In case you haven’t figured it out, we like simple, basic motorcycle designs here at MD, and the new Scrambler genre seems to be delivering just that. We gave you all the details regarding BMW’s new R nineT Scrambler, but here is a new video from BMW on the model that will reach dealerships in the Fall of this year. We are not aware of pricing, yet, but BMW promises it will slot beneath the R nineT introduced last year. The video includes a discussion by a couple of BMW product planners/designers.
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I like it. I would buy one if the funds were available. All the naysayers and whiners about not enough horsepower or not enough this or that can go f*** themselves.
The meaning of “Scrambler” has been corrupted in recent times such that it now loosely refers to the style of a bike rather than it’s function. This isn’t the first time that’s happened to a particular genre of bike. The term “Cafe Racer” comes to mind. If you want to ride off road, get an on/off road bike designed specifically for that purpose. Otherwise, just accept the BMW for what is — a styling exercise whose name belies it’s purpose. That said, I like it.
I like it. Simple. Just riding and enjoying the simplicity of it. Most rides people take are not more than 200 miles. Most are not touring, though certainly more people are getting into touring. But the average rider just wants to take a spin on two wheels for a while, which is precisely who this bike is for. The Germans pay their workers well – plus import taxes – hence the higher price. If I really want suspension to be “amazing” and all that, I just buy the GS. Bikes that do all things for all people tend to get really ugly in a hurry, to me. But that’s not who this is for. Think BIKE EXIF. Well done BMW.
Look at those gaiters, there’s like less than three inches of suspension travel on this off road bike…
Actually, 125mm (4.9″) on the front and 140mm (5.5″) at the rear.
I swear the mfgs measure that by taking the springs out and seeing how far the forks will collapse or taking the rear springs off and seeing how far the shock rod moves. I have never had a motorcycle that got anywhere near the travel the mfg tells me it has. Not even close.
For fun put a zip tie around your inner fork tubes and go for a ride. The zip ties will show you how much fork you are using and even panic braking will not get you anywhere near the supposed fork travel.
Travel is the measurement of how far the wheel travels between the full stops of the suspension, not the suspension components themselves, even though a lot of documents refer to the metric as “suspension travel” when providing that info.
While front wheel travel and fork travel will be the same (you’d have to jack the bike up to unload the fork before you place your zip tie for measurement btw), a shock is quite a bit different as it doesn’t need to move five inches to produce five inches of travel. Linkages and how far away from the axle a shock mounts determine how much travel the wheel gets. You’d have to do some calculations to convert your zip tie shock travel measurement to wheel travel.
Not a scrambler! Who designs these bikes? Ugly and not practical!
ugliest motorcycle ever!
You have not seen a Bimota Manta???
Nicely styled street bike.
It makes a little more sense that the standard GS. But only because the seat height is lower. But then again the gas tank is smaller than the standard GS. Now I’m comfused.
The scrambler has scrambled my brain.
It even comes with the gas tank pre-dented:)
I very much like the simple and light looking design.
I wonder if it will be twice as much as the Ducati Scrambler?
Interesting décor in that joint.
Yea I mentioned that below but it is ” in moderation” lol
A 1200cc “Scrambler” misses the point in my opinion.
A 1200cc “Scrambler” misses the point in my opinion. Add street tires and the mark is even farther off.
Kudos to BMW for resisting the temptation to put knobbies on it
Never mind. They mentioned knobbies as an option in the video. Sigh.
A mate of mine bought one last year and I have ridden it a few times, in summary I am a big bloke and I don,t like it at all, I found it very uncomfortable and the back suspension very harsh even when adjusted to its softest suspension. Did not enjoy riding it one bit, yet I love the new R1200R.
Damn. After criticizing BMW for their grotesque automotive styling, and lamenting that this was seeping into their motorcycle division, now they make something I really, really like. Admittedly it uses the older air cooled motor, but it works well stylistically, even if it’s down on power. But a heavy flywheel has its own charms, as opposed to the hyperactive quick revving multis. There is enough power for the design of the machine, which encapsulates a slower, sightseeing, upright riding experience, but still with the moxy to get up and boogie if wanted. Me likee.
