I swear, I love my Vespa scooter. Regardless of what I write from this point on remember that.
The details aren’t important other than Kissell Motorsports put me in a position to be riding a BMW RnineT motorcycle. I don’t follow the motorcycling world closely so I missed the unveiling of this bike as a new direction for the BMW Motorrad line. There are a wealth of reviews on the web of this motorcycle with technical evaluations replete with discussions of forks, dissertations on exhaust design, or musings on quarter-mile sprint speeds. And of course the endless arguments on what the best customization paths are.
Ugh.
Double ugh.
I decidedly do not fit into the aftermarket customization customer model. Whatever personal defects are at work I generally make do with whatever the scooter or bike has and it takes a long, long time for me to think about changing anything. And then for purely utilitarian reasons — like wanting to haul more groceries or needing better traction in snow.
So what I’ll try and do is share what it’s like to move from a relatively small scooter to a big motorcycle. It’s a path many riders take from small to large so perhaps I can shine a light on what to expect.
While a lot of riders talk about how fast a motorcycle will go I’m more concerned with how slow it will go. Or more specifically, how well it will go slow. I’m a tourist when I ride. I like to take in the scenery, creep along back roads and feel the air change from warm to cool as I pass a creek. This kind of slow riding is not something every motorcycle does well with engines demanding higher RPMs lest they lurch and chug or worse stall at slow speeds. The BMW R nineT is marvelous at slow speeds and purrs like a kitten at 10mph, 25mph, or 85mph (the fastest I actually witnessed on the speedometer).
The motorcycle is easy to handle and has little of the big motorcycle feel that other machines have.
The BMW R nineT is fun to ride but it does lack some of the thrill I derive from the Vespa — that feeling of flying that comes from relative silence and absence of mechanical reminders. The BMW makes noise, heightened by the addition of a titanium Akrapovic exhaust. You just can’t escape the fact that you’re riding astride a big, powerful machine. It’s the difference between being a bird and being a pilot.
I like being a bird.
Unlike all the other modern BMW motorcycles I’ve ridden the nineT is simple. No heated grips, no GPS, music systems, heated seats, it doesn’t even have a fuel gauge. The simplicity is in line with the elegance of the motorcycle. It is beautiful, and it attracts attention from others. Stopped for fuel two other riders paid a visit. At a Cafe for a snack another rider did an inspection. A neighbor saw me on the road and paid a visit to talk about it. And on the road, at traffic lights, people looked my way. That has not happened on any other motorcycle I’ve ridden save, perhaps, for a URAL.
I tried to picture the BMW R nineT in my garage; what role would it play in my riding life? It seems great for a ride that requires nothing more than the clothes on my back. Without any capacity to carry extra gear for changes in temperature or precipitation you really need to pick your riding times carefully. Adding luggage or storage would seem like a sin to muck up such a pretty machine. So the utilitarian needs of a daily commuter or long distance traveler are out in my book. The nineT seems like something akin to a sports car that only goes out on sunny days for fun.
Maybe I’m wrong.
Riding on a foggy morning with patches of wet roads and impaired view I was grateful that the motorcycle had ABS brakes. With it’s big tires and big brakes it stops fast — something handy with deer and other critters bouncing across the road.
Making this picture I was again struck by how really cool this motorcycle looks. The BMW R nineT is one of the few motorcycles that I find visually stunning.
I really like the BMW R nineT despite what I know are functional limitations to the kind of riding I do. I would never take this out in the winter or go on long trips with it. But still, it is so much fun to ride that if I had it in the garage I would figure out reasons to ride it.
And I did feel unique on this machine. I admit by ego was at work but the whole idea of individuality that are part of motorcycle marketing are so much noise. But with this motorcycle, it seems true. Riding it through the central Pennsylvania countryside I felt as if I were alone in the world, me and everyone else. It’s not flying but it is a heady feeling.
I had to try it on gravel, just a little bit. Nothing fast, just to see how it performed on what are common choices around here. The big smooth road tires aren’t what the doctor ordered for gravel but it was fine.
Because of the riding nature of the nineT I would probably seldom choose to pick my way along dirt or gravel roads.
Final thoughts…
1. I really loved riding the BMW R nineT motorcycle. I was fun, a very easy riding position, comfortable weight and handling, and great road feel.
