BMW Teases New 2024 R 12 nineT Model

Admin · May 11, 2023

BMW says the new 2024 R 12 nineT roadster will be here later this year. The rest of the details are vague. (BMW Motorrad/)

The R nineT has proven to be one of BMW’s biggest breakout hits of the last decade, so it’s not surprising the brand keeps looking at ways to capitalize on that sales success. Variants have been plentiful over the years but most were just mild cosmetic takes on the original, keeping the basic 1,170cc boxer-with-a-retro-aesthetic formula intact.

Now, with 2023 also marking BMW’s 100th anniversary, Team Bavaria says a new model, the 2024 R 12 nineT, is waiting in the wings and will soon be officially launched—exactly 10 years after the release of the original R nineT. It’s not a cruiser, as we speculated last year, but the latest take on the popular classic roadster in BWW’s Heritage lineup.

(To be clear, this isn’t a true launch announcement, but since BMW has a penchant for vague pronouncements and teasing releases, here we are.)

Similar fly line, same design language: a more refined take on the R nineT? Clearly, not the cruiser we were expecting when we first heard about it last year. (BMW Motorrad/)

The new R 12 nineT (it’s awkward to write, let alone speak) hews pretty closely to the visual design language of its predecessor, with the same air/oil-cooled boxer engine configuration, though in this case we’re talking about the latest latest generation of that powerplant, which got new cylinder heads for the 2021 model year to improve combustion and efficiency to meet Euro 5 emissions regulations. The R 12 nineT’s engine is said to have redesigned intake and exhaust systems, but details remain veiled, so we’re not entirely sure the rest of the engine hasn’t been tweaked further.

So despite the appearance of “12″ in the name, the new model doesn’t appear to have a bigger displacement; according to BMW, that number has been added to reflect the model’s engine capacity, as it has long done on other BMW motorcycles, like R 1250 GS. (For context, the “nine” in R nineT refers to 90 years since the launch of the first BMW motorcycle, the R 32. We know…confusing.) The R 12 nineT will be introduced in the second half of 2023, and in celebration of “100 Years of BMW Motorrad.”

Related: BMW R 12 Coming

The air/oil-cooled boxer engine returns—we assume with the same 1,170cc displacement. There are new mods to the intake and exhaust. (BMW Motorrad/)

Only a few other details were issued by BMW and we can only guess at the specs, but we can see that the new R 12 nineT still combines the strong visible character of the boxer engine with a classic design language while adding a few new cosmetic details but keeping the tech (mostly) up to date.

The front fender is redesigned as is the LED headlamp, and BMW claims the instrument gauges were refined as well, though they still appear to be fully retro. Another key returning feature is the R nineT’s modular concept; the one-piece tubular space frame is paired with a bolted-on rear subframe that can be easily removed. On that point, the new R 12 nineT also features an LED taillight unit integrated into the seat giving it a bobbed look that will no doubt lend itself to modifications or replacements.

New bodywork includes an LED taillight unit integrated into the seat. (BMW Motorrad/)

BMW Motorrad Head of Design Edgar Heinrich spoke about some of the new detailing on the R 12 nineT, saying: “The purist design language is dominated by the clear tank/seat/rear line, in the style of the traditional /5 or the legendary R 90 S of the ‘70s. At first glance, the tank itself is a classic BMW boxer tank, with a typical bend in the lower edge and classic knee contact. The new R 12 nineT also features side covers in the area of the frame triangle in the authentic Roadster look—another reminiscence of BMW motorcycles of the 1970s.”

A pair of fully retro round analog clocks look unchanged from the earlier iteration. Both have a digital display that gives additional information; other electronic features remain vague. (BMW Motorrad/)

The new model also brings the expected, up-spec inverted fork at the front and the return of BMW’s paralever system with shaft drive out back. Radially mounted Brembo four-piston Monoblock calipers clamping twin discs up front and steel braided brake lines have been confirmed for the R 12 nineT as well, and we assume the new model will come with ABS if not ABS Pro (BMW’s lean-sensitive ABS). Ride modes and other electronic aids are sure to make the cut too. Out back you can clearly see a left-side exhaust system with a double muffler and conical end pieces, which is a marked departure from past models and perhaps a clue to other tweaks.

A new look for the double exhausts. We assume the wire-spoke wheels are just one of the options available. (BMW Motorrad/)

The R 12 nineT will be a 2024 model year bike when it’s officially introduced later this year; no other information was released regarding price or dealer availability. Naturally, BMW has confirmed there will be a slew of accessory and customization options offered for the R 12 nineT as part of the Motorrad accessory range.

The familiar paralever swingarm and shaft drive arrangement appear on the new R 12 nineT. (BMW Motorrad/)