity: 1170 cc
Rated output: 80 kW (109 hp) at 7,000 rpm
Max torque: 115 Nm at 6,500 rpm
Traction control: BMW Motorrad DTC
Frame: Tubular space frame
Front suspension: Upside-down fork, diameter 45 mm, spring pre-load adjustable, rebound and compression adjustable
Rear suspension: Cast aluminium single-sided swing arm with Paralever brace, central progressive spring strut, spring pre-load adjustable, rebound damping adjustable
Wheelbase: 1,511 mm
Wheels: Aluminium spoke wheels
Tyres: 120/70 ZR17; 180/55 ZR17
Brakes: Twin front disc brake, floating brake discs, diameter 310 mm, 4-piston Monobloc radial brake caliper, Single rear disc brake, diameter 265 mm, 2-piston floating caliper
ABS: BMW Motorrad Integral ABS Pro (partial integral)
Seat height: 795 mm
Fuel: 19.5 litres.
L x H x W 2130 x 1070 x 870 mm
Weight fully fueled: 220 kg
Standard Equipment:
ABS Pro, DTC, Riding Modes, Cast Aluminium Wheels, Keyless Ride, Chrome Plated Header, Aluminium Fuel Tank, Dynamic Brake Light, LED Flashing Turn Indicator, Headlight and Taillight, Daytime Riding Lights, 12V Socket, Revolution Counter, USB Port.
