Some bikes are statements of efficiency, others are statements of fashion. The BMW R12, with its mix of retro allure and trendy engineering, leans towards the latter. It’s a machine that harks again to the golden age of motorcycling whereas sustaining up to date rideability.
However what occurs once you take an already esoteric motorbike and provides it an much more obscure backstory? Enter the BMW R12 Julie Wooden—a limited-edition mannequin that pays tribute to a little-known French comedian ebook heroine from the Nineteen Seventies.
To be fully trustworthy, I had no thought who Julie Wooden was earlier than stumbling upon this particular version. Created by Jean Graton, the identical thoughts behind Michel Vaillant, Julie Wooden was a daring Californian lady who raced bikes and vehicles, typically going toe-to-toe with males in high-stakes competitions.
Between 1976 and 1980, she headlined her personal comedian sequence earlier than finally merging into the Michel Vaillant universe. Although her title isn’t widely known exterior of France, she represented an early try at showcasing a robust, impartial feminine racer in a male-dominated sport.
BMW Motorrad France, leaning into the nostalgia-fueled retro craze, determined to revive this practically forgotten character within the type of the R12 Julie Wooden. The bike is a creative homage, mixing the classic essence of the R12 with design cues straight from the pages of the comedian. Probably the most putting element is its silver glitter paint, a nod to the flamboyant racing aesthetics of the ’70s.
Picture by: BMW Motorrad
Stylized blue and pink stripes stretch throughout the bodywork, reflecting the colour scheme of Julie’s signature helmet. Her “W” brand is subtly positioned on the tank, alongside the version quantity—every bike on this ultra-limited run is 1 of solely 15.
Past the livery, BMW has given the R12 Julie Wooden a handful of premium touches. It comes customary with the PRO end, which features a Consolation Pack, anti-theft alarm, and high-beam Professional headlights. Choice 719 Basic black spoked wheels (19-inch entrance, 16-inch rear) and a designer exhaust add to its bespoke attraction, whereas an analog tachometer enhances the usual instrument dial, reinforcing its basic roots.
These parts, mixed with the €21,400 ($23,100 USD) price ticket, make it an ultra-specialized providing—one which prices €6,400 ($6,900 USD) greater than a base R12.
Picture by: BMW Motorrad
However who precisely is that this for?
It’s greater than probably that this can be a France-exclusive launch aimed toward collectors who admire the intersection of bikes and popular culture. France has lengthy celebrated the mix of artwork and mechanics, whether or not in trend, cinema, or automotive design. Simply as Michel Vaillant depicted the technical precision of motorsport in comedian kind, this R12 brings that very same appreciation to life on two wheels. It’s a reminder that bikes, like several artwork kind, might be deeply private and evocative.
At its core, the BMW R12 Julie Wooden is proof that nostalgia sells and that retro won’t ever die. Whereas mainstream producers deal with mass attraction, BMW Motorrad France has taken a daring step into area of interest territory. It’s an odd, hyper-specific tribute—but it really works. As a result of in an period the place bikes are more and more digitized and homogenized, one thing handcrafted, story-driven, and unmistakably French is precisely what the retro scene wants.
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