RE: 2017 BMW R nineT Urban G/S: PH2 Review
Monday 3rd July 2017
Well that didn't take long, did it? After releasing the first of their R nineT retro range in 2014, and then following it up with the Scrambler, BMW has expanded it even further this year with three new models. Well, three new variations on the theme to be brutally honest. The Pure is a stripped down naked model, the Racer is effectively this with a cool half-fairing and finally, we have the Urban G/S. Which if you think about it is a bit of an odd name as G/S stands for Gelände/Straße, which means on-road/off-road in German so it is technically the urban on-road/off-road. By reckoning, the only off-road riding you get in an urban environment happens when the zombies have moved in and the world has gone to worms. That said, with all that is currently happening in the world, do BMW know something we don't? Anyhow...
Past master
The Urban G/S does, as the name suggests, pay homage to the classic 1980 R80 G/S - the bike that effectively saved BMW Motorrad from being closed down (although it is technically based on the 1984 bike's Dakar celebration paint scheme). If you don't know your BMW history, let's just say the late 1970s was a very sticky time for the firm. So what makes this modern interpretation rock? Well the Urban G/S is basically just a standard Scrambler model given a bit of a facelift. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this as the Scrambler is a great bike, but don't expect too much. For £10,550 (that's the same as the Scrambler) you get a single exhaust pipe instead of the Scrambler twin stacked system, a red bench seat, a small nose cowl and a high mudguard and that's about it. Minor differences, but you have to say they really make the Urban G/S stand out from the slightly muted Scrambler. If you want to flash a bit of extra cash, you can get the X model with its spoke wheels, chrome exhaust, heated grips, LED lights and choice of tyres for £11,185. Why the choice of tyres? If you want to take a good handling bike and make it worse in the name of fashion, you can spec the Urban with the option of the on-road orientated Metzeler Tourance tyres or the off-road Continental Twinduros. To be honest, the off-road tyres do make it look really mean, but they aren't as good when it comes to grip on tarmac, especially in the wet. But you can always get a few extra tattoos to cover the gravel rash if you tick this option...
More than first meets the eye
I'm a fan of the Scrambler model, so I was expecting to like the Urban G/S as well. Which I did, but actually far more than I thought I would. The styling really is fantastic and it does look amazing in the flesh. It's certainly no shrinking violet but has far more kerb appeal than the Scrambler, a fact you will either like or loathe. Generally, I prefer muted, but on this occasion, I'll happily make an exception as the Urban G/S really ticks my boxes. And then there is the sound. It's only a change of end can, but the Urban's single pipe is definitely throatier than the Scrambler's stacked items. It barks its intent and makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. I love it. But it's not perfect, I was a bit disappointed to find that BMW hadn't given the Urban a nice set of chunky footpegs like you get on the GS Adventure, which would be far more in keeping with its off-road style, and brush guards would also be nice. Yes, I know they are optional extras, but it's the small details that set the R nineT range aside from other retros and I think this is a missed trick.
Far from retro on the road
As you would imagine, the Urban feels just like the Scrambler to ride. The seat is a touch firmer, the exhaust a bit louder, and while the screen looks good, it does very little in terms of deflecting windblast. But is that a bad thing? Not in my book. The key to BMW's R nineT range has always been the fact that while they look retro, they perform like modern bikes and the Urban is no exception. You can happily hurl it into bends and the conventional forks, wide tyres with modern rubber and excellent brakes keep the whole package together. On the Urban, you have ABS and BMW's basic form of traction control - ASC - as a safety net, which is reassuring (especially on the knobbly tyres), and the X model even comes with heated grips, which I am a total convert to and would love on every sports bike. However, as always, the real star of the show is that air-cooled boxer motor, which has just the right amount of vibrations and character torque reaction to make it really engaging to ride without being frustrating. Packing a healthy 110hp and 85.6lb ft of torque it has enough grunt for modern life and although it's not the most sophisticated or smooth motor out there, it's not mean to be - retro is all about character and this boxer has it in spades. However as good as the Urban G/S is, one thing still bothers me about it...
A step too far?
Don't get me wrong, I love the Urban G/S and thoroughly recommend it to anyone if you want a retro for shorter hops. It looks and sounds better than the Scrambler and if the off-road style is your bag, you will love it. If not, the Pure is everything the Urban G/S is in terms of spirit but with 17-inch wheels and a naked bike look. But my issue with the R nineT range is that it is starting to feel a bit like BMW are cynically pumping the models out, rather than keeping them exclusive like the original Roadster. Then again, why stop when you are onto a good thing and the R nineT Urban G/S is most certainly a good thing.
2017 BMW R nineT Urban G/S: PH2 Review
BMW's retro homage to the bike that started it all...
