The Scrambler is the golden mean between a city motorcycle and a bike for dirt and country roads. A once ordinary road biker, turned by amateurs into a motorcycle that can just as easily wiggle briskly over different quality road surfaces. Once upon a time, the Scrambler was the brainchild of hobbyists, but now manufacturers are producing production models so that you and I don't have to reinvent the wheel ourselves.
“The real Scrambler is relaxation, not competition.”
Let's look at what modern bikes the motorcycle industry market offers today. Let's take a look at the latest interesting models.
BMW R nineT Scrambler
Classic and minimalism, that’s how you can describe this bike. At the same time, users will be greeted by a welcoming and obedient 1200 cc four-stroke two-cylinder boxer engine with air-oil cooling. It produces 110 horsepower. Maximum torque -116 Nm at 6000 rpm. The maximum speed stated by the manufacturer is over 200 km/h.
Consumption per 100 kilometers at a constant speed of about 90 km/h is 4.5 liters, and if you unscrew the trigger beyond 100 km/h, the consumption will increase to 5.8 liters.
A six-speed gearbox with constant-mesh helical gears is responsible for shifting.
The distinctive high-mounted twin muffler features a three-way closed-loop catalytic converter that complies with EU-4 emission standards. The total result is a loud, unique “voice”.
As for the design, the frame is three-section - one front section and two rear. It’s interesting that you can create an “egoist” out of a two-seater motorcycle through simple manipulations.
Suspension is provided by 43mm telescopic forks, while the rear features a cast aluminum single-sided swingarm with BMW Motorrad Paralever suspension and adjustable shock absorber.
The wheels are tubeless, cast aluminum alloy wheels. The front wheel has a double-disc brake, floating brake discs with a diameter of 320 mm, and four-piston calipers. At the rear there is one disc with a diameter of 265 mm, a two-piston floating caliper. Don't forget to add BMW Motorrad ABS.
The tank volume is 17 liters, this includes a reserve of 3.5 liters. A loaded motorcycle with a full tank weighs 220 kilograms. In this case, the maximum permissible weight is 430 kilograms.
Personally, I like this model. But I can’t help but agree with the opinion of some users who are worried that the windswept boxer engine, when driving on narrow and not always smooth roads, can pick up all sorts of things in its “belly.” After all, real scramblers are made to be light, small and... flat.
The price for a brand new BMW R nineT Scrambler is set at 1,063,000 rubles.
BMW R 100 with compressor
It's hard to believe, but this BMW is only Ben's second project. The first one was also a Bavarian - a cafe based on the R 80 RT, which Ben made in a race with a friend who started a custom Ducati Monster. Ben completed his project first, and to annoy his “competitor” even more, he immediately took on the second project, the R 100.
And this friend tells me, install a supercharger, since he’s so fast - maybe he thought it would slow me down and give him a head start to finish his first project,” Ben jokes. -And I only enjoy difficulties, especially since my first cafe R 80 turned out unexpectedly quickly.
Planning to style the custom as an aggressive street tracker, Ben immediately gave it the codename R 107 K: 107 is a reference to the 1070 cc Siebenrock kit he installed on the engine, and K stands for Kompressor, which is what any superchargers are usually called in German.
BMW R 100 with compressor
To call the work Ben did on the 1992 BMW extensive would be a fair understatement. For the engine, he not only installed a cubic capacity kit with modifications in the block to make it lighter, but also installed copper gaskets for a reduced compression ratio (for engines with a supercharger this is important), heads for two spark plugs and updated the intake. The engine was even raised slightly at the front so that the transmission lined up in a perfectly straight line.
Triumph Scrambler 1200 Family
Let’s not go far, speaking of engine protection and the ability to absorb road adversity with its “belly” - the engineers of the Triumph Scrambler 1200 thought about this, the engine protection from below is visible to the naked eye.
The family's production line includes the Scrambler 1200 XC and Scrambler 1200 XE. Let me remind you that it is from the Triumph Scrambler that the very motorcycle of agent 007 is made, which can also be purchased from the manufacturer.
"James Bond Motorcycle - Triumph Scrambler 1200 Bond Edition"
The XC is characterized as a true Scrambler in urban form. But the XE is a true dual-purpose hooligan. Let's take a closer look at it.
Engine 1200 cc 2-cylinder in-line water cooled. Produces 90 horsepower. Slipper clutch, centrifugal type, multi-plate in an oil bath. Six-speed gearbox.
As befits a scrambler, the mufflers are located high. Here it is a two-in-two system made of stainless steel.
Tubular steel frame. The rear swingarm is double-sided aluminum with adjustable Ohlins shock absorbers. Showa inverted front fork, fully adjustable, 47mm. The wheels are tubeless spoked.
