Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/870143
2017 BMW R NINET URBAN G/S FIRST TEST P98 brake has a bit of a wooden feel at the rear. There's switchable ABS, too, along with BMW's switchable Automatic Stability Control (ASC, or traction control to you and me), so you'll not miss out on the electronic bits that make modern BMW motorcycles so lovely. As in pretty much all the bikes BMW makes, they have a butt-load of accessories made purely for the Urban, so if you do have that itch which can only be scratched by aftermarket parts, BMW's got you covered. I think BMW has done well with the R nineT to make a range of bikes from a single plat- form that suit different cor- ners of the market, which will no doubt keep the Bavarian bean counters happy. The Urban serves its purpose, although I'd like the bike to be bet- ter off-road. But I reiterate my ear- lier point in that I hope the Urban is the last R nineT. Like families with too many kids it's already confusing enough as it is, and I know I'm not alone in hoping that's the end of the R nineT range. Each model is a good one, with its own individuality, so here's hoping the R nineT brand doesn't get diluted any further. CN 2017 BMW R NINET URBAN G/S ($12,995) ENGINE: ................ Air/oil-cooled, DOHC 4-stroke, flat-twin with balancer shaft, 4-valves per cylinder POWER: ...110 hp @ 7750 rpm (claimed) TORQUE: ....86 lb-ft @ 6000 rpm (claimed) DISPLACEMENT: ..........................1170cc BORE X STROKE: .............. 101 x 73mm COMPRESSION RATIO: .................12.0:1 FUEL SYSTEM: ..................................EFI EXHAUST: ........................................2-2-1 TRANSMISSION: .......................6-speed CHASSIS: ................. 3-part frame with front frame and 2-part rear frame, load-bearing engine gearbox unit, rear- set frame removable for one-up riding FRONT SUSPENSION: .................. 43mm conventional nonadjustable fork REAR SUSPENSION: ......................BMW Paralever, single shock, adjustable spring preload and rebound damping FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL: ................4.9 in. REAR WHEEL TRAVEL: .................. 4.7 in. FRONT BRAKE: .....Dual four-piston, radially mounted calipers, 320mm discs, ABS REAR BRAKE: ..Single two-piston, fixed caliper, 265mm disc, ABS FRONT TIRE: ...................... 120/70 R 19 REAR TIRE: ......................... 170/60 R 17 WHEELBASE: ...............................60.1 in. SEAT HEIGHT: ............................ 33.5 in. FUEL CAPACITY: ........................ 4.5 gal WEIGHT: .......... 485 lbs. (wet, claimed) S P E C I F I C A T I O N S Cruising back- roads on the Urban is good fun, even with the off-road tires fitted.