R Nine T Owners
Discussion
Thinking of getting off silly quick bikes and looking at something a little more sedate but still quick enough, been looking at these for a while and am arranging a test ride but interested in any ownership views, issues etc. Also, I worry that it is too small for me 6' 2" I know the Thruxton is to small I look like I'm a kids bike 
Give it a try. I'm 6'1" and after an hour on one was feeling no aches.
Really liked but it didn't buy because I am planning to try and do some longer trips and felt that it might not necessarily be that comfortable for longer motorway schleps down to the Alps or similar...plus luggage options are fairly limited
Really liked but it didn't buy because I am planning to try and do some longer trips and felt that it might not necessarily be that comfortable for longer motorway schleps down to the Alps or similar...plus luggage options are fairly limited
A mate's got one that I borrow occasionally.
Super comfy, not as much wind blast as you'd expect (I'm used to fairings & clip ons), it rides less like a café racer and much more like a Supermoto in my opinion, it won't stop your 'normal' speeding but stops the 120+ stuff.
His problems owning it from new are tyres losing pressure between rides due to their design, been through a few batteries that BMW aren't keen on doing under warranty (£130 battery and £50 to fit it) and fork seals that always look like they are slightly weeping - again BMW dealership not keen on changing them 'grease under the dust seal Sir, exactly how it should be' etc.
Super comfy, not as much wind blast as you'd expect (I'm used to fairings & clip ons), it rides less like a café racer and much more like a Supermoto in my opinion, it won't stop your 'normal' speeding but stops the 120+ stuff.
His problems owning it from new are tyres losing pressure between rides due to their design, been through a few batteries that BMW aren't keen on doing under warranty (£130 battery and £50 to fit it) and fork seals that always look like they are slightly weeping - again BMW dealership not keen on changing them 'grease under the dust seal Sir, exactly how it should be' etc.
I'm 6'2" and can ride mine for about 90 mins without needing a stop. The only time I had problems was when the armour in my jeans started restricting my legs and I suffered a bit of cramp. I have a flyscreen fitted which pushes up the maximum comfy cruise by 10mph or so, but I avoid motorways wherever I can. The BMW tank-bag the PO fitted is a God-send, else I'd forever be wearing a ruck-sack for specs, gloves, sarnies etc.
Other than that the only thing that could be improved is the suspension. Lovely on smooth tarmac; but can be harsh on the 3rd world rutted tracks that pass for A roads in Surrey.
BTW I kept my old GSA for work-horse duties.
SS7
Other than that the only thing that could be improved is the suspension. Lovely on smooth tarmac; but can be harsh on the 3rd world rutted tracks that pass for A roads in Surrey.
BTW I kept my old GSA for work-horse duties.
SS7
I'm 6'3", and I own a Thruxton R. 
I don't find the Thruxton too small, though my legs are bent quite sharply at the knee. I've not done any really long rides as yet, but an hour or so doesn't cause any real problems.
The R nineT is a similar sort of size. In fact, the Thruxton R has a marginally taller seat. I've not ridden one as yet, but they've felt a bit cramped when I've sat on them.
BMW showed off the Lac Rose concept earlier this year, which is basically a GS version of the R nineT. I suspect that'll hit the market next year, and is likely to be a taller bike. It might be worth waiting for Intermot (in about a fortnight) or EICMA (six weeks) to see if it's coming next year.
I don't find the Thruxton too small, though my legs are bent quite sharply at the knee. I've not done any really long rides as yet, but an hour or so doesn't cause any real problems.
The R nineT is a similar sort of size. In fact, the Thruxton R has a marginally taller seat. I've not ridden one as yet, but they've felt a bit cramped when I've sat on them.
BMW showed off the Lac Rose concept earlier this year, which is basically a GS version of the R nineT. I suspect that'll hit the market next year, and is likely to be a taller bike. It might be worth waiting for Intermot (in about a fortnight) or EICMA (six weeks) to see if it's coming next year.
i have one of the last aircooled R1200R. Its a better bike in every way than the 9T and can take full luggage if you want. But the 9T is desparately beautiful to look at. Have done many miles on R9Ts now, including valley of fire near vegas.
(edit -- and no i have no idea why some of the pix are the wrong way up, they are fine here)
(edit -- and no i have no idea why some of the pix are the wrong way up, they are fine here)
jhoneyball said:
i have one of the last aircooled R1200R. Its a better bike in every way than the 9T and can take full luggage if you want. But the 9T is desparately beautiful to look at. Have done many miles on R9Ts now, including valley of fire near vegas.