The front brake is handled by two Brembo floating discs with a diameter of 320 mm, 4-piston Brembo M50 monoblock calipers, and ABS. The rear wheel has one brake disc with a diameter of 255 mm, 2-piston Brembo caliper, ABS.
Tank capacity – 16 liters. The dry weight of the motorcycle is 207 kilograms. The price range per million rubles, judge for yourself from the screenshot from the official website.
“Triumph Rocket 3 2022 is the monster everyone is talking about”
Experience using the BMW R NineT motorcycle
I'll start with the perception of the motorcycle. Tactile sensations of controls, landing and other moments associated with understanding and awareness of the motorcycle itself.
The very visual perception and contemplation of the BMW R NineT, for me personally, still causes joy and delight. It is clear that this is a very subjective assessment, but I still note that most people who are not connected in any way with the motorcycle theme in life perceive this model very positively. The public's interest in the appearance of the motorcycle is definitely more interesting than all my previous motorcycles combined. Although, by and large, there is nothing special about it. This is not gold on a warm summer night, glowing like a Christmas tree with screaming music. Many explain their interest and positive perception by the fact that in their understanding of the word “motorcycle”, many people have an image in their minds very similar to the BMW R NineT. I repeat, this conversation is precisely about what most people who have nothing to do with motorcycle technology at all and do not have an understanding of the varieties and variety of classes of motorcycles (like my parents, for example). What’s even strange is that it turns out that young girls are not only drawn to sportbikes, but this motorcycle also attracts their attention. But in this exercise, of course, it is still difficult to surpass sports. But I repeat, I never expected such a reaction from the fair half of humanity, especially at a very young age.
As for the finishing materials and the overall impression of the quality of workmanship. Everything is fine here, I couldn’t find any fault with the stock clutch and brake levers, on which many manufacturers save a lot during production. Not on grips or even steering wheel weights. The buttons are made of good quality plastic, pressing is intuitive and clear. You don’t need to look at the tidy to see if you turned on the turn signal or didn’t press the button. In general, everything here is very modest and simple in terms of controls. There is a minimal number of them. The starter button is also the electrical circuit lock button. There is nothing else on the right remote control. Optionally, you can supply the original heated handles and then another button will appear which will activate the heating operating mode accordingly. Heating has two modes. Everything else is on the left console. High beam flash/turn on. A turn signal that is made in a classic style, and not like on previous BMW R series models, where the left turn signal is located on the left remote control, the right turn signal on the right. In general, the classic indication of turns makes me personally happy. There is a separate button for turning on the emergency lights and, at the end, an “INFO” button that switches the readings on the on-board computer. By the way, they are also very modest and there are no displays of tire pressure sensors, electric suspensions, etc. If we evaluate the controls, then everything is EXCELLENT! There are few buttons, in the right places and everything is done with high quality.
Now what can I say about the landing? She, like the appearance of the spendthrift, is classic. Very comfortable and convenient. But the back is not straight, there is a forward tilt and it’s even noticeable, unlike, for example, the new R1200R. Let's just say, a classic landing with a certain forward tilt. But you don’t have to hang by your hands while resting on the steering wheel. The legs are bent at the “correct” angle, nothing goes numb or interferes with long enough movement. I didn’t even have to adjust the brake foot, everything is convenient and, most importantly, the rear brake is not just for show. More on this later. As for the gearbox, everything is sane here too, quite clearly but clumsily in the opposite direction. Shifts are quite hard and the gearbox has not yet been broken in. But from the very beginning of use, I have never missed a beat and neutral is caught intuitively. The gearbox is not Honda's, but it is probably the closest manufacturer to the standard shifting (read gearbox from Honda). The saddle itself is quite hard, but again very wide and surprisingly comfortable. There is a place where you can turn around and change your position a little, which is again important for long-distance driving. The biggest difference from previous models (ala the ancestors of the BMW R NineT) R1200R is the convenient width in the tank area. On older R1200R models, you had to spread your legs as if sitting on a horse in the saddle. After long journeys I had to learn to walk again. Well, such a wide separation of the knees clearly did not add sportiness to the motorcycle. Here everything is the other way around, like on a sports bike. The tank is not high relative to the saddle, and during sharp braking, the most expensive and delicate organs do not have to change shape and strain the nerve cells with a painful shock.
Let's move on to the ride quality and how it feels. Here the difference appears more contrastingly and there are more moments on which you can sharpen your attention. I'll try in order as much as possible. It’s unlikely that I’ll be able to remember everything I wanted to write about, but I’ll try.
So. The first thing you realize is that it has little in common with the R series models. It seems like it should be almost the same thing. But in fact, this is “general” only in your head, because the performance characteristics are practically the same. Behind the wheel, the moto looks more like a street car, for example the same S1000R. I took the S1000R for a test drive and in reality the connection between the R NineT and the S1000R is greater than the R NineT and the previous generation air-powered R1200R. I think that the new R1200R 2015 model year will also be very different. I'll test it this year and tell you.
