[faster and faster] - BMW R nineT Scrambler is now ready to hit the road

[Ninjette Newsbot]

The new BMW R nineT Scrambler is so cool, even Steve McQueen would dump his trusty Triumph for this...

The new BMW R nineT Scrambler, which was unveiled at the EICMA in Italy, in November last year, is now finally ready to hit BMW showrooms all over the world. Priced at about 13,000 euro, it has all the right 'scrambler' styling cues - the deeptreaded tyres, a high-mounted exhaust system, relatively long suspension travel at both ends and relaxed seating position that's just about perfect for street use as well as light off-road use. "Scramblers offered their riders in the 1950s to 1970s, not just motorcycling fun on winding country roads but also great off-road capability and therefore an extended range of use," claim BMW. And indeed, the German company says that the new R nineT Scrambler can trace its heritage all the way back to the early-1950s R68, a high-piped version of which was raced by one Georg 'Schorsch' Meier. We do think the connection is a bit tenuous, but, well, whatever.

What matters is that the R nineT Scrambler is powered by BMW's air/oil-cooled 1170cc boxer-twin, which is Euro IV compliant and pumps out 110bhp and 116Nm of torque. With its high-mounted exhaust and 19-inch front wheel, the thing should certainly be good for a bit of mud-plugging at a rather respectable pace. The BMW Scrambler's tubular steel space frame (which uses the boxer engine as a load-bearing element), along with its regular telescopic front fork and Paralever single-sided swingarm have been designed to take some off-road bashing, and the optional wire-spoked wheels, shod with 120/70 and 170/60 dual-purpose rubber look quite apt. There are twin 320mm brake discs up front, with 4-piston calipers, and a 265mm brake disc at the back. ABS is standard, of course. The 17-litre fuel tank, made of steel, should provide sufficient range and the bike's various forged aluminium parts and brown leather seat lend a properly classy touch.
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