At EICMA earlier this week, BMW announced a new member of the R nineT family. The R nineT Urban G/S shares its basic frame and engine (1170 cc boxer making 110 hp) with the original R nineT, but gets styling cues and wheels (including a 19″ front) for a look that is reminiscent of the 1980 R 80 G/S.
The standard R nineT also features some changes, including new wired-spoked wheels and fully adjustable fork. Follow this link for a PDF of all of the specifics, and enjoy the photos.
The highlights of the new BMW R nineT and R nineT Urban G/S:
- Potent flat-twin boxer engine with a capacity of 1 170 cc and an output of 81 kW (110 hp) that meets EU4 requirements.
- Modular frame concepts with scope for customising, allowing individualisation according to personal taste.
- R nineT with new wired-spoke wheels.
- R nineT Urban G/S with light alloy cast wheels and 19-inch front wheel in enduro style.
- 320-millimetre twin disc brake at the front.
- ABS as standard.
- ASC (Automatic Stability Control) as an ex works option.
- 2-in-1 exhaust system.
- High-end details such as fork bridges made of forged aluminium with a clear anodised finish.
- R nineT in classic roadster design in Blackstorm metallic in conjunction with a black frame and drivetrain.
- R nineT Urban G/S in the enduro style of the first R 80 G/S dating back to the year 1980.
- R nineT Urban G/S in Lightwhite non-metallic combined with fuel tank decor in two blue tones with a bright red seat – echoing BMW Motorsport colours of past years.
See more of MD’s great photography:
I love the look of this bike. I sat on the BMW Scrambler at the dealer this past weekend. This bike and the Scrambler look like they share the same seat. Let’s hope that someone comes out with a proper seat for anyone looking to ride on a bumpy dirt road. (or New England back roads) The stock seat is a board with vinyl covering. It looks great to the eye but its no R 80GS seat. I wonder how much style points would be lost on a few more inches of foam between the seat pan and sit bones.
Great looking bike. Might get one. What is the crap on top of front tire. Mud will lock wheel right away. Why have raised fender, and that stuff? Put full fender on, get rid of crap. Change seat color.
Long defunct Cycle Magazine was edited by Cook Nielsen, who won the ’77 Daytona SB on his Ducati 750SS tuned by the magazine’s technical editor Gordon Jennings. In Cycle’s BMW R80GS superb, in-depth road test, they described it as having the best handling of any BMW to date.
So odd that BMW would take the effort to spec out wire wheels, high fender, knobby tires, gaiters, etc, but then give the bike a paltry extra 5mm front and 20mm rear suspension travel. I know, it’s just a styling exercise and that unfortunate omission screams that message loud and clear. With just 2-3 additional inches of suspension the bike could have looked the part and actually had some additional functionality reflecting its heritage.
Ducati Desert Sled anyone?
I would much rather just pick up a “real” R80G/S in good condition for a fraction of the price. You won’t lose $10,000 to depreciation and you’ll have the real deal, not just a copy.
Yes, I’m sure an R80GS and this bike are comparable performance-wise.
(not really)
Comparable…maybe if you unplug a spark plug wire on the R nineT, w/12 PSI in the tires…
In a straight line drag race, yes. Otherwise everything depends on the rider.
I’d gladly pay the asking price of this bike over an old, clunky R80. I wouldn’t sweat the $10K depreciation hit in the least as I easily consider this bike to be $10K better. But to each his own.
The simple fact is that if you like the bike and plan on keeping it and riding it for more than a year or four, depreciation doesn’t factor into the purchase.
Appreciation does.
Appreciation of build quality, looks, features and the faint smile that bends into a grin once you’re out of the garage and on the road. To be certain there are other factors not the least of which are ease, frequency and cost of maintenance.
And those should be considered long before taking delivery, otherwise you won’t be happy in the short run for time enough to be delighted in the long run.
Of the scrambler/pseudo off-road models featured here lately, this BMW appeals to me the most.
Finally.
I love the bike. Nothing I would change on it really.
What he said.
At least BMW is paying homage to it’s own styling history and not ripping of that of Harley-Davidson like the Japanese do. This bike gives credit where credit is due and that being to the BMW R80GS. From the way the spokes are laced to the rim it appears to have tubeless wheels while the more street oriented R9T runs bicycle crap.
The tank is smallish and the price tag isn’t. As a result of BMW losing their minds they are losing sales. At these prices both bikes should come well equipped but instead are pretty much stripped. No cruise control means no way would I buy one.
Too much money for what you don’t get.
Um…I ride bikes daily, and you won’t find a tube in my tires unless someone stuffs one in while I’m not looking!
