Our selection is capped off by a pair of BMW R12 boxers this week—except one is brand new, and the other is 85 years old. We’re also salivating over a gorgeous Kawasaki Z1 from the Japanese masters. recoverAC Sanctuary and review the new Royal Enfield Guerilla 450.
BMW R12 Scrambler by WalzWerk In all the options in new BMW R12 boxer lineup, there’s one glaring omission—BMW doesn’t offer a scrambler version. To somewhat remedy this, BMW Motorrad approached Marcus Walz and his team at WalzWerk to highlight the customizability of the new R12, by turning it into a scrambler.
As expected, they did very well.
The subframe on the new R12 can be removed with just four bolts—a point WalzWerk was keen to emphasize. To do this, they created a new subframe, based on the design of the wildly popular Schizzo line of aftermarket parts for older BMW airheads. With the subframe built, they set up the stance by fitting a set of 19F/17R spoked wheels (in gold, of course), from a BMW R1250GS.
The front forks are extended an inch, while Progressive front springs and a custom rear shock from Touratech hold the Continental TKC80 tires.
The standard steel fuel tank has been slightly modified, with subtle knee indentations and a Monza-style fuel filler cap for a more classic silhouette. The bike wears traditional BMW Motorsport colours, with bright red leather covering the seat.
Fat fenders and aluminum mirrors from the WalzWerk catalog simplify the rider’s cockpit, sitting behind a stock LED headlight on a WalzWerk bracket. The turn signals and taillights are also WalzWerk parts, with a side-mounted Rizoma license plate holder attached to the swingarm.
The airbox has been removed, along with everything else under the seat. A WalzWerk filter and a complete exhaust system from SC-Project in Italy help the engine breathe, releasing some more of that beefy German horse.
The WalzWerk team produces a large number of custom bikes every month and they have committed to building their new R12 Scrambler as a limited production edition. With any luck, BMW Motorrad designers are taking notes. [Source]
Kawasaki Z1 by AC Sanctuary Whenever we forget how great the classic four-cylinder Kawasakis were, we turn to AC Conservation Area site to help us clarify. Our last visit yielded RCM-602—a Kawasaki Z1 with all the great food in the right place.
Notably, AC Sanctuary billed this as a ‘budget’ build. Citing the rising cost of parts for the Kawasaki Z1 in good condition as a motivator, their customer requested a limited edition build. The idea was to get the bike to a respectable spec, with the intention of adding more upgrades later.
That said, there are no shortcuts here. AC Sanctuary has overhauled the engine with new internals, tuned the cylinders, and updated the intake, exhaust, and ignition systems. The Z1 now inhales through Mikuni TMR36 carburetors and exhales through a Nitro Racing exhaust system.
To save money, AC Sanctuary reused the forks, wheels, and brakes from a 2000 Kawasaki ZRX1200. The ZRX forks are shorter than the OEM Z1s, so they had to be lengthened. A Sculpture swingarm handles rear duties, connected to a pair of Öhlins shocks, while Metzeler Sportec tires provide modern grip.
The build is littered with subtle upgrades and clever hop-up parts. And then there’s the paint; a captivating combination of dark green and bright yellow.
This Zed proves once again that AC Sanctuary is a master of classic supercar restoration. [More]
New Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 Fresh off the heels of Royal Enfield’s relaunch of the Himalayan 450, the company has launched the all-new Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450. The 400cc middleweight market has just gotten a little more exciting, and we’re here to stay. Marketing the Guerrilla as “the return of the true roadster,” Royal Enfield has aimed squarely at the plastic-clad mid-size sportbike market.
If the Guerrilla 450 looks like a naked Himalayan to you, you’re not alone. The fuel tank is similar to the Himalayan 450, but it ditches the ADV-style handlebars. Bare, the muscular shoulders on the fuel tank are fully exposed, as is the bike’s tubular frame.
The simple round LED headlight is backed by a simple round dash and a tall, wide bar. The curvaceous fuel tank curves into a one-piece, 30.7-inch-tall seat. Speaking of the seat, it’s ergonomically neutral, with easy access to the handlebars and footpegs.
The front suspension is new and has a sharper steering angle than the Himalayan. The swingarm is also shorter, both of which should help the Guerrilla handle quite nimbly; exactly what you want on city streets. We also like the combination of chunky wheels and tires, and the quirky factory paint scheme.
At the heart of the new roadster is a 452cc liquid-cooled Sherpa engine, the same as the one found in the Himalayan. Royal Enfield engineers have tuned the Guerrilla for street use, and say power will be consistent across the entire rev range, with around 40hp and 40Nm of torque.
The two different engine modes are pretty self-explanatory (‘Eco’ and ‘Performance’), and there’s some nice tech packed into the TFT dash. For extra street-legal acceleration, the Guerrilla has fewer teeth on the rear sprocket than the Himalayan. Shifting through the six-speed transmission should be a pleasure, especially with a curb weight of just under 411 pounds.
The pictures and videos show that the Guerrilla 450 is a great street bike that will certainly appeal to many. However, there are a few things that we don’t like. First, although the 42mm forks were developed with Showa, something more solid would have suited the bike better. Another downside is the 2.9-gallon fuel tank, which will likely require frequent stops for gas.
While Royal Enfield took a long time to follow up the upcoming Himalayan 411 with the Scram 411, we’re glad they didn’t wait too long this time. The new Guerrilla 450 is a return to simplicity and fun—and that’s exactly what Royal Enfield is doing so well these days. [Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450]
BMW R12 1939 Now located in San Jose, California, this 1939 BMW R12 is a great example of an early airhead. It shares its name and many design elements with its great-grandson—the 2024 BMW R12—like the sloping ribs, round headlights, and boxer engine. But a lot has changed in the past 85 years.
Aesthetically, the history is evident. Some of the details of the 1939 R12 can be found on bikes like the new BMW R18, such as the beautifully balanced fenders, the fishtail exhaust and the exposed shaft drive. As a much simpler machine, the R12 has a much more refined character than its monster-like modern counterparts, but it’s nice to see BMW using details from the past to influence its modern machines.
The 1939 R12 had a 745 cc boxer engine—a relatively large displacement for the time. The engine in this particular R12 was originally destined for the German Army’s Ordnance Department in Magdeburg, but it was later mated to chassis 45277. However, chassis 45277 was produced in the same year as the engine and was also used for military purposes.
After the war, the bike was stored in Eastern Europe and was purchased by the seller in 2023 after they found it in Lithuania. The bike was then brought to Poland, fully restored and painted in classic BMW black with white stripes.
Telescopic forks up front but a stiff rear with just a twin-sprung Drilastic solo seat keep things comfortable. That said, we can picture ourselves sitting behind those wide bars, slowly shifting gears manually through the rebuilt four-speed gearbox. Other notable details include aluminum footpegs for the rider and passenger, rubber knee pads, and a rear luggage rack.
If you can picture yourself riding this 18-horsepower weapon of an appreciating asset, you’re out of luck. It just sold for a modest $40,000 on Bring A Trailer. Better luck next time. [Source]
