BMW R ninet Sport

Like a normal R ninet with some look-at-me trinkets. And so it’s very ruddy good indeed

HERE AREN’T MANY bikes that instil confidence like a BMW, and fewer still that assure like an R ninet. Propped on a wide handlebar, you revel in a steadfast chassis that scoffs at the worst of roads. You whoop as the air-cooled flat twin burps forward with instant, exploitable drive. It feels unflappable and unstoppable. Romping down a favourite backroad on a warm spring morning the ninet is the first to touch a footpeg down. Not because feet are too low but because it leans with more stability than the Triumph and remains indifferent to bumps that flick the frisky Yamaha. There’s togetherness and rightness to BMW’S naked. A present to themselves to celebrate 90 years of bike production, the way the ninet fuses traditional style and bold character with modern parts and ability is pretty much cock-on. Great details too; we love the bottom-mount headlight, carried more neatly than the protruding affairs on the others. Whether a brushed metal fuel tank, single seat cowl and bendy Akrapovic qualify this version as a café racer is debatable. Presumably that’s why it’s an R ninet Sport, not an R ninet Café. As changes are visual (heated grips aside), the Sport experience is entirely ninet. Spouting a deep, dirty exhaust note of surprising volume, the 1170cc twin is a great road engine. Village dawdling, open road roll-on drive and frantic high-speed thrashing are all on offer. The XSR900 spins up quicker and the Thruxton’s twin is sweeter on a bimble, but they don’t have the BMW’S sense of mechanical greatness. Heavy crank, thumping pistons, rocking torque, but crisp response, fit fuelling and sharp performance. The way it finds grip in damp conditions is exceptional (helped by rather useful Metzeler Roadtec tyres). There’s a small amount of chassis sway from the longitudinal crank if you crack the throttle on a downshift, which you will as it sounds brilliant. ‘Smacking down a gear before a corner can upset the bike a bit, so you need to get your speed and braking sorted,’ reckons Bike’s designer, Paul Lang. You soon adapt to such distinct boxer sensations, however; they’re part of the ninet charm. This bike occasionally misses the shift from third to fourth gear unless your toe delivers a definite prod, and 46mpg ridden briskly is the lowest figure here. While I’m in a picky mood there’s also an

Toh-so-subtle surging that makes it hard to hold a constant 60mph in top gear. Still a fantastic motor, though. Brakes are one-finger plenty, and ride quality is the best of this ensemble. Forks and shock are firm; they allow sporty shenanigans if you apply the necessary steering input, but bang off larger bumps. Yet for the majority of the time they deal with our crumbling roads without jolting joints. And roadholding is exceptional. ‘It makes me hunt twists,’ says Langy. ‘The sensation of cornering is more intoxicating than the outright speed.’ In comparison the Yamaha’s springs crash over bumps, then its damping has a wobbly during more spirited cornering. I’m sure the Triumph’s classy adjustable suspension could be tweaked to be plusher than the BMW’S without sacrificing its agility and on-road handling, but on standard settings the Brit is sportier and firmer, and so works effectively over a smaller speed range than the ninet. The BMW’S headlight is very good, mirrors show what’s behind, switchgear is robust and pleasingly simple (no modes, no traction control, no faff), and an 18-litre tank is the largest by 3.5 litres. And the riding position makes maintaining 85mph on a motorway bearable too. Editor Hugo Wilson mumbles about ‘rather cramped legs’, but my 6ft 2in remains comfortable for the 180-mile range. Basic dials are easy to read even in blustery wind and horizontal rain, but I’m disappointed they’re the clocks off the old R1200R. Not special enough. More not-so-hot bits become apparent when there’s a gleaming Thruxton R in the vicinity. Brake and clutch lever look like plastic. Black wheels, frame and engine make the bike look heavy. The silver paint on the handlebar, clamp and top yoke isn’t exactly exquisite, and it’s a different shade to the silver seat hump, which is different to the tank, which is different to the air intake. Langy and I decide we prefer the non-sport version, with black tank, cowl-free seat and twin pipes. It’s a grand cheaper than this Sport. And, for me, the ninet is almost too good. Looks aside it could almost be an R1200R. I know the idea is traditional style with modern ability, but the BMW doesn’t cause as many rearward glances after a ride as it could. Or at least not as many as the Triumph. Thousands of smitten owners would disagree, mind.

‘Thumping pistons, rocking torque and sharp performance’