Quick spin: BMW R Nine T

BMW Motorrad is a marque which requires no introduction. It has gained the bulk of its reputation by building flat-twin machines in different guises without a big philosophical change from the 1930s. In the late 1990s however, BMW produced its first modern air-cooled engine which it sold successfully in the GS, RT and RS models with much success.

In general, the bikes were built with a different attitude to other manufacturers, with practicality one of the key ingredients – an approach which a lot of customers found to their liking.

While still maintaining that mindset, BMW also branched out and released a full-on sportsbike in 2009, the S 1000 RR. The one-litre machine has been a big success story – and there's an updated one on the way to Australia – but BMW hasn't rested on its laurels. It has been actively seeking new markets with great gusto, and with the celebration of 90 years of BMW there couldn’t have been a better time than to release the R Nine T roadster.

The R Nine T has certainly made an impact since it was released about in the second quarter of 2014, with BMW Motorrad Australia struggling to keep up with demand, which is a solid indicator that the Bavarian company is onto a good thing. This bike is undeniably cool. When I laid eyes on it for the first time it took my breath away.

R NINE T LAUNCH REVIEW

The naked retro sector is a very tricky one for manufacturers to get right as it's not horsepower, lap times or handling which make or break the bike, but instead how the consumer perceives themselves rolling up to a café to meet friends on a Sunday afternoon -- and more importantly the exhilaration that it bike gives you when you’re holding onto the bars. I’m happy to say that riding the R Nine T ticks all the right boxes for me.

Except that we can't really call it a retro bike! When it was launched, BMW said that it “synthesizes state-of the-art technical features from high performance sports machines with classic principles derived from 90 years of BMW Motorrad, and applies them with compelling craftsmanship”. There you go!

The ergonomics on the R Nine T are very user-friendly, with a nice reach to the bars and a good center of balance which makes mounting the bike and picking it up off the stand an easy chore rather than a balancing nightmare. The seat height is sensible too, making it easy for shorter riders to have a firm footing and give the rider the extra confidence he or she needs negotiating at slow speed or trying to park the bike in tricky places.

The quality is typical BMW, which means top-notch fittings and components that have been rigorously tested to make sure the bike is reliable. The front brakes aren’t compromised and are very powerful four spotters that tie in well with the only electronic rider aid fitted to the machine which is anti-lock braking.

Unlike the cruiser BMW unleashed in the ’90s there has been some break away from  tradition with a standard telescopic front-end instead of the Telelever system sometimes used by BMW. The front-end is basic but well built. The lack of adjustment is normally a complaint on most bikes, but in the case of the R Nine T it just adds to the clean lines of the bike and as a bonus the forks work well enough just as they are.

The engine is the air-cooled twin-cam version, and the thing I like about that --apart from the fact it's reliable -- is that it's air-cooled. It helps to achieve the clean look that makes a nakedbike a winner. There are no ugly water pipes or a radiator to hide, and in fact with no water jacket the BMW is a symphony of noise at just the right mix to get the endorphins running at a high level.

On a bike like this the first thing most people do is buy a cool expensive exhaust system to release the restricted sound, but it’s actually unnecessary as the standard pipe looks great and has the right sound thanks to an electronic exhaust valve that controls the decibels to the right levels.

The engine produces plenty of power through the rev range, enough to keep anybody happy, and it’s very smooth in its power delivery. I didn’t have to keep it buzzing though the gearbox: just pick a gear and away I went.

The clutch has a lot of feel, which helps give the rider the confidence of a perfect take-off every time.

With the Boxer twin there will always be a small bit of crank inertia which makes the bike feel like it’s moving from right to left if you give it a rev, but I don’t mind that either. It adds again to the experience which makes this a very desirable motorcycle.

I rode the R Nine T in the city, country and even a little dirt road and I couldn’t really fault the bike's handling. It likes the twisties and I don’t know how but even with the lack of fairing there wasn’t too much wind to deal with on the freeway. I didn’t feel that I had to do warp speeds to enjoy the bike, which is definitely a plus for those trying to maintain their license.

If there is a little stumbling block about the Beemer it’s probably the price.  $21,250 is a lot of money to pay for a nakedbike, but if you’re in the market for a cool one with a special heritage I guess price doesn’t matter. All in all I enjoyed my time with the R Nine T, so I guess I better start saving.

For full details on accessories, visit www.bmwmotorrad.com.au/au/en/index.html or contact your local dealer.

TRANSMISSION
Type: Six-speed
Final drive: Cardan shaft
Clutch: Dry

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame type: Tubular steel bridge with engine as stressed member
Front suspension: 46mm upside-down fork, non-adjustable, 120mm travel
Rear suspension: BMW Paralever, adjustable for preload and rebound, 120mm travel
Front brakes: Twin 320mm discs with radial four-piston radial calipers, ABS
Rear brake: 265mm disc with twin-piston caliper, ABS
Wheels: Wire spoke
Tyres: Front 120/70-17, rear 180/55-17

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Steering head angle: 64.5 degrees
Trail: 92.7mm
Claimed wet weight: 222kg
Seat height: 785mm
Wheelbase: 1476mm
Fuel capacity: 17 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $21,250
Colour: Black metallic
Test bike supplied by: BMW Motorrad Australia, www.bmwmotorrad.com.au
Warranty: 24 months, unlimited kilometres