BMW R12 / R12S vs Harley-Davidson Sportster S: specs compared
Side-by-side specs of the BMW R12 / R12S (2025-present) and the Harley-Davidson Sportster S (2021-present), using the latest model year of each.
Key differences
- Power: BMW R12 / R12S 109 hp, Harley-Davidson Sportster S 121 hp.
- Torque: BMW R12 / R12S 115 Nm, Harley-Davidson Sportster S 127 Nm.
- Weight: BMW R12 / R12S 220 kg, Harley-Davidson Sportster S 228 kg.
Key figures
Power hp
- BMW R12 / R12S (2025-present)109
- Harley-Davidson Sportster S (2021-present)121 (best)
Torque Nm
- BMW R12 / R12S (2025-present)115
- Harley-Davidson Sportster S (2021-present)127 (best)
Weight kg
- BMW R12 / R12S (2025-present)220 (best)
- Harley-Davidson Sportster S (2021-present)228
Full specs
| Specification |  2025-present · R12S Remove |  2021-present Remove |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Cruiser | Cruiser |
| Years | 2025-present | 2021-present |
| Engine | 1,170cc air/oil-cooled boxer twin | Revolution Max 1250T V-Twin |
| Cylinders | 2 | 2 |
| Displacement | 1,170 cc | 1,252 cc |
| Power | 109 hp @ 7,000 rpm | 121 hp @ 7,500 rpmBest |
| Torque | 115 Nm @ 6,500 rpm | 127 Nm @ 6,000 rpmBest |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual, dry single-disc clutch, shaft final drive | 6-speed, belt final drive (34/80 ratio), gear primary drive (49/89 ratio), mechanical assist & slip clutch |
| Final drive | shaft | belt |
| Weight | 220 kg (wet)Best | 228 kg (wet) |
| Seat height | 795 mm | 765 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 15.9 LBest | 11.8 L |
| Front suspension | Inverted telescopic fork, 45mm, preload and rebound damping adjustable, 120mm (4.7in) travel | 43mm Showa inverted (USD) fork, fully adjustable for preload, compression and rebound damping; 3.6 in (92mm) travel |
| Rear suspension | Single-sided aluminum swingarm with single shock, preload and rebound damping adjustable, 120mm (4.7in) travel | Showa linkage-assisted mono-shock, fully adjustable for preload and rebound damping; approx. 2.0 in travel |
| Brake system | ABS standard, linked front-to-rear braking; BMW Motorrad ABS Pro (cornering ABS) per manufacturer-adjacent listings | Standard ABS with cornering-enhanced algorithm (C-ABS); dual-channel, non-linked |
| Front brake | Dual 310mm discs, Brembo Monobloc calipers | 320mm floating disc, radially mounted 4-piston Brembo caliper |
| Rear brake | Single 265mm disc, caliper brand/piston count not specified in sources | 260mm disc, single-piston floating caliper |
| Front tire | 120/70 ZR17 | 160/70 R17 73V (Dunlop Harley-Davidson Series) |
| Rear tire | 180/55 ZR17 | 180/70 R16 77V (Dunlop Harley-Davidson Series) |
| Quickshifter | No | No |
| Launch price | USD 21,590 (US MSRP, excl destination) | USD 14,999 (United States)Best |