Is The BMW R nineT Better Than A Triumph Retro? 

The thing is: with my R90/6 from 1975 I can still get most of the parts from BMW directly, and many I can just take away in the shop. The rest is available as repros from other manufacturers. So if you happen to keep the bike until 2065 there is some possibility that you still can use it as a daily driver, just as I use my R90/6 every day. And i will never sell her :D

The RnineT is pure industrial art. I can sit and stare at mine for hours, drinking in all of the details... and honestly have.

The r9t was high on my list last year but after sampling a Bonneville 1200 engine I was swayed toward Triumph and bought the Scrambler 1200 XE. The motor, clutch, gearbox, brakes, and the ability to take on any road is so sweet. I’m sure the r9t is a great machine however.

I've ridden the R Nine T and I've ridden a Thruxton R. Haven't ridden the Speed Twin. Thruxton was pretty snappy but the R Nine T had more character and was a bit more user friendly. Probably not a fair comparison, might have to take a Speed Twin out for a lap.

Trying to see my adds, but someone has put a motorcycle thing in that keeps interrupting.

This is to me a particularly interesting question & video on it, because recently, after I'd decided to break down to get another bike, I eventually narrowed my search to two bikes: the Speed Twin and the RNineT . I hadn't ridden the latter, and after a test ride on the Speed Twin, I was tempted to buy it on the spot. Deciding that i should sleep on it, I again stalled for a bit, though, eventually deciding to buy an older, used BMW R1200ST instead of either. A lot less money and more useful as a touring bike or when I needed to pick up the groceries, etc.; and essentially, the same motor as the RNineT. But if i had the garage space and the time (and money was no object), I could see adding both the R Nine T and Speed Twin to the stable.

Never owned or ridden a BMW boxer but absolutely love that flat drone of the exhaust.

Love my R9T Racer, easily chose it over the Thruxton...but I did sell everything else to get Rocket 3. NO REGRETS!

You’re timing is perfect because I’m shopping these right now. Also adding a Monster 1200 to the mix.

I drove the T120 first, then a Thruxton R. But with the Rninet Pure the decision to buy was made after 100 meters of driving. I think it simply has a lot more character and the boxer and the look is extremely charming. I have never received so many compliments for a bike.

You are so right about the satisfying downward shifts. I’ve never ridden a Triumph retro but I’m sure that whatever bike you think is best is down to personal preference, not like all those years ago when I sold my T140V for an R90S, no comparison. I’m very happy with my R9T Racer 🏍🇬🇧

I ride an old beamer 1999 r1100s It has that transmission “punch” too I’m pretty sure it has more to do with shaft drive as opposed to a chain final drive. Dollar to dollar or Pounds to Pounds there is no better bike than a BMW with a boxer motor for meeting the needs of the broadest spectrum. This motor tours well, cruises well, beats about town well and actually works in a “sport” configuration well enough, (BMW PLEASE MAKE A R1250S BOXER CUP!) and even goes off road well It’s an amazing beast of a motor and will LAST and LAST My 1100 has 60,000 miles with no rebuild and does not use oil and is near the neighborhood of 100hp at 21 years old.

Just bought a 2021 R Nine T Pure!!!! Absolutely love it. I like the Triumph Speed Twin too, but the BMW won me over with that awesome engine and shaft drive. Great all around bike. I’m getting the tachometer added to it. Most people that review the pure model put it down for only having the speedometer...........hey, you can add the tach to any of the ones that only have the speedo!!!!!!!!

I love the quality of your videos and the thought you put into it!! Please keep making 'em :) thanks!

Just test drove this same model 2 days ago in Redondo Beach CA. On the right side of the road🇺🇸 Still negotiating a price, but it is my next bike for sure. The build quality is amazing💯👍🏽🏍

firstly, you are putting out amazing motorcycle vlogs!!!!! I follow pretty much all major channel from all over the world and your perspective is definitely unique, very interesting and honest, editing, music, scenery, everything is superb. As for which bike, speed twin for me over BMW, just love how triumph's modern classic line looks, and better sound too even though it's very common as you mentioned. I am scared to own a BMW, not only it's more expensive ex showroom, maintenance is generally higher than other bikes plus the reliability issues that justdad also noted. looking forward to more on this bike from you.

