BMW R 12 vs Honda Shadow Aero 750
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
BMW R 12 vs Honda Shadow Aero 750. BMW R 12: 109 hp hp, 236 kg (520 lbs) weight, top speed ~130 mph (estimated), Motoryk rating 8.2/10. Honda Shadow Aero 750: 45 hp @ 5,500 rpm (estimated; Honda did not officially publish power figures for this model) hp, 228 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 175 km/h (estimated; note: real-world cruising comfort peaks around 130-140 km/h), Motoryk rating 7.8/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
BMW R 12
Honda Shadow Aero 750
Horsepower (hp)
109 hp
45 hp
Torque (Nm)
116 Nm
61 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
130 km/h
175 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
236 kg
228 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
109 hp
45 hp @ 5,500 rpm (estimated; Honda did not officially publish power figures for this model)
Torque
116 Nm (85.6 lb-ft)
61 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
Top Speed
~130 mph (estimated)
175 km/h (estimated; note: real-world cruising comfort peaks around 130-140 km/h)
Weight
236 kg (520 lbs)
228 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
—
4.5 L/100km or approximately 22 km/L (typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
BMW R 12
8.2/10
"A proper motorcycle that rewards riders who value character over technology."
Pros
+Characterful air-cooled boxer engine
+Exceptional long-term build quality
+Strong low-rev torque delivery
Cons
−Prices holding frustratingly firm
−Reaches heat discomfort in traffic
−Limited for shorter inseams
Honda Shadow Aero 750
7.8/10
"The sensible cruiser choice that rarely breaks your heart or wallet."
Pros
+Legendary Honda reliability
+Smooth, tractable V-twin
+Comfortable upright ergonomics
Cons
−Carb sensitive to ethanol fuel
−Chrome ages poorly
−Rear shock deteriorates fast
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
