Took a rninet out for a test and have to admit its a quality bike. Build quality is excellent with neat touches like the BMW prop in the centre of the headlamp. The boxer engine is great, never ridden one before but initially thought it was odd! In idle the bike ever so gently rocks from side to side, a trait of the boxer engine I am told. The bike looks great with Aluminium brushed tank ( later this year option of non painted) but I like the black gloss paint with just enough brushed aluminium on show. The seat cowl is also brushed aluminium..very neat. No whistles and bells on it just ABS and better for it, comfortable smooth and quick enough to get past traffic, wasn't too bad at 80mph on motorway. On a and B roads it handles brilliantly, it has proper size wheels and decent rubber so no concerns on grip ( unlike a triumph thruxton I had that wore pedal cycle tyres giving no confidence at all) The down side is the cost £11000 and if you chuck options on like seat cowl heated grips etc then add another grand or so! I seriously considered it until they gave me the PX price against my 1098s....insulting! If I ever do go for it it wouldn't be through BMW motorrad Cheshire Oakes ....dick Turpin at least pointed a pistol at you when robbing your money! A cracking bike if your willing to part a large amount for what is in reality a very simple bike (compared to much of the new bikes loaded with electronic toys) but thats the appeal I guess.
I was really excited about it when it came out, wanted to go and ride one but my dad has a Thruxton which I use a lot so kinda decided it was pointless. I agree that the Thruxton NEEDS some decent rubber and more refined suspension. It actually doesn't need more power for what you want to do with these bikes. I may still go ride an R-Nine but I have to say that I am really put off by the BMW dealer thing, the bike side seems so snobby.
Phil I had a thruxton and wish I hadn't sold her, rear ohlins amazing exhaust, all I had to do was sort tyres and front end!! Cracking paint scheme too, silly mistake really. I would stick with the thruxton mate, save your money and get it sorted. I did chuckle at your comment about BMW snobbery, rich coming from Ducati rider ha ha ha
I sat on a 2nd hand one in a dealers showroom not long ago. Nice looking bike but looking down (when sat on it) it looked like the engine had a bucket planted on each side.
I ran to the BMW dealer with a fist full of cash, but walked away without a new bike and a little disappointed to be honest. Loved everything about the R9t except the suspension. the dealer was really excited to tell me it was a version of the Sachs unit they stick on the S1000, but in reality it sucks with absolutely no adjustments available whatsoever! For me, I found it too soggy. Yes, I could have the internals redone, but for £11K, I walked away and bought a Monster 1200s Stripe instead....which is pretty awesome as a commuter
Ha... I'll admit, I'm riding a Triumph D675R at the mo ;-) Ref the Thruxton, totally agree, my dad tells me his plan is to give it to me when he can't ride anymore, it's a 2013 in that lovely olive green. It has a full arrow system which lopped off nearly 3.5KG but next is a tail tidy and then I would upgrade the shocks, the pipe dream is a street triple r or CbR6 front end.
I owned an R9T for 4 months ( had to go after losing my job ) and loved it, best looking naked on the market imo, after you've bought the seat hump, exhaust, exhaust hanger, tail tidy etc.... When I went to sell mine I rang a couple of BMW dealers to see if they wanted to buy it - ' not a chance mate, got 3 in stock and can't shift the bloody things ' was the reply. Oh how things change from last year !
Oh and are BMW cheshire Oakes the ONLY showroom to charge £20 for a test ride albeit a full day it is still utter bollox Put me right off the brand
I enquired a couple of times about trade-ins at a BMW dealership and I got absolutely derisory offers as well. Maybe its a BMW thing. Perhaps their dealers are discouraged from taking in other marques. I like the look of the RnineT and the sound, but I think its carrying a bit of a designer pricetag. I think its worth trying the R1200R - the 2014 onwards model with the water cooled engine. Shouldn't be any complaints about the suspension on that. The only Beemer that's tempted me though is the 1200GS as a tourer, but for a naked bike I'd never swap my SF for a boxer. Or anything else except possibly a 1299 SF....
That's the other thing that put me off, I feel it's a 'last gen' engine where they had already started updating bikes like the r1200 to water cooling for efficiency.
I agree, I know I say I would upgrade bits of it but it doesn't 'need it'. It's the only naked I have ever really enjoyed and clicked with because I ride it for exactly what it is. I rode it to Scotland and back last year and I've ridden nakeds that are more uncomfortable at 80mph on the motorway!