I drove past you when you were filming this video. You were sat discussing the R9T. My Mrs said "what are they up to" 🤣 wish I'd stopped and spoke to you. I often ride that road from Hoo to Upper Stoke. Bit dusty during the summer though. Anyway, great video. 👍

I rode them (Speed Twin and R9T) back to back, and it was no contest. Triumph, hands down. The Triumph immediately felt more refined, with nicer gearbox and lever action, and simply smoother operation. By comparison, the R9T was agricultural. And uncomfortable for my 6'1" frame. And it's more expensive here in the U.S. With all its mechanical feedback, I suppose you could argue the R9T has more character, but the Triumph to me is a more perfect blend of character and refinement.

You must have read my mind. I own a t120 and have just started looking for something a bit more sporty again. My two options, Speed Twin or rnineT. So I can't wait to see what you think of this bike the more time you spend with it. Although it doesn't sound as good as the triumph, I think there is something about the nineT, it's just a bit different. I think that sharpness you feel with the gear is probably due to the shaft drive. Another plus point for the BMW though, as it require very little maintenance. Great video bud.

I've recently bought a Z900rs, and I've been pleasantly surprised with the cornering ability and power! Would like to ride one of these though for comparison. I doubt the factory exhaust sounds as good as the Z900rs though. I didn't mind the akrapovic sound on the video though. It sounds ok. Have to hear one in person.

I`ve ridden both and I love triumphs in general but going for the r nine t. Never had a beemer and I just love the looks and that huge bomber engine. Also the throttle is a peach. Love doing long trips on naked bikes, just a small pack with waterproofs, yeah :)

I have never seen another T120 or Thruxton R in south west Ireland where I am and the compliments for both bikes are still coming in three years after I got them. I keep both in showroom condition though. Only BMW bike I like id the S1000RR m package and a new one is ordered for delivery in January. Will be keeping my Triumph's though - they are just so beautiful.

I love my R Nine T Racer. Going to be adding an SC Projects slip on at some stage to enhance the noise a bit...

I love everything about my R9T Scrambler. The Akropovic pipes give it a great sound! 🏍️💨🏁

Yesterday my local Triumph dealer had the Rocket 3 , Bobber, Speedmaster and a BMW R nine T parked together outside the showroom , i stopped to take a look at the Rocket expecting it to be the most impressive in the line , but found myself returning to take a second look at R nine T the detailing and finish made it stand out and look better than the others .

@8:02 Yes! First time I've heard someone mention it. When I went for a test ride, it took me by surprise. I did however fall in love with the bike, so much so, I've just put a deposit down, and no doubt I'll get used to those gear changes, but boy they felt abrupt. No doubt, I'll get used to it and adjust how I change in no time.

Every bike is charming. I actually own by 4th Bmw, but honestly: to build a very nice 23K bike is probably easier than build a decent, and also nice, 7K Euro bike. It's not only a matter of labour cost. So respect for all.

The option 719 paint is just perfect for this bike

I own an older R850R, but I‘m im love with the looks of Triumph‘s bikes. The only alternative to a Triumph, as far as I‘ve seen it, is a RnineT. However, the ride of even the R850R is phenomenal. It has that purr and that growl, oce you rev it. I don‘t know if I want to switch... They say, once a boxer, always a boxer. Let‘s see, what time tells.

That yellow faux racing number is pretty tacky to me. Other then that I think it’s a fantastic bike. I’d have an R9t any day of the week over the speed twin.

I ended up buying a RnineT/5 last year the color and the shaft drive swayed me a bit. Both are great bikes. I've ridden the Thruxton but not the Speed Twin. The Triumphs look more retro but I'm going to fix my old BMW R65. The RnineT is a great bike to continue from where they left off in the 90s.

Stunning looking bike the R9T I would have one in a heart beat with the 719 kit fitted but without the rear sets

This should've been an image, not a video... simply saying: YES.