You can immediately feel the catch in the engine-gearbox connection. The engine has a quick response to the throttle. There are no electronic assistants here that will analyze one hundred and five hundred times how much you have unscrewed and whether it is exactly possible to transfer that much torque to the wheel, or still adjust and slightly “cut off” the amount of dope transmitted to the wheel. Hence the reaction to the opening is immediate. In combination with a good volume and therefore a normal acceleration moment, it is more intense here. One might say more angry, sporty. The checkpoint adds some spice to this picture. The gear ratios have been changed here. This is again noticeable during acceleration and gears, especially first, are much shorter than on the R1200R or GS. In fact, according to BMW, this was specifically made for “traffic light racing”. This is not my opinion, from the BMW website. There is another pleasant plus from changing the gear ratio. When driving in stop-and-go traffic, you don’t have to touch the clutch lever. There is no need for them to throttle at all; in first gear with the throttle completely closed, you can drive 4-6 km/h. In second gear 12-15 km/h. In traffic jams on Yauzskaya embankment this is a very convenient feature. Definitely a PLUS for urban use!
Let's move on smoothly to the switching itself. No major complaints here. But there is one “but”! On a cold engine, as soon as you leave the garage (you must also take into account that you drove in +3/+5 weather), it is sometimes difficult to engage 1st gear. Sometimes it wouldn’t even turn on at all until you let go and squeeze the clutch again. Then, after some time, he began to squeeze the clutch lever not with the usual two fingers, resting against the ring and little fingers with the clutch lever, but with all his fingers up to the grip. The problem is gone and until the engine warms up and reaches normal temperature, I squeeze the trigger until it grips. After 5-10 minutes of driving, I switch to the usual two-finger squeeze - the flight is normal. Perhaps this has something to do with the untested box. This problem was not observed on the previous R1200R with a mileage of 40 thousand. But I also took it with 20 thousand on the odometer.
Let's talk about the most significant change. Finally we returned to the classic inverted fork. By the way, it is from the S1000RR, but lacks any adjustments. If you really want, you can buy offal from RR and make a fork with adjustments, but for me it is configured perfectly for the originally calculated operating conditions. Returning to this type of suspension freed the R NineT from amorphous steering. I can't say that the 2009 R1200R strained me in corners, but it was difficult to call its behavior sporty. This is a completely different song. Low center of gravity, 222 kg in running order, amazingly refined suspension (not the softest by the way). As a result, these are completely different motorcycles.
I would like to note a nuance with the brakes. Here they are old school and independent. I’ll explain for those in the tank. In BMW, initially, when you press the front brake lever, one piston automatically presses the pads on the rear wheel. This ensures safer braking, as a result of which assistants again get involved in the process of controlling the motor. For me, they are not always welcome. I prefer to choose when to brake with the front brake and when with the rear. For advanced users of motorcycles with such integrated brakes, they won’t burn the rear tank. And there are those stubborn people who can’t live without it) But I’m not one of them, I can’t afford a rear cylinder once a month for ten. Oh, and the pads in the rear with an integrated brake system wear out twice as fast as in the front. But following the logic of BMW engineers, safety comes first. It's hard to disagree with this. It’s not a big loss to survive the cost of the pads at 3 thousand rubles. The brakes themselves are radial monoblock Brambo paired with reinforced hoses. To say that they are awesome is to say nothing. But then another point arises, again relating only to NineT. I repeat, there are no electronic assistants here, except ABS, none at all. And the rear wheel comes off the asphalt easily and without force; ABS is not involved in this matter in any way. The stock Metzseller tires are very good and do not allow the ABS to kick in until the rear wheel comes off. So you have to monitor this and gesture in moderation. I would also like to remind you about the lack of traction and antiwheelie. So even during the run-in, with two thousand on the tachometer, the engine rises quite easily from the gas. It all depends on the rider, if a completely inexperienced friend tries to unscrew it, at best he will use it (which is hard to believe with such tires), at worst he will tip over if he does not close the gas in time. There is no point in talking about the rear brake. It exists and it really works. But it won’t allow you to slow down in a skid. Either ABS works on both wheels, or it does NOT work on both.
