BMW’s R nineT will teach you how to ride all over again

BMW’s R nineT sits in some very cool company. Triumph’s Speed Twin immediately springs to mind, as does Yamaha’s XSR900 and Ducati’s Scrambler 1100, to name a few. The modern-retro segment is a great place to be, because who can resist classic looks when they’re paired with modern electronics and handling? Every motorcyclist’s garage needs space for one of these, simply because they do so many things so admirably well.

BMW R nineT family

BMW Group

So, BMW’s R nineT. There’re a lot of them in BMW’s Heritage range, but this one’s the standard model. GQ’s ride had essentially every optional extra imaginable fitted. Extra-special spoked wheels, cruise control, heated grips, stability control, ABS pro – you name it – and yes, of course you need it all too. All this comes in at £14,300 which is a full £1,315 over the base price. Admittedly, the fancy spokes are a real indulgence, but everybody knows the best options are the ones that don’t seem like options at all.

Anyway, it isn’t just the wheels that look good. The R nineT is dripping in build quality and carries itself with bristling confidence; and it’s a genuine nod back to the R90 of old. Parked up, it’s got real presence with a huge chest and a minimal back end, which you can make even more minimal if you wish. Of course, it’s shaft driven, and there’s a burly set of upside-down forks up front, with an all-LED headlight mounted up top and Brembo callipers down the bottom. The most striking feature, aside from a cylinder poking out of each side, is the tank. It’s a thing of absolute beauty, draped over the top of the bike with sculpted cut-outs which make the view down the cockpit from the seat a timeless place to be. Analogue dials emphasise the retroness of it all, and not even the inbuilt LCD displays manage to take anything away.