BMW spruced up its R nineT lineup ahead of MY2021 -- including the Pure -- with aesthetic tweaks, increased performance, and a standard equipment package that includes features that were on the optional accessories list just last year. The factory added a trio of Option 719 paint packages to the mix for the Pure this year for a total of five color choices. Power comes from the classic, 1,170 cc boxer-twin, and this year it rocks a shiny new Euro-5 emissions rating for areas that require it. Plus, the standard electronics suite brings safety and ride-quality features to the table to round out the package.

2021 BMW R nineT Pure Design

BMW calls it the “Pure,” which is a reference to its purely-essential build that carries nothing of the superfluous to weigh it down or clutter up the look. In spite of the new looks, the Pure has a lot more in common with its forebear than not. It starts out with the blackout treatment on the cast rims, fork sliders, powerplant, headlight can, mirrors, and frame. A classic round headlight splits the night with LED technology that comes as standard equipment this year along with LED blinkers that ensure your intentions are made visible to the surrounding traffic, even under bright ambient-lighting conditions.

A pared-down front fender and compact tagholder/mudguard contribute to the homegrown-custom vibe and keeps weight down below the quarter-ton mark at 483-pounds when fueled and ready to go. Beyond that, the differences between last year's look and the current one are minor and manifest as slight accents here and there, such as on the redesigned heads, valve covers, and bronzed exhaust system.

The seat rides at 31.7 inches off the deck, just like last year, but it drops the white stitching in favor of black for a more homogeneous finish that pairs nicely with the blackout components throughout the build. A slightly lofted pillion pad and subframe-mount footpegs complete the passenger's amenities across the board, but the Option 719 adds a small flyscreen and a removable tail cover for that solo-racer look when you're riding alone.

In an increasingly rare move, the factory runs with a single round analog gauge that sports “hidden” LED idiot lights, an LCD screen and an analog speedometer to wrap up the instrumentation in one convenient package. Plus, it rolls with a USB port as standard equipment this year so you can power your mobile devices. An upswept, 2-into-1 silencer completes the package with one last little race-tastic detail.

2021 BMW R nineT Pure Chassis

Beemer relies on its tubular-steel “space frame” to provide the main structure on the R nineT Pure with the engine used as a stressed member to displace a large section of framing and its associated weight. The frame itself is a three-piece unit – one up front and two out back – and the pillion section can be removed to make it a dedicated single-seat machine if you prefer.

Unlike some of its siblings, the Pure runs with 43 mm, RWU, travel-dependent damping front forks on a fixed preload value, but out back, the shock can be adjusted for spring preload via a handwheel alongside a adjustable rebound-damping feature a handwheel alongside a adjustable rebound-damping feature. Suspension travel is near the top of the range for a straight-up street machine at 4.7-inches long, so the Pure should be capable in even the roughest of urban jungles. A single-side swingarm finishes the structure and pulls double-duty as a housing for the shaft-type final drive.

The cast-aluminum wheels that round out the rolling chassis sport a five-spoke design with a 120/70-17 up front ahead of a 180/55-17, and if you were looking for some indicator of the designed performance envelope, you need look no further than the “Z” rating on the hoops to get a feel for what the factory has cooking.

As for maneuverability, the 26.6-degree rake angle and 4.1 inches of trail set the stage for eager cornering, quick flicks, and crisp reversals. Serious speed potential requires serious braking capabilities, and Beemer wasn't remiss in this department with dual, 320 mm discs and four-pot Brembo anchors opposite a 265 mm disc and twin-piston caliper out back. Stock for this year, the BMW Motorrad ABS Pro-plus-Dynamic Brake Control features calculate the available traction based on the inertial forces acting on the bike to deliver extra safety in the curves.

2021 BMW R nineT Pure Drivetrain

R nineT Pure's electronic yummygoodness continues into the engine-control area as well. Traction control comes stock with Beemer's Automatic Stability Control on board, and you can switch between the “Rain” and “Road” Ride Modes as conditions demand for the extra safety it affords.

As for the mechanicals, the boxer-twin runs a 101 mm bore and 73 mm stroke for a total displacement of 1,170 cc and a fairly-fiery 12-to-1 compression ratio that will demand premium road champagne. The revised heads carry four poppets per with DOHC actuation plus a countershaft that mitigates some of the engine's vibration to deliver a smoother ride.

There was a price to be paid for the cleaner EU-5 emissions rating this year. The engine drops a single pony to land on 109 horsepower at 7,250 rpm and half-a-pound o' grunt that drops the torque to 85.5 pound-feet at an even six grand. This engine relies on both oil- and air-cooling to manage the waste heat, but one thing about the boxer-twin is that the jugs and heads both extend into the slipstream that forces ample air over the cooling fins.

Electronic-injection throttle bodies control the induction through the BMS-O electronic engine-control device, and it comes paired with a three-way catalytic converter to help the mill reach its emissions target. A six-speed transmission crunches the ratios with a final-drive ratio that turns in a top speed of “over 124 mph” according to the factory.

2021 BMW R nineT Pure Price

The revised-for-MY21 R nineT Pure base model fetches $10,995 MSRP for Mineral Gray Metallic. For a splash of color, get Teal Blue Metallic Matte on the sheet metal for $250 more. If you're looking for something a little more interesting, you can opt for one of the Option 719 packages in a monotone Aluminum finish for $12,345, or a choice between the two-tone, Black Storm Metallic/Racing Red and Cosmic Blue Metallic/Light White packages for $11,520.

2021 BMW R nineT Pure Competitors

As is so often the case, I need look no further than Triumph to find a worthy opponent for a Beemer, and so I picked the Bonneville Street Twin for this head-to-head.

Triumph Bonneville Street Twin

The Brit sports a very classic look with no shortage of historical Easter Eggs sprinkled throughout. From the tank shape, to the vertical-twin engine, the Street Twin displays its own deep historical roots while embracing a progressive bent that sees the addition of LED lights and a modern-looking bench seat. In that respect, both bikes are on a level playing field as the BMW hits historical high points of its own.

Once we get beyond skin-deep, however, we start to see a definite divergence between the two, mainly in the engine department. Triumph's Bonnie leaves a few cubes on the table with its 900 cc displacement, and naturally, that comes with a concurrent loss in power. It puts out a claimed 64 horsepower and 59 pound-feet of torque against 109/85.5 from Beemer's boxer-twin for a significant difference.

Trumpet gets some back with a comparable electronics suite and a slipper clutch as part of the stock equipment package, but that does nothing to gain an edge over its Bavarian counterpart. Slightly more budget-friendly, the Triumph Street Twin rolls for $9,400, and that may help it with budget shoppers, but if you're hot for that performance, the Beemer is the way to go.

Read our full review of the Triumph Bonneville Street Twin.

He Said

“BMW is getting the most out of its R nineT lineup, and of all of the choices, this model is arguably the best blank canvas for a custom-bike project out of the bunch. Admittedly, I'm generally not a fan of boxer-twin engines, but this lump commands respect for its output and historical chops. This thing is about as clean as it gets, but I can't help but wonder if inverted/adjustable forks up front may have been a good hit.”

She Said

My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says, “This is the stripped-down, plain-Jane in the R nineT stable, but that doesn't mean it is less than worthy. The rider position is comfortable, though the seat is a bit hard for my butt in the long-haul. It is a nice commuter, but where it really shines is as a platform for customization.

2021 BMW R nineT Pure Specifications

Further Reading

BMW Motorrad

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