We review the BMW R Nine T from price to economy and all its features
FINALLY – a hipster bike I can get on board with. Actually, it is unfair to call the BMW R Nine T a hipster bike. There is so much more to it than that.
With a sweet 1200cc, air-cooled, 110bhp engine, it will hit 135mph – and it doesn’t mess about getting there. But it does boast styling that will appeal to the hipster biker.
You know the chaps – all goatees and Belstaff jackets. Ducati has made a killing off them with its gorgeous Scrambler but hipsters are most at home on a modded Honda CB750 cafe racer.
I’m not knocking it. I’ve got time for anyone who shares my passion for bikes.
And clever manufacturers including BMW and Ducati have twigged that hipsters could be instrumental in keeping the motorbike market thriving in future.
But here, BMW has managed to marry drop-dead gorgeous looks with all-round impressive performance.
This model is the Sport edition, which adds brushed metal and a phenomenal sounding Akrapovic exhaust.
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Not only does it shift as fast as any other roadster, it handles beautifully too – attacking corners with the same purpose and aggression as a sports bike, inspiring confidence with perfect balance and road-feel. The low ride position may at first make you worry about ground clearance.
But as you hack through the country lanes, you will quickly realise this isn’t a problem.
The R Nine T is most at home on fast, flowing roads, turning heads with its good looks and overtaking everything in sight with dollops of torque.
If I had the £12,990 it costs, this would be my weekend fun all year round.