Finally, BMW makes the café racer it’s been promising for a decade

Way back in 2013 – even before BMW launched the first-generation R nineT retro bike – the company teased us with the Concept 90 that harked back to the R 90 S of 1973. But despite more than a decade of R nineT production bikes since then there’s never been a showroom version of that machine.

Now that changes with the launch of the R 12 S, based on the R 12 nineT that replaced the original R nineT. Although essentially created using existing elements from the existing R 12 nineT’s options list, BMW’s decision to offer the R 12 S in ‘Lava Orange’ as a nod to the R 90 S’s classic ‘Daytona Orange’ paintwork and offer it as a complete, standalone model makes it a useful addition to the range. The 2013 Concept 90, which previewed the 2014 R nineT and was designed by Roland Sands, featured a similar paint scheme and nose fairing.

The bike essentially slots into the gap left by the old R nineT Racer, which added a bullet fairing and pillion seat cowl to the original R nineT and was sold between 2017 and 2019. The R 12 S gets a more authentic retro style by including that R 90 S tribute paintwork and chrome wire wheels instead of cast alloys. The seat cowl and nose fairing are existing parts from the R 12 nineT’s options catalogue, as are the ‘Option 719 Classic II’ wheels.

The bike’s extras don’t stop there. The R 12 S also gets ‘S’ graphics, red pinstriping around the faded-in silver sections on the tank and tail, a tinted screen and orange stitching on the seat. BMW further raided its own options list to add two ‘Option 719 Shadow Billet’ packs of blacked-out aluminium components, including the bars and footpegs, as well as the ‘Headlight Pro’ cornering light system, and the ‘Comfort Package’ including cruise control, hill start control, heated grips and quickshifter.

There’s no word yet on Australian market prices, but in markets where the price has been announced it’s equivalent to around $35,000 AUD.