2026 BMW R12 G/S Stokes an Icon's Enduring Spirit
The 2026 BMW R12 G/S is a new motorcycle that continues the legacy of the original R80 G/S.
BMW claims the 505-pound retro bike can hit 60 mph in 4.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of over 124 mph.
Starting at $17,090, BMW says the R12 G/S will arrive in dealers in the third quarter of this year.
In the world of motorcycle adventures, few names carry as much weight as BMW GS. The nameplate, much like G-wagen and Land Cruiser, has become a byword for exploring the road unpaved, particularly the boxer-twin-powered R models. And the new 2026 BMW R12 G/S continues this legacy by harkening back to the bike that (quite literally) started it all: the R80 G/S.
"Trailblazer" is overused as much as "iconic" these days, but the BMW R80 G/S (Gelände/Straube, or 'off-road/road') deserves both appellations. In 1980, when the G/S debuted, the typical factory dirt-focused machine was a lightweight, modest-capacity, single-cylinder affair. To say the 400-plus-pound Beemer, with its 798cc boxer engine, was unconventional would be an understatement. There was nothing else like it on the market.
It confused many, but the R80 G/S quickly carved out its place in history by winning the tortuous Paris-Dakar Rally in 1981, 1983, 1984, and 1985. In the process, similar to the R90 S before it, it created a new kind of motorcycle: the adventure bike. If you enjoy bikes like the Harley-Davidson Pan America and Ducati DesertX, you have the R80 G/S to thank. And also like the R90 S, the R80 G/S now has a modern factory homage based on the current R12: the 2026 R12 G/S.
While the 2026 bike visually apes its '80s ancestor and packs a boxer punch, the R12 G/S is a thoroughly modern machine. Its 1170cc air-/oil-cooled engine, shared with the R12 S, makes 109 horsepower at 7000 rpm and 85 pound-feet of torque at 6500 rpm, sent to the rear wheel via shaft drive and a six-speed manual transmission. BMW claims the 505-pound retro bike can hit 60 mph in 4.1 seconds as well as a top speed of over 124 mph. So don't worry, you'll be able to fling plenty of rooster tails. And stopping shouldn't be an issue, either, as the R12 G/S uses the same dual 12.2-inch rotors and 10.4-inch rear rotor with dual-piston calipers as the R12 S.
A Beemer isn't a true GS, though, without proper off-road credentials. And the rest of the 2026 R12 G/S's equipment shows it's no mere styling exercise. Firstly, to benefit unpaved exploration, BMW increased the steering head angle and caster compared with the standard R12 and swapped the S's 17-inch front wheel for a 21-inch one. The G/S has a longer wheelbase too, which should improve stability. Secondly, the R12 G/S also gets a high-mounted exhaust system and an Enduro riding mode (in addition to Road and Rain modes) for the standard traction control, wheelie control, rear-wheel-slip control, and cornering-enhanced ABS. Speaking of the brakes, they're partially integral, which means the brake lever (adjustable, like the clutch lever) operates both the front and rear brakes. Furthermore, besides being fully adjustable in preload, compression, and rebound, the R12 G/S's suspension—which includes inverted forks—offers 8.3 inches of front travel and 7.9 inches of rear travel.
If you're still worried about bashing into a rock, though, you can bump the ground clearance up to 10.0 inches with the Enduro Package Pro. This package also adds off-road tires, an aluminum engine guard, hand protectors, larger "enduro" footpegs with grippy spikes, handlebar risers, and an Enduro Pro mode that disables all the safety systems except for the traction control and front-wheel ABS. Plus, it swaps the 17-inch rear wheel for an 18-inch one; bikes with this package have slight increases in wheelbase, caster, and steering-head angle as well. But, as with quite a few ADV owners (and G-wagen owners too, come to think of it), if your riding style hews more to Straube than Gelände, there's the Premium Package. It bundles cruise control, hill-start assist, and tire-pressure monitoring together with heated grips, an adaptive headlight, and a quick shifter.
Most of these options are only available as part of a package, though the engine guard is a standalone add-on. So are gold-colored wheels, a lightweight lithium-ion battery, a passenger seat and footpegs, a taller rally seat, a 3.5-inch TFT display—which replaces the round analog gauge—as well as Bluetooth-enabled app connectivity (which also adds a USB-C outlet). There are also plenty of luggage accessories coming. LED lighting is standard, though, as is a 12-volt socket, keyless ignition, and an emergency-call system.
Riding season is almost upon us in the Midwest, but you'll have to wait a bit longer to live out your Dakar daydreams on the 2026 R12 G/S. BMW says it'll arrive in dealers in the third quarter of this year, starting at $17,090.
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More On The BMW M3 Touring BMW M3 CS Touring: This Is It If the M5 Touring Is Successful, We Could Get a New M3 Wagon in the US Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . 2025 BMW M3 Touring Engine Twin-Turbocharged 3.0-Liter Inline-Six Output 503 Horsepower / 479 Pound-Feet Transmission Eight-Speed Automatic Drive Type All-Wheel Drive Speed 0-62 MPH 3.2 Seconds Maximum speed 174 Miles Per Hour Weight 4,078 Pounds Seating Capacity 5 Cargo Volume 17.6 / 53.3 Cubic Feet Base Price £91,775 (UK) On Sale Now Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
