The all-new BMW R12 might just be the cruiser some titos were waiting for

BMW Motorrad has one of the more diverse lineups in the motorcycle industry. Sport bikes, nakeds, ADVs, cruisers, sport-tourers, and even scooters (electric or otherwise)—you name it, the German brand probably has it. One could argue that this roster’s already almost complete.

Keyword: almost. The way I see it, the lineup still has a few gaps, one of which the new R12 will help fill in.

Apologies in advance for all the letters and numbers, but to the uninitiated, the R12 is the cruiser-ish version and the second successor to the R nineT. It was released alongside the R12 nineT when the famed nameplate turned 10 (and BMW Motorrad, 100) in 2023. The two new models are almost one and the same, but the R12 might just be the more important one between them. The reason being? It’s the real tito bike.

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In a nutshell, it’s like a baby R18 that’s a lot less intimidating and easier to handle. It’s perfect for that tito who bought a big-ass 1250 at the height of the pandemic but never got to make full use of his bike.

See, that’s the thing about the R12. It’s just right. It isn’t too big, too powerful, or too tech-loaded. And unlike with a GS, you won’t have to go on long tours or trail rides just to feel like you’re maxing out your bike.

Make no mistake, it’s still a huge machine—it’s also actually longer than the R nineT—but it’s not nearly as heavy as the R18 and its massive 1,800cc boxer engine. As a daily rider, the R12’s a lot more practical. The riding position is also a lot more comfortable than in the R nineT, with the footpegs placed lower and a bit to the front and with the higher handlebar.

The bike’s engine is right in the sweet spot as well. The 1,170cc boxer in the R12 is a detuned version of the R12 nineT’s. It doesn’t need to be revved high to be enjoyed, so it allows the bike to cruise peacefully on the highway without any complaints. It’s perfect for quick breakfast rides out of the city on weekends.

Of course, when you need to make full use of the 95hp and 110Nm of torque, it’s just there on tap. The engine comes alive when you go heavy on the throttle, and it packs quite the punch. This paired with the quickshifter (with auto blip) on that six-speed gearbox make for fun, spirited rides. It’s easy to ride fast through corners as the bike handles well, and the excellent brakes give you a healthy bit of confidence as well.

It’s not as capable as a GS—that’s a given. It’s purely built for cemented roads, and that’s it. But that’s okay, because the assumption here is that it’s for the tito who no longer has the time for off-road adventures, anyway.

The ride itself, meanwhile, isn’t perfect. On asphalt-covered highways, it’s as comfortable as any motorcycle. But on poorly paved roads like the ones in the city, it can get a bit bouncy and can be painful for your bottom. Not to mention that the clutch here is still as stiff as ever, so riding this daily through traffic might not be that pleasant. Which is fine, because a lot of titos are limited to weekend rides anyway, right?

To get maximum performance, you can also switch between the two ride modes, Rock and Roll. If these sound familiar, that’s because those are the same ones you’ll find on the R18. Roll is equivalent to the standard ‘Road’ mode, while Rock functions like ‘Sport.’ You can choose your setting with the simple push of a button on the handlebar. Here in the Option 719 trim, you’ll see the modes change on the 3.5-inch digital instrument cluster.

No complicated tech here, as that small display is as far as it goes in that department. The cluster shows typical information such as the speedometer, rev gauge, gear indicator, and multiple trip meters. It also has both an engine and outside temperature gauge, but it doesn’t have a fuel gauge. Because retro? I honestly don’t know. The fact that there’s also a tire pressure monitoring system and BMW ConnectedRide functions available but there’s no information for the fuel baffles me. As with the classic bikes, the only time you’ll have an idea of how much gas you have left is when the fuel light goes on.

Now, that’s as far as my complaints go. That’s the only real gripe I have about the R12, because fuel-gauge issues aside, I believe the Bavarian motorcycle brand knocked it out of the park—especially the design.

With one glance, you might not realize how much the R nineT has changed. But if you inspect the details—how the frame is exposed, how the lines have been reworked, and how the overall look as been cleaned up—you’ll start to see the differences. A noticeable one is the removal of the R nineT-badged air intake on the right side and the addition of chrome R12 badges under the fuel tank, the latter making it even more similar to the R18.

The R12 is also slightly longer than before. It’s clear when it’s standing side-by-side with an R nineT Urban G/S. The R12 also has a larger 19-inch front wheel and a wider teardrop-shaped tank, both of which make the bike look even bigger.

As I also mentioned earlier, this is the Option 719 variant, and it comes not just with the added tech but also aesthetic upgrades. Apart from the unique badges sprinkled all around the bike, the R12 Option 719 also gets bar-end side mirrors, a black comfort seat, and gold and black accents on the silver tank. While the standard R12 looks beautiful as it is, I think this is just way, way better.

I did say that my only gripe is the lack of a fuel gauge. A minor issue to add to that would be the stiff clutch lever. But if there was something else, it would probably be the price tag. The R12 starts at P1.215 million (add P100k for the Option 719 package), and despite that being even more affordable than the R12 nineT, that’s still a lot of money for a no-frills classic roadster.

But I can’t complain about that too much, though, because I’m sure the titos that this bike will cater to won’t have any problems with the SRP. I reckon a lot of them are just happy that they won’t have to shell out too much anymore for a weekend bike just to get that BMW badge. Current 1250 owners most definitely won’t be swapping their adventure tourers for an R12, but I wouldn’t be surprised if some would-be GS customers end up getting the cruiser instead.