If I were buying a R nineT now the only things that I'd really appreciate would be the cruise control and the tubeless wire wheels, the rest of the new bits I could take or leave. As it is I wouldn't trade my 2014 bike in for one, I've made it my own and it's here to stay.

 

Yeah cruise control is good.
I've got it on my car though and unless I'm driving on the motorway late at night when there's little to no traffic I find it useless.

 

Yep same here.
I think its great that the 9T is carrying on but a big part of the attraction for me was it's uncluttered simplicity.
ABS and heated grips is enough for me.
As a long term bike I'm not interested in stuff that has the potential for big bills later on.

 

Yep same here.
I think its great that the 9T is carrying on but a big part of the attraction for me was it's uncluttered simplicity.
ABS and heated grips is enough for me.
As a long term bike I'm not interested in stuff that has the potential for big bills later on.

I had a water boxer with all the bells and whistles. Everything from Enduro Pro Offroad mode to keyless entry. What I didn't like about that bike was the lack of character and soul in the engine. If the 2021 line up in Canada had the Urban I would consider upgrading. The ability to use the Rain mode or Enduro Pro mode, the electronic cruise, the smart ABS that knows how far I am leaned over, etc.... all of those things worked really well on my water boxer. There are guys with well over 100,000 miles and lots of rough off road riding who have not had issues with their electronically loaded BMW's. You only hear about the few who have, and who spend way too much time making sure everyone else hears about it instead of getting it fixed and moving on with their lives.

 

My feeling on modes?
We have the most sophisticated computer systems ever devised already on board.
It's called the human brain.
ABS is great because the circumstances leading up to an emergency stop scenario can happen in a split second.
However when it rains you normally have plenty of time to react.
Sometimes you may even be able to pull over and don waterproofs.
Then you simply moderate throttle openings according to the prevailing conditions.
Honestly if I have to press a button when it starts raining because I can't trust myself to back off the throttle, I'll know I'm a liability on the road and give it up.

 

Cruise control on an R9T ? imo goes against the character of the bike, like adding Coca Cola to your glass of wine. Seriously I feel that if I wanted cruise control on a bike , I wouldn't be on an r9t in the first place, there are other bikes that may be better suited to keep that rider happy.

 

How does cruise control detract from the bike?

This notion that bikes have to fit neatly in niches and that the addition of something as innocuous as cruise control somehow changes the character of the bike is, from my point of view, bizarre. My bike spends most of its days within an hour’s ride of home, but from time to time I’ll disappear for an all day ride that inevitably includes some high speed droning to get to and from the delicious places.

 

It’s horses for courses but in the UK with the state of our roads and traffic volume, cruise control is largely redundant in a car or on a bike. I know it’s a different topic but I think rider aids (with the exception of front ABS) / electrics on a bike like this, totally detract from the spirit and character of a bike. I had a 1200R as a test bike while my bike was in for a service. Lovely bike but it felt vague and I felt less connected to it because of the plethora of ‘rider aids’. Let’s be honest the engine of this bike is about the most useable you could have in standard form for its capacity and if you can’t control it with your brain and right hand then maybe, well maybe there’s a lesson there. I respect everyone’s perspective on this but remember many of the people riding this bike have had 40+ years of riding bikes with absolutely no electrical assistance and are not only fine and happy with it, they / I prefer it.

 

Tyre pressure monitors
Now there's some useful tech
Adds to safety too as you get good prior warning of a slow puncture on the move.
I'd pay the extra for that

 

Tyre pressure monitors
Now there's some useful tech
Adds to safety too as you get good prior warning of a slow puncture on the move.
I'd pay the extra for that

And then you’ll find, you’re constantly looking at the damn thing to see if you’ve lost a few ounces.
Not for me, thanks.
PS. Twas the motorcycle sales person that told me that when I enquired about having it as an option on the demonstrator Street Twin I was buying.

 

I applaud that BMW are offering a number of improved features with each successive model release. Yes, we can all agree that none of these are ‘required’ and that they are largely down to convenience. One could argue that the more comfortable you are, the more attention you can pay to safety and enjoying yourself. Take the example of going through long stretches of roadworks or motorway - having cruise control can give your throttle hand a bit of break and help you manage your speed. It is not necessary to do so, just helpful. Yes a throttle lock can achieve the same outcome; however bravo BMW for adding a few lines of software codes and a switch given that cruise control is a complementary add on to riding modes.

Same argument goes with tyre pressure monitoring (detecting slow leaks), heated grips (dealing with the cold), riding modes (increased intervention during poor traction), ABS (giving us a better chance during death braking), etc. A number of us have ridden perfectly well without these features and people have ridden to the four corners of the earth with far less than is on our R Nine Ts (Elseph Beard‘s autobiography is a fantastic read Elspeth Beard | Lone Rider | Round the World Motorcyclist | Godalming). Good to see that the new R NineTs also have mechanical improvements as well as electronics (e.g. progressive spring in the rear shock).

