BMW R nineT Urban G/S Review

[MoSSaN69]

BMW had no idea when it launched the R nineT in 2013 to commemorate Motorrad’s 90th anniversary that anyone would like it or that the bikes would sell. Four years later, it’s opened an entirely new market segment for the Bavarian brand, spawning four deriv­atives of the bike to create BMW’s Heritage line.

The R nineT Urban G/S comes as the latest addition, its styling reminiscent of the 1980 BMW R80G/S that created the adven­ture bike segment we know today. As with the other R nineT derivatives, most components are shared with the other bikes, the bulk of design attention focused on aesthetics, design, and spiritual vibe.

All with good reason, as BMW’s market research revealed that the buyer for this bike is different than your average motorcycle showroom wanderer. When it comes to R nineT buyers, only 13 percent are first-time buyers (compared to a 23 percent segment average). The average buyer is older (49 versus 45) and well-to-do (45 percent higher household income than segment average). They also buy with their eyes, 62 percent of them saying that style and design are their top purchase reason (versus 40 percent segment average). Basically: wealthy riders with another bike or two in the garage looking for something pretty and cool.

[Madalin AM]

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