How a lot enjoyable can a retro-styled, air-cooled BMW boxer be? Because it seems – tons! John Urry fills his boots…
Just a few years in the past the motorbike world was going hipster loopy with all method of pretty hideous ‘customised’ bikes showing as producers paid chaps with beards and tattoos to principally spoil a wonderfully good machine within the identify of trend and PR.
Frames had been chopped, inappropriate wheels and tyres fitted, brown seats added, you identify it, it occurred, and was then adopted up by a photoshoot in some backstreet workshop to make the bike look all moody and funky. Nonetheless, a couple of good issues did spring out of this pretty annoying subculture (though it’s not likely a subculture when it’s mainstream…) and one of the best might be BMW’s R nineT.
Launched in 2014, the R nineT had all of the hallmarks of being a fashion-led disappointment. BMW’s pre-unveiling waffle centred about the way it may very well be simply customised as demonstrated by, yep, chaps with beards, and it was a café racer powered by the agency’s getting older, air-cooled boxer motor. In reality, nobody was actually anticipating the R nineT to be way more than a chilled-out retro that will promote in small numbers to a couple trend victims after which disappear from the mannequin vary. How mistaken we had been…
Whenever you strategy the R nineT, the very first thing that strikes you is simply how superbly it’s made. We’re speaking an actual consideration to element right here with beautiful touches such because the old-school VIN plate on the headstock, twin clocks, inch-deep paint, spoke wheels and chunky bars. It actually instructions your consideration after which your eye is drawn to its operating gear.
Fairly than sacrifice efficiency for fashion, BMW armed their retro with ‘correct’ chassis elements, and also you get radial Brembo brakes, inverted forks (which lack adjustment) and ABS with the choice of traction management if you would like. There’s additionally a reasonably non-retro shaft drive, however we are going to brush over this and as an alternative concentrate on the star of the R nineT’s bundle – its air-cooled boxer engine.
Sure, the boxer motor (which is the twin-cam 4 valve-head model) is pretty outdated, however whenever you fireplace up this café racer it sounds uncooked and aggressive with a really fruity customary exhaust be aware (it’s even higher with the Akrapovic aftermarket silencer fitted). Sit astride the BMW and whenever you blip the throttle the entire bike shakes and judders because the torque response makes it lurch to the aspect. Removed from some identikit retro, the R nineT feels alive in a really stunning and pleasing means. And whenever you get out on the open highway it will get even higher…
It’s simple to overlook simply how good the air-cooled boxer engine really is. Keep in mind, this motor powered the whole lot from the GS to the RT and whenever you stick it in a stripped-back retro with a moist weight of simply 220kg it rocks. Get on the gasoline and the boxer thumps ahead with a lot of beautiful character vibrations that basically go well with its styling. It’s a correctly fast highway engine with an enormous stack of mid-range torque that makes you giggle because it feels actually naughty to thrash.
The throttle is sort of aggressive, which is definitely all a part of the enjoyable, and it’s brimming with spirit and soul. Sure, the gearbox is clunky. Nonetheless, it’s a retro so what do you count on? However the largest shock comes whenever you assault the bends.
Fairly than its Telelever entrance finish, BMW armed the R nineT with inverted forks and which means not solely does it really feel pure to all riders, it is usually sensible in corners. The low centre of gravity of the boxer engine helps the bike tip right into a bend and as soon as there it’s rock-solid and nice enjoyable. You may fortunately take this retro on a trackday and never embarrass your self (till the heads contact down), which isn’t one thing you possibly can say about a few of its rivals. The Brembo brakes are also greater than as much as the job, delivering a lot of energy and a great quantity of really feel on the lever.
Quick, enjoyable and characterful, what’s to not like in regards to the BMW R nineT? There’s the value tag…
With a brand new value of £12,745 in 2014, these days you continue to must pay at the least £5-6000 to have an R nineT in your storage, which is a whole lot of money for an air-cooled boxer that can most likely be saved for sunny rides solely.
Is it well worth the funding? Truly, it’s as a result of in addition to being sensible to trip, the R nineT can be very simple to customize with its rear subframe coming off with minimal effort to provide it a very funky, stripped-back look. For those who like the thought of getting the spanners out, it is a bike that you would be able to spend a little bit of money and time making the look even cooler, which provides an entire new dimension to possession. Simply attempt to keep away from the midlife disaster tattoos/beard/moustache/foolish haircut… (wait – or embrace all these if it makes you content!)
Worth information: £6000-£11,500
Most cost-effective non-public: £5991
1460 miles, 2014 mannequin in good situation with low mileage
Our selection non-public: £7500
12,479 miles, simply serviced in excellent situation with a full service historical past
Most cost-effective vendor: £7750
4300 miles, 2016 bike in wonderful situation with Akrapovic
Our selection vendor: £7995
8660 miles, beautiful low mileage bike with excessive stage Akrapovic
Ex-demo: £10,995
2367 miles, stunning 2019 bike that’s loaded with extras
Different issues to know…
Pure
The R nineT Pure arrived in 2017 and is the bottom mannequin within the vary. You get standard forks and non-radial brake calipers, however the engine and chassis are the identical because the higher-spec model. Costs begin at £9000.
Service historical past
The boxer engine’s uncovered nature means it is vitally simple and due to this fact comparatively low cost to service. It requires a small service each 6000 miles and valve clearances checked on the 12,000 service mark. The air-cooled boxer engine can burn a little bit of oil, so a great service historical past is beneficial.
Equipment
The R nineT is a motorcycle that’s designed to be customised and a stack of BMW equipment add to its worth. Probably the most wanted by way of styling is the ‘bullet’ aluminium seat unit, which may go for over £200 used and is £480 new, however that’s simply the tip of the iceberg. Billet levers and footrests, head covers, seats, reservoir covers, and many others., and many others. The extra equipment, the upper the value tag.
Clutch
It shouldn’t be a problem as most R nineTs have coated minimal mileages. Nonetheless, at all times be cautious of any clutch slip as altering this in a boxer engine principally includes splitting the bike in half and is roughly £1000 in workshop payments in consequence!
Exhaust
There are numerous official BMW choices relating to exhausts and most house owners follow the factory-supplied Akrapovic fairly than purchase different manufacturers. The HP Sports activities Silencer prices £1110, whereas the Excessive Rise HP one appears superb however prices £1290. A used full Akra system will set you again roughly £1000 from on-line public sale websites, whereas different manufacturers cost about £600 for a slip-on silencer to interchange the twin-stacked OE models.
Rider assists
Though initially solely ABS got here as customary, you possibly can add traction management (£250), heated grips (£255), and an alarm (£220). Later bikes include traction management as customary, however all fashions can have it retro-fitted.
End
The end is mostly very excessive on the R nineT, however as it’s a bare bike examine it nicely for stone chips and any rust forming because of lacking paint. Basically, house owners save their bikes for sunny runs, however a couple of are somewhat hardier.
Different variations
The R nineT household consists of the Scrambler, Pure, Racer, City G/S and the top-spec Roadster (which is simply known as the R nineT). The high-bar scrambler and G/S are nice choices if you would like a extra relaxed trip, however the Racer’s low clip-ons are excruciatingly uncomfortable, that means it’s best averted.