I traded in my Street Triple R 765 for an R nineT a month ago. Absolutely love it. One of the major reasons for not considering another Triumph is how terrible the dealer in Berlin is to deal with. A buddy got a Street Scrambler at the same time and had an absolute nightmare dealing with them. Nearly cancelled the purchase. You don’t notice how important the dealer relationship is until you have a very bad experience. Pretty much swore me off the whole brand. As for the bike, I wanted something I can start customizing a bit to make it my own and its perfect for that. The bike isn’t cheap and neither are the parts for it. But as a project that I’ll work on in summer months for years to come, and have a blast riding pretty much year round...only 1 complaint. The bike runs lean as all hell. There are smarter people who will tell you why and how. I’ll be getting a Booster Plug next month to see if I can sort the issue.

Coming from an engineering background I love the quality of all the individual parts. If I was still able to ride I would be very interested in this bike. Thanks. Regards, Bob M. South Wales

Great vid. I’ve got the R9T Urban G/S and love it. The engine note is marmite (love it or hate it), but the torque and power it produces is more than enough. Gearbox is solid and a bit agricultural - you have to be slow and deliberate in your movements on an up shift.

This video comes out precisely at the time I'm considering an R nineT vs a Thruxton R. Good timing Motobob!

EXACTLY RIGHT....if Triumph brought out a Speed Twin R (then) I would struggle to pick. This nails the competitive landscape. I´m on a Thruxton R (as well as other bikes) but seriously thinking about trading it for a Ninety. IF there was a Speed Twin R with the suspension set up of the Thrusty R and it had the faux carbs and polished yoke..damn it would change my buying consideration.

Always enjoy your videos. Music and editing are top notch and the content is great. Really looking forward to some more on this BMW. I have been thinking about a Pure at some point down the road.

I've got a 2016 R Nine T. Single best upgrade I made was to replace the stock headers with aftermarket ones. It totally amplified the character of the bike. It now has a deep, throaty sound and a free-er breathing engine. I didn't even have to change the end can.

Speed twin is a nice bike! But all the bonny’s are so much alike and the BMW is one of a kind there’s no comparison.

Had a R9T for two years and while I loved the torque and acceleration on it, fun factor It just had no soul ( to me at least) Went back to triumph and rode the thruxton R, the connection was instant. That will always be my bike In the end it’s a personal preference

Best BMW bike ever

Great video, I have wanted a boxer for 25 or 30 years. My next bike will be a twin of some sort, 270 crank parallel, boxer, or V-twin.

Any day man, it is better... I sold my Triumph and bought it.

Another great video Bob!! Nicely filmed with well balanced comments. I thought about the same bike but bought a Scrambler 1200xc in the end and I love it!!

BMW Rninet is my daily. But I do adore the speed twin, especially the tricked out version in your previous video. looking forward to hearing how your thoughts on the 9t develops

The abruptness you felt on shifting was likely down to the shaft drive. Very immediate. And maybe the lack of slipper clutch.

I bought a ‘17 RnineT scrambler in December to have alongside my T100B. I’ve yet to really get stuck into the RnineT being a fair weather rider but the reason I bought it was it’s a beautiful looking beast and it’s ( I presume) a totally different riding experience. The jury is out as to which I prefer to ride at the moment. I will say though, now i have upgraded the T100 with Hagon shocks and had progressive forks fitted it will be hard to beat.

I was split between the triumph and BMW. In the end I went for a BMW r ninet racer. The shaft drive sold me

Really interesting - I love the boxer twin on these though I find the riding position more comfortable on the scrambler version.

I had a R9T racer for a while. The sensation Tim referred to when changing down (IMHO) is down to the very very direct feel of shaft drive with a dry clutch. You have to match revs very well or you do get the lurch.

Special bike...very special! Love to ride any BMW! Love my GS 310!

Bob. A very interesting topic. I Love all twins be they L ,V , Flat or Parallel, they all have character. Is the BMW better than the Triumph retro. If you are thinking about the Street twin then the answer would be yes.Now, when it comes up against the Speed twin R that the Triumph dealer put together then the answer is a definite no. I fell in love with that bike, it was a work of art. The BMW is a great bike but not fussy on the paint job,take the 21 off the tank but leave it on the duck tail.

RnineT Pure base is 3k (USD) more than the Speed Twin - even more with this version. This model feels like a more direct comparison to the Thruxton R.

The RnineT is a great bike, no doubt, especially with it’s shaft drive; but I wouldn’t swap my lighter Speed Twin for one now. The RnineT is more badass and wants to ride like one all the time, whereas the Speed Twin is more versatile (can be badass but happy just cruising or poodling around the lanes).

