X years of BMW air-cooled boxer retro: from R1100R via R nineT to R 12 family. 94-109bhp, 220-245kg, 754-862mm seat, $11,990 starting."> X years of BMW air-cooled boxer retro: from R1100R via R nineT to R 12 family. 94-109bhp, 220-245kg, 754-862mm seat, $11,990 starting."> X years of BMW air-cooled boxer retro: from R1100R via R nineT to R 12 family. 94-109bhp, 220-245kg, 754-862mm seat, $11,990 starting.">
Install app
30-Year Arcs / Heritage Nakeds / BMW R 12 Lineage
BMW Germany

BMW R 12. Air-cooled boxer retro — replaces R nineT for 2024 onwards.

BMW renamed the R nineT to R 12 for 2024 model year. Same air/oil-cooled 1170cc boxer twin, more variants now: R 12 cruiser (94bhp, 754mm seat), R 12 nineT roadster (109bhp, 795mm seat), R 12 G/S adventure-style (109bhp, 862mm seat) for 2026, and R 12 S café racer (109bhp). 30 years of BMW air-cooled boxer retro: from 1996 R1100R via R nineT (2014) to today's R 12 family.

1996
R1100R
2006
R1200R
2016
R nineT (gen 1)
2026
R 12 family (4 variants)
Continual audits are underway to verify local pricing for every bike in every market. Apologies for any gaps you see while this is in progress.
1996 R1100R · oil-head boxer

BMW R1100R

First BMW oil-head boxer naked (post 1993 launch)
Telelever front, paralever rear, ABS optional

1085cc air/oil-cooled boxer twin
80 bhp
97
239
780
Air/oil coolingTelelever frontParalever rearShaft driveBosch fuel injectionABS (option)Catalytic converter (option)Anti-lift suspension geometry
Known issues
  • Single-spark per cylinder = rough running
  • Final drive splines wear at 40k miles
  • Fuel pump failures common (~$500)
  • Telelever front lacks dive feel
  • Heavy at 239kg for a naked
$8,200
~$17,500
$2.5-4k
2006 R1200R · 2nd-gen oil-head

BMW R1200R

DOHC oil-head launched 2007
40bhp more than R1100R, ABS standard, EVO brakes

1170cc DOHC boxer twin
110 bhp
119
224
800
DOHC twin-sparkTelelever frontParalever rearABS standardHeated grips (option)Riding modes (option)Cruise controlSingle-sided swingarm
Known issues
  • Final drive seal failures at 30-40k miles
  • Throttle cables stretch
  • Servo brakes (pre-2007) recalled in some markets
  • Stock seat firm
  • ABS module replacement $600+
$8,995
~$15,000
$3-5k
2016 R nineT (gen 1) · retro reborn

BMW R nineT

Retro-styled R 12 family ancestor
Heritage line launched 2014, 110bhp, customizable accessories

1170cc air/oil-cooled boxer (HP2-derived)
110 bhp
119
222
785
Air/oil coolingTelescopic forks (NOT Telelever)Single-sided swingarmBrembo radial calipersABS standardRiding modes (Rain/Road)Modular bodyworkInline (NOT Telelever)TFT
Known issues
  • Cam chain tensioner can fail before 30k miles
  • Final drive seal still a thing
  • No fuel gauge — small low-fuel light only
  • Limited electronics (no traction control)
  • Resonator pipe gas-flow restrictive (popular accessory swap)
$11,995
~$16,400
$7-9k
2026 R 12 family · 4 variants

BMW R 12 family

R 12 cruiser $11,990 · R 12 nineT $14,420
R 12 G/S $14,995 · R 12 S $17,495

1170cc air/oil-cooled boxer (R 12 family)
109 bhp
115
220-245
754-862
Air/oil coolingKeyless rideRiding modes ProCornering ABS Pro3.5in TFTHeated grips (option)Hill Start Pro (option)Shift Assistant ProUSB-C port4-bike family on shared platformFuel gauge — finallyABS Pro standard
Known issues
  • Still no fuel gauge on early R 12 cruiser
  • Air-cooled = no Euro 5+ extension certain
  • R 12 cruiser only 94bhp (A2 friendly tune)
  • Most desirable kit is optional, not standard
  • Resale on first-year 2024 R 12 nineT softer than expected
$11,990
$14,420
$14,995
// 30-Year Delta

What actually changed.

1996 → 2026 · 30 years of "progress"
BMW renamed R nineT → R 12 in 2024 Same engine, new name, more variants BMW Motorrad's traditional naming convention is R[displacement][type]: R1100R, R1200R, R1250GS. The R nineT was the odd one out — named for BMW's 90th anniversary in 2013. For 2024 BMW reverted to convention: R 12 = 1200-class boxer, with R 12 cruiser, R 12 nineT roadster, and now R 12 G/S adventure for 2026.
Air/oil-cooled — last ones standing Boxer is the survivor Most modern motorcycle ranges have abandoned air-cooling for tighter Euro 5/5+ compliance. BMW's air/oil-cooled HP2-derived boxer in the R 12 family is one of the last big air-cooled engines on UK sale (alongside Honda CB1300 in some markets, and the Ducati Scrambler air-cooled twin). Unclear how Euro 6 will treat it.
4 variants, 1 platform Spread the development cost R 12 cruiser, R 12 nineT, R 12 G/S, R 12 S all share the same engine, frame, swingarm, brakes, and electronics. Differences are styling, suspension travel, wheel sizes, seat heights — letting BMW serve cruiser, café-racer, retro-roadster, and adventure-styled markets from one platform. Margins are higher; engineering investment is one-time.
R 12 G/S is actually capable off-road 21in front, 9.4in clearance Unlike the R nineT Urban G/S (2017-2023), which was styling-only, the 2026 R 12 G/S has actual off-road geometry: 21"/17" wheels (or 21"/18" with Enduro Pro Package), 9.4" ground clearance, 8.3" front travel, 33.9" seat. Tribute to the 1980 R 80 G/S that won Paris-Dakar in 1981.
Tall seat is the norm now 754-862mm range The R 12 family covers a wider seat-height range than any current BMW lineup: 754mm (cruiser, accessible) to 862mm (G/S Enduro Pro, ADV-spec). Within one platform a rider can pick whichever ergonomics fit them. The cruiser at 754mm is one of BMW's lowest-seated bikes ever.
Premium pricing $11,990-17,495 Even the cheapest R 12 starts at $11,990, and the R 12 S café racer hits $17,495. By comparison: Triumph Speed Twin 1200 $11,995, Yamaha XSR900 $10,500, Ducati Scrambler 1100 Sport $14,495. BMW positions R 12 as 'premium retro' — paying for the boxer character, build quality, and brand heritage.
// Sources

Where these numbers come from

Every figure on this page is from a published manufacturer spec sheet or a reputable review publication. No press junkets, no opinions in the spec data. Inflation calculated using US BLS CPI tool.

1996 R1100R BMW Motorrad heritage · MCN heritage · Wikipedia (BMW R1100R)
2006 R1200R MCN review · Cycle World archive · BMW Motorrad UK archive
2016 R nineT (gen 1) MCN review · Cycle World archive · Wikipedia (BMW R nineT)
2026 R 12 family BMW Motorrad UK · MCN review · Cycle World archive · Cycle News · Rider Magazine