The R 12 and the R 12 nineT are part of BMW Motorrad’s ‘Heritage’ lineup in India, and these bikes are for someone who’s got a lot of zeros in his/her bank account, but prefers to have a stylish premium motorcycle over everything else. However, the R 12 range can certainly smack a whip too if asked. While the R 12 can be had for Rs 19.90 lakh, the R 12 nineT comes in at Rs 20.90 lakh (ex-showroom).
The BMW R 12 and the R 12 nineT are underpinned by a new tubular steel bridge spaceframe which is lighter than before, and the rear frame is also bolted-on. This setup is suspended on 45 mm USD forks and a paralever swingarm, and both models also share the same braking hardware; 310 mm twin discs with radially-mounted 4-piston monobloc callipers, along with a 265 mm dual-piston floating calliper. Further protection is ensured by ABS Pro, dynamic traction control, drag torque control, and tyre pressure monitoring.
The 1170 cc air/oil-cooled boxer engine is common, but they produce varying outputs on both motorcycles. In the R 12, this engine produces 93 bhp and 11.21 kgm of torque, while in the R 12 nineT, the numbers receive a marginal bump, with the engine putting out 107 bhp and 11.72 kgm of torque.
In terms of equipment, the BMW R 12 and the R 12 nineT come packing with keyless functions, automatic headlamps, and while the R12 nineT features three riding modes, the R 12 makes do with two. Other kit includes hill-start assist, a quickshifter, heated grips and cruise control, which are part of an optional package.
This, or the Triumph Speed Twin, then?
