Some motorcycles are statements of performance, others are statements of style. The BMW R12, with its blend of retro charm and modern engineering, leans toward the latter. It’s a machine that harks back to the golden age of motorcycling while maintaining contemporary rideability.
But what happens when you take an already esoteric motorcycle and give it an even more obscure backstory? Enter the BMW R12 Julie Wood—a limited-edition model that pays tribute to a little-known French comic book heroine from the 1970s.
To be completely honest, I had no idea who Julie Wood was before stumbling upon this special edition. Created by Jean Graton, the same mind behind Michel Vaillant, Julie Wood was a daring Californian woman who raced motorcycles and cars, often going toe-to-toe with men in high-stakes competitions.