2. Powerful. For someone used to a much smaller and lower powered scooter you could immediately sense how little throttle it would take to light the front wheel off the ground. Something any new or transitioning rider needs to pay attention to.
3. Beautiful, elegant, stunning look. Nothing like it as a factory bike. If you want to stand apart from the crowd, this is a bike you should seriously consider.
4. It’s not practical for commuting, errands and other utilitarian purposes.
5. If you can afford a second motorcycle to be the sports car in your life, this is a great candidate. I didn’t want to give it back to Kissell Motorsports.
I love my Vespa scooter and tell people that of everything with two wheels I’ve ridden it remains the best choice for me and what I do. But I’ve always thought it would be nice to have a motorcycle in the garage for those days when I want a different experience. I wouldn’t feel bad to see a BMW R nineT sitting there waiting for me.
BMW goes cafe’?… Again?…
That is a fine looking ride. And the stance and the attitude you’re wearing in that last pic certainly make it look like you two belong together, Steve. 🙂
Nice write-up.
When you’re wearing a yellow Triumph motorcycle jacket you go with any motorcycle!
When the RnineT came out, there was a line for it in this town of GS fanatics. It’s hard to go wrong with such a clean, simple design. Your jacket looks similar to waxed cotton…
It’s a thoughtful visual presentation of a capable machine.
My jacket is the first one I purchased back in 2006. It’s a Triumph mesh jacket for summer riding. While still in good shape physically the color has faded drastically and I should probably wash it.
I think that bike has inner bigness. On the outside it’s quite compact, not much bigger than the Vespa, it seems.
Lack of storage would be a deal breaker for me.
That photo with all the greenery to the left and the misty backdrop is absolutely perfect.
I think you’re right — inner bigness. Nice idea. I’m told you can add storage like side bags, top case and tank bag but it just seems like it would wreck the look. And for this motorcycle, I really think it’s all about the look.
Hard to go wrong with fog in a picture. My little point and shoot Canon does a nice job.
Steve, this is one the most elegant, eloquent entries of yours I’ve read in a long time. I could feel the pull between loyalty and desire in the moments the R nine T was seducing you. I wish all my days could begin with such wonderful writing! Kudos.
Hello Marian! Nice to hear from you and thanks for the kind words about the writing. I keep practicing here.
When are you going to get a motorcycle? *grin*
Nice review Steve, I’ve read nice things online about this Beemer.
I like the looks, probably what the R series should have been following the cessation of the Airhead series ….. It kind of reminds me of an Airhead actually, probably why I like it.
This one is an airhead — not water cooled like the others. Another nod toward simplicity. At least that’s what Craig Kissell told me.
Maybe you should trade the URAL for one??
Lack of storage? A set of soft bags would give you all the storage you would find under the seat of a scooter and not take away from the looks one bit. If storage is what you need the Honda NC 700 has storage where a gas tank would normally be and can be gotten with an automatic transmission. I hear it’s very quiet too.
Since I wrote the post I started looking for pictures of the BMW R nineT with storage bags. Here’s a cool one.
As nice at the Honda NC700 is, and how functional it might be, it’s just doesn’t have the style and look of the nineT. It’s like the difference between a Nikon and a Leica. It’s not function but form that sets them apart.
Speaking directly to the NC700 – which is ,y new ride, I love this bike. Mine is a manual 6 speed transmission, Honda didn’t offer the DCT version here. But I can say I adore it for commuting, it may nit be as sexy as the BMW, but it is reliable and agile. I am certainly enjoying the ‘frunk’ storage. Next farkle is side bags and louder horn.
I do think the BMW is quite ‘oh lalala!’ and would love to take that baby for a spin.
The Honda NC700 looks like a great bike. Saw one here a few days ago — nice lines and look. I’ve seen pictures of Motorella and that orange accent with the silver is fantastic.
Be safe on the new machine!
Good review and great photos, as usual. I did spend some time this spring at the local dealer looking at and sitting on the RnineT and must agree with you – it’s a great looking bike. In fact probably the nicest looking BMW (in my opinion) since the R90S of oh so many, many years ago.