I don’t get it. Why not buy a Bandit 1250 with as good or better performance for 1/2 the price?
I must be getting old; BMWs are starting to look good to me.
I have the same feelings!
Maybe you just need new glasses.
While the traditional high side pipes on a scrambler look cool and nostalgic, they are the worst place to have anything that hot.
They also raise the CG, and preclude full sizes saddlebage. It’s no more an off-road vehicle than my SUV, so why make the functional compromises? BMW has become a slave to fashion, belying their heritage. I prefer function over form, BMW’s original mission, not visa versa.
BMW should go the route of some car companies and let Italian design houses design their bikes.
Ducati sold 16,000 Scramblers last year which was 29% of their total sales.
BMW had a record breaking year with a total sales of 16,000 units.
Suzuki also had a record breaking year mainly due of ATV sales.
2016 is shaping up to be a good year for Triumph with the “rebirth” of their Bonneville line.
The Japanese are reluctant to jump into the retro craze, maybe due to past experiences with the fickle American market.
While the European manufacturers are smiling all the way to the bank, the Japanese seem to be content with pumping out cookie cutter, parts bin and for the most part, boring machines.
Honda put forth the CB1100. Yamaha went with the SR400. Kawasaki got into the market really (too?) early with the W650. None of those offerings made many waves. The Japanese are really struggling with the formula.
I don’t consider bikes like the Ducati Scrambler or the RnineTs to be retros: they are really just elemental motorcycles with classic styling cues in my opinion. The simplicity of the design and the minimalism connect with the past, but those bikes still look modern to me. Maybe that is the secret… Not to be retro, but to be classic? That approach certainly works for me anyway!
“…they are really just elemental motorcycles with classic styling cues”
‘Great description! I have no specific interest in conforming to retro design “rules” (and have grown to even hate the term), but I’m always attracted to simple, basic – or, elemental – designs, or, what has traditionally been called a “standard bike.”
The XSR900 from Yamaha seems to be the first Japanese motorcycle in that respect.
It is a machine that has my interest.
If only Honda would dust off the tooling from the old GB500 (and maybe use an XR650’s cylinder?). Two colors, black & candy metallic red.
Beemers are cool? For the rebel at heart? I love it!
The bike is not bad but it’s not for me. The styling is nice. The dealer and BMW motorcycle division support is poor so I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone just for that reason.
On what is your opinion based Re. dealer and OEM support? I owned one for 37k miles and I call foul on that. Dealer support was universally a few steps above the Japanese brands (owned about 70 bikes).
+1
Neil Peart, drummer from the band RUSH, has ridden BMW’s hundreds of thousands of miles around various countries and he always has someplace to stop and get his bike serviced. Of course if you live far from a dealer then maybe a Honda is for you, which are everywhere. The dealers in the Northeast have been great as far as I can see.
I’m no boxer fan but this is an attractive roadster with a high exhaust, oops, “scrambler”. I prefer mags of some sort, but tubeless spoke rims for the win. Flats with tubes ruin your day. I wonder why I never see them on other makes. Patent?
KTM, Yamaha and Guzzi also employ tubeless spoke wheels on some of their bikes.
I said below that I liked the bike and I do, the only caveat being I’d like to see the rear end ” fixed” with a different subframe and a real rear fender. I’m one of those old guys that don’t care for the no rear fender street fighter look, but it doesn’t really make any difference since I’m not buying one anyway. That would just be my preference.
You have to admit it is an elemental motorcycle. other than the hidden electronics someone mentioned, not much there you don’t need…no extra plastics, no origami look, round headlight up where it’s supposed to be, no beak….. Motor, wheels, handlebars, gas tank, seat, and 1 real fender. Pretty close.