The Urban G/S does, as the name suggests, pay homage to the classic 1980 R80 G/S - the bike that effectively saved BMW Motorrad from being closed down (although it is technically based on the 1984 bike's Dakar celebration paint scheme). If you don't know your BMW history, let's just say the late 1970s was a very sticky time for the firm. So what makes this modern interpretation rock? Well the Urban G/S is basically just a standard Scrambler model given a bit of a facelift. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this as the Scrambler is a great bike, but don't expect too much. For £10,550 (that's the same as the Scrambler) you get a single exhaust pipe instead of the Scrambler twin stacked system, a red bench seat, a small nose cowl and a high mudguard and that's about it. Minor differences, but you have to say they really make the Urban G/S stand out from the slightly muted Scrambler. If you want to flash a bit of extra cash, you can get the X model with its spoke wheels, chrome exhaust, heated grips, LED lights and choice of tyres for £11,185. Why the choice of tyres? If you want to take a good handling bike and make it worse in the name of fashion, you can spec the Urban with the option of the on-road orientated Metzeler Tourance tyres or the off-road Continental Twinduros. To be honest, the off-road tyres do make it look really mean, but they aren't as good when it comes to grip on tarmac, especially in the wet. But you can always get a few extra tattoos to cover the gravel rash if you tick this option...
I'm a fan of the Scrambler model, so I was expecting to like the Urban G/S as well. Which I did, but actually far more than I thought I would. The styling really is fantastic and it does look amazing in the flesh. It's certainly no shrinking violet but has far more kerb appeal than the Scrambler, a fact you will either like or loathe. Generally, I prefer muted, but on this occasion, I'll happily make an exception as the Urban G/S really ticks my boxes. And then there is the sound. It's only a change of end can, but the Urban's single pipe is definitely throatier than the Scrambler's stacked items. It barks its intent and makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. I love it. But it's not perfect, I was a bit disappointed to find that BMW hadn't given the Urban a nice set of chunky footpegs like you get on the GS Adventure, which would be far more in keeping with its off-road style, and brush guards would also be nice. Yes, I know they are optional extras, but it's the small details that set the R nineT range aside from other retros and I think this is a missed trick.
As you would imagine, the Urban feels just like the Scrambler to ride. The seat is a touch firmer, the exhaust a bit louder, and while the screen looks good, it does very little in terms of deflecting windblast. But is that a bad thing? Not in my book. The key to BMW's R nineT range has always been the fact that while they look retro, they perform like modern bikes and the Urban is no exception. You can happily hurl it into bends and the conventional forks, wide tyres with modern rubber and excellent brakes keep the whole package together. On the Urban, you have ABS and BMW's basic form of traction control - ASC - as a safety net, which is reassuring (especially on the knobbly tyres), and the X model even comes with heated grips, which I am a total convert to and would love on every sports bike. However, as always, the real star of the show is that air-cooled boxer motor, which has just the right amount of vibrations and character torque reaction to make it really engaging to ride without being frustrating. Packing a healthy 110hp and 85.6lb ft of torque it has enough grunt for modern life and although it's not the most sophisticated or smooth motor out there, it's not mean to be - retro is all about character and this boxer has it in spades. However as good as the Urban G/S is, one thing still bothers me about it...
Don't get me wrong, I love the Urban G/S and thoroughly recommend it to anyone if you want a retro for shorter hops. It looks and sounds better than the Scrambler and if the off-road style is your bag, you will love it. If not, the Pure is everything the Urban G/S is in terms of spirit but with 17-inch wheels and a naked bike look. But my issue with the R nineT range is that it is starting to feel a bit like BMW are cynically pumping the models out, rather than keeping them exclusive like the original Roadster. Then again, why stop when you are onto a good thing and the R nineT Urban G/S is most certainly a good thing.
2017 BMW R NINET URBAN G/S
Engine: 1170cc DOHC boxer, air-cooled, 8v
Power (hp): 110@7,750rpm
Torque (lb ft): 85.6@6,000rpm
Top speed: 130mph (est)
Weight: 221kg (wet)
MPG: 55 (est)
Price: £10,550 (X model £11,185)
 |
 |
 |
 |
Discussion
Having recently test ridden a GS (big) and an RT (even bigger and somehow not as engaging as the old air cooled model that shrank around me) I found my passion for these bikes waning as the bottomless pit of complexity brings with them not just a move away from simple riding pleasure, but also for the person who views a bike as something to keep for a decade as a bundle of repair bills in the future.
Needing a bit of distance comfort the longed for Nine T became a mint 2010 R1200R for a lot less pennies - but I think BMW has been really good at getting the moment - fabulous simple bikes for those with a passion for flies in the teeth and sublime bike techno feasts for those with PCP 3 year intentions that can be moved on before the warranty expires. I am just so chuffed that after decades of living with Boxer engines I'm actually riding something that is just slightly cool.
And sat on a Scrambler yesterday - how utterly wonderful - would she notice another one in the garage??
Needing a bit of distance comfort the longed for Nine T became a mint 2010 R1200R for a lot less pennies - but I think BMW has been really good at getting the moment - fabulous simple bikes for those with a passion for flies in the teeth and sublime bike techno feasts for those with PCP 3 year intentions that can be moved on before the warranty expires. I am just so chuffed that after decades of living with Boxer engines I'm actually riding something that is just slightly cool.
And sat on a Scrambler yesterday - how utterly wonderful - would she notice another one in the garage??
Numeric said:
an RT (even bigger and somehow not as engaging as the old air cooled model that shrank around me)
Thank you. Ever since I rode the LC RT last year (and shunned it in favour of an aircooled one which I'm very happy with), I have struggled to explain why, but you have just nailed it.As a 6'4" 50-something rider of more years than I care to count, the only thing I could really come up with about the LC bike was that it was almost, somehow, "intimidating". But you're right. it's just feckn huge, and doesn't hide it.
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff