When BMW Motorrad unveiled the R12, the motorcycling world noticed a cruiser-adjacent roadster with an enormous 1,170 cc coronary heart. However for individuals who keep in mind the golden period of the Paris-Dakar, the silhouette appeared to scream for one thing extra adventurous. The R12 G/S is BMW’s manufacturing facility nod to that heritage, mixing the traditional air-cooled boxer appeal with a modular body that virtually begs for a wrench. It’s a motorcycle that sits comfortably between the refined tech of the fashionable GS and the uncooked scramblers of yore—an ideal canvas for a workshop that understands the soul of the boxer.
Nestled on the picturesque shores of Lake Zurich in Schmerikon, Switzerland, you’ll discover VTR Motorrad. This is not only a dealership; it’s the house of VTR Customs, a crew that has constantly punched above its weight on the worldwide stage. Led by the visionary Daniel Weidmann, alongside the technical prowess of Stefano Mambelli and Marcel Brauchli, the workforce operates with a philosophy that’s as poetic as it’s sensible. They don’t simply construct machines for funding bankers to tuck away in climate-controlled garages; they construct bikes that encourage you to odor the river bends and spot the rusted wire on an previous cow fence. Their objective is to create bikes with coronary heart and soul that stay attainable for the on a regular basis rider.
Bike EXIF readers aren’t any strangers to the VTR contact. We’ve beforehand swooned over their ‘TRACK8716’ R18, and their endurance racer tribute K100 that completely captured the grit of 80s observe life. With their newest mission, dubbed ‘HERZBERG 12,’ the Schmerikon trio has turned their consideration to the R12 G/S, reworking it right into a machine that appears able to deal with the Swiss Alps and the Sahara in equal measure.
The identify ‘HERZBERG’ is a nod to each probably the most grueling dust occasion on the planet and the emotional core of the construct itself. It’s a mixture of the Erzberg Rodeo, extensively thought to be the world’s most heroic and punishing hard-enduro race, and the German phrase “Herz,” which means coronary heart. Whereas Daniel and the VTR crew are nicely conscious that the heavyweight R12 G/S is not a direct competitor for the nimble KTMs and Husqvarnas that deal with the “Iron Large,” the bike represents a serious milestone as the primary BMW Heritage mannequin with real off-road capabilities.
The transformation of the Herzberg 12 begins with a dramatic shift in stance. VTR swapped the inventory hoops for a Gold Kineo wheel set, choosing a 21-inch entrance and 18-inch rear mixture shod in aggressive off-road rubber from Heidenau. The silhouette was additional sharpened with a brief tail conversion and a side-mounted license plate holder, giving the rear finish a minimalist, competition-ready vibe.
Lighting and ergonomics acquired the premium therapy with Excessive Sider Montana 2 bar-end mirrors offering a low-profile view of the street behind, whereas Kellermann Atto Micro flip indicators—famous for being a number of the smallest but brightest available on the market—preserve issues street-legal with out cluttering the traces.
The cockpit is protected by a set of UniT Storage elements, together with a windshield, handguards, and a headlight cowl, all completed in a hanging yellow plexiglass that evokes the traditional Dakar racers of the Nineteen Eighties. A UniT Storage milled aluminum spring preload handwheel and chrome steel consumption covers add a contact of tactile luxurious to the useful upgrades.
The auditory expertise is dealt with by a mixture of black-coated exhaust manifolds wrapped in Bike EXIF readers’ favourite, warmth tape, main right into a alternative of high-performance silencers. Whereas the bike contains a street-legal Akrapovič/UniT Storage setup, for these trying to order their very own G/S, VTR additionally provides a Remus “Black Version” or a titanium Akrapovič R80 G/S-style silencer for a extra nostalgic bark.
Tying the entire construct collectively is a surprising Classic Two-Tone paint job by Freuler AG, complemented by a darkish brown leather-based seat cowl that gives a heat, natural distinction to the mechanical precision of the BMW. Not leaving any half untouched, the usual forks have been black-anodized for a stealthy end, and the valve covers and footrest assemblies have been powder-coated black to match the moody, mechanical aesthetic. The Herzberg 12 is not only a customized bike; it is a reminder that the most effective bikes are those that make you wish to take the great distance house.
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