The charm of the old or the passion of youth. Normally, we humans have to choose. But in the motorcycle industry, mixing genres is not prohibited, and even interesting to explore. Since 2013, the BMW nineT has found itself at a crossroads. From a distance, its round headlight and fuel tank, its spoked rims and its short rear loop, as well as its enormous flat-twin, highlight the Bavarian roadsters of the 1970s. But up close, the 180mm rear tire, huge inverted fork and radially mounted calipers leave no doubt about the potential of this bike, which is not just there to impress on the café terrace.
And the brand new R12 that you discover here intends to remain this scoundrel disguised as an old lady. Because yes, the 2024 vintage is much newer than it seems. Around a more compact tank, the air box, formerly on the right side, has migrated under the saddle while the tubular steel frame is now made in one piece. And more generally, the geometry of the NineT has changed, with a lower saddle and a shorter rear loop. Subtle changes therefore, to tip the balance of this roadster towards the “retro” side more than the “neo”.
Boxers that are still just as attractive
At the heart of this revised framework, the magic ingredient remains. It’s the same 1,170 cc flat-twin, air and oil cooled. He that many observers condemned too early in the face of ever stricter standards, but that BMW has strived to evolve to make it survive. Fortunately, because this “flat” immediately makes you smile when you start. Its hoarse sound does not suffer too much from Euro 5 and the reversing torque from the action on the starter recalls the unique character of this boxer. Which can be easily tamed in the city, thanks to real flexibility of operation. Despite its displacement, it’s not difficult to let it move around 1,500 rpm and a little below, whatever the gear, before picking up on a trickle of throttle. Gear selection and clutch remain firm, but you still quickly get your bearings. Above all, we immediately notice the arrival of a shifter. And unlike the majority of other flat-twins which do not always adapt well to this tool, it works wonderfully here, both up and down!
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Powerful enough but XXL approval!
This makes you want to project yourself far from the city, especially since the twin-cylinder has lost none of its muscles, he who still develops 110 hp at 7,000 rpm and almost 12 mkg of torque at 6,500 rpm. Obviously, any stretch of highway with an unprotected roadster feels more like a punishment than anything else. At least the cruise control, the well-contained vibrations at 130 km/h and the heated grips in cool weather help pass the moment. Which we quickly forget when putting the wheels on the secondary network. There, by playing the shifter, we benefit from a mechanical pleasure that has become rare. Loaded with torque at all levels, without relying on raw power – even if this flat can take turns, well – the boxer takes you at a very high speed and with a muffled and powerful sound. Each exit from the curve is made to the rhythm of the horizontal beating of the pistons. A little less lively when cornering than before, due to a less sporty geometry, the R12 has not become “flat plane” however. Its rigor once on the corner and the permissive ground clearance allow it to tickle the edges of the envelopes signed Continental and to stick to many other roadsters on paper that are more “capable”. Finally, the excellent suspensions do not debate much but work remarkably well to offer the right amount of comfort, without ever penalizing the behavior.
Conclusion and opinion on the new BMW R12 nineT
A little less noisy than before, a bit less dynamic, the new R12 remains this roadster that catches the eye and makes you smile on every outing. Although it is no longer very young, the 1,170 cm3 flat-twin that powers it has not aged a bit. In these times, its roundness and its character at mid-range, inviting for a stroll, even make it perfectly current. In short, the pleasure on the handlebars remains immense… and inversely proportional to the pain when signing the check for €18,290 before personalization.
