BMW R nineT Urban G / S test

Menus

• Flat-twin, 1170 cm3, 110 hp at 7,750 rpm, 116 Nm at 6,000 rpm, 221 kilos, from € 13,850
• An evocation of the 1980 R 80 G / S, full of charm and character !
• Discovery
• In the saddle
• Engine and transmission
• In the city
• On motorways and main roads
• On departmental
• Off-road
• Part-cycle
• Brakes
• Comfort and duo
• Consumption & autonomy
• Conclusion

Flat-twin, 1170 cm3, 110 hp at 7,750 rpm, 116 Nm at 6,000 rpm, 221 kilos, from € 13,850

An evocation of the 1980 R 80 G / S, full of charm and character !

1980: while the trail is the most fashionable family of motorcycles, while the Paris-Dakar is building its legend, BMW hits hard with the release of the first large multi-cylinder trail in history. The BMW R 80 G / S (small reminder: for Gelande & Strasse, that is to say off-road and road), then develops 50 horses, which is clearly more than the 32 horses of a Yamaha 500 XT, for example and which makes then figure of real incentive to adventure. The G / S then there is a separator bar in the surname, it is the ladder above. And three decades later, the GS (no slash now), is quite simply the best-selling heavy-duty machine in the world..

In 2013, on the occasion of the brand’s 90th anniversary, BMW launched the R nineT. A retro look and modern technology, it did not take more to hit the mark in the midst of the hispter movement. While we did not really know what aura BMW wanted to give to its R nineT, today we know: there is a complete range here, with the original model, the Scrambler, the Pure, the Racer and the Urban G / S.

Putting Urban and G / S in the same sentence is still a bit weird. But it becomes less so when we know that in cars, it is SUVs that experience the strongest growth: these pseudo 4x4s that rarely leave cities, such, for example, the BMW X1.

Discovery

Alpin White color (BMW code 146) and orange saddle: this is how the R 80 G / S appeared in 1980. And it is clear that, in general terms, the mimicry is striking. Both in the general look and in the proportions, the nostalgia is subtly sublimated without the blisters and the mushy side that made us go from the old Mini to the new Mini. There, the meaning, if not the detail, let’s say the homage, is still pushed far enough: like the headlight plate with its two small air vents such as the G / S had, a table on board entrusted to a simple meter, the colors, we are there !

However, things are not that simple. Because the Munich manufacturer, follower of the "premium" approach, has understood the game (and the profitability) of the options. So the original Urban G / S comes with spoke wheels and, frankly, it doesn’t look very good. A solution ? Opting for spoke rims, it will cost you 415 €. On the other hand, choosing the fitting of TT tires (Continental TKC 80) is a free option, but which is not without consequences, as we will discuss later..

Among the other options available to this test model, there are also white LED indicators (€ 105), the always useful heated grips (€ 220) and ASC traction control (€ 335). We can go further with the alarm (230 €) or aluminum tanks (up to 1040 €).

In the saddle

It is at 850 mm, but as a free option, a low saddle is offered and it lowers the seat to 820 mm. It’s already more democratic, even if the tank, from the R nineT, has nothing of the supertanker that sometimes irrigates the trails. Suddenly, in this area, the R nineT seems more Urban than G / S. Once on board, the driving position is not very typical trail either and we see here that the platform is that of the R nineT: compared to a real trail, the legs remain a little folded and the handlebars are both a little low and a little forward. Nothing alarming, therefore, especially as it promotes the grip for a greater number.

Once on board, life is disarmingly simple, because you don’t have to worry: not too much electronics and a dashboard reduced to a simple expression, in the form of a speedometer unit. with some indications in the digital window (trips, clock, oil temperature). BMW could have done like Harley-Davidson, that is to say also put an indication of the engine speed. We also do without a gear indicator: let us recognize, however, that there was none either on the motorcycles of Hubert Auriol or Gaston Rahier. And that did not prevent them from winning Dakar victories in, respectively, 1981 and 83 for the first and 1984-85 for the second, all this having contributed to the construction of the myth of the GS.

Engine and transmission

Nothing new under the sun: we therefore find the good old flat 1170 cm3 cooled by air, delivering 110 horsepower at 7750 rpm and a generous torque of 116 Nm at 6000 rpm. As of course, the gearbox is six-speed and the final transmission by cardan shaft. As an option, anti-slip is available on this machine.

It’s long gone, slamming gearboxes: that of this BMW is soft, to the point where you can hardly hear the first one engage. The clutch is also soft and you quickly realize that this engine is a real pleasure. Supple lively in response, it is also very torquey in the usual modes, resumes with force in a low growl and lets itself go to a few backfires when decelerating. In short: the foot !

In the city

"I will rather follow you, because with your big flat, you will have more difficulty to pass than me": while we return on a report, a colleague photographer driving in Honda CBR 900 street-fighterized, prefers to leave me in front, me and my Teutonic barge. And yet: the twin is narrower than the handlebars and the handlebars are not that wide. In fact, as the turning radius is quite good and the flat remains flexible at low revs, with a well-dosed gas grip: that’s good for the city, except for the transport of the lock. Suddenly, the Urban G / S sneaks into urban hell as well as any other motorcycle..

Note that with TT tires, beware of white stripes and other pedestrian crossings in the wet.

