BMW launched the R nineT in 2014 not so much as a retro café racer or naked bike but as a blank canvas for customization. It worked: Everyone from big-name builders to back-alley workshops embraced the air-cooled flat-twin, churning out myriad showstoppers. In many respects, this liter-class machine with its sporty riding position and an attitude to match is to BMW what the Monster is to Ducati. In fact, the same modular powerplant and steel-tube chassis have served as the foundation for a growing family of so-called “heritage” models—Scrambler, Racer, Urban G/S, and Pure—that fight for floor space at dealerships alongside the R nineT.
BMW updated the R nineT for 2017 with a revised instrument cluster, adjustments for the inverted fork, steering geometry with more conservative rake and trail, and blacked-out driveline components. Current standard equipment includes a multifunction display with a tachometer and an onboard computer, a power socket, an LED taillight, and antilock braking. BMW offers one upgrade package, Select ($650), which includes just two items: wheelspin-managing Automatic Stability Control (ASC) and two-level heated handgrips. Also available: three takes on the $2,700 Option 719 billet pack.
Likes: Air-cooled flat-twin wonderfully alive; low-maintenance shaft final drive
Dislikes: Heated handgrips can be purchased separately but cost $530
Verdict: Most fully featured and expensive of BMW's heritage series models
“Fueling is smooth, the suspension a nice balance between supportive and stiff, and the chassis feels better the harder you push it,” Bradley Adams wrote. “Add to that a seamless transmission and brakes that are strong, and you have a bike that doesn’t give up much in terms of performance.”
Motorcycles offering comparable feel, handling, and style to the BMW R nineT run the gamut, including a bunch of twins, triples, and even fours from Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Triumph, and Yamaha, among others. MSRPs are wide-ranging and often a reflection of the displacement and claimed performance from the respective engines.
The 2019 BMW R nineT comes standard in Black Storm Metallic, with Black Storm Metallic/Vintage or Pollux Metallic/Aluminum carrying a $1,050 surcharge. Option 719 Mars Red Metallic Matt/Cosmic Blue Metallic Matt, which includes huge 719 logos on the sides of the gas tank, adds $1,200.
