First ride Impressions: 2014 BMW RnineT

[spacey1]

Surprise turn-up at brekky a couple of Sundays ago was a brand spanking new 'BMW RnineT'.

BMW really are starting to turn the page with this latest release. The amount of tension built up over the long release period has everyone talking about what's to finally hit the showroom floor. You'd almost suspect that Nike was involved in the promotional planning. Not your usual blah-blah here, just a very controlled and planned rollout.

We all know how much of a let-down marketing can be. Expectations are pumped so high that the real thing 'can be' a bit of a fizzer.

I'm happy to say that first impressions from the R nine T are far from a fizzer. It looks better in real life than in the photos! Tight, compact, meaningful lines, ripe for customisation. Those Akrapovic Twins poking out back mean business.

And forks, at last, the company who invented them have finally come home. Note to self, the sheer physical size of those Brembos brakes on the front are going to demand respect.

Luckily, I got in early to give her a quick squirt, 'cos pretty soon ranks had closed around the 'nineT'. Not even standing room!

The ride...

You know what it's like when someone throws you the keys and urges you to fire it up and have a ride. Danger! The last time that happened I came home with a R1200 GSA. So I had to be careful and manage my expectations.

So, what do I need to know? Ignition?, yep in the usual spot, easy. Indicators? Praise the gods, at last a single indicator switch on the left. Bet they saved $1000 in costs in one foul swoop. Gone are those 3 expensive and complex switches that perform the simple direction-changing chores. Even the start/kill switch is a return to sanity. Yay, BMW, good work...

Off the side stand, the nineT feels as light and as compact as she looks. Hit the start button and she barks into life. No gentleman's purr here. Those Akros are doing the business straight out of the box. Throttle response is instant, not the familiar dead zone in the early part of the throttle on my '08 GSA. Clutch and brake levers are a bit long. Guess the marketing people have to have options to sell shorties.

It's time to stretch her legs. Certainly not mine, as the seat is very low on this baby. There ain't many folks who are going to be moaning about not being able to touch the ground, even the ladies... Clutch out, no slipping. It gets away easily. Just like a GSA... effortless. Gearbox is a treat, most un-GSA-like. Adapting back to proper switch gear is easy.

Flicking the nineT around a bit to gauge how she reacts is revealing. She stays planted on a line, tracks true, and easily changes lines. The front end with proper forks from the S 1000 RR combined with a very uncomplicated telescopic steering damper add up to precise steering that points accurately and stays pointed without wandering about the show, promoting confidence when the bitumen starts to resemble tram tracks. The short handle bars mean getting a little physical at low speed, but hey, I'm accustomed to the big wide GSA horns.

It's definitely not a missile (S 1000 RR), but the speedometer requires constant attention. It's one of those sleepers that makes speed without permission. Engine torque is typical for a big boxer twin. There's mountains of it. Very rideable and easy to pour more on to lift the bike out of a slow corner without down-shifting.

As noted before, those front Brembos! Yep, the levers could easily be half the length. Shorties definitely required. If more than 2 fingers are used to wipe off that aforementioned speed, 'DO' grip the tank with your legs. Non-slip tank pads over that shiny aluminium panel on the tank are going to be another sought-after accessory.

I've definitely become accustomed to a screen in front of me. The wind pressure, even at legal speeds, is just not my gig. Another custom option! Crafty buggers.

A real testament to how much work BMW have put in to get this right is the engine computer mapping. It is very smooth. Loping along on and off the gas at low rpm in higher gears is no longer a chore. Traffic duties would be an easy role for this baby.

So, here we are, the $64K question. would I own one?

If I was a Harley cafe strip sort of guy who needed to spend more time making a bike shiney than riding, then definitely... yes. I recently rode a Harley back from Albany and can attest to the fact that that long-ride gene was omitted from it's DNA. Imagine if you will, punting a large iron lump suspended by rubber bands between a front end designed for changing direction at parking speeds and a rear tyre so wide as to almost completely eliminate any inclination to, well, incline. Enough of that.

However, the RnineT has that 'bad boy' image out of the box. Combine that with brakes, suspension, handling, balance, low seat height, great engine torque and a horn-bag note that won't make you deaf and you're on a winner... if you're that sort of guy.

For my particular brand of motorcycling, I demand versatility, GSA versatility. The RnineT is very much a single purpose machine. Beautiful engineering executed beautifully, not Ducati Hypermotard beautiful, but that would scare too many folks. Personally, I get some comfort out of knowing that if a cage runs into me, there are big lumps of metal sticking out the side guarding my legs. It has happened a couple of times!

The RnineT would be great for short blasts to the cafe or a 'JOY' flicking through the hills on our less-than-perfect roads at legal speeds. That Sunday morning ride to breakfast about 30 minutes away in Victoria Park, not a hamburger and coffee in Eucla and back.

BMW RnineT supplied courtesy of our club sponsors Auto Classic BMW - (http://www.auto-classic.bmwmotorrad.com.au/)

[KoosWA]

Thank you for the write up Nev. Nice to get it from someone you know. Not that I am considering one...

[spacey1]

Ta Koos,

I thought it was good of Auto Classic to lend us one. So some response was really required

Nev