Battling Sydney morning traffic on a Monday isn't usually the highlight of anyone's week, but returning the BMW R12GS to Bike Biz at Granville after a weekend of riding gave me plenty of time to think about what BMW has created here. And the more I rode it, the more I became convinced that this might actually be the bike that the GS should have always been.
A weekend with BMW's latest boxer-powered adventure bike reveals a machine that might just be what many riders have been asking for all along
First impressions matter, and BMW has absolutely nailed the styling on this one. It's a stunning tribute to the R80GS from the 1980s, and like the R12S before it, they've managed to create something that's both nostalgic, yet thoroughly modern. The tank shape, the red seat styling, even that little TFT screen, it all works together beautifully.
Funny thing about that screen, actually. When I first saw it, I wasn't convinced. I thought it should have had traditional clocks. But the more I've ridden the bike, the more I've come around to it. It's subtle, it's got useful information like tyre pressure monitoring, but it doesn't dominate the cockpit. You can get clocks as standard, but the TFT is one item I would option up.
The lack of a fuel gauge is always a point of contention, but honestly it doesn’t particularly bother me. It’s got trip metres and a low fuel warning, that's all I really need. Though I know it bothers a lot of people. Should a modern adventure bike have a fuel gauge? I'm not convinced it matters.
A Proper Off-Road Machine
When I first jumped on this bike, the first thing I noticed was how tall it is. This particular model has the Enduro pack, which means it's got an 18-inch rear wheel instead of the standard 17-inch, to go with that 21" front tyre and long travel suspension. The result? It’s tall and at 5’9" I'm on tippy-toes when I come to a stop. If I was buying one of these, I'd probably go without the enduro pack and stick with the 17-inch rear.
It has 240mm of ground clearance and over 200mm of suspension travel front and rear that is really, really plush. I found myself aiming at potholes, all in the name of scientific research of course. The suspension makes it a proper off-road bike. And I mean proper. I'm not a hardcore enduro rider, I'm comfortable on dirt roads, but serious off-roading isn't really my thing. But if you are into riding technical trails through the bush, this bike would handle it easily. At around 215 kilos dry weight, it's significantly lighter than the big GS models, which makes a huge difference when you're off the tarmac.
And that gets me thinking, is this actually the bike that GS purists have been screaming for all these years? BMW's adventure touring range has evolved into something that's arguably more sports tourer than adventure tourer, at least with the standard R1300GS and R1250GS. But if you're more off-road focused, the R12GS could be exactly what you've been waiting for.
Remember the R9T Urban GS? That was really just a styling exercise, a road bike dressed up in GS clothing. This one is the real deal. A proper off-roader with the looks to match.
The riding position is excellent. Wide bars give you great leverage, and when I was standing on the pegs it is really comfortable. There's no massive reach to the bars, and the whole ergonomic package just works. The seat looks brilliant with that red styling, but more importantly, it's actually comfortable with room to move around.
This particular bike has what BMW calls the comfort pack, which includes heated grips and cruise control. The quick-shifter is excellent, working smoothly both up and down. It's not as clunky as some other boxer quick shifters I've used, and it's got this great little "thromp" sound when you shift from first to second, second to third.
That Glorious Boxer Character
What's really interesting is how BMW has managed to get four very different bikes out of the same engine and essentially the same chassis. The R12, the R12nineT, the R12S, and now this R12GS – they all have distinctly different characteristics in terms of rider ergonomics and styling, but they're all based on the same platform. It's brilliant engineering.
And that engine. That glorious boxer engine. I love the fact that it's still air and oil cooled. I don't know how BMW has managed to get it through emissions regulations but I'm glad they have. It's got 109 horsepower and 115 Nm of torque, and it's based on the original R1100 engine from around 2007. That's pretty old tech, but it's a great engine with so much character. The 1300s and even the 1250s are great bikes, but BMW has refined some of that boxer character out of them. This one has it in spades. If you've ridden an old school boxer, you know what I'm talking about.
The more I think about it, the more I reckon this could be the bike that the R1300GS should have been. Don't get me wrong, I love the R1300GSA, it's probably the best bike I have ever ridden, but something a little bit lighter, a little bit more off-road focused, with that raw boxer character? That's appealing. But what I personally would love to see is a 800cc-900cc boxer with this GS styling, that for me would tick all of the boxes for a true Paris Dakar tribute bike.
The BMW R12GS is available now through BMW Motorrad dealers across Australia. For more information about pricing and specifications, contact your local dealer or visit bmw-motorrad.com.au