BMW Motorrad must have said that they are done with the R nine T family and are moving out of the heritage scene, but it cannot stop people from wanting more out of it. The R nine T has absolutely been a hit story for the German ever since the launch in 2013. It was so good that BMW initially struggled to keep up with the demand and they released one version after the other in succession to the world stage that includes the Pure (roadster), Scrambler and the Urban G/S.

But nothing looked and felt as retro as the R nine T Racer which embodies classic 1970s’ café-racer cues taking us back in time with modern design bits and sophisticated packaging. Released first in 2016, the Racer gave us a chance to relive the era of legendary superbikes, and it does that even today albeit with a modern 1170 cc mil and up-spec chassis elements.

STYLING

Racing on bikes from café to café before a song could finish was the most therapeutic thing to have happened for motorcyclists in the ‘70s. People and manufacturers started building motorcycles with minimal components to take them the distance in the shortest time. This R nine T Racer comes from such times. Streamlined and light.

BMW purposefully made the Racer like a customized bespoke bike with innovative technology and in customary BMW Motorrad quality rather than gunning for just a retro machine. A debonair half-shell fairing wraps around the round headlamp unit and sweeps right back to showcase the sporty intentions with the extended wheelbase and the low-slung handlebar grips.

The tank and the seat shape the slim silhouette giving the rider an aggressive position along with the high rear-set aluminum billet foot levers and the low handlebar. At the rear, the Racer rounds off having a seat cowl with a small storage compartment that underlines the sweeping lines. The retrofittable passenger frame quickly makes it into a two-seater.

The bike is surrounded by the white bodywork and the BMW Motorsports colors, which clearly stands out against the dark driving parts and technology including the cast alloy wheels and the boxer engine. If you do not like these alloys, you can opt for the wire-spoked wheels. Twin round pods make up the instrument cluster with LCD screens that keep in pact with the neo-retro take.

Detailing is not uncommon on any BMW, and with the Racer, you can expect a lot of touches. They include the vast use of aluminum in places with a clear anodized finish such as the fork bridges, fuel tank with brushed side surfaces, foot levers and much more besides. The frame itself is finished in Aluminum Silver.

Overall Dimension

POWERTRAIN

The Racer might be a homage to the yesteryears but has a heart made of a modern and a sophisticated package. Similar to the R NineT, the Racer makes use of an air/oil-cooled, flat twin 1170cc boxer engine that is endowed with a lovely long spread of power that produces 110 hp at 7750rpm and maximum torque of 86 lb-ft at 6000rpm.

It is paired with a new fuel map and new, larger controlled 3-way catalytic converter making it up to date with the Euro4 emission standards. The mill also features electronic intake pipe injection / digital engine management with overrun cutoff and twin-spark ignition. There is a central counter-balancer shaft that minimizes swaying especially during idle which otherwise swindle the motorcycle from side to side due to the flat twin engine arrangement. Good or bad, I will leave that to you.

Claw-shifted six-speed transmission with helical-cut splines taking power to the rear wheel via shaft drive. The clutch system, however, does not feature any ride by wire, fussy riding modes or slip assist but is hydraulically assisted. There is no tachometer, and hence you’ll have to use the rev-limiter to find the 8,500 rpm redline. And when that happens, expect a bellowing megaphone which otherwise burbles through ride around town while it pops and bangs on the overrun.

All of this is possible because of the electric servomotor controlling an acoustic valve to meet the desire for a sonorous boxer sound.

Engine Specification

RIDE AND HANDLING

Characterized by the low-slung handlebar and the high rear-set footpeg, this Racer has the stance true to its name. The narrow body with the higher saddle position allows the rider to commit into the straights as well as the apexes. The frame consists of three components: a front and rear main frame with integrated end piece and a passenger frame which will assist in a more neutral cornering response. At lower speeds, however, the front end seems to be a bit vague if not completely relaxed.

Suspension setups are not exactly sophisticated to be precise. BMW has chosen to give it a decent package rather than an expensive one with the conventional telescopic fork at the front while the BMW Paralever having rebound damping is applied in conjunction with a central spring strut at the rear which is fully adjustable.

Factory fitted light alloy cast wheels don 17” at the front and 17” at the rear. Clutching them are Brembo 4-piston brake calipers, steel-wrapped brake lines and twin-brake discs measuring of 320 millimeters at the front and single disc brake measuring 265 mm at the rear with a double-piston floating caliper. BMW Motorrad ABS is a standard feature ensuring effective and stable deceleration on road or gravel.

Apart from the ABS, there is not much of a tech-ridden spec sheet here. You will, however, be able to opt for ASC (Automatic Stability Control) to prevent the rear wheel from spinning on slippery roads, which is available ex-works.

Chassis Specifications

PRICE

The R nineT Racer, which pays tribute to the café runners of the ‘60s and ‘70s, will retail for $13,545 (plus a $495 destination fee). The R nineT Racer will be featured in one color tone: Lightwhite non-metallic combined with multi-colored decor reminiscent of past BMW Motorsport colors, with the frame in Aluminum Silver.

Being a BMW, there is obviously the ex-works. Be it roadster looks or a retro vibe, the Racer can be customized to suit your lifestyle with possibilities being literally endless due to the modular frame concepts. Options such as a single seat saddle, spoked wheels, various tanks, ASC (Automatic Stability Control), heated grips, HP sports silencer, HP adjustable steering damper and carbon belt cover.

BMW Motorrad will also give you specially fabricated add-on components such as their new Machined parts, not have any restrictions to your imaginations provided you have a deep enough pocket.

COMPETITION

Triumph Thruxton 1200 R

Over the last many years, the Triumph Thruxton has been giving us the unadulterated essence of motorcycling with its simplistic café racer stance and smooth power delivery. Making the timeless design further enchanting is the ‘Track Racer Kit’, a genuine accessory kit provided by Triumph worth $2500.

The kit enhances the café-racer appeal of the Thruxton R with a host of competition inspired sculpted headlamp cowl, lower clip-ons, rear mudguard removal kit, compact rear light, Vance & Hines slip-on silencers, knurled handlebar grips and an authentic leather tank strap.

It houses a 1200cc parallel-twin engine putting out 96 hp of power and 82 lb-ft of torque. Besides, the motorcycle gets a bunch of high-end tech features like ride-by-wire technology, switchable ABS, traction control and three driving modes. The clip-on handlebars and the slightly rear-set foot pegs offer a sporty riding position.

The Thruxton 1200 R gets a combination of fully adjustable 43mm upside down Showa telescopic hydraulic forks at the front and fully adjustable Ohlins twin hydraulic coil springs with piggyback reservoir at the rear. Dual 310mm discs at the front and a single 220mm disc at the rear, both of which have been sourced from Brembo, handle the braking department.

VERDICT

Just one glance of the Racer is enough to capture the unmistakable source of inspiration, of the racing aphrodisiac’s of that era it was destined from. Sequentially, its riding characteristics make it a true member of today’s R nineT family, all the more with the lack of any electronic rider aids.

The styling cues on this café-racer trumps many others in the industry when it comes to the built quality and finishing. It is quite different in style but equally classic in character. Although we would have loved if BMW equipped the machine with even higher spec components, the package definitely works here.

With this one can enjoy the confidence from the boxer engine and the comfort from the riding position enough to fall in love with the dynamics this bike carries. By being able to choose any customizing options, one can literally turn the character of this bike to suit himself.