On motorways and main roads

It is not a problem of breath: the big flat has the extension and the bar of 200 km / h is easily reached, unless you have the fit of TT tires, in which case the homologation only runs up to 160 km / h, which is already enough to get sent to jail like a heinous criminal.

Without a tachometer, it’s difficult to say at what rpm the flat turns at legal speed on the motorway, but what is certain is that it is comfortable! On the other hand, the protection is necessarily average, the small headlight plate does not deflect the air above the helmet and we take a little full face. Fortunately, the handlebars placed lower than on a classic trail allow you to lower your head a little and therefore, at the same time, to look like a runner..

Apart from that I’m good. And you ?

On departmental

Rah, lovely! It is definitely made for that, this BM! First of all, because it’s the best way to pay homage to its father (at least spiritual), the R 80 G / S. And quite simply because it is there, the true nature of the trail: we ride, cuddly, without worrying too much about the bike or the road, all focused on the landscape and on the present moment, on the principle that the machine is the extension of yourself and your will and in no way a constraint.

Is the Urban G / S of this kind? There is some of that, yes: because the machine is extremely easy to handle, well balanced and the magic of the twin is in full swing. Pif, paf, left, right, the Urban G / S plays with the fantasies of the relief and blends playfully into the landscape. And besides, we’ve already told you about it, but it’s so good that we add a layer, there is this engine. Good big couple, very fat, length, a sound that farts: the big flat goes perfectly well with the philosophy of this Urban G / S.

Too bad the tires (again!) Reduce the fun: yet their grip is very good in the dry and you can still take an angle, but you naturally refrain from entering hard on the front end and when you arrive. near the maximum angle, one has the impression of taking a turn in the stairs. Not terrible. Likewise, they seem to wear out very quickly on the asphalt (with less than 3000 km of test on the odometer, our tires were already well under way) and they are also very noisy. So if you want to refrain from playing hipsters, don’t hesitate to keep the original ride with a more road profile. Unless you want to do a lot of off-roading with your Urban G / S.

Off-road

And pan, the mask is off! If you are wondering, like me (asking existential questions is fundamental for a fulfilling life) if this bike is more Urban than G / S, the following paragraph will cut the pile. And at the risk of breaking the suspense, if you hoped G / S, go straight to the conclusion, it will avoid disappointments.

In fact, while you can easily find a guy or two who can backflip with it, it turns out that this machine doesn’t have much of a real trail, after all. First, because you can do backflips with snowmobiles or Austin Minis and above all because, initially, the driving position is nothing like that of a trail. The handlebars are too low, standing on the footrests, you have your back broken, your arms forward, your ass in the air, in short, it’s as ridiculous as a baboon trying to tango. In addition, even if we can put a large aluminum engine spoiler to reinforce the adventurer look, the suspensions are not of a disproportionate travel (125 mm in front, 140 mm behind) and in addition, they are a little firm..

Too bad, because the flat pulls hard at low revs and with traction control, you can start on soft ground without staying in place.

And this is doubly unfortunate, because that would be the only opportunity to optimize the tire fitting in TKC 80: which leads us to this conclusion: what a show! And this especially since if the ABS is disconnecting for a trip in TT, it does not allow to keep control on the front axle. It’s not very cool, because it allows you to keep a bit of security on the front, but sliding the rear is useful in TT.

Part-cycle

The fork is not adjustable and the rear shock absorber is only preloaded: this is another indication that allows us to decide whether this bike is Urban or G / S !

Brakes

Brembo 4 pistons at the front, which does the job well by being powerful and dosable at the same time. The rear is also very correct.

Comfort and duo

For the rider, it’s fine: except at high speed, the lack of protection is managed and in fact, we are well on the handlebars of this bike. Mechanical vibrations remain at a contained level, it lives, that’s it. Behind, it’s less funny: the saddle is flat, short, there is nothing to hang on.

Consumption & autonomy

The consumption recorded on this test is of the order of 6 l / 100 and with the 17 liters in the tank, the autonomy is sufficient: more than 250 km before seeing the reserve indicator displayed. Too bad the dashboard overlooks a fuel gauge, or even an autonomy indicator.

Conclusion

It’s hard not to take it in affection, this motorcycle. It has a look, it recalls a story: given the average age of the biker in France, BMW has hit the nail on the head and this machine has real sympathy. It does not have only that: an engine which pulses well and which corresponds perfectly to the philosophy of the machine. In fact, we have only one desire: to return to the sources of motorcycling pleasure and gorge on small roads, like that, without a specific goal, just for the intensity of the moment lived. As with old-fashioned trails, then? Yes, except that this Urban G / S is not one: position too collected. Whatever, its ease of conduct compensates. On the other hand, we will ignore the TKC 80s, thank you.

Strong points

• Successful look
• Caress the nostalgia !
• Very nice engine
• Ease of driving
• Driving pleasure
• City / countryside versatility

Weak points

• Ugly with the stick rims
• Degraded behavior with studded tires
• TT driving ergonomics
• Stripped dashboard
• No way to keep ABS on the front when driving TT

The technical sheet of the BMW R nineT Urban G / S

Test conditions

• Itinerary: ten days of testing and 600 km, with daily life in Paris, a trip in Chevreuse and another in Normandy
• Motorcycle mileage: 2.400 km
• Problem encountered: having failed to end up face down in a motorway slip road, because of bitumen "patches" and TT tires…

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