BMW’s R nineT range has been flying the modern classic flag for BMW for a while now, and for 2021 the entire range gets a host of updates to bring them closer to modern than classic.
Interestingly there is one big omission from the 2021 R nineT announcement with the R nineT Racer missing from the lineup. BMW Motorrad New Zealand has confirmed to onthrottle.co.nz that the R nineT Racer will not be available as a 2021 model year bike, but didn't go into specifics as to why the model has been dropped for next year.
Headlining the updates for 2021 is a redesigned engine producing 109hp and 116Nm of torque. That may be 1hp down on last year’s bike but peak power is produced 500rpm earlier and is now Euro-5 compliant. That means the Air/Oil cooled engine lives to fight in when many competitors have given up and gone for water-cooling.
Other physical updates include new LED lighting on all bikes including indicators which according to BMW, are basically invisible when not illuminated.
In the handling department, BMW has upgraded the shock absorber with travel-dependent damping which provides enhanced suspension comfort, plus BMW has also made preload adjustments easier by adding a hand wheel adjuster in all models.
All R nineT variants now come standard with BMW’s ABS Pro system paired with dynamic braking for safety, while Rain and Road riding modes are also standard. Riding Modes Pro is also available as an option, with the additional modes “Dyna” for the R nineT and R nineT Pure and “Dirt” for the R nineT Scrambler and R nineT Urban G/S are now available as new individual options, as are DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) and engine drag torque control (MSR).
Another new option is the Comfort Package, comprising Riding Modes Pro, cruise control and heated handlebar grips. The turning light and the rear silencer design option are likewise new to the range of individual optional extras.
Other upgrades include a new dash unit and a range of new colour options for 2021, with the R nineT Urban G/S falling also receiving the limited edition 40 Years GS celebration livery of black/yellow as seen in the rest of the GS lineup this year.
Currently, we have no word on when the 2021 models will start to arrive in New Zealand but expect BMW Motorrad NZ to announce this in the coming months.