The BMW R nineT is one of the most popular ‘standard’ motorcycles of recent times. Launched by BMW Motorrad in 2014, it’s a roadster with retro styling—and regarded by many bike builders as a ‘blank canvas for customizing.’
Designed by Ola Stenegärd, the R nineT has is designed to make modifications easy. The engine and chassis wiring harnesses are separate, and the rear subframe, taillights and headlight can be removed by simply undoing a few bolts.
In keeping with the classic styling, the R nineT eschews BMW’s more advanced Telelever forks for upside-down (USD) telescopics. It is powered by an air-cooled boxer engine, otherwise known as an ‘oilhead’ flat twin. This engine adds to the classic appearance and does not require the large radiator that would normally compromise looks. It produces 110bhp at 7550 rpm and maximum torque of 119Nm at 6000 rpm.
There have been up to five different variations of the BMW R nineT model available. As well as the original roadster, BMW also offers the stripped-down Pure, the Urban G/S and the Scrambler. The Racer has been discontinued.
Batman swooped onto the pages of DC Comics 85 years ago, but it would take 19 years for the Caped Crusader to debut his first Batcycle. Batman and his myriad motorcycles have captured our imaginations since; just think of how many times you’ve heard the phrase “That looks like something Batman would ride.” That exact…
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Eight years ago, Rough Crafts knocked us off our feet with their first-ever custom BMW R nineT. The Taiwanese superstar custom shop had mostly built custom Harleys until then—but the ‘Bavarian Fistfighter’ was definitive proof that founder Winston Yeh could turn any motorcycle into gold. No surprise then that it found itself at the top…
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Although the BMW R nineT was originally designed as a throwback to classic BMW boxers, it’s always had a modern edge. That leaves customizers with two options—ramp up the nineT’s retro appeal, or lean into its modern underpinnings. No points for guessing which way Shawn Yang went with this BMW R nineT café racer. Based…
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This week’s bikes are all about looking fast and going fast. Pier City Cycles gives the BMW R nineT Racer a massive dose of retro racing style, Tossa R upgrades the Honda CB900, and Greaser Garage turns the Kawasaki Z750 into a classic endurance racer. We bring it home with news of the sale of…
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This week’s selection of custom bikes is all about the finishes. We have a Yamaha WR155 scrambler with a classic ‘speed block’…
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Two very different BMW boxers set things off this week; a BMW R nineT café racer from New York, and a BMW…
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Six months ago, BMW Motorrad gave us a taste of the first major overhaul to the immensely popular R nineT—the renamed BMW…
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The iconic BMW boxer engine has been around a little longer than some folks realize: a hundred years, to be exact. It…
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The BMW R nineT is one of the most charming factory motorcycles you can buy, and much of that charm comes from…
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From the moment that 2LOUD Custom burst onto the scene, we knew they’d be a custom shop to watch. Based in Taipei,…
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The proliferation of bolt-on kits for bikes like the BMW R nineT has made it easier than ever for riders to individualize…
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Would you believe that the BMW R nineT has already been on the market for a staggering nine years? In that time,…
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