BMW R nineT
The R nineT built a customizable retro roadster around the last air-oil-cooled 1170cc boxer twin.
Made to order: your copy is researched, fact-checked, and typeset to our standard, then delivered within about two weeks. We'll email you the moment it's ready.
About the BMW R nineT (2014-2024)
The R nineT arrived for 2014 as BMW Motorrad's 90th-anniversary roadster, and it did something the company had not done in years: it left the engineering visible. An air and oil-cooled boxer twin, a bolt-together steel tube frame, spoked wheels, a brushed aluminium tank and almost no bodywork.
That modularity is the point. The rear subframe, passenger seat and mudguard all unbolt, so a standard bike becomes a cafe racer or a scrambler without cutting anything, and BMW went on to build Pure, Scrambler, Urban G/S and Racer versions on the same engine and shaft drive. Buyers get 110 hp, torque low in the range, and a machine that is simple by modern BMW standards.
Specifications at a glance
| Years | 2014 to 2023 (the R 12 nineT replaced it for 2024) |
| Engine | 1,170 cc air and oil-cooled boxer twin, DOHC, four valves per cylinder |
| Output | 110 hp (81 kW) at 7,550 rpm |
| Torque | 119 Nm (88 lb-ft) at 6,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed, dry clutch, shaft final drive |
| Weight | 222 kg (489 lb) wet |
| Seat height | 780 mm (30.7 in) |
| Fuel capacity | 18 L (4.8 US gal) |
Known issues to check before you buy
- Swingarm pivot pin bolts. BMW recalled 2014 to 2017 bikes (NHTSA campaign 17V502000) because the bolts holding the right-side pivot pin to the frame can work loose, which affects handling. Ask for proof the recall was carried out.
- Oil consumption. This engine uses oil, most heavily in the first 10,000 to 20,000 miles, and owners report half a quart to two quarts between services depending on the oil. Check the level yourself rather than trusting the last stamp.
- Rear main seal. Oil appearing at the joint between the engine and the gearbox usually means the crankshaft rear seal, reported from around 40,000 miles. The part is cheap, the labour is not, because the bike has to be split.
- Short service intervals. Oil, filter and a valve clearance check are due every 6,000 miles (10,000 km). Skipped valve checks are the most common gap in an R nineT history, so read the service book.
- Non-adjustable forks on some variants. The base R nineT has adjustable upside-down forks, while Pure, Scrambler and Urban G/S use conventional forks that owners find soft and prone to diving under braking. Know which one you are testing.
Owning one
An R nineT is mechanically straightforward and rewards an owner who keeps those 6,000 mile services on time, so the paperwork matters more than the mileage. This volume documents the BMW R nineT (2014-2024) specifically: verified specifications, the documented weak points and how to inspect each, the service data, and the parts and owner community.
Inside this volume
Known issues & a buyer's guide
The documented weak points for this exact model, how to inspect each, and what a proper fix costs.
Full specifications
Every published figure, engine and frame detail, and running change, with the conflicts flagged, not guessed.
Systems & maintenance
Engine, fueling, electrical, and chassis, plus service intervals and torque and fluid data.
Parts & community
Where the parts are, what cross-references, and the clubs and forums that keep the model alive.
Make it your bike.
We fold in your year, your engine and options, your rebuilds and modifications, your VIN, and your own motorcycle's photo on the cover. The book stops describing the bike that left the factory and starts describing the one in your garage.