Introduced for the 2024 model year, this roadster continues BMW Motorrad’s modern heritage line as the direct successor to the original R nineT, which debuted in 2013. The new nameplate was launched as part of BMW Motorrad’s 100th anniversary period and was presented alongside a related cruiser under the same R 12 family concept. Its purpose is familiar to enthusiasts: a classic-looking boxer-powered motorcycle with a strong emphasis on personalization, clean styling, and a mix of traditional design cues with contemporary chassis and electronics.
The change from the earlier R nineT family to the R 12 family marked more than a mild update. BMW reworked the platform around a new frame concept and re-positioned the bike within a broader heritage range, while keeping the model’s core identity as a premium retro roadster. In BMW Motorrad’s own framing, the new machine was intended to carry forward the spirit of the original while sharpening the classic silhouette and maintaining the customization-friendly character that made the predecessor popular.
As of 2026, the nameplate remains in production and is part of BMW Motorrad’s current heritage lineup. It sits within a lineage that began with the original 2013 roadster, but the R 12 name indicates a new generation rather than a continuation of an older, separately named production run.