Hi I had a Thruxton R for a couple of years , full fitted . Lots of nice remarks and looked good. The seat position was weird . Upright top end but pegs set you forward slightly so it became uncomfortable on long run also the seat , although I had gell . It was so narrow I felt very girly position. No offence meant. The throttle was very bad and on off , on off a lot despite taking it back three times to fix it . Bottom line I was have a cuppa in the BMW shop and although I can’t stand BMW ‘s mostly because of GS owners. I liked the look of the BMW nine T racer . Not the sit and beg version

Big thumbs up for the excellent video. I've ridden the Speedtwin and the R ninet directly on the same day and finally with enough money I would have taken both. I had to make a selection and bought the R Ninet because of the shaft drive. I did change the foot bags to the once of the R Ninet racer to get similar sitting arrangement like on the Speed Twin. I'm happy with my decision, but also sure I would be happy with the Speedtwin eather.

probably the SHAFT DRIVE - giving the kick - as it is maybe more immediate than a chain.

Loving your work. This was a great video for me personally as have been lusting after an R NineT for a while and then the Speed Twin really caught my attention when it came out. Have held off test riding either until I am ready to pounce but think ultimately it will be the R NineT. I think for me it's a better long term ownership proposition and I have this silly idea to customise it in colour to tie in with my 30 year old BMW E30 325i. Would look great in the garage together.

The exhaust on that particular model of R nine T is standard, it’s not a slip on, it’s just what you get, it sounds even better if you take the baffles out and ditch the flapper out. I had an air cooled Triumph Scrambler and the R nine T is superior in every way except sound (with the uncorked Arrow exhaust the Triumph sound was magic) I haven’t tried any of the new water cooled Triumph’s so I don’t know if they fixed the top heavy nature of their bikes.

No wobble on the front wheel on my scrambler 1200xc. Brilliant on road and fun on fire trails.

Gr8 Clip - Very informative - thinking of buying (after being off bikes 2 yrs) - not sure about 6th gear on those roads but whatever makes you happy 👍👍👍

Great vid as always. Test rode both the R9T and Speed Twin back to back last weekend. Tough decision, but I think I’m leaning toward the BMW. The Triumph is an amazing bike, but ironically I found it to be almost too refined, too clean and maybe lacking some character? It’s got shitloads of shove though! The R9T on the other hand didn’t have the same aggressive power delivery past 3 grand as the Speed Twin, but man that thing just pulls and pulls in any gear. Bucket loads of character, but totally agree, the non-directional indicator light is annoying as hell! It’s the Beamer for me, by a nose!

Haha! I liked that little squeak you gave as you went over a bump! Clearly a lot of fun and an honest admission about having such a good time you forgot to speak, that's a vote of confidence if ever I heard one...it's in my fantasy garage along with the Triumph Sprint ST 1050 and an Enfield GT and Husky Nuda..#keepsaving ...

honestly we're living in the peak of ICE engine bikes . there are soooo many good bikes out there and i love all of them from goldwing to r9t to multistrada to r1m. I'm gonna have a very hard time choosing when im off my A2 restrictions in 2 years time

Traded my diavel in on one. The previous owner spent a small fortune on it, incl a full titanium exhaust system. It's a beautiful bike but seems somewhat flat after the diavel. I rode the previous gen speed twin whoch is physically smaller than the r9t and felt the ergonomics were more cramped. Otherwise, it's pretty much a different take on the same thing, although the suspension on my r9t is ohlins alround, and the handling subsequently better. Still, if i could get away with illegalities around riding the diavel, it would beat them both hands down just on outright excitement.

You can compare what ever you like and in the end it only remained the BMW R nine T. Thank you for the video.

ive onwed the racer version and a thruxon and triumph by far out of the box. the fit and finish is alot better , from the handale bars to how they handale

Nice review. I hesitated for years between Triumphs, the R nineT and a Ducati scramber for mainly urban commuting, Paris to be precise. I ended up buying the Ducati. It's an amazing, light and fun machine but I keep lusting after the BMW and that boxer engine. I guess I'll do a test drive in spring and see which I really prefer. The weight might be a bit penalising for constant filtering.

