Boxing Smart: The BMW R12 G/S

The phone rings. “Foley!”was the gruff voice. “Tomorrow you are having an office day ‘coz we’ve got a bike here that you will love!”

“Grumble rumble – other stuff, trails to mark, excuses… Ah sod it!’ and a day was set aside for this mystery motorcycle.

Man was that a good day!

When you wander down to the office in the morning and are greeted by a bike like this… you just know that it’s going to be a good one. Even better is the fact that this one is an option 719 boasting a special design and customization package that includes some really pretty milled parts and some funky paintwork.

The R 12 G/S is the latest in the line of new R 12 series machines, launched last year to replace the R nineT, which has been around since 2014. Updates include a new chassis, tweaked styling and a 108bhp, 1170cc air/oil-cooled DOHC boxer engine that meets those pesky Euro 5 standards..

The G/S gets bespoke off-road bodywork, fully adjustable, long travel suspension, twin-piston Brembos, a 21 in front wheel, 18 in rear and Metzeler Karoo Street rubber.

Memories flood back of the manic HP2 Enduro that BMW built quite a lot of years ago, so nostalgia has a lot to do with a bike like this.

This specific R 12 G/S “Option 719 Aragonite style” features a Sandrover matte paint with Racing red accents and a frame in Racing red and it looks flippen fantastic!

BMW has also fitted some luxuries and options on this one.

These include the ‘X’ design LED headlight, (we’ve seen that somewhere) and three riding modes: Rain, Road, Enduro.

You can also opt for the Enduro Package Pro, a Comfort Package featuring heated grips and cruise control, or goodies like a TFT display, adaptive headlight, tyre pressure control…the list goes on, But honestly, it doesn’t need any more.

Heels were cooled as we sat around the bike sipping hot coffee while we waited for photographers and videographers to arrive as we planned a route for the day on some of our favourite trails.

Swing a leg over. The bike is quite low, and feet are flat on the ground. Despite this, the unique to BMW 21/18” wheel combination offers great ground clearance.

Pop the Fob into a pocket (Grumble grumble… we still prefer keyed ignition) hit the on button and the little display lights up, tickle the starter and that all too familiar Boxer burble fills the air. Give it a little rev just to get the juices flowing. Modes are simple, street rain or enduro – at the push of one button on the right handlebar. Street is up first. Snick her into gear and off you go.

It seems to us that BMW has put a lot of thought into this bike. It has a small feel, a comfortable seat and really chilled ergonomics. You can almost feel the dinner plate pistons spinning along as she quickly gathers momentum, grabs you by the seat of your pants and hurls you down the road. This one’s got that shiftcam engine that we like so much, you know, the one that gave the GS a personality.

The national speed limit approaches in a blur and so did the long gravel road that we had in mind for the morning. Pull over to the side, switch from street to enduro and continue…

The road in question is one of those lekker ones. Narrow and windy with forest overhangs and a good dollop of speed bumps that are often mistaken for little launch pads. Hang on! This is a 1200, it shouldn’t really be this much fun! Forget the traditional GS, this one is nothing like that, it feels, dare we say, small, light and nimble, polar opposite to the big adventure machines out there.

Pull over to the side – check out the mountain trail on our buddies farm… how much does this cost? Hang on – ol Gerhard Forster did Romaniacs on one of these – and hey – we ride better than him (Not!). What could possibly go wrong?

Well. Nothing.

We fully expected to have a huff and a puff as we angled up along the rocky trail. The beauty of that big boxer engine is that it will just quietly walk you up steep slopes like these without stalling. It was pretty easy – and we did mention the ground clearance. An added bonus is that if you need to dab your foot, the saddle is at a sensible height.

Ditto coming down again. The only thing that’s easy to forget is the fact that this is not actually a lightweight dirtbike and there were a few instances when we overcooked it into the tighter turns, clenched onto the brakes and still managed to come out the other side unscathed.

As usually happens, the clever bunch behind the camera’s come at you with “Can you do that again… and again, and again…” So we can assure you that, relative to a traditional GS, the G/S is so easy to maneuver. The riding position is tall and upright and bar the obvious mighty GS pots sticking out on each side, the bike feels surprisingly slim and easy to ride. A lot easier to ride and maneuver than your traditional big, top-heavy ADV machine.

But then this is not designed as an adventure is it?

This bike is about simplicity. A naked feel-good bike with a great big boxer-twin engine that suits the bike perfectly.

We reckon that most won’t even be taken off the beaten trails – and that would be a real shame. Nevertheless, this bike is heaps of fun on the road too, that Boxer engine delivers so much grunty fun as you send it through the quickshifter. Go and take the R 12 G/S for a ride. You’ll see what we mean…

This is absolutely our kind of bike. Just so capable and comfortable and grin inducing… every time you ride it.

Big thanks for the loan of the bike.

Chat to your BMW Dealer.