(edit -- and no i have no idea why some of the pix are the wrong way up, they are fine here)
Are you sure that's not Australia?(edit -- and no i have no idea why some of the pix are the wrong way up, they are fine here)
I love mine, fantastic bike with one major exception. The suspension is really very poor, so poor that out of the box for a heavy rider, it's dangerous. The springs are too soft and there is too little compression damping and far too little rebound damping on the forks. In a corner it often pushes wide because there's no more travel left.
Look at the r9t forum in the US, most people swap the suspension for Matris or Ohlins, fork cartridges and shock and springs. It's a mess and BMW should be ashamed for releasing a bike at this price point with such shocking suspension. If Kawasaki/Suzuki can sell bikes at £7k with perfectly usable (but basic) suspension why can't BMW at £11k ?
Also look out for corrosion - as is usual on most BMWs these days, the alloy corrodes under the paint, bubbles appear which eventually lift the paint. Again other manufacturers manage to get this right so why not BMW ?
It could be about the best bike on the road as the engine is utterly brilliant but I guess the accountants run BMW now, not engineers, so you get problems like this which ruin a bike.
It's got plenty of power to cruise at 110mph if you can stand the wind blast but a realistic 90mph is quite possible and comfortable. The BMW luggage is very good and works well.
Look at the r9t forum in the US, most people swap the suspension for Matris or Ohlins, fork cartridges and shock and springs. It's a mess and BMW should be ashamed for releasing a bike at this price point with such shocking suspension. If Kawasaki/Suzuki can sell bikes at £7k with perfectly usable (but basic) suspension why can't BMW at £11k ?
Also look out for corrosion - as is usual on most BMWs these days, the alloy corrodes under the paint, bubbles appear which eventually lift the paint. Again other manufacturers manage to get this right so why not BMW ?
It could be about the best bike on the road as the engine is utterly brilliant but I guess the accountants run BMW now, not engineers, so you get problems like this which ruin a bike.
It's got plenty of power to cruise at 110mph if you can stand the wind blast but a realistic 90mph is quite possible and comfortable. The BMW luggage is very good and works well.
George111 said:
I love mine, fantastic bike with one major exception. The suspension is really very poor, so poor that out of the box for a heavy rider, it's dangerous. The springs are too soft and there is too little compression damping and far too little rebound damping on the forks. In a corner it often pushes wide because there's no more travel left.
Look at the r9t forum in the US, most people swap the suspension for Matris or Ohlins, fork cartridges and shock and springs. It's a mess and BMW should be ashamed for releasing a bike at this price point with such shocking suspension. If Kawasaki/Suzuki can sell bikes at £7k with perfectly usable (but basic) suspension why can't BMW at £11k ?
Also look out for corrosion - as is usual on most BMWs these days, the alloy corrodes under the paint, bubbles appear which eventually lift the paint. Again other manufacturers manage to get this right so why not BMW ?
It could be about the best bike on the road as the engine is utterly brilliant but I guess the accountants run BMW now, not engineers, so you get problems like this which ruin a bike.
It's got plenty of power to cruise at 110mph if you can stand the wind blast but a realistic 90mph is quite possible and comfortable. The BMW luggage is very good and works well.
What do you consider a heavy rider ? American heavy or rest of the world heavy ? Look at the r9t forum in the US, most people swap the suspension for Matris or Ohlins, fork cartridges and shock and springs. It's a mess and BMW should be ashamed for releasing a bike at this price point with such shocking suspension. If Kawasaki/Suzuki can sell bikes at £7k with perfectly usable (but basic) suspension why can't BMW at £11k ?
Also look out for corrosion - as is usual on most BMWs these days, the alloy corrodes under the paint, bubbles appear which eventually lift the paint. Again other manufacturers manage to get this right so why not BMW ?
It could be about the best bike on the road as the engine is utterly brilliant but I guess the accountants run BMW now, not engineers, so you get problems like this which ruin a bike.
It's got plenty of power to cruise at 110mph if you can stand the wind blast but a realistic 90mph is quite possible and comfortable. The BMW luggage is very good and works well.
bimsb6 said:
What do you consider a heavy rider ? American heavy or rest of the world heavy ?
100 Kg or more ? Or is that just manly ? 
Having said that I didn't find an ER6 too soft or uncontrolled nor a number of other bikes so why the r9t ? BMW just cut corners and if I keep it, I'm going to change the suspension completely.
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