About the issue of wind protection. It is not entirely appropriate here, but there is something to be said. There is no wind in the legs at all (by naked standards, of course). Not in the knees, not in the feet, and especially not in the “between the legs.” As for the torso, there are no problems up to 100 km/h. I didn’t even get cold in the same jacket at the same temperature, compared to last year’s Ducati. There is no need for wind protection, but at the same time the airflow for the pilot is somehow adequate and pleasant. Maybe it’s due to the landing, I don’t know. Hard to explain. But the upcoming long-distance journey certainly stresses me out. All the flies will be mine, I’m sure of that) But the other advantages greatly outweigh its disadvantages. Still, long distance travel is once a year, or at best twice. And I travel mainly around Moscow and the nearest Moscow region. And NineT also has such a traffic jam ability that even the previous motard from Ducati did not have. I'm being completely serious and honest here. Simply unrealistic steering, coupled with the super short wheelbase of the motorcycle, allows you to climb into any hole at any angle. The moderately narrow steering wheel (narrower than on the Hyperstrada) also adds confidence in traffic jams. All comments ala “opposite zhezh, one and a half meters wide” are wild and are not accepted, especially from those who have never driven opposed engines. This opinion is not based on anything; what’s especially offensive is that it is completely unfair. Your knees, even in sports, are no longer than the pots on the opposite stick out. So this does not affect traffic jam performance in any way. Look at people racing the R1200GS in traffic. The motorcycle mirrors clearly pass under the mirrors of gazelles and cruisers. On the R1200R, I clearly met the above-described car models with my mirrors and theirs. It was the same with Ducati.
I propose to end the discussion here for now. Just 3 hundred km cannot fully give a picture of all the pros and cons of NineT. Everyone praises their cow, this is a well-known fact. But I already love this motorcycle. From the very beginning. Starting from the appearance, which amazed me and still makes my heart beat unevenly, ending with a truly masculine brutal character. Sharp, greyhound, loud, brutal. Finally, apparently, I got what I was looking for. I’ve been working toward this for a long time, and I haven’t been able to fully understand all the delights of the BMW R NineT. I hope I still have more to come. I’m really looking forward to the start of the season, a normal start, and not these rare warm hours during the day.
Last fall I tested this BMW as a participant in the “currency watch” campaign, I never thought that I could get so many positive emotions by getting on a bike in the cold (there were minuses at night), when there was slurry from autumn leaves on the frozen asphalt (slippery like grease) and plus Moscow traffic (it won’t be remembered by nightfall). The next day I was forcibly removed from him; I didn’t even want to change to the MV Agusta F3 800, although many would give half a kingdom for the opportunity to test such an exclusive horse. In general, BMW is a diagnosis...
This boomer is a purely urban vehicle, it is unlikely that a sane owner would drive it into serious mud that could clog the radiator and damper, that’s what the “geese” are for ;). Personally, I rode it in the slush, at a temperature just above zero, under the first snow, the only equipment I had was a leather motorcycle jacket with gloves and, of course, a helmet, and I was dressed in a suit and shoes (I was forced to), no thermals or a motorcycle boot, in general I got off the saddle and went to the office, so, I didn’t even wipe my shoes, where all the dirt from under the wheels flies is a mystery to me, I wasn’t cold, I wasn’t wet and I wasn’t tired, and the bike itself didn’t turn into a pig either, I think that the engineers tortured him for quite a long time in a wind tunnel to achieve such an effect. PS I didn’t give it more than 100 km/h, there was nowhere, so my impressions are valid only for these speeds.
I’ll probably start with the fact that the motorcycle was purchased on the last day of February 2015, the motorcycle itself is 2014, and I was just lucky that it took a long time to arrive and the person did not wait for this motorcycle since mid-summer and bought an alternative from the same BMW model range. In general, the point is that it was simply impossible to come and buy this motorcycle in the summer. I don’t know because of demand (hardly) or meager quotas for Russia, but the fact remains that I got the motorcycle 100 thousand rubles cheaper than the price list, due to the fact that it was already “old” and the dealer was obliged to get rid of it for any money to get quotas for the new model year. Well, okay, these dealer problems didn’t bother me, the main result was that I was able to buy what I wanted. And yes, I really wanted this particular motorcycle. But because of its high and unjustified cost (that’s exactly how it seemed to me at the time), I went to the dealer to buy a BMW R1200R 2015 model year. Leaving an advance payment for a not very simple package, I heard about the “failed R NineT” and away we go...
In general, that day the stars aligned and I bought a motorcycle without water cooling, without ESA, without heated grips, without LED headlights, without electric suspension, even without a mechanically adjustable fork, without an electronic throttle with two or three engine operating modes (in depending on the R1200R trim level), without the ability to install an optional quickshifter, without a wet slipper clutch, without a tire pressure sensor, without an electronic multi-function instrument panel and... the list goes on for a long time in detail. I had so many doubts after this decision. There is the same amount of money, but it’s nothing. Just a brain explosion and the feeling of a reckless act was eating me alive.
What's done is done, before this I already got burned by buying a Hyperstrada from Ducati, which was stuffed with everything you could want. However, this did not help the motorcycle remain in my hands; the feeling of “not mine” did not go away every ride while owning the Ducati. So, quietly and peacefully, my cockroaches in my head about goodies and electronic assistants calmed down and got on with other things.
