2017 BMW R nineT And R nineT Urban G/S: FIRST LOOK
Rennie Scaysbrook | November 8, 2016
BMW certainly has got some miles out of the R nineT. Released in 2013, the R nineT (above, left) has spawned a whole range of new bikes that include the Pure (roadster) and Racer (café/endurance-style), as well as the Scrambler and now this, the R nineT Urban GS (above, right).
This new, retro machine still uses the same base chassis and engine as the rest of the R nineT range but this one takes nostalgia a step further, channeling the lines and look of the original R 80 GS of 1980 that went on to spawn an entirely new segment of large capacity adventure riding.
The Urban GS is therefore as much a design exercise as it is a riding one – with the incredible popularity of air-cooled BMW boxer engines in the custom world, BMW is getting as much traction as they can on this wave before it dies out. The designers have hit the nail on the head pretty hard with this one – it’s already jumped to the head of our favorite R nineTs and we haven’t even seen it in the metal – yet.
The Urban GS gets the 1170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin from the 2013 R 1200 GS and is fitted at factory with cast aluminum 19 inch front wheel and 17 inch rear (the bike in most of the pictures here has the spoked wheels you can get as an accessory, with the ubiquitous knobby tires).
BMW’s new R nineT
The suspension on the Urban is the same as the Scrambler/Racer/Pure in that it’s unadjustable, conventional forks up front with BMW’s Paralever rear suspension/monoshock out the back.
You also get ABS, four-piston brakes, and BMW’s Automatic Stability Control (ASC) as an ex-works extra.
For the standard R nineT, the main difference between this and the 2016 model is the addition of the fully-adjustable inverted front fork and two color schemes (the bike was previously only available in black) in Blackstorm Metallic/Vintage and Blueplanet metallic/Aluminum.
R nineT Key Features
- Potent flat-twin boxer engine with a capacity of 1 170 cc and an output of 110 hp that meets EU4 requirements.
- Modular frame concepts with scope for customizing, allowing individualization according to personal taste.
- R nineT with new wired-spoke wheels.
- R nineT Urban GS with light alloy cast wheels and 19-inch front wheel in enduro style.
- 320mm twin disc brake at the front.
- ABS as standard.
- ASC (Automatic Stability Control) as an ex works option.
- 2-in-1 exhaust system.
- High-end details such as fork bridges made of forged aluminum with a clear anodized finish.
For more BMW motorcycle reviews, click HERE.
For more Cycle News Dual Sport motorcycle reviews, click HERE.
