Kiwi Rider June Vol.1 2023 | Page 19

ROAD NEWS

FIRST LOOK AT THE NEW BMW R12 NineT

BMW ’ s boxer Roadster is set to enter its next generation later this year , and BMW Motorrad has given us our first look at the

upcoming bike . While BMW Motorrad is not giving away too many details on the next generation of the nineT , the essence of the R nineT carries over to the new model . “ The R nineT and its customising concept established the new Heritage experience for BMW Motorrad ’ s 90th birthday and has become an indispensable cornerstone of our model range ,” explains the Head of BMW Motorrad , Dr . Markus Schramm . “ The new R12 nineT consistently continues the successful heritage story surrounding the legendary BMW boxer engines with an even more classic , reduced design language , even greater degrees of freedom when it comes to customising and , last but not least , new and innovative technology .” In a break from the R nineT , for the R12 nineT , BMW has added the bike ’ s capacity into the model ’ s name to fall in line with the remainder of the BMW range which all do the same . Design-wise , the R12 nineT keeps to the neoclassic look of the original nineT , while BMW ’ s attention to detail was at the top of the agenda when it came to designing the bike . Head of Design BMW Motorrad , Edgar Heinrich , explains the styling as reminiscent of BMW ’ s past roadsters , particularly those of the 1970s .
“ The purist design language is dominated by the clear tank / seat / rear line , in the style of the traditional / 5 or the legendary R90S of the 70s . At first glance , the tank itself is a classic BMW boxer tank , with a typical bend in the lower edge and classic knee contact . The new R12 NineT also features side covers in the area of the frame triangle in the authentic Roadster look - another reminiscence of BMW motorcycles of the 1970s .” Particular attention to detail is also evident in the redesigned front mudguard , the LED main headlamp which sports a black-surround light guide element and a pair of circular instruments in another nod to the past . As with its predecessor , BMW plans for the R12 nineT to be attractive as a base for customisation , with options set to be offered as part of the original BMW Motorrad accessory range . As part of that thinking towards customisation , the new R12 nineT also features an LED rear light unit integrated into the seat , which now makes it easy to create a “ short tail ” look for the bike . Further details on the R12 nineT are set to be released later this year , which indicates the model will likely arrive here in 2024 . Stay tuned for more .
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