Now what can I say about the motorcycle after traveling 10 thousand km this season. The most important thing is that this is really a motorcycle, it’s really comfortable and it really rides well. This is not just a beautiful toy that should stand in a country house in place of an expensive vase from which the maid must periodically wash the dust. A motorcycle has passion, drive, a certain asceticism in behavior, and most importantly, character. Its own, not like other streets. And yes, it’s straights, not classics or anything similar to them or scramblers. Precisely because this motorcycle is much closer to liter street than to six hundred. To understand the seriousness and dynamics of this motorcycle, I rode several times with motorcycles such as the Honda CBR600RR and Yamaha R6. I’m ready to “answer for the market” and admit that I drove both of these motorcycles up to 150 km/h. Despite all this, I can’t boast of any drag skills or any sporting achievements on a motorcycle. This is far from my first season in the saddle, but I certainly don’t pretend to be the “fastest hand” on the wild Moscow Ring Road when it comes to squeezing the gearshift clutch and unscrewing the throttle. All this is said to mean that the motorcycle goes much faster than it might seem from its appearance. This is partly due to the large engine. 1170 cubic cm, even with a cut-off at 8 thousand revolutions, with a relatively few 110 horses and 115 Nm on paper, produces 3.3 seconds from zero to 100 km/h. In addition, the gear ratio in the box has been changed, with very shortened gears in comparison with the GS and RT models on the same engines, giving a noticeable advantage in acceleration. Well, the curb weight of the motorcycle is 222 kg, which is not so much for a high-torque boxer.
However, driving in this mode is never fun. This engine allows you to engage third gear in the morning without thinking about speed, drive all day through traffic jams and on the highway, and in the evening, before putting it in the garage, still switch to neutral. Already from one and a half thousand revolutions, the motorcycle can accelerate dynamically enough to overtake, but at the same time it behaves quite well and predictably at low speeds and does not twitch at relatively low speeds in upper gears. In general, a quiet riding mode in the region of 3-5 thousand rpm is the most fun on this motorcycle. A motorcycle can shoot at every traffic light, but I don’t want to do it.
Absolutely everything except short gears makes for a relatively quiet ride. The suspensions are quite rigid, but if the “race” mode is turned on in the head, then the ass understands, but not the BMW S1000R(RR) under the fifth point in the suspension. It handles the unevenness of Moscow roads and tracks perfectly, but this is not a sport and certainly not an enduro. Although, I must admit, in Nikolo-Lenivets, when getting to some art objects, I allowed myself to hang out on the paths and in some places even take off the ground quite well and fly a couple of meters. A sportbike would definitely not forgive you for this, but this is an excellent replacement for “Planet 5” in the countryside, I highly recommend it as a bike for the village. And it’s not a shame to go fishing and go to the village council in the regional center.
Landing does not cause any inconvenience. Probably, if you cut a thousand or one and a half thousand a day on it, you can install spacers for the steering wheel, making it two centimeters higher. The landing will become a little straighter, but in the city you don’t feel it at all and don’t want it. In my opinion, the handlebar-seat-pegs triangle is more suitable than ever for people 175 cm tall.
The width of the steering wheel is not like on touring crossovers, but again it is not a sport bike with clip-ons. In Moscow I feel very confident in traffic jams; there are no plans to change anything in this regard. Everything is fine and very functional. The mirrors again allow you to see not the pilot’s elbows, but the road conditions behind the motorcycle. But a friend on a water R1200GS has the same mirrors as me and he added a small spherical mirror to the extreme corner of each mirror, thus there are practically no blind spots at all. I also plan to try it out in the new season, let’s see the functionality.
Let's take a look at driving outside the city. Again, everything is quite simple and without serious comments. The suspension is not telelever, as on the R1200RT you won’t be able to ride on ruts and smoke. This specimen is not so much a tram type, but the rutting is tolerated quite easily and without serious consequences. It’s suitable for tracks with mixed asphalt, but the same R1200GS on the road from Yaroslavl to Rybinsk (shame on such roads, gentlemen, governors, shame!) felt much better. The goose moved easily and unforcedly at 100-120 km/h, I, with swearing and choosing slightly better asphalt on the oncoming lane (whoever drives long distances in Russia knows very well that the asphalt on the oncoming lane is always better, even on the way back) drove 80-100 km /h and again felt like an endurist several times, flying up a couple of times with the wheels coming off. The suspension is not so energy-intensive, the goose is definitely a favorite in such terrain.
In terms of wind protection... Well)) It is a little better than on the 2008 R1200R, better than on the 2008 Honda Hornet, but exactly as much as a cappuccino differs from a mochaccino. You can drive 110-120 km/h all day, but 130 is no longer possible. Well, more accurately, it’s possible, of course, if your neck is wider than your waist and you treat your body with disgust. In short, in terms of wind protection, it’s not a tourist at all. However, personally, I get great pleasure from long runs at acceptable speeds. You may call me a pervert, but the “wind in the mug” is the right motorcycle for me.
