By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Cruiser
BMW R 12 (MY2024) vs Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster (MY2025)
BMW R 12 vs Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster: which one to buy once you're past the looks.
You'll roll on the BMW R 12's throttle in a tall gear, and the boxer shoves hard from down low but doesn't once turn on you. Open the Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster's throttle and its parallel twin thumps through the pipes with a fat pull off the bottom. It never needs to chase revs.
So which one do you buy?
The R 12 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Inches ahead: R 12
Once the road starts to bend, the R 12 noses ahead. It's down to harder acceleration and stronger brakes. Your own skill counts for more than a gap this size.
Character, looks and sound
A touch ahead: R 12
On sound and soul, the R 12 comes out a touch ahead. Credit a purer look. Your own eyes and ears outrank this verdict.
Which one's the smarter buy
No clear advantage
The R 12 costs less, but that gap doesn't make it the clear better buy. Neither bike wins on value alone.
What makes each one tick
R 12
Out on Iron Mountain Road, the R 12 settles onto its line through each bend while it's already eyeing the next. The brake lever bites cleanly on wet, broken pavement, where even a panic stop on a slick patch doesn't unsettle the chassis. The footpegs touch down early. The wide bar's still easy on day seven.
Nils rode the R 12 in Montenegro in 2024 (NastyNils Testride).
Bonneville Speedmaster
The pegs sit out front on the Bonneville Speedmaster, which eases into an unhurried lope from the first mile. There's no wobble at corner entry, since the Showa fork keeps the front steady as it tips onto a predictable arc. Ground clearance doesn't go far.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Bonneville Speedmaster has the lower seat: 27.8 in (705 mm) vs 29.7 in (754 mm).
- The R 12 has the lower wet weight: 500 lb (227 kg) vs 580 lb (263 kg).
- The R 12 makes more peak power: 95 hp (70 kW) vs 76 hp (57 kW).
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Wrong job for both
As first bikes, both are a stretch. Starting smaller isn't a step down.
For commuting and running costs, you won't find daylight between them. Let the test ride settle it.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
R 12
Strengths
- Boxer Torque, Zero Drama
- Clean Throttle In Any Weather
- Surprising Composure In The Hills
- Brakes Hold On Wet, Broken Roads
- Authentic boxer character
Trade-offs
- Footpegs Drag When You Push
- Firm Suspension Beats You Up
- Quickshifter Gets Harsh Up High
Bonneville Speedmaster
What owners say
Strengths
- Soulful torque-rich parallel twin
- Surprisingly agile handling for a cruiser
Trade-offs
- Firm rear suspension on rough surfaces
- Minimal pillion accommodation
What they cost used
These prices compare a 1-year-old R 12 with a 1-year-old Bonneville Speedmaster.
- R 12
- about $10,600
- Bonneville Speedmaster
- about $12,000
At one year old, the BMW R 12 sits around $10,600 while the Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster runs about $12,000. That's a $1,400 gap in the R 12's favor. These are US market estimates, not live listings.
What they share
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Front brake
- 310 mm
- Rear tire
- 150/80-16
Where the spec sheets split
| R 12 | Bonneville Speedmaster | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 29.7 in (754 mm) | 27.8 in (705 mm) |
| Wet weight | 500 lb (227 kg) | 580 lb (263 kg) |
| R 12 | Bonneville Speedmaster | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1170 cc | 1200 cc |
| Engine | Flat-twin (boxer) | Parallel twin |
| Cooling | Air/oil-cooled | Liquid-cooled |
| Power | 95 hp (70 kW) | 76 hp (57 kW) |
| Peak power at | 6,500 rpm | 6,100 rpm |
| Torque | 81 lb-ft (110 Nm) | 78 lb-ft (106 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 6,000 rpm | 4,000 rpm |
| R 12 | Bonneville Speedmaster | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 3.7 US gal (14 L) | 3.2 US gal (12.1 L) |
| R 12 | Bonneville Speedmaster | |
|---|---|---|
| Final drive | Shaft | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) | Telescopic |
| Front tire | 100/90-19 | MT90-16 |
| Wheelbase | 59.8 in (1519 mm) | 59.1 in (1500 mm) |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