The BMW R90S is a fine looking motorcycle. The nineT has a similar presence and muscled with 110 horsepower.
I am right with you on your explanation of how you ride. Riding since the early 1970’s I think I may have hit that ” Take A Moment To Stop And Smell The Roses” stage of my riding career. God willing I hope to be slow enough to capture and enjoy the last years of the open rode.
Slowing down is a challenge. I have to constantly remind myself that I experience more when I take my time. And not just riding…
Good luck on the open road!
Definitely photogenic, but then that may be your skills coming through the lens.
There has been a lot of hype about these around here, but I’ve never seen one out in the wild (out of the dealership)
It is a pretty subject. Not all motorcycles are easy to photograph but this one doesn’t seem to have a bad angle.
I’ve not seen one in the wild either save for the one I was riding. Don’t expect I’ll see many either…
I’ve been riding for 45 years, so far. My favorite ride to date was my R90/6 I bought brand new in 1976. I put a pair of Lester mags on it, and a gigantic German tank bag, and I rode it for tens of thousands of miles through 37 states. I wish I had never sold it. I have another vintage BMW now, a 1982 R100RT, but I never ride it. It just sits, and I always ride a touring motor scooter these days. Like you Steve, I like to go slower and enjoy the scenery, as opposed to covering many hundreds of miles every day, like I used to do. When I first heard that BMW was going to come out with a homage bike harkening back to their airhead twin days, I got excited. The RnineT is quite the bike, but if I was going to ride another BMW, I’d buy an immaculate low mileage R75/6, and then I’d probably be set for the rest of my life. But my scooter works just fine for me now, so there are no plans for any new BMW in my immediate future. And one of these days I’ll sell the BMW I do have, to someone who will appreciate it and use it as it’s intended.
I’ve thought a lot about adding a motorcycle to my palette — would be interesting to explore things on a different machine. Vintage BMWs are almost always my choice. I’ve looked at R80s and R90s with lust, and have strongly considered some of the mid 90s vintage K75s. I like their look and sound.
Time will tell.
Interesting scribe.
The RnineT reminds me of my previous Dragstar 1100 Classic I sold earlier this year. Unlike the Dragstar though the is a bike of smaller stature. When I walked past several RnineT’s parked in the Barcelona BMW Motorrad showroom among other BMW models in Chiang Mai, Thailand during several visits to the workshop having my 650GS serviced (twice) during my China-northern Thailand-China 22500km ride this past Jan & Feb ’15.
I was enamoured with the aesthetic and visceral appeal of the RnineT styling and design, however aside from sitting low in the saddle – too low to see over a car roof, there was also what seemed like a lack of luggage carrying choices aside from perhaps fitting a tank-bag. It seemed a set of throw-over leather saddle bags able to carry more than a couple of clthing ite,ms or similar wouldn’t fit without a little modification round the rear sub-frame.
I’d agree that the RnineT would make an ideal mount for shorter mountain, scenic rides on a dry day/evening.
YMMV.
I have to agree with you on your assessment of the R nineT — it’s definitely got a visceral appeal but falls short of universal functionality. But I suppose the designer wasn’t aiming in that direction. There’s probably ways to add more carrying capacity but at the end of the day it would turn the nineT into something awkward and ugly. But for those shorter scenic rides on dry pavement — Wow!
Hi Steve. Great write up and snaps.
I’m considering purchasing this fine machine. Just curious why you believe it’s not really suitable for commuting (i’d be using it daily for this – 10km each way in and out of CBD)
Nice post and comments, fellows,
so, ok you traditionalists,,,
the RnineT does indeed look the way those of us of a certain age remember how motorcycles should look, here in the post-modern age, when the best we can do is quote from the past, and I think I’d prolly like to own one, but in truth, when we’re talking beauty and BMW motorcycles, actually… the R1100S from around 1999, 2000 is really, pretty-much, the most beautiful motorcycle ever made. Google it….
Then go for a scooter ride, cuz the weather is changing fast…
Gee, I thought the 1992 BMW K75C was the most beautiful BMW ever made???
I suppose we each have our own favorites. It’s the spice that makes life interesting. What a bore if we all liked the same things.
I’ve been out a lot on the scooters. They quickly come into their own when the temperatures plummet!