Returning to the gearbox, I note that this unit in the motorcycle does not bother me at all. Switches clearly and clearly. I’m used to the passes, their length. I repeat, they are short, and at first they were puzzling. But then I realized the full meaning and advantages of this solution for a city motorcycle. The clutch is hydraulic, but the disc is dry and has a fairly large flywheel. So when spinning the engine while standing still, the effect of a roll to the right is present. But you shouldn’t believe in the fables about adding gas while turning and tipping the motorcycle to the right. Complete nonsense. When moving, you will not feel this design. This is no longer the case on opposed and water-cooled motorcycles with wet clutches. Also, on “wet opposite” the clutch is much softer. Again, everything is in comparison, any mechanical clutch (cable) will be stiffer than the clutch on the NineT. Also, on a wet opposite, the box turns on much softer and more gentle. I have a clear and sharp switching, it is always felt and felt. Unaccustomed to riding a water goose, I looked at the tidy to see if I had switched correctly. This point is clearly related to habit.
About the brakes! They are very good. They are so good that you can feel even more pleasure from braking than from acceleration. Brembo, reinforced hoses, ABS and independent circuit. For those in a tank, new BMW motorcycles are equipped with a dependent braking system with ABS. This means that when you apply the front brake, part of the braking force goes to the rear brake automatically, while the pilot does not touch the rear brake foot at all. Since 2014, all BMW motorcycles have been equipped with an ABS system, and this is the only electronic feature present in the NineT. It’s nice that a minimum amount of safety is present, but the ABS system only works in extreme cases. For an inexperienced pilot, I said it was extremely late. You can manage to lay down the bricks at the moment when the rear wheel is already half a meter from the road surface, and it seems that the front wheel has long been on the verge of failure, but ABS inexorably refuses to interfere with the process of controlling the motorcycle until the last. You can grab your feet in the summer on warm asphalt and heated tires like two fingers. In short, if you are sliding while braking, for example during a marking, then yes, ABS is right there, but you can still feel its work. You can notice the wheel drift. Maybe I’m being too picky and most people wouldn’t notice this, personally I always understand when the ABS system worked and when it wasn’t necessary and it didn’t interfere. You can feel the ABS on the rear wheel. And surprisingly on NineT the rear brake is not just for show. They really can and should be used. Sometimes, just for fun, I don’t use the front brake before stopping at a traffic light if I see 50 meters away that the light is red and the speed is within the speed limit set on the signs along the road.
A little about light. The headlight is installed as usual, i.e. reflector, halogen lamp with H4 socket (low/high in one lamp). There is nothing remarkable about it, except for the beautiful icon in the middle. Well, again, it shines much better than on a Honda and especially a Ducati. The light is scattered evenly, the far one differs from the near one as expected, i.e. The light switch button really works as it should and is not just for show (hello Ducati!). Although everything suits me, my hands are itching. So in the off-season I want to install a PHILIPS X-TREME VISION MOTO lamp. I saw how it shines, I really liked the temperature of the glow (I wear lenses, I’m a little nearsighted) and my eye perceives this particular light very well.
The stock tires are great. Metzeler which allows a lot. And it holds turns beautifully, and allows you to decelerate “on your ears,” and in temperatures below zero it maintained grip. I am a dedicated motorcyclist and use the technique from the first snow in the spring until the first snow, which is no longer on the lawn but on the road. In terms of wear, the rubber is extremely resistant and on the previous BMW R1200R the rear tank honestly lasted 25 thousand. However, after a trip to Crimea and very hot asphalt, the rubber suddenly ran out. The mileage in Crimea alone in the heat is about 2 thousand. But there are no complaints about it, the Michelin Pilot 4 ran out twice as quickly with equal use. But Michelin is softer and holds better under critical loads. This is again my personal conclusion, maybe someone has the opposite opinion. The rear stop is diode, visible to drivers, there are no questions about it. Classic-looking turn signals with incandescent bulbs. Perhaps they will be changed to diode ones. There is no need, just another wish and awl in one place.
The speedometer and tachometer are absolutely classic in appearance. Two “wells” and between them, a little out of topic, according to most critics of this model, there is a very useful display. Yes, it may not fit into the design of this motorcycle, but personally I like the tidy. There is nothing superfluous on it, everything is extremely modest and has a classic look. On the dashboard you can see instantaneous consumption, average, mileage, two daily mileage counters and total mileage. A display of the gear engaged and a clock are also present. I don’t have heated grips, but they will be installed in the spring along with maintenance. Also, the inclusion and dual-zone operating mode of the handles will be displayed on the dashboard. When the fuel indicator lights up from above, there are 4 liters of fuel left in the tank (speaking of the tank, it is aluminum, no bags with magnets stick, but there is nothing to rust) and the mileage is switched on on the dashboard, which is counted from zero. You can drive about 70-80 km from the moment the light comes on. Quite convenient functionality.
