2024 BMW R 12 nineT Review | First Ride

June 12, 2024 8 min read

The BMW R 12 nineT merges classic flash with modern dash.

The 2024 BMW R 12 nineT is the latest addition to BMW’s storied lineup of heritage motorcycles, blending classic design elements with modern technology and performance. This classically styled roadster helps celebrate the 100th anniversary of BMW Motorrad.

The horizontally opposed twin-cylinder engine is as synonymous with BMW as V-Twins are with Harley-Davidsons. The boxer is a BMW hallmark, long known for its distinctive aesthetic and linear power delivery. A 1,170cc air/oil-cooled boxer is proudly on display in the R 12 nineT.

The R 12 nineT looks stunning, especially in its San Remo Green Metallic colorway, a $325 option over the standard Black Storm Metallic. The sculpted aluminum front fender mount is a nice touch.

The R nineT was introduced in 2013, capturing the attention of riders who wanted the appearance of a vintage cafe racer but with modern performance and capabilities. More than 110,000 have been shuffled out of BMW dealers.

For 2024, the model has changed names to include a displacement reference, the “12” added to this R 12 nineT. With a new exhaust and different tuning, the low-slung boxer produces 107 hp and is fitted into a new one-piece frame. The chassis is shared with the new R 12 cruiser ($12,345), which is detuned to 95 hp to satisfy European A2 license requirements. Both engines have identical torque curves below 6,000 rpm.

The R 12 nineT’s exhaust system has new header pipes with a crossover tube pumping burned gases to a chamber below the engine that houses the catalytic converter, now with a lambda sensor after the cat to help meet Euro 5 regulations.

GEAR UP

Helmet: HJC DS-X1

Jacket: Alpinestars Hoxton V2

Pants: Alpinestars Copper V2

Gloves: Alpinestars GPX V2

Boots: Alpinestars Soho

BMW R 12 nineT | Equipment

The R 12 nineT starts at $16,990 including its $695 destination fee. Adding optional equipment can quickly vault MSRP. The Select Package adds $1,524 to the price and includes an up/down quickshifter, cruise control, heated grips, Hill Start Assist Pro, and Connected Ride Control with a Bluetooth interface.

A new steel-trellis frame replaces the previous two-piece frame, eliminating some fasteners and slightly reducing its weight, also resulting in a cleaner appearance. The subframe is detachable to enable customization.

Forking over another $2,275 accesses the delectable Option 719 package. It features a red frame and is capped off brilliantly by a brushed finish on the aluminum fuel tank, windscreen, rear fender, and a tail hump (a $1,020 option on its own). It also features a slathering of machined billet-aluminum components, including cylinder head covers, adjustable hand and foot controls, bar-end mirrors, and expansion-tank cover, plus a different seat and exhaust system.

The optional aluminum tailpiece helps create one of the nicest butts on a production motorcycle. The turnsignal lamps serve double duty as taillights to keep the rear end tidy.

But wait, there’s more! A minimalist 3.5-inch TFT instrument panel can be added for $145, but BMW wanted to give buyers the choice to opt for the newly designed twin round analog gauges, which are perhaps more appropriate for the retro-inspired nineT. Tubeless wire-spoke wheels are a $695 option to replace the standard cast-aluminum hoops, if that’s the look you prefer.

All versions of the nineT include keyless ignition, an IMU to inform traction control and cornering ABS, ride modes (Dynamic, Road, and Rain), full LED lighting, a USB-C charging port, and a 12-volt outlet.

The R 12 nineT has a minimalist TFT instrument panel.

BMW R 12 nineT | Test Ride

The assemblage of nineTs sitting in front of our Spanish hotel looked marvelous, especially with the aluminum tail humps blending with the fuel tank’s bare aluminum sides. The bikes look both classy and classic.

The controls might appear befuddling, but BMW’s system is fairly easy to defuddle.

