P102
RIDE REVIEW I 2024 BMW R 12 nineT
while improvements to low- and mid-range
drive make a noticeable difference over
the older bike.
The drive
from as low as 2000 rpm is now
as clean as it is enormously strong. Even
short shifting at just 4000 rpm results in an
old-school Bavarian surge that straightens
arms in a very special way. Hustling the R 12
nineT through mountain passes in southern
Spain was a torque-fueled joy. I simply left
the new quickshifter alone and ran a couple
of gears too high, the rich and all-enveloping
torque making life so easy.
The R 12 likes a few revs, too, and can
deliver a decisive turn of speed for a fast
overtake.
Switch off the traction control (do-
able on the move), and it will happily pop the
front wheel up with nonchalant ease.
If this all sounds familiar, the same
can't be said of the chassis, which is fully
refreshed for 2024. The frame is lighter,
although, at 485 pounds wet, the R 12 nineT
is only 2.2 pounds lighter than the R nineT.
The wheelbase goes out from 58.54 inches
to 59.48 inches, and the steering relaxes a
little with a new rake angle of 27.7 degrees
compared to the R nineT's 26.8 degrees.
The front suspension features similar but
a smaller diameter 45mm upside-down fork
while the directly connected rear shock is
now mounted at an angle rather than upright.
BMW's cornering ABS/ABS Pro is standard,
while the brakes themselves are four-piston
radial monobloc calipers and twin 310mm
discs at the front, with a two-piston caliper
and 265mm disc at the rear.
A Spanish Sojourn
On the road, the chassis mirrors the languid
feeling of the motor. It's not pin-sharp or fast
steering. Instead, it rolls into corners and
finds natural flow. Stability is as ab-
solute as you'd expect from a long-
wheelbase machine
with relaxed
steering geometry, while the weight
distribution and balance feel spot-on
for a spirited but controlled ride.
(Top) Its 109 horsepower
isn't a lot to write home
about for an 1170cc motor,
but there's plenty of torque
(85 lb-ft) to go with it.
(Above) Despite its racy
look, the seat is surprisingly
comfortable over a
full day's riding.
(Below) The
accessory dash
left us a bit cold.
We prefer good
old analog
clocks for a
bike of this ilk.