Since we're talking about the tank, a few words literally. Aluminum 18 liters. Painted black, silver on the sides. The width is comfortable for me personally, not narrow but not wide either (on the previous R1200R I felt like I was saddled with a pregnant pony, it was a bit wide, my legs didn’t want to go perpendicular to the ground after a day of moving). The varnish on it is rubbed off and scratched, I will come up with something in the area of the tank-seat junction. Some kind of non-pretentious sticker.
I've probably described it enough. If you go through the motorcycle in general, then this is exactly what I have been looking for for so long. I literally like everything about it. Starting from the appearance and ending with the way it accelerates, steers, and brakes. With all its shortcomings in the form of missing wind protection, vibrations (in comparison with 4-cylinder in-line engines, of course they are present, but here there is a two-shaft engine and vibrations are much less than on the first variations of the boxer), the absence of any mud protection at the rear (this is just a fact, fact , you’ll ride like a pig on slightly wet asphalt), a clumsy, rough appearance, completely lacking new technologies (thanks to the ABS) - this is the best motorcycle I’ve ever owned or ridden. Please do not take these words as: “this is the most ideal motorcycle in the world”! As we all know, there is no such thing. But this motorcycle sunk into my soul, and while owning a motorcycle, the thought always wandered in my head: “I need to either change something or save up and buy something cooler, more powerful, faster, etc.” then with the acquisition of the BMW NineT I sometimes want a second motorcycle. Enduro, or tourenduro, but I don’t want to CHANGE this motorcycle for anything.
from a technical point of view, there are no surprises - a well-known motor, gearbox, drive, etc. all childhood diseases that could have existed have long been fixed. everything is reliable, sound, predictable and, if necessary, repairable (in the sense that the service technicians already have a lot of experience working with this motor/gearbox/drive)
regarding the lack of “electronic assistants”... there are different opinions here. some say, “why are they needed? distort the transparent connection between the rider and the motorcyclist, as a result, the riders, spoiled by all these assistants, neither know how to ride normally, nor brake, nor accelerate, nor turn in various road and weather conditions.” others - “helpers are a blessing and they must be present, the more, the better. and their absence is evil and one of the main factors preventing purchase.”
my personal opinion is somewhere in the middle, the essence of it is - if they (assistants) are there, it’s good, but if they are not there, it’s not critical, you need to learn to ride correctly, revealing the capabilities of the rider and honing your own skills (trying to gain experience without falling and breaking bones) . those. for me, the absence of everything you listed is not a stopping factor
for 5,000 km on Nineta, I once spun on the highway, but I was going 180 in heavy rain, while overtaking intensively and the rear wheel hit the markings. but the chassis is configured as it should, I caught the bike sliding almost as a reflex. ABS yes, during the same mileage the system was activated a couple of times.
Go to the BMW R NineT
Check out the test drives:
- BMW R NineT: test drive from TopGear
- BMW R NineT: test drive from Popular Motors magazine
- BMW R NineT: test drive from 5 Wheel magazine
Large Ducati Scrambler family
Italians always have something to offer. The manufacturer has quite a few options in the family, and we will take a closer look at the brand new Ducati Scrambler 1100 PRO.
The Scrambler 1100 Dark PRO engine is a two-valve L-twin engine with air and oil cooling with a volume of 1079 cm3, meeting Euro-5 standards. Produces 85 horsepower.
Engine features include lightweight crankcases and machined aluminum clutch and alternator covers. The two belt covers are also made of aluminum.
The 2-1-2 exhaust system with catalytic converter and 2 lambda probes exits to one side. Visible from under the seat is a dual stainless steel muffler with aluminum and end caps.
The motorcycle is built on a tubular steel trellis frame. The wide handlebars combined with the original swingarm on the rear wheel, which makes this bike recognizable, allows the owner to maneuver easily.
The Scrambler 1100 Dark PRO is equipped with a Brembo braking system with ABS. The front brake is handled by a double disc with a diameter of 320 mm, which is mounted on two Brembo M 4.32 B monoblock four-piston calipers with a radial connection. At the rear wheel we see a 245 mm disc, which is supported by a 34 mm single-piston caliper.
The bike consumes an average of 5.2 liters per 100 kilometers.
Husqvarna 401 Svartpilen
When it comes to off-roading and hooliganism, at least one “husky” must appear somewhere! Even though it is small, inside there is only a single-cylinder engine with a volume of 375 cubic centimeters and a power of 44 hp. Six-speed gearbox with the ability to shift up and down without pressing the clutch. Small town badass.
The secret to the extra-light frame is that it is made from high-strength steel using hydroformed tubing and robotic welding. The subframe has become 40mm longer. We add here the adjustable WP APEX suspension – a telescopic inverted fork and a swingarm, and we get a maneuverable Scrambler controlled by a high motocross handlebar.
