BMW R nineT Racer (2017-2019): Review & Buying Guide
The problem with fashions is that they come and go – which is exactly what BMW discovered when they released their sportiest (looking…) R nineT model in 2017, the Racer. Modelled on a 1970s sports motorcycle, the half-faired Racer was a knee-jerk response to the hipster movement and custom houses building similar machines and while it looked good, BMW totally forgot about the fact that no one ever buys these bikes! Beautiful to look at yet cripplingly uncomfortable to ride, the Racer only lasted a few short years before the chequered flag was waved over its production. If you like the styling, the Racer is temptingly cheap in the used market and is based around the fabulous R nineT platform, however if you value your wrists, it may not be the best option…
BMW R nineT Racer (2017 – 2019) Price
Brand new BMW asked £10,775 for the base Racer or £11,360 for the higher-spec S model with its wire wheels, extra chrome, heated grips, and LED indicators. Naturally, being a BMW model, most owners went for this one! In the used market prices start at £7000 from a dealer, which is where 99% of the Racers are to be found. You may locate one in a private sale, but the chances are that as it is a 2017 model, the owner will have chopped it in at a dealership after a three-year PCP deal has expired and bought a GS instead. Almost new bikes, with a few extras, go for £11,000 but as the model was never changed and few cover big miles there isn’t much need to buy a new example over a 2017 model.
Power and torque
This Racer has the same air-cooled boxer motor as the rest of the R nineT model range and it gives these bikes the soul and character that sets them aside from other more sterile-feeling retros. Packing lots of lovely instant stomp as well as a wonderfully raw exhaust note, it isn’t the most refined of engines but the vibrations, slightly abrupt throttle connection and meaty feel give it real spirit and character. It’s a proper ‘old-school’ engine and that is exactly what you want in a retro bike. You can happily cruise with it and take it easy (remember it powered the GS, RT and rest of the boxer range for years) but it is when you let it rev and work it a bit that the best fun is to be had.
Engine, gearbox and exhaust
Reliability is certainly not an issue on the 1170cc air-cooled motor, and it is also a cheap motor to get worked on, mainly thanks to the fact the heads are so exposed. As long as it is serviced regularly (6000-mile intervals with the valve clearances requiring checking at 12,000 miles) you are very unlikely to run into any issues at all. The gearbox is more than a touch clunky but again, that is to be expected on an older motor and doesn’t detract from the ride quality, and like the rest of the engine it is very solid. As the Racer is only a few years old the chances of an oil leak from the shaft drive or the clutch slipping are really minimal and the same can be said of sensors going down, so really as long as the bike has a good service history (and it will do as most are bought on PCP and that is a requirement of the deal) you can buy with total confidence. BMW sold a variety of accessory exhaust systems for the Racer (and all the R nineT range) with the high-level Akrapovic especially sought-after as not only does it look cool, it also adds a lovely snarl to the engine’s note. That said, it doesn’t quite suit the Racer’s styling quite as well as the naked Pure, so most owners stick with a stock system or the low-level Akra.