So I for one am thankful that BMW (and others) continue to invest in innovating their products; whilst there are hiccups, in the long term these improve the riding experience and will hopefully keep attracting new generations to do the same. Even better that manufacturers continue to offer a ’heritage’ type product line and go through great lengths to tastefully integrate technology with retro style to offer the best of both worlds, Triumph being another great example.

The future is bright; let’s keep optimistic, enjoy our R NineTs and welcome all model years into the fold.

 

I wouldn't swap my 2017 model for the new one but I would admit to wanting the new tubeless spoked wheels.

 

"How does cruise control detract from the bike?" I can only speak for myself that if I'm riding a bike I am the rider, in control, to me a fundamental part of riding motorcycles for the now 50 years that I have been.

 

It prevents you from controlling the throttle?

 

Cruise control, asc abs are all features to make the ride safer and assist the rider. Control of a bike and common sense and sensible safe riding remains the responsibility of the rider. On a long flat road you switch on cruise control and you maintain a safe speed. Your hand and wrist get a break and make sure your speed remains within limits. In city riding circumstance will dictate. ABS and ASC will then be the features making your ride safer. Some us will want above features others not. I like my bike as is, can ride a 1980 Vespa with same amount of joy as the R1 or even a Ktm. As long as it is two wheels well and maintained, I can be happy. Extra features, well it is a bonus, sometimes necassary but the lack of does not make a difference to the fun I am having. Looking forward to the new bikes and if the crowd is happy will ensure that the boxer air cooled engine will remain with us for a long time. Remember guys, this is an end to an era. The electric bikes are coming. Enjoy your fossil fuel burners. No good for environment but more soul than electric.

 

Cruise control, asc abs are all features to make the ride safer and assist the rider.

I'm not sure how cruise control makes a bike safer.
Could you elaborate on that

 

Nice upgrade and the bike is safe in production for a few more years.

As for the electronic stuff, you can/should be able to turn it off.

My Pure is just that. The only gizmo I have and appreciate is the ABS, and I can't turn that off so no worries.

All the electrics do is make the bike more attractive to younger riders without as much experience as those of us into our, er, later years...

...and that's a good thing.

 

Nice upgrade and the bike is safe in production for

The cruise control is nice feature on open road. See rest of my discussion.We have long distances and many speed traps. I enjoy that feature. On the Racer I do not need it. I will not feel safe and prefer keeping hand on throttle. On GSA and open roads of Namibia with long flat roads and distances of 200km plus between towns. Yes a nice to have, plus they trap and you get spot fines of 100 to 200 pounds. Should you exceed the speed limit. Therefore, very nice to have. Like I said use sensibly. If I had Urban or sny of other 9t and travelled long distance, I will enjoy that feature.

I still don't see how cruise control can be a safety aid.
Avoiding speed traps isn't really a good example.
We have a big dial in front of us that tells us how fast we're going.
Do you really need to press a button to ensure you're always at the correct speed?
Honestly have we reached the stage where riders cannot even look at their speedometers.

 

BMW has already successfully tested completely autonomous motorcycles. I can’t wait for the day that I can send my personal robot to work, riding on my autonomous BMW 1800 Adventure, reporting live from his head-up display with augmented reality scenes from far away countries, while I sit next to my fireplace, sipping coffee... NOT

 

I guess we can be thankful that bikes aren't going the way of cars and auto gearboxes at least - try to find a new manual car these days - it's getting very hard - not to mention proper handbrakes and switchable esc. Regardless of the electronic add ons and rider aids, at least motorbikes and the act of riding is still relatively analogue and electronic aids can generally be switched off if desired.

 

When I test rode bought my 2020 Pure, I also test rode one of my dream bikes, the last gen. R1200R, as usual loaded with electronics. I had almost bought about a year ago, and regretted not doing so. But test riding both bikes back to back, as @GapRunr excellently said, the water-cooled boxer lacked character and soul. The R is an amazing bike and (with the OEM hardbags) is a better all-arounder, but the character of the R9T put a huge grin on my face, and that's what I was looking for in my next bike.

Cruise control would be nice for the occasional freeway droning when I need to make time to get somewhere or to get home more quickly during a long trip. A throttle lock will do of course, but electronic cruise control would be a welcome addition. Also, @PJS, one way cruise control can make a bike safer since you can keep your eyes on the road and other vehicles around you more, not having to constantly check your speedometer.

As for riding modes, I can see it being a plus for the Scrambler and Urban G/S, which riders are more likely to take off-road, but bikes with lower hp (though the boxer is torquey) don't really need rain or urban modes in my opinion. It's when you get to the much higher power bikes, like 150 hp and above, that might need softer throttle response modes, mostly for newer riders. But just because a bike comes with modes doesn't mean you have to use them. You might then grumble that you're paying for stuff you don't want or need, but that's more and more common for many vehicles today, not just BMW motorcycles.

