2021 BMW R Nine T Urban GS Review | Still our favourite retro bike?
[Music]
[Music]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
2021 bmw 90 urban gs review still our
favorite retro bike testing bmws updated
into missions friendly air-cooled legend
even if you’re a car person with but a
passing interest in motorbikes you
probably won’t be surprised to hear that
bikes are being subjected to
increasingly strict emissions laws
that’s why we’ve seen loads of
motorcycle manufacturers releasing
updated versions of their bikes to meet
the latest euro5 emissions regs which
usually involves finding ways to
increase engine power to offset the um
floss through more restrictive exhausts
and the like
such is the case for the bmw r9t the
german brands air cooled 11
retro styled naked bike that’s been one
of our favorite vintage styled back road
scratchers since it came out in 2014 but
the berlin boffins behind bmw’s bikes
have given the r90 a host of subtle
upgrades to go along with its updated
polar bear pleasing engine what’s
changed the r9t still uses an air-cooled
version of bmw venerable two-cylinder
boxer engine which lives on in 136
horsepower fully water cooled form in
the brand’s modern style
one horsepower and is down to 109 ponies
in this latest eu r05 form but maximum
torque remains at 116 nm with more of it
between 4000 and 6000 rpm than
previously redesigned cylinder heads
help improve the emissions and super
nerds can tell these new bikes apart by
the new cooling fin layout
updated for eu r05 regs the
1170cc boxer twin gets redesigned
cylinder heads these still are beating
hearts etc the rear suspension has also
been tweaked and you now get lean
sensitive abs and traction control that
adjusts in the new riding modes road
rain and dirt the bike still comes in
various forms including the top-end one
simply called r9t which gets sports
bike-like upside down forks and radially
mounted front brakes and then a
smattering of cheaper bikes with right
way up forks
this urban gs model is one of the latter
and will cost you 11 950 pounds before
options what’s it like the r9t still
fires into life with a satisfying grab
and a pleasing sideways wobble as the
chunky crank spins along the bike center
line mildly testing the support of your
left leg click down into first gear let
the light clutch out and you’re
immediately aware you’re riding a big
lazy friendly bike the r9 t’s gearbox
shifts solidly but smoothly up and down
using the clutch but it’s dead easy to
slot a gear home without using the
clutch on the way up the box crack the
throttle in second gear and the bike
fires forward with a serious shove and
although there’s no rev counter on the
urban gs you sense when to shift up by
way of the power tailing off
this is a bike that loves being pummeled
through the bottom and center of the rev
range and it’s seriously brisk when you
want it to be
it’s well worth mentioning the noise
you’re treated to a very satisfying and
muscular throb whenever you twist the
throttle tube and it adds a huge amount
to the bike’s grin factor with the odd
burble from the exhaust when making use
of the considerable engine braking our
bike had the optional road legal
acropovic exhaust fitted which likely
does more in weight saving than in noise
making but that’s fine from the rider’s
seat you’re treated to a beautiful
mechanical noise that puts you in a
gentle frame of mind how does it handle
brilliantly really turn in is lightning
quick although it’s not the last word in
mid corner stability especially if you
back off the gas mid turn the suspension
is reasonably soft up front so you’ll
want to pay attention to your mid corner
throttle inputs to avoid getting a bit
of a wobble on when you’re writing like
a what the upside down fork version is
better for writing quickly in our
experience
[Music]
the updated rear suspension sadly is
still too firm and will kick you out of
the seat over bigger bumps and potholes
around town
bmw says it’s tweaked the rear
suspension strut but it feels much the
same as the old bike at least to our
tenderized buttocks once you’re up to
speed it’s perfectly fine however
comfort aside this is still a bike that
seems to take pleasure in being ridden
fast through corners it’s a huge amount
of fun popping out of second gear
corners with the handlebars light in
your hands and the engine bobbling along
to the next gear change as
messerschmitts and spitfires duel in the
skies overhead
perhaps we’re just getting carried away
with the whole vintage vibe thing
what else do i need to know
the simple brembo front brake setup does
the job although the brakes have a
noticeably softer bike than the radial
setup on posher r9t models in reality
though you quickly adjust to the lever
feel and just squeeze it harder in terms
of tech you now get led indicators which
look spot-on cruise control is a
worthwhile option as is an adaptive
headlight beam
if you’re serious about taking your
retro bike off-road you can spec your
r9t with spoked wheels and nubby tires
although we’d not bother with the latter
simply because this really does feel
like a road bike and its beautiful
on-road performance would be knackered
by the vague weighty feel of knobbly
tires should i buy one
if you’re on the hunt for a retro bike
then there’s a fair chance you’ll just
buy the one you like the look of most
bmw knows this hence the huge choice of
r9ts on offer if you’re on the hunt for
a retro bike that rides sublimely
however the bmw should be at the top of
your shopping list
it feels solid has plenty of go and is
grown up enough to be used daily for
tours or even the odd track day it’s not
been engineered to look good first and
be a motorbike second it’s a superb
characterful naked bike that just
happens to look like your dad’s
you