Thanks for your review. I am changing my Moto Guzzi v7 III for the R Nine T, just for the power upgrade and the breaks. Loved the Guzzi, but the breaks! very honest review, thanks again

Never ridden an RnineT but have an R1200R, I test rode the Speed Twin as I loved the look but the engine just redlines way to soon 🙁 so my BMW will be staying 😊

Would love to see you do a video like this on the kawasaki z900 rs 👍

I had a 1961 R69s with the Earle forks and later a 1978 R80 ..Both were bullet proof .. Something like 60K miles between the two . The Bonny's need the silencer off for playing with the chain .. Non of that with the BMW . I am sorry there is very little thinking for a place to put your rain suit on the BMW ..Tank Bag maybe ? The seat is not as nice as the Triumphs but I do love that Boxer . It is my favorite motor . Also the new R Nine T needs high test .Somthing like 42 miles to the US gallon on hig test . Small points that become bigger as the years move on .. $16,500.00 before looking for bags .. I would have a second hand one in a few years ..

Great video, I was between the two (R9T and SpeedTwin) test drove them a few times, loved the both but there was one thing that bothered me with the Triumph and it was the amount of heat coming from the engine on my legs (I live in warm weather/ South Florida). It was uncomfortable, didn’t experienced that with the R9T. I had to used something to help me decide, and that was it.

That's the standard Akrapovic exhaust (well it is on my 2016 R9T)

Only wish in India they would price them equally. The T Speed Twin is about £ 14,500 onroad and the R9T base model costs about £ 23,000!

I think you could call the RnineT retro-futuristic compared to the pure retros of Triumph. It's like BMW made their own niche in the market. That boxer engine is the cheery on the cake for me though. There's nothing else like it out there.

I road a couple of triumph they all were lacking in power and suspension and road the adventure 1200 and loved everything every second on street and dirt. This r9t is virtually the same bike.

I know BMW stands for quality. And I know the bikes follow the BMW standard of excellence, ,,,but those giant opposing cylinders sticking out where your knees and feet could be just literally burn my biscuits. Haha. Never ridden one, and probably no big deal. You're definitely right about the engineering. It's top notch. Been wondering. Everyone talks about the bonneville being so seemingly top heavy. Even with comparable weight like any other larger cc bike. Could it truly have anything to do with the inertia created by the parallel twin and its firing order? I used to think twas bout front wheel size, with its centrifugal force. But most older bikes had tall front tires. Oh well. A thought.

The suspension on this one is not a bit better, it's a lot better because it's adjustable. Having adjustable rebound is a huge advantage because you can compensate degradation of the oil for a long time, while non adjustable suspension becomes worse and worse and the only way to make it better is changing oil.

Imo, the prettiest out of this R9T series was the recent blue with white pinstriping model, forget the name. Possibly ltd edition.

Different bike but I looked at BMW scrambler and street scrambler from triumph ended up buying the triumph as the bm was just too much money, the bmw retros do look nice tho, but I’m with you speed twin r from triumph would be awesome.

I was torn between the BMW R nine T and the Speed Twin. The R9T comes with a shaft drive, cruise control and heated grips. But I have to say when I took one out for a ride, it just didn't impress me. For a premium motorcycle BMW, I can't understand why it doesn't come with a gas gauge or tach ? Why should I pay an additional $800 for a tach? For the additional money you would save , I could upgrade the ST into a great motorcycle. Plus the torc is amazing on the ST. Fit and finish on the ST is great. Not an easy choice but I went with the Triumph.

Fantastic videos...am seriously considering the BMW and these are so helpful...much thanks.

I love the looks of the R Nine T, that engine is good for 100k miles plus.A real keeper. However I bought a Monster 1200S. Up to 6,000rpm it has a torquey, thrummy character and is fun just cruising around town. But unlike the BMW, you have another 4,000 revs, and after 6,000rpm it just transforms into a real weapon. Also the electronics are on another level. But if I ever found a nice used R Nine T, I'd have to buy it. There is something about that bike....

I bought the Thruxton R. after considering the BMW.

I feel like yes, obviously. But the BMW is substantially more money.