Yep, stylistically it looks fabulous to me.
Probably has the HP and torque numbers you are looking for too Jeremy, only I don’t know if it would have an upper end “hit” you want. Never ridden a Beemer hard enough to find out if it has a hit or not. I’d think not, but I may be surprised. I would think it would be rather tractor like delivery clear up to redline. I rode an R1200R for nine days and never found the hit lol.
there is no upper hit at all, its goes from bland and tapers off from there.
Strarcat… Have you ridden other BMWs for comparison?
just the S1000RR and thats in another league. they have nothing else that appeals to me. i did like the looks of the RnineT enough to test it, but walked away shaking my head.
The horsepower numbers are about right for me. It won’t have a top end hit unless it is tuned like the R1200S was, which I am sure it isn’t. Other boxers I’ve ridden have a pretty linear delivery. But I could live without that top end punch. Probably. Maybe.
I need to go test ride one I suppose. It is as close as any manufacturer is going to get to what I really want I think. I just wish it could have been just about anyone but BMW.
There’s also the new Thruxton models coming from Triumph this year. I’m waiting for the opportunity to check out one of those myself – specifically the R.
That Thruxton R is stunning, but I have a feeling it is really going to fall short in the engine department.
Those are the rumblings I am hearing too Jeremy. Mid 80s rwhp on the new 1200 Triumphs.
I’ve got a 2015 R1200RT (my first BMW)and I’m surprised at how much it’s got. If I crank it in sixth gear going 55mph it sh*ts & gits. It’s not like it has any steps in the delivery but it sure doesn’t waste any time getting me up to 90mph or so (me around 215lbs.). On a trip loaded with my wife on back I never found myself wanting more power. In fact the tranny seems to have a bit of trouble keeping up with the engine.
My brother rides a water-cooled GS, and it is a pretty stout engine. The air-cooled mills are a good bit softer, though.
Most of the inline fours I’ve ridden do provide a nice top end pop. While not a punch in the gut like when an old two stroke, most of those fours have a step up in power when the engine gets on the cam that can clearly be felt. Understand I don’t mean that they are gutless through a large part of the rev range and then all of a sudden make power like a two-stroke but rather deliver a broad range of linear usable power and then give an extra kick at the top as the engine rushes towards redline.
I never said the Beemer needs the power of a big 4-cylinder to be enjoyed. I just prefer the broad power delivery with a little top end rush that are often tuned into 4-cylinders rather than have an engine that signs off well before it ever approaches redline in the interest of providing more low-rpm power. While I’m sure the BMW can be enjoyed regardless of how it is tuned, the power delivery dynamics will have a bearing on whether or not I write a $16K check for the bike.
Hah, Jeremy. I just said exactly the same things a few hours ago! Scroll down.
I wonder where the whole misperception of four cylinder bikes come from. People who have never ridden one?
Which misconceptions are you referring to todd?
Oops, I was actually replying to the comment you mentioned, todd, which is why is seems so eerily similar! Looks like I replied in the wrong place!
Mickey, it seems there is a misconception that inline fours have less torque than a similar sized V-twin. People also incorrectly think that they have “peaky” and “narrow” power bands. These things are absolutely false. Fours have more torque, accelerate harder, are smoother, and have a much, much wider power band than any twin of the same capacity. They need to get off their 100 inch bikes and see what real “torque” and massive acceleration feels like. That way they can go on riding the bike of their choice without incorrectly thinking they are bad-ass.
Like I said, the misconception probably started when Kawasaki introduced their 500 two stroke triple. Guys on their 1000cc iron head Sportsters were starting to get blown away by them but yes, those things did have a narrow, peaky power band and did have less torque than a 1000cc twin even though they had considerably more torque than a 500 twin or single. The misconception has been handed down the generations (or it’s likely the same generation with the misconception) and has been exploited by H-D ever since.
ahh todd, I see what you are saying. Yes, I have heard that twin torque thing vs I-4 torque thing too and although some twins may have more torque than some I 4’s almost all of the I’4s I have owned (9 of them I think) have had an abundance of torque, so much so that they can basically be ridden like automatics from 25 mph zones to Utah freeway speeds in high gear if one so wished.
funny now that you mention it but my CB1100 I-4 will happily run around at 2500 rpms in 6th all day, whereas the R1200R I rented in Europe hated to be ridden below 4000 rpms.
