Menus
- Flat twin, 1170 cm3, 110 hp at 7,750 rpm, 116 Nm at 6,000 rpm, 219 kilos, from € 13,900
- The neo-retro trendy cafe racer radical
- Discovery
- In the saddle
- Engine and transmission
- In the city
- On motorways and main roads
- On departmental
- 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, 219 kilos, from € 13,900
The neo-retro trendy cafe racer radical
Despite the rather plan-plan image conveyed by BMW motorcycles in the 1970s, the fantasy of sport never completely left Munich engineers, since we remember that from the end of the 20s, BMW registered many speed records with the driver Ernst Henne, that BMW won the Isle of Man TT (admittedly in 1939, with George Meier), that they were invincible in the sidecar world championship (18 titles between 1955 and 1974) and an R 90 S won the US AMA Superbike Championship in 1976 (with Steve McLaughlin on the handlebars).
Suddenly, without going for the pure power of the Japanese 4 cylinders, a few series machines have marked the history of the German brand: R 90 S and R 100 S then RS have seduced bikers in love with both performance, but also balance on the road.
With the neo-retro fashion and the development of a new dedicated range at BMW, the R nineT, the bridge between these two worlds was not only logical, but was obvious, just like the one that led to the R nineT Urban GS. And that’s how the R nineT Racer appeared for the 2017 vintage. And not surprisingly, it was inspired by the Concept Ninety which was presented at the Concours d’Elegance of the Villa d’Este in 2013..
Discovery
BMW did not miss its shot by taking up the codes of the cafe racers of the time. The line is fine, the small round headlight, the fairing like "pig’s nose", all this seems terribly sexy to bikers a little nostalgic for that time. BMW adds it in the revival spirit, with light blue, dark blue and red decorative threads, taken from the historic colors of the old BMW M’s (and others, such as the fantastic BMW 2002 Turbo), the whole contrasting quite well with the gray frame and drivetrain, engine and transmission, painted black. On the other hand, we could have hoped for a second color: either the historic orange of the R 90 S, or a more sober black or solid dark gray, which could suit it quite well. Or pink, hey. It’s pretty, the pink.
In the end, the very small seat backrest, the single-sided and the general proportions hit the mark: this is a racy motorcycle, modern and classic at the same time and which really catches the eye. For BMW, the first part of the contract is fulfilled.
However, in good BMW, several options are possible to allow each customer to have the machine that looks like him. We can therefore opt for white LED indicators (105 €), a chrome exhaust (for the modest sum of 95 €), a brushed aluminum tank with or without welds (from 940 to 1040 €), heated grips (220 €) ), alarm (€ 230), traction control (€ 335), wire wheels (€ 415) and even, for € 2,700 (sic) very high-end surface coatings on the engine and cylinder heads…
In the saddle
Here, they are far away, the handlebars! Before getting on board, we can already guess that the driving position will be typed. And failing to have long legs (the saddle is perched at 805 mm, or even at 795 mm as an option), the bike remains thin, so it is accessible to a lot of people. On the other hand, large arms required to touch the controls.
In front of you, a classic, old-fashioned dashboard: two round blocks that contain counter and tachometer, with small digital windows at their base that allow you to scroll through essential information: trips, clock, heated grip indicator (important, that!) and engaged report. The information scrolls easily thanks to a "trip / infos" button on the left stalk.
In addition, as you have your head tilted forward, the indicators become less readable than on other models with similar equipment, because the viewing angle has changed….
The rest is simple and the R nineT Racer does not pollute the retro spirit by many maps or sophisticated settings of piloted suspensions..
Engine and transmission
We know it well, this brave old 1170cc flat-twin. In this variation, it develops 110 horsepower at 7,750 rpm and 116 Nm of torque at 6,000 rpm, which are in themselves more than respectable values. What matters, too (and above all), is his character. This version has more personality than the one fitted to the R 1200 GS Euro 4: talkative and generous, it is appreciated in most circumstances by its character and its full, almost fat sound. We feel it live, this engine, we feel its consistent torque each time the throttle is opened and it is pure happiness..
We had already, very recently, appreciated its full character in the R nineT Urban GS. If it delivers the same performance, their perceptions are a bit different here. The head in the handlebars, one has the impression that it has a ladle of additional liveliness when it is launched to the attack of the red zone, before realizing that it is led on the torque that this machine gives the best of herself. That’s it too, the retro spirit.
The 6-speed gearbox does not need a shifter, even as an option: too bad. That said, it does the job well and even stands out for its quiet operation..
In the city
Considering the ergonomics all the same quite radical, we expected an aircraft carrier turning radius. This is not the case and it is rather less worse than I imagined (maybe because there is no inverted fork). However, with the handlebars so far forward, turning around still requires a bit of space. Space, on the other hand, there is none under the saddle, which would easily accommodate an anti-theft device..
