BMW R NineT Reviewed – A Retro Designed BMW

In this age of cutting-edge technologies and electronic aids, there are some motorcycles in the world, which provide you the unadulterated and simple-some feel for riding. One such category of motorcycles is that of the café racers. Built with the purpose of clocking miles in small intervals and instantaneous time records, the café racers usually boast of retro design philosophy with classic lines. There are several café racers available in the two wheeler market of India, majority of them coming from the European players. The R NineT is one of those motorcycles from BMW Motorrad which has been launched in the Indian market, soon after their global launch. The motorcycle, with its simple silhouette and no-nonsense and pure stance, makes it an extremely likeable machine.



At the front, the unmistakable round headlamp surrounded by chrome takes the proud position at the center. The simple front fender has been provided aluminium forged mudguard holder, which further enhances the detailing factor of the front stance of the motorcycle. Another interesting aspect is the golden colored front forks, which enrich the front view of the R NineT. The major highlight of the side profile of the BMW R NineT has to be the dual tone fuel tank. Devoid of any characteristic crease or curve, the fuel tank takes you back to the units of the motorcycles of ‘70s when the design of fuel tanks happened to be less fussy and pure. Though, the tank appears large and bulky, part of which is finished in aluminium. The black part of the fuel tank gets the prominent BMW logo.



The rear of the R NineT also doesn’t get any body panel, but there is an option of a magnificent tail cover made up of aluminium. The tail piece acts as a replacement for the pillion seat and also incorporates a small storage compartment. The minimalist LED tail lamp with LED turn indicators further add to its long list of interesting and catchy features. Like most of the motorcycles of BMW Motorrad, the twin exhausts of the R NineT are mounted on the left side. The rider’s seat gets a special golden badge of the bike’s name printed on it.



Powering the BMW R NineT is a four stroke, oil cooled, flat twin, Boxer engine, which displaces 1170cc and churns out maximum power and torque outputs of 110hp and 119 Nm respectively. The engine is mated to a 6-speed gearbox, which transfers the power developed by the engine to the rear wheel via a shaft. Since it is a roadster, the R NineT is a pretty enjoyable bike to ride, which has an abundance of power in the low end of the rev range. The motorcycle rises to speeds pretty effortlessly, with the engine having a linear power delivery to make it less strenuous and easier to ride in the everyday riding conditions.



The BMW R NineT is underpinned with a four section frame, which consists of one front and three rear sections. For making the motorcycle a solo ride, the pillion frame can be removed altogether. BMW is offering a suspension combination of 46mm upside down hydraulic telescopic forks at the front and a vertical-mounted adjustable hydraulic monoshock with a single sided cast aluminium swingarm at the rear. The 17-inch spoke wheels at both the ends come shod with meaty tubeless tyres. Braking duties are accomplished by twin 320mm disc brakes at the front and a single 265mm disc brake at the rear, coupled with BMW’s self-developed ABS.



The instrument console of the BMW R NineT is another example of how the retro design cues can mix with the modern styling ethos. The unit consists of two analog pods, in the midst of which there is a small LCD panel surrounded by silver accents. While the left analog pod consists of speedometer, the right pod engulfs the tachometer within it. On the other hand, the LCD panel between these two pods gives digital readouts for odometer, trip meter, fuel gauge, instantaneous fuel economy, clock and gear indicator.



Overall, the BMW R NineT offers one an extremely special package. At ₹23.5 Lakhs, it wouldn’t be affordable by many, though it will be exclusive for some. Further adding to its exclusivity, the BMW R NineT is available only in one paint scheme. BMW also offers a long list of optional accessories, such as an Akrapovic exhaust, tail piece with storage compartment, HP carbon cover for engine block, carbon front fender, rear bag with attachment system and kneepads on the fuel tank, all of which comes with their respective additional costs.