BMW R nineT in the driving report

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BMW R nineT in the driving report

Puristic retro style bike

The BMW R nineT is certainly the most spectacular boxer novelty for the 2014 season. MOTORRAD has already ridden the puristic retro style bike for a driving report.

One could get the impression that BMW selects project managers based on their appearance. Because the new adventure was overseen by the edgy, slaggy Florian Schmid, which fits perfectly. The RT development was headed by Raimund Brandl, of Bavarian origin, which also gives a coherent overall picture. And how could the person responsible for such an unconventional bike as the BMW R. nineT look? Just as unadjusted as Roland Stocker, who appears with flowing mane and checked shirt like an old freak from the 70s. "Emotionally, the project moved us all a lot, there is a lot of spirit in it," he comments on his retro flask. Certainly not an easy task to create a machine that wants to master the balancing act between classic and modern.

BMW R nineT in the driving report

Puristic retro style bike

You sit on the BMW R nineT like in the past

In Munich they are particularly proud of the tank of the BMW R nineT. The brushed flanks are not simply applied applications, the aluminum tank is specially brought to Italy and there is brushed by hand in a specialist company in order to finally get its final coat of paint in Germany. The same applies to the aluminum hump, which replaces the standard pillion seat and is a must-have, at least for soloists.

But now please take a seat! The optional custom driver’s seat looks taut and narrow, certainly anything but ideal for long trips. The tank stretches for a long time and tightens the driver to the comfortably cranked handlebar. It feels completely different than on the modern, hectic speedsters, where the driver feels like sitting on the steering head. On the BMW R nineT, you sit on the back of the machine more like you used to, with half the motorcycle in front of you and not the whole thing behind you. Which gives the nice side effect that you always see a lot of motorcycles on the go. Above all, of course, the cylinder heads protruding on both sides; only BMW and Guzzi offer this sight. The look at classically styled round instruments is also appropriate. Push on the button: There he is again, the good old boxer, comes to mind spontaneously. But it wasn’t gone at all, and at the same time remains in the boxer range in the R 1200 R. Literally reassuring that the air boxer can go on living. Because the water boxer brought a quantum leap in terms of dynamics, but the old boxer’s rich, gentle pulse has its special charm.

Boxer comes unchanged from the old GS

The BMW R nineT has character, the engine of which is practically unchanged from the old GS. With every thrust of the accelerator, powerful centrifugal masses give the motorcycle a swipe. A little power requires clutch and gas, that’s old school too. Because here throttle valves really have to be opened by Bowden cable, no servomotor slips in, no electronics intervene. Thanks to the dry clutch, the gears slip noiselessly into one another when engaging first gear, something that was almost forgotten. 

The air boxer pushes the BMW R nineT powerfully with wonderful suppleness from the lowest speed ranges. Sure he turns up tougher than the water boxer, but this character fits wonderfully with such a pleasure-oriented glider, which does not want to put rebellious middle-class bikes in their place, but rather wants to pull its way with confidence. After all, the short gear ratio derived from the GS guarantees a robust spurt that the rev limiter puts an end to at over 200 km / h. But nobody ever drives full on the train.

Bmw

In the realm of the senses: You have to see, feel, touch, hear the nineT. An emotional overdose for boxer fans.

With the chassis, too, the power lies in calm. Let it roll nicely is the motto, overly hectic activity on the handlebars is counterproductive here. Lively and agile, the BMW R nineT doesn’t exactly scurry through the twisting bends in southwest Spain, but appears calm and neutral around the steering axis in every situation, which is not least due to the tires with Conti Road Attack 2C. You just have to pull the lever a little harder to push the part into an inclined position.

The BMW R nineT rolls on conventional wire-spoke wheels with tubular tires. Cross-spokes were not possible because of the 17-inch front wheel, and KTM has patented a rim tape seal. The rear rim measures 5.5 inches, even six inches would be possible in the single-sided swing arm from the R..

Electronics do not play a dominant role

The conventional chassis with a telescopic fork instead of a telescopic lever is definitely nicer to look at. It may not offer more convenience, but it certainly offers more transparency. The coordination of the suspension elements is rather soft. The fact that there is little to adjust here certainly doesn’t matter. Anyone who drives a BMW R nineT will hardly want to tease out the last details. Especially since the basic vote is perfectly fine. 

Electronics do not play a dominant role in the BMW R nineT. For once there is no electronic chassis, no driving modes, no ten-level traction control. If you want, you can get a holder for your GPS. Sure, a standard one
ABS is compulsory, in an emergency a current Bosch system – of course without integral action – controls the effective braking system with Brembo radial calipers.

Atypical for BMW: nothing to configure

It is interesting that there is nothing to configure on the BMW R nineT, which is completely atypical for BMW. Not even the color, only black is offered. Apart from an optional anti-theft alarm system, there is no special equipment, only a small selection of accessories from the BMW dealer. For example, the titanium silencer from Akrapovic, which replaces the standard double silencer from the same company on request and which can be mounted either low or high using a curved connecting pipe.

In terms of sound, the series system already has a lot to offer. The BMW R nineT thuds wonderfully muffled in the typical steady, sonorous boxer rhythm; here, too, only the flap trick enables the bass-driven level. Nonetheless, the BMW R nineT will hardly annoy anyone, especially since you usually roar comfortably through the landscape at 3000 revolutions. “The customers don’t just come from our own warehouse, they also come from the competition,” Project Manager Roland Stocker is quite sure of. Probably true, because BMW has never had such a motorcycle with such a strong character. The only question is whether those who switch will also accept the BMW pricing policy, 14,500 euros should go over the counter for the base. And you have to take into account another thousand for the essential goodies. But who wants to talk about money when it comes to lust and love?

Technical specifications

BMW R nineT

Engine: Air / oil-cooled two-cylinder four-stroke boxer engine, one balancer shaft, two overhead, chain-driven camshafts, four valves per cylinder, rocker arm, wet sump lubrication, injection, Ø 50 mm, regulated catalytic converter, alternator 600 W, battery 12 V / 14 Ah, hydraulically operated Single-disc dry clutch, six-speed gearbox, cardan, secondary gear ratio 2.910.

Bore x stroke: 101.0 x 73.0 mm

Displacement: 1170 cm³

Compression ratio: 12.0: 1

Rated output: 81.0 kW (110 hp) at 7750 rpm

Max. Torque: 119 Nm at 6000 rpm

Landing gear: Load-bearing engine-gearbox assembly made of steel, upside-down fork, Ø 46 mm, two-joint single-sided swing arm made of aluminum, central spring strut, directly hinged, adjustable spring base and rebound damping, double disc brake at the front, Ø 320 mm, four-piston fixed calipers, disc brake at the rear, Ø 265 mm, double-piston floating caliper, ABS.

Spoked wheels with aluminum rims: 3.50 x 17; 5.50 x 17

Tires: 120/70 ZR 17; 180/55 ZR 17

Dimensions + weights: Wheelbase 1476 mm, steering head angle 64.5 degrees, caster 103 mm, spring travel f / r 120/120 mm, seat height 785 mm, empty weight 222 kg, permissible total weight 430 kg, tank capacity / reserve 18.0 / 3.0 liters.

Guarantee: two years

Colors: black

Price: 14,500 euros

Additional costs: 390 euros

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