BMW Concept Ninety revealed

BMW has just taken the wraps off the Concept Ninety – a collaboration between the German firm and Californian custom builder Roland Sands as the company celebrates 40 years since the original R90S and 90 years of making motorcycles.

The Concept Ninety has the 110bhp air/oil-cooled Boxer twin from the previous generation of BMW R1200GS but combines it with a pared back style and a front cowling similar to that of the original 1973 R90S; it even has the same Daytona Orange paintscheme and the short rear seat.

Underneath the R90S style front fairing is a round front light but rather than the traditional front lighting technology from 1973 it has the latest LED technology.

The 1973 R90S was a real performance bike in the day and remains an iconic machine today; an icon BMW is more than happy to resurrect as the firm gears up to celebrate 90 years since it started making motorcycles.

At the moment this bike is being presented as a pure concept bike but we know BMW has trademarked the “nineT” name which is thought to be protecting the name for a forthcoming production bike.

This bike has been spotted testing on BMW test tracks a few times but although it will share the underpinnings it may not have the same styling and could well be a traditional roadster.

“Everything just fits together perfectly: the BMW technology, the BMW heritage and our custom parts complement each other beautifully,” said Sands on the result of this collaboration.

Head of BMW Design Edgar Heinrich added: “BMW Concept Ninety is sheer enjoyment in every respect – from the development of the idea to the sketching stage to the construction process. But above all when you’re riding it. It’s an absolute riding machine – just like the R9 S was in its time.”

 

 

MCN will bring an exclusive inside look at the bike in the May 29 issue of the paper which is also available to download through the Apple Newstand for the Ipad.