The lightweight and narrow bike is equipped with a ByBre hydraulic braking system - disc brakes front and rear. There is a dual-circuit ABS system. The wheels are spoked as a tribute to the motorcycles of the past.
The weight of this baby is only 152 kilograms, and the tank is 9.5 liters.
By the way, the cost is the most affordable compared to other participants in the selection - 512,000 rubles. But the engine size is much more modest.
Indian FTR 1200
It would be a stretch to call it a real scrambler, but, nevertheless, it feels good both in the city and outside the city. Indian FTR 1200 has a sports brother - S version.
Let's talk about the standard Indian FTR 1200, which features a new birdcage tubular frame, inverted forks and an asymmetrically mounted monoshock. As a result, engineers were able to reduce the wheelbase as much as possible. The fuel tank located under the saddle ensures a low center of gravity.
“How does the length of a motorcycle affect its handling?”
The newly developed 1203 cc V-twin engine develops 120 horsepower. The exhaust system exits to one side using the 2-1-2 principle. The gas tank has a volume of 12.9 liters.
Braking is handled by Brembo monobloc radial-mount calipers. Interestingly, the Dunlop® DT3-R Radial tires are designed specifically for this motorcycle.
The dry weight of the bike reaches 221 kilograms, the maximum curb weight is 430 kilograms.
The starting price of this motorcycle starts from 1,359,000 rubles.
“100 years of the Scout – Indian releases Scout 100th Anniversary model”
Motorcycle BMW R NineT Scrambler 2022 review
The description of the BMW R NineT Scrambler 2022 motorcycle is in the queue for publication of the article. Announcement: Today, for almost every new motorcycle that comes into being, marketers strive to carve out their own niche. This one is a road sport, this one is a recreational enduro. But what class should we include a motorcycle that has a little bit of everything? A good bike should have a reliable engine, comfortable ergonomics and simple controls...
BMW R NineT Scrambler is a motorcycle that is occasionally sold in Russia and is equipped with a fairly powerful 110hp engine. Despite the fact that good models of motorcycles have a very respectable price, and the season for their use is relatively short, the motorcycle market is developing rapidly. And if you believe the words of dealers, then some models of recently released motorcycles are selling like hot cakes at the beginning of the season, and the models brought to Russia are clearly not enough to fully satisfy consumer demand.
A motorcycle has long ceased to be an alternative to a car, and the times when this equipment was bought only because there was not enough money for a full-fledged car are forgotten. Nowadays, two-wheelers can be called technological marvels in many cases, and their cost can be compared with that of prestigious cars.
Many people have started buying motorcycles for hobby purposes as riding or even collecting them has become a good pastime for many people. Many motorcycles, for example the BMW R NineT Scrambler, whose technical characteristics allow the model to be called a prestigious brand, are in demand among both beginners and experienced motorcyclists.
Motorcycles with an engine capacity of 1170 cc / 71.4 cub in. cube see, appeared as a result of long work of inventors who sought to create a model that was not inferior in characteristics to other versions of the motorcycle. In some cases, these models are not only not inferior, but also ahead of other motorcycles, as they have minimal fuel consumption and other excellent parameters.
Motorcycles with an engine capacity of more than 400 kb. cm, which includes the BMW R NineT Scrambler - this category of motorcycles simply cannot claim the title of “motorcycle for a beginner.” On the contrary, this is already a serious technique that requires certain control of motorcycle equipment with a smaller engine capacity. Yes, she attracts more attention, she is the most beautiful, fast, interesting and there is a huge selection of models. But as power increases, the weight of the motorcycle inevitably increases. In this class you are unlikely to find motorcycles lighter than 180 kg, unless they are the latest motorcycle models.
Go to the entire range of BMW motorcycles, on this page you can find BMW R NineT Scrambler motorcycles from other years of production and information about them
Yamaha SCR950
As he says. In my opinion, it is a little low, because a scrambler is supposed to be an all-terrain vehicle... In general, the engine here is a V-twin, air-cooled, 942cc.
Fuel consumption averages 5 liters per 100 kilometers. Gas tank is 13 liters. Curb weight 252 kilograms.
As a nod to history, there are larger-diameter aluminum spoked wheels, a thin, flat seat and the typical scrambler wide handlebar with cross brace. The design of the motorcycle is reminiscent of the models of the 60s in every detail. For example, metal fenders, optics, speedometer and flat gas tank. The front fork is telescopic. A pendulum with two shock absorbers goes to the rear wheel.
For lovers of retro style, this is a godsend, it looks like it jumped out of the pages of old magazines!
The motorcycle also features heavy-duty Bridgestone tires designed specifically for this model.
The cost of such a “bandit” ranges from 9,147 dollars, which for our “wooden” ones at the current exchange rate is about 713,140.37 rubles.