 

I just wish that the manufacturers would put more of their R&D budget into stuff that actually makes a difference.
Like perhaps a decent quality of finish that doesn't start rotting away at the first whiff of road salt.
I'm not anti technology.
There's been a lot of great advancement in recent years with fuel injection, abs brakes, traction control.
All good stuff that really does make a difference but its all going too far.
Almost as though they're adding stuff for the sake of it and to satisfy this urge people have with buttons to press.
My main issue as I say is with riding modes.
If it rains I back off and use gentle throttle openings.
If I want sport mode I just nail the throttle back and play tunes on the gearbox.
As you rightly say you don't have to use these things if you don't want too but the problem for me is adding complexity, especially in the electrical system, has the potential for huge expense in years to come.
Those intelligent self adjusting rear suspension units for example.
When they go, you can't just go to Wilbers and whack in a replacement.
You have to buy the genuine BMW unit which has to then be programmed into the ecu using specialist software.
I know this because a friend of mine had to do this with his GS which was just put of warranty, and was relieved of nearly £2,500.
Shortly afterwards he sold that bike because he lost confidence in it and bought a 2007 Honda CB1300 and says he's just as happy on that as he was with his Beemer.

 

When I said 'Nice upgrade ' I was refering to the whole package, not just cruise control, which, by the way, I would never use.😁

 

I bought that MCN.
Nothing in there about the new 9T that we didn't already know.
They were just spouting specs.

 

I bought that MCN.
Nothing in there about the new 9T that we didn't already know.

If you go to the link I posted their on-line article is more of a review than the magazine spread pictured above.

 

Crazy idea:
If you don’t want cruise control, don’t buy a bike with it. Or don’t use it.

I choose differently. Or I would if I could.

 

My 2020 Pure has ABS and I would like a proper cruise control that keeps a constant speed, uphill and down as well as on the level.
Apart from that, I think my bike has more than enough electrotronickery to keep me happy.
One reason I don’t want more is the potential repair, nay, replacement cost when a computerised bit throws a wobbly, and you can’t argue (Speaking for me now) with a guy that tells you ‘Yes Sir, this electronic part has failed, it needs a new one’.
Seems to me, things like that don’t wear out, they can be unused for a long time but still pack up (Built in?) when needed.
I believe the new Defender has over 80 computers tI help it run, or not!
Who’d want want of those 4 or 5 years down the line!

I sold my Defender (2005 model) 18 months ago with a full disclosure that it needed a new front brake discs and a brake ABS? Modulator, total cost, 2K for Modulator + discs + fitting.
Took it to a second garage for another opinion. Same result so I thought they can’t both be wrong.
Sold it to a nice guy that flew from Germany. Collected him from Airport and he drove the Landy the 12 miles to our house.
Did the paperwork, paid me and off he went home in it.
Emailed me a couple weeks later.....He himself (Architect) had found a fault with a sensor on a front wheel. Few DM to buy parts....no Modulator needed! Had it been me l would have been conned out of 2K.
Ken.

 

Yep it's a good write up and pretty complimentary. Over £13K here now though and for me one of the reasons I brought my '15 R9T was that it didn't have a bunch of electrics associated with it, which this one now does. Happy to hang on to my original

 

Cruise control. Cornering ABS. More midrange torque. Tidier FI (I wonder if it’s also quieter). Want want want.

 

No it wouldn't prevent a rider from controlling the throttle, but when engaged who or what IS controlling the throttle?

 

I think the riding modes help everybody. They are on every time you cycle the ignition, you must select each function to disengage. Have you ever got into a turn to be surprised by gravel, leaves or sand? Maybe you have never had someone do a lane change/panic stop because they almost missed there turn? after all they are the only ones on road. when you get down to it they do help. Those dual disc front abs brembo brakes are amazing they will make you a better rider

 

Cruise control would be nice for occasionally shaking my numb hand out while riding on the highway without dropping speed. But that's about it. I think you really want to be fully 'on' when riding and cruise control might make me a little bit more mentally lazy/sleepy I think. That said I literally never use cruise control in my car - even when driving 4-8hrs straight on highways - and I absolutely hate adaptive cruise control the one time I tried it.

The only thing I like more about the new model is the tubeless spoked wheels and the adaptive headlight. Both great additions I think. I am keen to see what the wheels cost, if they are as light as Kineo's and/or a lot cheaper.

Cheers, Dom

 

I started legally biking in 1960 and haven’t needed such a thing yet, so I think I’ve got the job sussed, and besides, riding spokes and inner tubes IS riding with a slow puncture all the time .
Ken.

 

That's funny.
My old Grandad bless him used to say exactly the same thing about electric start.
😂