My first BMW was an R1100 RT and I absolutely loved it. This revelation came to me as a BFO (Blinding flash of the obvious) one day riding on a multiple switchback descent from a high plain on the west side of Hell’s canyon down to just above sea level in Lewiston ID and its sister city, Clarkston, WA. I suddenly realized this was the most pleasing bike I have ever ridden. I have owned faster bikes, (GSXR), more expensive bikes (H-D), but no bike that absolutely did exactly what I wanted it to do seamlessly and effortlessly.
Now I have my 2nd BMW, a 2013 water cooled R1200GS that I bought new. My only complaint was that the bikes are set up so lean because of the emission regs that it didnt have the low end torque that I wanted. I put the Akropovic exhaust, the K&N intake, and the Dynojet chip with the autotune. Holy cow, not lacking in torque anymore. I still pretty much keep the RPM’s above 3k most of the time and above 4k much of the time, but if I find myself in a situation in which I should be 2 gears lower than what I am, roll on the throttle and it yanks itself right out of the doldrums without my having to be super vigilant about what gear I am in. I’m 68, around 250 lb, 6′ 5″ and have been riding for more than 50 years. I’m not a fold-up guy anymore. I put the taller than stock Touratech seat on the cycle, that was a huge plus in the comfort category. Unfortunately, the tech at the dealership can’t even test drive the bike after he has worked on it. Hate it for the short people. Enjoy the ride. Looks and styling are for the folks who aren’t riding it.
Upper end hit? How would you know Mickey, you never exceed 4000 rpm. LOL
True JimJim. True. However when I was younger from 15 to say 40 I found out what every bike I rode had in it. tHat’s how I came to love I4’s. It’s only in the last quarter century that I have learned to just relax and ride.
This bike would have more than I would ever need or use.
You have a BMW 1200 and had an FJR ( among other bikes) How would you compare the power deliveries of the opposed twin and the I4?
You’re comparing apples to oranges. The FJR is a high revving HP monster that would put a smile on your face when you twist the go grip. The new wet head boxers are more tractor like but surprisingly have a good bit of upper end punch.
This scrambler shouldn’t be very heavy and at 110 HP should be a hoot to ride. I want one!
I know a comparison is crazy, but some people complain if they are riding a liter bike that doesn’t have a top end hit. See Jeremy’s responses for example. He really likes the bike, but isn’t sure he could live without the high HP hit. You have had both, just trying to see if you are satisfied with the Beemer motor after having had the hit from an FJR ..or are you in that last 1/4 century mode that I am in? lol (although Jnor says you aren’t)
The only upper end “hits” I am familiar with are old, highly tuned two strokes. The inline fours I have ridden all make tremendous, twin smashing, linear power throughout the rev range. Nothing beats a four (except a six or an eight) for brutal acceleration and mile wide power bands. We’ve all read about some v-fours that had upper end hits engineered into them for full effect like the V-Max and some of the VFRs.
I’m typically disappointed by twins and their narrow, constant short-shifting power bands but, that being said, I own a number of twins along with the fours, triples, singles, and one and two cylinder two stroke bikes sharing my garage at the moment. Obviously the different types and widths of power bands don’t effect my choice of motorcycle. I don’t see why this Beemer should have to have the same huge power and torque of a big I-four to be enjoyed.