With a 31.3-inch seat height, the nineT is fairly easy to straddle and hold its 485-lb curb weight upright. Its 4.2-gallon tank is 1.2 inches shorter and is also narrower between the knees than it was previously to position the rider closer to the handlebar. The riding position is sporty but not punishing, a good compromise for a cafe racer such as this. The digital instrument panel fitted to our bikes is tiny but usable.

The R 12 nineT presents a shape unique in motorcycling. The stacked pair of mufflers with conical end caps is a new feature for the 2024 model.

Firing up the engine is accompanied by the customary opposed-Twin twinge that rocks the bike to the right, with the new exhaust system emitting the traditional boxer blat. It’s not mellifluous but sounds somewhat authoritative.

The linear powerband avails its rider with good grunt regardless of engine speed, and it really comes alive in the midrange. Max torque of 85 lb-ft hits at 6,500 rpm, and its 107 hp peak arrives at 7,000 revs with another 1,500 rpm of rev-ability before hitting the redline at 8,500 rpm. Owners will want to burn premium-grade fuel, as I heard hints of preignition pinging when applying large throttle inputs in taller gears.

A traditional-looking round headlight adds retro charm but holds a modern LED lamp with integrated LED running lights.

The nineT continues to use a single-plate dry clutch, which can be overwhelmed if a rider slips it excessively, and it demands a fairly heavy pull despite its hydraulic actuation. Gearbox action feels vintage compared to most modern transmissions, requiring considerable lever travel to engage the next gear. BMW’s Shift Assist Pro is available for the first time on a nineT, but it swaps gears with lurches unbecoming of a premium roadster like this. For smoothest gearchanges, I did them manually.

A new fuel tank allows a rider to snuggle up closer to the handlebar for improved front-end feedback.

A wide handlebar supplies decent leverage to overcome a lazy 27.7-degree rake angle with 4.4 inches of trail and a long 59.5-inch wheelbase. As sporty as the nineT is, it’s not exceptionally agile, which made me wonder if the standard steering damper is necessary. Adding input through your feet is somewhat thwarted by slippery footpegs.

Suspension action from the fully adjustable 45mm inverted fork is excellent. The rear damper – also with 4.7 inches of travel – was reangled to perform better without a linkage and uses travel-dependent damping. The shaft-drive arrangement adds weight compared to a chain, which makes the rear end less responsive when absorbing bumps. A hydraulic preload adjuster knob is conveniently located near the rider’s right knee, while the adjustable rebound damping screw is on the shock.

Whether hunting for apexes or cappuccinos, the R 12 nineT will get you there in style.

When riding a debonair bike like the nineT, a rider wants to look smooth, but throttle reapplication from a closed throttle can be abrupt, and I experienced an excessive amount of engine braking during deceleration. On the plus side, the radially mounted 4-piston monoblock calipers and twin 310mm floating rotors do a fine job of shedding the levels of speed the nineT is capable of achieving.

BMW R 12 nineT | Back to the Barn

I felt conflicted about the R 12 nineT while riding it back to the hotel. It’s a special machine, no doubt, and it harks back to classic motorcycle designs with its minimalist and elegant lines. I sincerely appreciate its form factor and could imagine it sparkling in my personal garage.

The R 12 nineT glowing at golden hour, presenting an alluring profile for Beemerphiles.

On the other hand, its powertrain feels anachronistic, which came into sharp relief by riding the scintillating M 1000 XR on the same day. The nineT feels decidedly old-school, and it makes this reviewer want to paint it with the same brush as when reviewing older Moto Guzzis, highlighting the bike’s character-rich personality and overlooking its flaws.

Related: 2024 BMW M 1000 XR Review

The R 12 nineT stands out as a beautifully crafted motorcycle that pays homage to BMW’s rich heritage while incorporating modern technology. With its blend of classic aesthetics and advanced features, the nineT offers both character and capability. It won’t be the most cost-effective bike in your garage, but it might be your favorite.

Under the seat is a redesigned airbox that leads to the cylinders via a channel covered by drilled aluminum shields. This bike has the optional wire-spoke wheels fitted.