BMW R12 NineT (2023 – ) review

By sticking to the ‘ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ school of design BMW risks questions over what’s actually new in the evolution from original NineT to this R12 version. Certainly, the part air-cooled boxer twin looks familiar, sharing the same 1,170cc capacity as before and once again dominating the bike’s aesthetics as much as it does the riding experience. In a good way. And we have the same combination of sporty upside-down telescopic forks, Paralever single-sided swingarm and now familiar blend of retro style over modern foundations. The tubular steel frame is all new and now a single structure, though, and there’s a lot more tech working behind the scenes. Matched 17-inch wheels, an aluminium tank and a level of extra sophistication set it apart from the considerably cheaper R12 cruiser, which is based on the same foundations but has a bigger front wheel and more relaxed vibe. Enough to justify the extra money? We’ll come to that, but by the time you add goodies like the wire wheels and Option 719 package with its brushed finish for the tank, red frame and machined finishing kit the R12 NineT is an expensive machine carrying some burden of expectation.

With plenty of length in the wheelbase the R12 NineT feels decently roomy, though the seat seems lower than the 795mm listed on the spec sheet and it feels like you sit ‘in’ the bike rather than ‘on’ it as you might expect given the supposedly sportier billing than the R12. It’s a comfortable riding position, though, with wide bars and a fairly upright stance. Taller riders may find their legs feel a bit crunched for longer days out but you sense if the pegs were any lower you’d be scraping them on the ground in more enthusiastic riding situations. Overall, we’d perhaps expected the R12 NineT to have a slightly more aggressive riding position, though perhaps that will come in due course as the range expands as it did with the previous model.

It’s a retro naked so be realistic in your expectations on this score. It’s also a very expensive bike, and rather precious to be using as an everyday machine. But you’ll have got that the moment you clapped eyes on it. As standard the R12 NineT comes with a twin seat and pillion pegs, though the Option 719 package supposedly replaces that with a cowl in place of the second seat. No matter how we crunched the configurator we couldn’t figure out how our test bike came with the full saddle but that option is clearly there! Those giant cylinders jutting out of the sides of the frame do offer something to shelter behind and our test bike had a small aluminium fly screen (another £356 to you, sir) and heated grips but this is clearly a bike for sunny Sundays rather than the daily grind. The wide bars and bar end mirrors on this bike did rather limit filtering capabilities as well, and those cylinder heads do stick out a long way if you’re trying to squeeze it into a tight space in the back of the garage.

In the way of things Euro5+ updates to the engine have strangled it somewhat, so power is actually down a fraction on the NineT and the big boxer now puts out 109 horsepower and 115Nm of torque. It’s still a bit more muscular than the 1200 twin powering various of the Triumph ‘Modern Classic’ range or the Kawasaki Z900 RS that may also be on your retro-modern shortlist. You can also get the R12 NineT in A2 licencetrim, which is a welcome option for well-heeled rookie riders but ultimately still limited to 95 horsepower and 98 Nm to comply with rules that the full output can’t be more than double that of the restricted 47 horsepower limit. Either way, in a celebration of BMW traditions the boxer fires with a suitably characterful growl, the longitudinal crank sending the characteristic rock through the frame as it does so. A shame it’s a little muted once on the go but there’s plenty of low-end grunt, to the point where the more aggressive of the three ride-by-wire throttle maps feels artificially snappy, the softer response of the Rain mode actually our favourite in general riding for its more natural feel. At 220kg it’s hardly light, and while it picks up enthusiastically to start with this heft does begin to show if you make demands of the performance at higher speeds, even if you go for the Dynamic throttle mode. But without a fairing that’s about as fast as you want to be going on a bike of this style anyway. A quickshifter is standard, which works well when riding more aggressively but is a tad clunky at lower speeds. Feel through that lovely machined brake lever to the paired front discs and Brembo calipers is on the fierce side, but you dial into it and the stopping power is appreciated when you have to rein in all that German heavy metal for the tighter corners.

The standard steering damper takes a little getting used to at lower speeds and can have you feeling like you’re fighting the bike a tad at junctions and roundabouts. But you appreciate the rock-solid sense of stability as speeds rise and, while the R12 NineT always feels chunky, there’s a playful side to its nature encouraging you to chuck it around more than you might have expected for a trad looking bike. But that’s all part of the trick, given the chassis, suspension and general set-up are all very much modern. The fully adjustable Marzocchi forks up front are firm but fair, with confidence inspiring damping support when the chassis is loaded up and you hit a mid-corner bump, the Paralever back end (with remote hydraulic preload adjustment) feeling suitably plush and composed. While the R12 NineT clearly has more dynamic ambitions than the R12 we’d hesitate to call it an overtly sporty bike, the view from one existing NineT owner who’d tried the R12 version as a demo suggesting the new bike perhaps trades some of the original’s rawness for increased maturity. Whether or not that sounds like a good thing will depend on your tastes

If we’re including purchase costs then brace yourself because the R12 NineT is primed to empty your wallet before you even sling a leg over it. And if the premium over the R12 already sounds hefty by the time you add the Option 719 pack and a few other goodies you can be knocking on 20 grand, which is a lot for a retro naked of this type. Flipside being values of the previous NineT still look strong, so whether you’re financing or buying outright your money looks relatively safe. Shaft drive meanwhile saves a bit of faff and expense in regular running, low to mid-40s mpg to be expected given the two pint-sized cylinders chugging away in front of your shins.

If you’ve paid this much for the privilege of owning a glitzy BMW you’d have every right to expect it to be reliable, and the fact the R12 NineT uses a proven version of the boxer twin and not the new one from the R1300 GS should at least inspire a bit of confidence. That said we did get a few error messages flashing up on the tiny screen on occasion, these seemingly relating to the keyless start system. It never let us down. But it would be annoying to be stranded by a supposed convenience feature if the problem did escalate.

As a premium bike you’d hope for premium service, and BMW’s standard three-year manufacturer warranty would seem to deliver on that, this comprising a 24-month guarantee plus an additional 12 months of free repairs for any defects. Another year of cover is available at extra cost while three- or five-year fixed cost servicing packages are also available for £1,145 or £2,085 respectively. These are transferrable to a subsequent owner so might be worth considering if you’re looking to maximise any return when moving the bike on.

As standard the R12 NineT comes with cast wheels and twin analogue clocks, a black frame, regular mirrors and a twin seat. Keyless start, a quickshifter, heated grips and cruise control are also included. The only standard colour for the tank is black and silver, a green tank adding £250 to the price while for the brushed aluminium, red frame and two billet aluminium trim packs included with the Option 719 bundle it’s another £2,100. Which is, at least, a lot cheaper than buying all the constituent parts as individual options. Wire wheels are another £550, the minimalist digital display seen here another £120, Connected Ride Control so you can use your phone for navigation is £280 and there are many and various other detail options like tyre pressure monitoring and an adaptive LED headlight if you still haven’t spent enough.

At this price the R12 NineT is pure indulgence, and an impressive celebration of BMW traditions past and present the true fanboys will relish. Stylish, charismatic and fun to ride, it’s also built to a very high standard with the sense of quality and attention to detail you’d hope for. Sure, it’s a bit of a poser’s machine and one limited to Sundays and fun days. But it’s done with such passion you won’t begrudge that, the classic styling cues and modern riding manners combined into a compelling blend.