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.
Modern classic café racers rule the roost this week. We kick off with a superbly nipped and tucked BMW R nineT 100 Years edition from the USA, before crossing the pond to check out a Triumph Trident 660 from France. Spain’s Tamarit Motorcycles wraps things up with another pitch-perfect Triumph Thruxton RS.
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Motorcycle dealer build-offs are a great way for brands to showcase their bikes, and for bike dealers to flex their customization muscles. But there’s a catch. Once the competition is over, those dealers often need to sell the bikes they built to recoup costs—so it pays to balance style and usability. This BMW R12 nineT…
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England’s Pier City Cycles leads the charge this week, with a custom BMW R12 in a timeless roadster style. We also profile a Moto Guzzi V7 scrambler from Unikat Motorworks, a Suzuki DR-Z400 built to take on the Sahara, and a Harley-Davidson Sportster S from a Lithuanian parts manufacturer.
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What is it that makes BMW motorcycles the perfect canvas for customization? Is it the visual distinctiveness of powerplants like the no-nonsense airheads or the outlandishly equipped K-series? Or possibly the rigorous engineering that makes these platforms stand the test of time. Whatever the cause, BMWs are a staple of the custom scene, and the…
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Given that the motorcycle industry has been on the ropes the last few years, one of the bravest moves a major marque…
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High-end custom motorcycles are a joy to ogle, but owning them is often beyond the reach of us mere mortals. Not everyone…
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If you’ve ever wondered what the new BMW R 12 nineT would look like dressed as a vintage R90S, the new BMW…
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Batman swooped onto the pages of DC Comics 85 years ago, but it would take 19 years for the Caped Crusader to…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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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