The most ubiquitous threat to air pressure on mountain bike tires in Utah is our infamous “goat heads.” Picked up about twenty per tire a few months ago, spent forty-five minutes pulling them up, topped off the tires, and haven’t touched them since.
If a tube was in there it would have shredded to confetti.
Those knobby tires on Harley would make me take it off road. Funny how a styling cue shifts my mood. Like it.
I can’t help but wonder how long it takes for it to become know as the “Turban” as in Rnine TUrban…
Sorry, I couldn’t resist; it was just too obvious.
Tank size is a bit of a step down from the R80G/S’s 19.5L and R100G/S’s 24L
Well,so much for a Triumph Scrambler. Love the look
It looks nice. But it may be a little taller than the R9T.
Hello All,
This is not designed to replace the traditional GS’s or even take on its lineage….. Its merely a cool retro look for BMW – for those who like the older gen colors…. Thats all it is……nothing more…..
:):):):)
Sometimes “nothing more” is more than enough. Well said, sir.
A GS that weighs 25% more than the original with a much higher CG.
That’s a lot of progress in only 36 years.
It has 100% more power from 50% more displacement. That seems like actual progress.
And how would one know that it has a higher CG?
Is BMW pulling a Harley here.
Nicely done, it takes a (highly desirable) page from BMW’s own history. I just had an R80GS show up in my facebook feed this morning.
Hopefully there will be fenders available in the aftermarket. – Gus
Why does the Urban have TKC’s and the scrambler doesn’t? Don’t recall too many dirt roads in urbanville…. on the way to Starbucks!
Seems they got it backward.
Love the “look” tho.
Not sure how many BMW riders you know, but the Starbuck’s comment doesn’t fit the BMW riders I know. Many of them are Iron Butt members and most of the rest are long range tourers. I’ve put in 500k+ miles and I’m not keeping up.
BMW riders as a group are no different than any other brand riders as a group. Some ride more, some ride less. Same as with Hondas or Harleys or whatever.
There is no problem finding low mileage examples of BMW’s on Craigslist. I have been looking at R1200R’s lately and they can be had all day long with less than 10K miles for 1/2 price, fully decked out with touring accs.
Their BMWs are on Craigslist because they discovered they are not real BMW riders. Let them go back to their Kawasakis. Our BMW club is on pace to ride 1 million miles this year. There definitely is a difference.
Oh that’s hilarious, and people have this perception about BMW riders being elitests. Wonder why? Thanks for the laugh.
“real BMW riders”. uhh, ok. I’ve owned lots of different motorcycles, I only consider myself a “motorcyclist”, not brand specific.
This type of attitude is why I don’t want a BMW. I would be embarrassed to be lumped in with people like yourself. I’ll stick to my non-elitist Yamaha, which will never ever need a new final drive btw.
DaveA
IBA #64795
I have nothing against other bikes. I’ve owned 60 motorcycles over they years and most of them were/are Japanese bikes and they worked fine. When I bought my first BMW 20 year ago I realized the bikes were something special and the BMW riders seemed to want to go more places than the other guys I knew. Just simple facts. Before you criticize BMW bikes (and riders), you should try one for yourself. I believe you will be able to tell the difference. BTW, I have 2 chain-driven BMWs, just like your Yamaha.
I have test ridden 4 BMWs since 1977 and rented one in Europe for 9 days. Each test ride convinced me to buy something else or keep what I was already riding. The R1200R I rented in Europe I considered OK, but nothing outstanding. I came home and bought a CB1100 instead. Two in fact. I already had an ST1300 for my long distance riding. You may find BMW’s special, me, not so much.
BTW I have ridden about 800,000 miles on two wheels in 51 years. You don’t have to ride a BMW to be a rider. A rider is a rider regardless of the motorcycle seat he is sitting on at the time. My ST1300 may be heavier than I would like, but it is many times a better motorcycle than any BMW I have ever ridden. Honestly. If Honda made a new one, I would buy another in a heartbeat , no hesitation.
bah, pretender! im really liking the Ducati Desert sled. now that seems like it can actually go off road.
For me, again, the front half of the motorcycle from the back of the gas tank forward, great. The rear half with the skinny exposed tubes subframe, thin unappealing seat, and lack of a real rear fender, horrible. And that wide V shaped piece of aluminum below the riders tush…if they can’t eliminate it, at least powder coat it black so it’s not so visible.It looks like a homemade “patch” of some sort to me. The same with that silver piece above the cylinder head.
+1
Elbows too pointy.
Would not buy.
Pointy elbow? Is that a medical problem?
lol…this.
another reason to charge $1k more on top of the $15k already for the RnineT, too expensive…
Cool bike, but I agree, insane price point for what it is.
Back to the basics, looks good!