Hit, pop, punch, rush…. call it what you will, there are plenty of I-4s that have a pretty mild 0-8000 rpm spread and then from 8000 to 13000 want to rip your arms out of the socket. For example the Gen 1 FZ-1. 125 hp but from 0-8000 the 99 HP Suzuki Bandit which everyone labeled a dog had more horsepower, but between 8000 and 13000 the FZ-1 just screamed in a hit, pop, punch, rush whatever you want to call it up to it’s peak HP in a blurry rush. I think this is what Jeremy is referring to.
Man-jewelry with cheap suspension and a dull motor. The same performance and less practicality than a 15 year-old UJM at 4x the price and significantly higher maintenance costs.
I liked my last GSA but would have to agree with this overall.
I like both iterations of the RnineT a lot. I don’t think they are $16,000 bikes, but I like them.
agreed
And this one looks to have even cheaper suspension.
i took an hour long test ride on the R9T roadster and really wanted to like it. it was a beautiful machine to look at but the engine… the most insipid, lackluster engine ive experienced in a motorcycle. it was fine for a gentle ride, but as soon as you upped the pace… boring, the suspension and brakes were underwhelming too. it was just a heavy underpowered machine to me.
What do you normally ride? I’m currently in the market for a new bike, and the RnineT was one I was interested in, although I haven’t yet had to opportunity to check one out. Curious what you’re judging it against if you thought it lackluster.
i own a 07 KTM 990 Super Duke. the RnineT really was bland, i really wanted to like it.
dont take my word for it, try one out.
Thanks for the reply.
Maybe you either “get” this type of engine, or you don’t.
what i can tell you is when i ride a motorcycle i want excitement, power, ripping it up. when i want safety and comfort i get in my truck.
the BMW was like driving my truck.
I relate – I’ve owned two oilheads (R1150GS and BCR) and now have a KTM 990 Adventure. For having about the same HP the engine excitement is worlds apart.
meh…
Please elaborate.
meh meh.
I dig it! Will be interesting to see the pricing and how it looks with spoke wheels and semi-knobby tires. Thought I read somewhere that it has slightly longer stroke suspension for ‘rough roads’…
Looking forward to a comparison test between this bike, the Guzzi Stornello and the new Triumph.
I like it! Great job, BMW. I think the bike was designed by passionate people who built their idea of the perfect motorcycle (within the constraints of corporations and profits and emissions and safety blah blah blah).
Wheel & tire sizes are interestingly comparable to the Suzuki DL1000A. (19″ ft & 17″ rr). Quite possible the function as well, but certainly not the styling.
You like the DL’s styling better?!
Wheel & tire sizes are interestingly comparable to the Suzuki DL1000A. 19″ ft & 17″ rr
There are a lot of bikes that use those rim diameters.
19″ front wheels used to be the normal size for street bikes. This is a retro styled scrambler after all.
Back in the day it was typically a 19″ front and 18″ rear.
I want a fat 18″ in the front, and a fatter 17″ in the back.
I do not know late model BMW but I did note that they knocked in the front of the fuel tank to cleat the fork stanchions and THAT is real home brewed flavor.
Wow listening to those guys talk about individuals and rebels and all, you’d think they were talking about a German HD lol.
Seriously. I like this bike!
Yeah right, you would not associate typical German with “rebel”, true. Your assessment of bike is fine by me too. It looks simple, if you omit hidden electronics.
That’s pretty much what I was going to say. The whole thing sounded (including the music) like an H-D promo.
I don’t consider people who buy the most common, massed produced motorcycle available “rebels”. It would be like calling all those middle aged ladies that bought Toyota Camrys “cougars”.
and did you see all the bottles of alcohol on the shelves and women’s bras hanging from the ceiling? I think the German mfg is going after a different class of riders than they have in the past. German Outlaws lol
also as the movie panned in there was a Yamaha 650 motor sitting there. Hard to catch but it’s there for some reason.
Maybe the Yamaha engine captured the exact retro theme/feeling they’re after?
Those aren’t brassieres, those are double-barrel slingshots for the afternoon water-balloon fight…