BMW Motorrad India has launched the R 12 nineT roadster at Rs 20.20 lakh, ex-showroom. The bike is part of BMW’s heritage line of motorcycles and looks like a proper, modern-retro motorcycle. This is evident from the large fuel tank, round headlight and stubby tail section. The partly exposed tubular frame adds to the appearance of the bike.
Powering the R 12 nineT is a 1,170cc, air/oil-cooled engine with twin, horizontally-placed cylinders. It makes 109bhp at 7,000rpm and 115Nm of peak torque at 6,500rpm.
The electronics suite consists of cornering ABS, traction control, engine drag torque control, a keyless ride system, three riding modes, and a tyre pressure monitoring system.
The bridge steel frame that we’d spoken about is suspended by a 45mm, USD fork and a paralever swingarm with a directly linked spring strut at the rear. Braking duties are taken care of by a pair of 310mm discs on the front wheel and a single 265mm rotor on the rear wheel. The wheels, by the way, are of the wire-spoke kind for that period-correct look.
The BMW R 12 nineT goes up against the Triumph Speed Twin in India.