2014 BMW R NineT
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorcycles/" rel="tag">Motorcycle</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/first-ride/" rel="tag">First Ride</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2014-bmw-r-ninet-first-ride/"><img alt="2014 BMW R nineT" data-credit="Susan Carpenter" data-mep="416870" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/29200f34737f8bf817e3d82ab b645b14/200641379/2014-bmw-r-ninet-fr.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/">BMW</a> is taking a page from the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/harley-davidson/">Harley-Davidson</a> playbook with its groundbreaking R NineT. A retro <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/cafe+racer/">cafe racer</a> with an urban hooligan twist, the bike is fully customizable from fork to exhaust. Of course, any motorcycle can be customized, but the fact that BMW has built its newest bike to encourage modification using parts that can be swapped with simple tools is a radical move for a motorcycle maker best known for its plug-and-play touring bikes.<br />
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To underscore exactly how radical, BMW has even partnered with custom heavy-hitter Roland Sands Design, which developed the initial concept for the bike and is now manufacturing a full line of parts and accessories for the R NineT, including radial valve covers ($950), retro racing saddles ($400-$420), radial gauge housing ($400) and a radial headlight bezel ($250), among other things, all of which can be swapped with a socket wrench or screwdriver instead of a hacksaw, wire cutters and TIG welder.<br />
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Alas, the bike I tested for two weeks was stock, so consider it a blank canvas.<br />
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In development since 2011, the $15,395 R NineT is a tribute to BMW's 1973 R90S superbike. As such, it's powered by a classic flat-twin that's been modernized with a gigantic 1,170-cc displacement and oil as well as air cooling. From the saddle, looking down, the protruding cylinders make the bike look as stocky as one would expect for a machine of German provenance. It's as if the R NineT is powered with wienerschnitzel instead of 91 octane.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/08/26/2014-bmw-r-ninet/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>2014 BMW R NineT</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/08/26/2014-bmw-r-ninet/">2014 BMW R NineT</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Tue, 26 Aug 2014 11:57:00 EST. Please see our <a href="/rss-term-of-use/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/08/26/2014-bmw-r-ninet/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20952224/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/08/26/2014-bmw-r-ninet/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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