I've got the R9T (same colour scheme as the test bike- which is amazing in the flesh). I've recently got a Thruxton R too. The TTR handles better and revs faster. The R9T does 'wobble' on clutch less upshits but I think this is more down to the combination of the shift drive and the boxer engine. I've done a fair few mods to my R9T. The TTR is more comfortable than the R9T in my opinion. I just did 1600 miles around Scotland with BikerBnB on the Highland Scramble and no aches or pains. Whereas an hour on the R9T, my arse is hurting. For me, R9T for short tripe and TTR for hooning around on.

Nice vid Rob, I’d share my sentiments about the bike too. Great engine, awesome to look at but in the end, i’d go for the Triumph. Glad I test rode one and know what all the hype was about but it won’t be my next bike

I must admit I'm a bit of a boxer fan boy myself! My teenage dream bike was a R1100S wich I bought as my first bike and it was an epick bike not a sport bike but a sporty road motorcycle that was good for touring and hooning (track days were a blast as well as European trips) sadly my plan to have it as a bike for life got cut short by a idiot car driver! But because of it I alweys have a soft spot for a boxer engine! Loving the collaboration with Tim! Good flowing interactions! Just two lads talking about bikes! Now are nineT is just to common for me sadly even with 719 pack they are everywhere! Ps I'm supposed that Tim didn't said anything about the fack that BM clearly looked at a Moto Guzzi Griso and thought well we can do that! As a Guzzi owner now I had to point it out Lol! But if it was my money I would probably go for the new R1250R or R1250RS(for all day comfort and weather protection its a GS for the road!) cause they are only couple grand more but the R is such a sleeper but it has a serious punch out of the corners!! Now if money was no issue I would probably had a HP2 Sport one needs to have dreams! Again grate content! Maybe try to get a ride on the R1250R cause I would like to know your thoughts on it. Ps as a little trip in my memory lane here is a clip of my R1100S becoming a flamethrower I put a Remus Grand Prix end can and Remus Y-pipe catalytic box delet. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AglwA0Lt2a8.html

The Slip-on is standard fit on this top-of-the-range model... 👍 Also The Scrambler has an Akrapovic slip on. 😁

I hope BMW will one day combine the retro looks of the R18 with the RnineT to make a proper retro looking RnineT. Id buy that in a heartbeat!

Tested the R NineT (2016, pre-facelift), the Pure and the Urban GS, tested the Speed Twin as well as the Thruxton R. Finally bought the last one because of the higher spec suspension and brakes over the Speed Twin and looks over the BMW. And then got rid of it after 6 months, because I thought I got myself the wrong bike in the end. Don't get me wrong, brilliant motorcycle that Thruxton R, but found it too uncomfortable for daily use as commuter bike due to the clip-on bars. After 7 years on a Speed Triple, I'm sure the next bike will be a naked roadster. I was taking the R NineT into consideration again (still not sure which version though), especially since BMW intends to stop it's production. But after watching your take on the Ultimate "Lilley" Speed Twin, I find myself wondering: what if Triumph launches a proper Speed Twin R or even better: an RS! Should I wait? All mentioned bikes are very good, the only benefit of the BMW: the shaft-drive, where Triumph's assets may be better looks and style? Which to choose, quite the conundrum...

Well I said id be keeping my Triumphs and I didn't. I traded my T120 for a Ducati Panigale V2 Bayliss edition in January (2022) and now I have been talking to the BMW dealer about trading in my 2016 Thruxton R for a new R9T standard with the black/chrome tank and the comfort pack with cornering lights. The latest R9T's have some nice little goodies with the comfort pack that was not available in earlier models. My S1000RR kinda spoiled me a bit and suddenly the Thruxton R feels a bit fuddy duddy even if it has been flawless and with the care I give it still looks new. I have been considering a new Truxton RS chrome edition too though so I still have not decided which bike to get.

I love the BMW NineT

Yes it is. I don’t buy Triumph - as the supplier/retailer has no idea about post sale support in Australia

I don't know why , I just hate that boxer engine , it sticks out too much 😤

Finally, I've been waiting for this.

R nine T does look nice, I haven't ridden one yet, guess I need to. Still not sure on the cylinders hanging out of the sides thing, think I'd go for the plain aluminium look. I'm biased, the Speed Twin is prettier to me, currently I'd still keep my Speed Twin.