Goodwood Test: 2021 BMW R nineT Pure

The modern classic market is an abundant one. Almost every mainstream manufacturer sells a retro roadster or three – Yamaha has the XSR range, Honda the CB1100RS, Ducati the Scrambler and Kawasaki the Z900 and W800 models. Heck, more than half of Triumph’s offering is devoted to some of the most authentic classics out there. Anyway, you probably get the picture – the retro style sells.

Eight years ago BMW decided to get in on the action, slinging its adaptable boxer engine into a custom frame. The result was a resounding success; a stylish bike that didn’t lean too heavily on the machines of yesteryear – very much the embodiment of a modern classic. The R nineT immediately carved its own identity into the market, its excellent riding reputation following with time.

Today there are four R nineTs – the standard, the Pure, the Scrambler and the Urban G/S – all powered by the older air/oil-cooled, 1,170cc boxer-twin rather than the 1,254cc ShiftCam boxer of the R1250GS. For 2021, this engine has been made Euro5 compliant, while technical modifications and further standard equipment have bolstered its offering.

Upon the R nineT’s launch in 2013, BMW launched an interesting proposition in the modern classic market. Combining minimalistic, contemporary styling with classic cues, even the basic model stood leagues apart from the over-chromed retro rides. The Bavarian bike builder wasn’t aiming to recreate anything here (apart, perhaps, from with the Urban G/S), but instead offer a stylish, modern take on the retro roadster. And it went down a storm.

Today, of the four R nineT models, the Pure is – unsurprisingly – the most understated of them all. Nonetheless, with all but the essentials removed, it is a wonderfully cool machine and the lack of embellishment allows it to be appreciated for its simple form.

The contoured ‘mineral grey metallic’ tank on our test model leads into the short seat, which in turn floats above the stylish single-sided swingarm (an underappreciated element). The bulk of the bike is very much flung forward, lending an aggressive, stout stance. Premium details, such as the air intake cover, offer subtle decoration, while the dual megaphone exhaust is a fine (and optional) finishing touch.

It’s easy to forget quite how versatile BMW’s boxer engine is, with the rumbling powertrain the bedrock for a breadth of R models, from the globetrotting GS to the sports touring RT (review coming soon) and the roadster, as tested here. Admittedly, the R nineT is the last remaining bike in BMW’s range to use the old air/oil-cooled, 1,170cc boxer-twin (fine-tuned and made Euro5-compliant thanks to new cylinder-heads), but some things remain consistent across the generations – such as the familiar cylinder head shake when you start the bike up or shift through the gears. It’s an odd sensation the first time, but you soon get used to it.

On a couple of occasions during our two-week loan, the R nineT’s revs seemed a little rough and out of control straight after start-up, however they would soon settle down into the consistent and recognisable rhythm for which the bike is known.

Otherwise, the engine’s performance is all but infallible, delivering smooth power and an abundance of low to mid-range torque to the rear wheel via the constant-mesh six-speed gearbox and the low-maintenance shaft drive. It’s a hoot to ride, especially in the optional Dyna mode (part of the optional Comfort pack), which offers a more aggressive throttle response and less intrusive safety aids over the standard Road and Rain modes. These safety aids now include cornering ABS Pro and DBC (Dynamic Brake Control), which reduces engine torque while braking. Alongside the Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) and engine drag torque control (MSR), these are a very subtle safety net in Dyna mode, becoming more intrusive and occasionally annoying in Road.

With this heaving powerplant sat low in the compact steel chassis, the R nineT boasts a planted yet agile ride. The 43mm non-adjustable telescopic fork is firm, meaning the small front wheel feeds back every jolt, sometimes feeling a little skittish on poor roads. Nonetheless, the wheel’s 17-inch diameter means that it is incredibly nimble, and responds sharply to the slightest inputs on the bars. Brembo callipers confidently grab twin 320mm discs to slow the bike abruptly. The rear is much softer, both the brakes and suspension, with the R nineT benefitting from a new shock with travel-dependent damping that changes according to the compression. Preload is easily adjusted via an underseat knob.

While this bike makes you yearn for sweeping bends and the open road (we completed several lengths of the A272 together), it is just as comfortable cutting through convoluted cities, especially in the more dialled back Road mode. On the motorway, it was vibration-free, while cruise control proved useful on the longer slogs.

Before I go any further, I have to say – chapeau to anyone who rides a modern classic, or any other naked bike for that matter, all year round. While the ride is often wonderfully quiet owing to the lack of disturbance afforded by a fairing, it’s also bloody freezing – as I have lamented many a time. Heated grips do something for your palms, but even the warmest of gloves can’t protect your fingers from the inevitable chill, as the wind chill reaches every inch of your body.

The commanding ride position of the R nineT exacerbates the problem, the wide bars leaving your chest open to buffeting. However, a slight respite is afforded to your shins, with the protruding cylinders blocking radiating warmth.

Otherwise, the position is remarkably comfortable, the seat just on the right side of firm and the pegs not too aggressively placed. After a prolonged motorway test, I was stiff only from the cold. As with every BMW boxer, the centre of gravity on the R nineT is reassuringly low, making it feel far lighter than its 219kg, and allowing for easy manhandling. The width afforded by the protruding cylinders wasn’t even a concern as I filtered through

Our test model featured the optional Comfort Package, which includes the aforementioned heated grips, cruise control and Riding Modes Pro.

There’s never much obvious tech when it comes to modern classics, with manufacturers instead hiding it cleverly under a fuss-free façade. The R nineT is no exception, with a classic circular instrument dial featuring an analogue speedometer, albeit no rev-counter. Inset within the dial is a small screen, displaying information including riding mode, mileage, mpg, temperature and engine map. An annoying BMW quirk is that you can only scroll one way through the menu, and if you miss your desired option, you have to scroll all the way around.

Warning lights are hidden within the speedometer until required, and that includes the fuel light. There’s otherwise no indication of fuel level until the light illuminates (after quite a few miles, I might add), at which point an ominous mileage counter begins descending.

As standard, the R nineT Pure boasts white LED indicators, an LED headlight, a daytime running light and parking light and a USB charging socket. The only other thing you could ask for would be a gear indicator, for the R nineT boasts BMW’s archetypal endless gearbox, which boasts no discernable stopping point and allows you to keep absentmindedly tapping up or down.

The BMW R nineT is a brilliant bike in its own right, and with the Pure BMW has embraced the concept that ‘less is more’. However, it’s also the perfect base for customisation, thanks to its incredibly adaptable classic contemporary design.

Costing from £11,395, it squares up to the likes of Triumph’s Speed Twin (£10,700), Kawasaki's Z900RS (£10,649) and Honda’s CB1100EX (£9,799), and at a significant premium. While it boasts extensive and updated standard equipment and comes with a three year warranty, that’s an awful lot of money to drop on a base bike that you’re only going to spend even more on customising.

Nonetheless, if you’re after the distinctive boxer feel in a no-nonsense custom package, then this is the bike for you. It’s pure and unadulterated (for the most part) fun.