BMW R12 G/S Retro Adventure Bike is Far From Old School.

BMW Motorrad has launched another retro-style bike, the R 12 G/S, following the many successful models it has released. It is an adventure bike with retro looks but far from old school. Road tests and reviews took the gorgeous machine to the trails to test.

The BMW R 12 G/S is a beautiful-looking bike that grabs your attention, and this is enhanced as soon as you throw your leg over it. When you sit on the saddle, the riding position is tall, upright and high off the ground. It is sleek, lean and well balanced, making it easy to manoeuvre

BMW has kept the R 12 G/S minimalist in homage to the era of the original trail bikes. Although labelled an adventure bike, it is nothing like the modern-day giants, which can carry everything, including a kitchen sink. You can, however, blast along back roads, swiftly taking twisties and enjoy a day riding.

The BMW R 12 G/S is as fun off-road as it is on the black stuff. Its long front and rear travel make it suitable for serious dirt trails. The best setup for this is opting for the Enduro Pro package, which costs £750 extra. You get an 18-inch rear wheel, 20-mm handlebar risers, enduro pegs, hand and engine guards, off-road riding modes, and Metzeler Karoo 4 tyres.

The machine gets an increased seat height and ground clearance, making you feel comfortable on the pegs. The bike is so well balanced that you don’t notice the weight on the move, and you can easily guide it around.

The BMW R 12 G/S's Boxer engine produces 108bhp, producing a throbbing that is engaging and joyful acceleration.

The delivery is smooth and never gets you into trouble, which is awesome off-road.

The machine is packed with design refinements, such as three riding modes: Rain, Road, and Enduro. The LED headlight has the X design inspired by the R1300GS. Options include a Comfort Package, Enduro Package Pro, heated grips, TFT screen, cruise control, tyre pressure control and adaptive headlight.

The BMW R 12 G/S comes in red and blue like the R 80 G/S, white, black and option 719, a sand colour akin to a Moto Guzzi V85.

BMW has created a marvellous machine, the R 12 G/S, which is a delight to ride on and off-road. It has impressive performance, handling, specifications, and, of course, beautiful looks. It may be more expensive than rivals such as the Triumph Scrambler, but you get a lot for the money.

£14400