The flat-twin is relatively flexible and allows you to start again on a net of gas under 2000 rpm, while the compactness of the machine makes it rather easy to carry out interlocking. Note, however, that urban use quickly tires the wrists. On the other hand, in maneuvers and at low speed, the new geometry induces a rather heavy front axle..
On motorways and main roads
Precisely, the wrists, we rest them while being carried the bust by the wind: long live the main axes. There, we praise both the beautiful extension of this BMW: at 130 km / h on the last report, the twin purrs at around 4700 rpm and we could go to the end of the world. The driving position only becomes truly relaxing with speed. We therefore want to go to Germany, especially as in the laps, the times in sixth are quite invigorating and the speed ups, even around 160 or 180 km / h, remain quite copious..
The bubble stays too low and too far forward to really protect. On the other hand, in the big curves, the stability is impeccable with a machine that turns in one block, even at high speed..
On departmental
With a relatively reasonable weight (219 kilos with full tank), the legendary balance of the flat-twin and an engine full of torque, we say to ourselves that we have the ideal machine to have fun on the small roads. This is true, with one caveat: a reserve that does not come from the suspensions, because they are rather of good quality, with in particular a rear that knows how to preserve comfort and traction, without throwing the racket..
No, the reserve, it comes from geometry. This machine does not lie: we find it beautiful because it is long (the wheelbase, at 1491 mm, is 25 mm longer than that of an R nineT), racy, radical. Well on the handlebars, it’s exactly the same, which proves that it does not lie, this R nineT Racer. The very distinctive driving position has two consequences: it quickly turns out to be tiring, which cannot be dramatic, because our civilization of appearance has taught us that we have to suffer to be beautiful, but, more serious still, it weighs down considerably the front axle. With this R nineT Racer, we are sure of one thing, it is that we do not improvise in blind turns whistling "Colchique dans les meadows" under your helmet..
No, you have to work: you have to work on it on the handlebars and take care of its supports to make it turn, this machine, because it is demanding. Suddenly, its hunting ground remains the fast and well coated curve, more than the Morvandaise departmental covered with gravel, at night and in the rain. In other words, you don’t have the new queen of Road Rally here.
Part-cycle
Compared to the R nineT, the first of its kind, the Racer version, oddly enough, skips the pretty inverted fork, for reasons of cost, probably. Suddenly, the fork is a simple telescopic 43 mm in diameter and 125 mm of travel, while the rear monoshock, which debates on 120 mm, is adjustable in preload and rebound. Simple equipment, in absolute terms, but which does the job well, because the R nineT Racer is both rigorous without being uncomfortable suspensions. The tires have dimensions which comply with the standards of the genre: 120/70 x 17 in front, 180/55 x 17 behind.
Brakes
Same story as for the above paragraph. Surprisingly, given its more "sporty" vocation, the Racer does without the beautiful radial calipers of the R nineT. We therefore find Brembo elements with 320 mm discs in front clamped by conventional 4-piston calipers, accompanied by a 265 mm disc martyred by 2 pistons. Despite this facade classicism, the device gives complete satisfaction: power and precision are on the program..
Comfort and duo
The R nineT Racer is strictly single-seater so if you run into the woman of your life, on the side of the road or in the Bois de Boulogne, well, too bad! On your side, you will rent the suspensions and the saddle, firm, but not uncomfortable. And as for the upper part of the body, it will depend on your ergonomics, your route and your resistance. But it’s sporty, that’s for sure.
Consumption & autonomy
This test resulted in an average consumption of 6.5 l / 100, which, with the 17 liters of gasoline contained in the tank, leaves a range of more than 250 kilometers. What to see arrive a break with delights.
Conclusion
How beautiful is this R nineT Racer. She is beautiful and she deserves it. Its driving position is tiring and its front axle loses a lot of naturalness, which is a shame. But no one ever claimed that real cafe racers were easy to ride. Suddenly, it is necessary to have a real sportsmanship to take full advantage of it. You have to like machines with character, accept to understand the instructions for use of this typical machine which is not easily delivered..
Notwithstanding, let’s salute BMW for having made a production machine, while its look and its build quality may suggest that it comes from an ultra specialized preparer..
Strong points
- Terrible look !
- Character engine
- Oily and deep sound
- Stability
- Equipment
- Quality suspensions
Weak points
- Radical ergonomics
- No duo
- Heavy front axle at low and medium speed
- One color
- Instrument panel lights not always readable
The technical sheet of the BMW R nineT Racer
Test conditions
- Itinerary: one week of daily use in Ile de France and a short walk in the Chevreuse valley
- Motorcycle mileage: 5500 km
- Problem encountered: none, apart from having to anticipate the time we spend chatting with onlookers when we stop somewhere, because this machine attracts and makes people talk !
The competition: Triumph Thruxton 1200 R
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