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.
The custom motorcycle scene truly is a global village. We’ve featured bikes from Indonesia and Japan this week—but today we’re heading south, to the port city of Gqeberha in South Africa. This aircraft-inspired BMW R nineT is the work of Wayne Buys, who works out of his home garage as FabMan Creations. It’s shrouded in…
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Motorcycle historian Paul d’Orléans takes a deep dive for Iron & Air into the uneasy but essentially productive relationship between the modern-day custom scene and design teams at the major manufacturers. In the ancient days of the 1990s, custom motorcycles were incredibly popular, but their baroque excess made them irrelevant to the motorcycle industry. The…
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There’s a sense of self-sufficiency that’s deeply ingrained in the Batman mythos. Bruce Wayne has no superpowers—just his intellect, combat skills and gadgets. That, and a Batcave full of fantastical vehicles. The Batman, directed by Matt Reeves and starring Robert Pattinson, offers a darker and grittier take on the caped crusader than we’ve seen before.…
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This week we’ve got a limited edition machine from the German car tuner Brabus, a delightful R nineT cafe racer from Switzerland, and a box-fresh Yamaha TZ500 from the north of England. Plus news of Triumph’s TE-1 electric sportbike.
Read more »We’ve got them in all shapes and sizes this week—from a Yamaha SR500 that’s gone electric, to a BMW R nineT built…
Read more »Nigel Petrie is a bike builder who deserves way more attention than he gets. Despite his next-level fabrication skills and Born Free…
Read more »The French are out in full force this week, with a Katana from Lucky Cat Garage and an R nineT from Le…
Read more »Our round-up for the week includes a well-used Moto Martin-framed endurance racer, and two BMWs; an R nineT and an R18. But…
Read more »We’ve always admired custom motorcycle workshops that keep pushing the boundaries. Austria’s Vagabund Moto have been doing good work since day one,…
Read more »We’re kicking things off this week with a chic Triumph Street Twin from FCR Original. We’ve also got a BMW R nineT…
Read more »We’re going off road this week, with a stunning Paris-Dakar R nineT from Switzerland and a pair of Yamaha dual sports: an…
Read more »We interviewed the team behind the development of the BMW R nineT a few years ago. They were adamant about one thing:…
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