BMW R NINET URBAN G/S
CMM newcomer Stuart Barker on this retro R80 copy.
The clue is in the name: but although the styling of the R ninet Urban G/S is inspired by BMW’S R80 G/S adventure bike of 1980 vintage, the ‘urban’ moniker reveals that this machine is largely intended for road use. The R80 was the original dual sport motorcycle and the first in the long-running G/S family that shifted over half a million units. It can lay a very convincing claim to being the originator of the current craze for adventure bike riding and BMW is now cashing in on that heritage. So why is the R ninet not more of an all-round adventure bike? Because BMW is switched on enough to know that the vast majority of people who buy adventure bikes don’t actually take them off-road. That’s not to say the Urban G/S isn’t up to doing the odd stretch of gravel-strewn pathway, but it’s primarily aimed at road riders who like the retro look and unique colours of the original adventure bike. They’re not going to be to everyone’s tastes, but they’re certainly eye-catching. And as a road bike, the Urban is hard to fault. It combines modern-day technology (ABS is standard, for example) with an old-skool riding experience, thanks to the addictive snort of the air-cooled, 1170cc boxer engine and a distinct and refreshing lack of electronic gubbins (ABS excepted) getting in the way of the throttle and the rear wheel. This is riding stripped back to something like the basics. Even the dash consists of a single clock with analogue speedo and there’s not as much as a rev-counter in sight. It’s actually becoming a novelty nowadays to find a bike without a digital dash of some kind.
Don’t expect eye-watering performance – you’ve got the wrong bike if that’s what you’re after. If you want speed from the Urban, you’re going to have to work for it. But therein lies the fun. Unlike superbikes that have so much power it has to be reined in with sophisticated electronics, the G/S’S 110bhp is tame enough for any decent rider to handle without the need for outside assistance. This is a bike that you feel like you’re in charge of, not the other way round. And because the chassis and handling are so good, you can squeeze every last pony out of the Urban without ever tying yourself in knots. At 221kg fully fuelled, this is not a light motorcycle but you’d be hard-pushed to notice this once you get moving. And when you do, that extra weight makes it feel superbly planted even on the bumpy B-road route we followed on the bike’s UK launch in Northamptonshire. There’s no twitchy, flighty feeling under hard acceleration or when you’re pitching into a corner, just rock-solid and reassuring road-holding. You can really hustle this bike around on twisty back roads and there’s just enough performance for riders coming down off more powerful bikes to enable you to still have fun. And the sound: oh, the sound. We actually had to check with BMW if the exhaust system was a standard, road-legal unit, such was the bark that came out of it. Happily, it was, so prospective owners can look forward to making sweet music on every ride-out. And if you’re lucky enough to ride in a group with fellow owners, you’ll feel like you’re sitting in a Lancaster bomber, such is the throbbing, off-beat drone of several of these engines running together: beautiful. The steering lock is excellent so low-speed manoeuvrability is a breeze and the fairly upright riding position is not only comfortable but also suited to seeing over traffic around town. Wind protection is absolutely minimal – there’s only a tiny fly-screen – but on the short stretches we rode on dual carriageways, wind blast was not an issue, suggesting that the screen is either very well
placed to send airflow over the rider’s head, or that wind blast is less of a pain on a near-naked bike than it is on one which has a screen at the wrong height. The clutch is light, which is another boon for urban riding, and the ABS system does everything you ask of it without any dramas. Only the non-adjustable suspension belies the bike’s relatively cheap (compared to other R ninets in the range) price tag of £10,550. That said, for normal everyday riding, the standard setting is perfectly adequate. It’s shaft-drive so there’s less maintenance involved and that will appeal to riders who are not keen on lubing and adjusting chains. The bike we rode was the ‘X’ version which, at £11,185, is £635 more expensive than the standard model. For that you get heated grips, cross-spoke wheels, chrome-finish exhaust and LED indicators. You can also choose knobbly tyres as a zero-cost option, should you really want to try the Urban’s off-road capabilities. The concept behind the R ninet is similar to that behind Ducati’s Scrambler – they’re both modular bikes, designed to be customised, so many parts are interchangeable and easy to remove and there’s enough accessories and options in BMW’S aftermarket catalogue to allow you to make a truly unique bike. Even the sub-frame comes off with just four bolts to allow fitment of stubby seats, should you dislike the long, red one. The whole headlight unit comes off with two bolts too, making the Urban as easy to work with as Lego. If there are any small criticisms to be made of the Urban G/S it would be that the light red seat tends to discolour easily when you ride the bike with dark jeans on. BMW says this is intentional, to give the seat an even more lived-in, retro look like the original R80, but you do have to wonder... Also, if you decide to opt for knobbly tyres (at no extra cost), you’ll find they’ve only been rated to 60mph so getting to, and from, your favourite off-road playground is going to be slow progress. The Urban is the fifth model in the R ninet range: that began in 2013 with the R ninet itself. Since then, BMW has released the Scrambler, Racer, Pure and now the Urban (we’ll be riding the others soon at CMM). The bikes have proved to be so popular that the German firm has struggled to meet global demand and it’s easy to understand the attraction. The Urban G/S is a competent and fun bike with lots of character and a refreshing lack of electronic rider aids. As long as you don’t expect superbike performance then you won’t be disappointed. Ultimately, it all comes down to looks. The Urban isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of R ninet, but beauty has always been in the eye of the beholder.