The 2023 BMW R nineT 100 Years limited edition is the top of this year’s nineT range, and it is drop-dead gorgeous. I usually give people wide latitude when it comes to their personal taste versus mine or any others, but if you don’t agree that this roadster is a knockout, then we likely can’t be friends. When I found out that UM Editor Don Williams had one stashed in the company garage, I had to get my hands on it.
BMW Motorrad is celebrating its centennial and reveling through gatherings and offering 100 Years limited editions of the R nineT and the R 18—1,923 each. Any motorcyclist unaware of this anniversary year needs to reconnect with moto life.
When configuring the nineT-100 online, you will see no options or paint choices—nothing other than the mandatory $4050 100 Years Edition package. You’ll have to take it exactly the way they want to serve it up, and that’s with a lot of sweet bling and, pretty much, everything you would want.
Included in the 100 Years Edition package are Ride Modes Pro, Option 719 Classic wire-spoked wheels, cruise control, Option 719 Billet Pack Shadow II (adjustable hand levers and footrest system, milled expansion tank covers, rear footrests, and milled bar end mirrors), Option 719 Billet Pack Shadow (milled engine housing cover, milled cylinder head covers including ignition coil cover, milled oil filler plug, and milled seat brackets), adaptive headlight, engine braking control, heated grips, and a lovely black paint fading into chrome around the tank with double white pinstripes. The tank gets a numbered badge—I was testing 1 of 1923.
Before you get taxes, licensing, delivery, and other tariffs added on, the MSRP is still shy of $20k. Absent are premium features such as a quickshifter, tire pressure monitoring, and hill hold.
All Option 719 black with milled finish parts look spectacular and, when combined with the Black and Oxblood Red seat, just work beautifully. The bar end mirrors are solid and have zero vibration distortion. Overall, the boxer engine’s vibration level is slight and not unwelcome. I’d say the final product is greater than the prodigious sum of its parts, and every bystander who lays eyes on it agrees.
Fortunately, the 2023 BMW R nineT 100 Years rides even better than it looks. Ostensibly, this bike is classified as an urban type of ride, but the 450 miles I rode this weekend proved it could do it all. The ride started with a 245-mile run up the California coast to meet a pal for lunch in Los Alamos. The route ranged from tight canyons to freeway drones.
The nineT simply eats up the twisties right down to its footpeg feelers. The adjustable suspension was set up stiffly, and I didn’t change a thing. It was tight and allowed for aggressive yet graceful corner entries and exits. The lack of a quickshifter was of little concern, as the six-speed gearbox is, seriously, smooth as glass—no clunks, false neutrals, missed gears, or anything other than perfect smoothness and positive engagement was observed.
The hydraulically actuated, dry single-plate clutch offers easy two-finger operation and enhances the enjoyment of rowing through the gears. With peaks of 109 horsepower and 68 ft-lbs of torque, one might expect the occasional chirping rear tire on any botched downshifts due to the lack of a slipper function and two 585cc cylinders. I did my best to match revs to gear and speed, yet even on those mismatched transitions, I was never greeted with butt-clenching reactions.
The seating position is excellent for my six-foot frame. The handlebars are tall, wide, and ideally positioned. With my 34-inch inseam, I didn’t need to even consider adjusting the foot pegs for a bit of extra room they offer. It is on the thin side, though wide enough for decent weight distribution. Out on the highway, I craved stops every 90 miles or so.
2023 BMW R nineT 100 Years is a solo machine from the factory; there is a cowling where the passenger might sit. A passenger seat is optional. The seat cowling is padded for the rider to push against during acceleration. Inside, it allows small items about the size of one nice sandwich.
Performance on the freeway was what you might imagine from an unfaired roadster with a short 58.5-inch wheelbase. The air-cooled boxer did the job, but I was pedaling pretty fast to keep up with my two sidekicks, both on BMW R 1250 RS sport-tourers. Nearing triple digits, the nineT steering and tracking are slightly lighter but certainly acceptable; I was thankful for the standard, non-adjustable steering damper.
Of course, this motorcycle is not intended to grind out long highway miles, but it can and did. It can also ride happily at 55 mph in top gear on level roads. Observed fuel economy was over 40 mpg, even during aggressive riding. Weight is claimed to be a substantial 487 pounds with the roomy 4.5-gallon fuel tank topped off with premium.
As for stopping, the linked braking with BMW’s ABS Pro is all I could hope for. The dual 320mm, four-pot front stoppers combined with the 265mm disc and dual-piston rear unit are strong and aggressive. Like the hydraulic clutch line, the brake line is steel-braided. The brakes exhibit excellent initial bite with strong follow-through in proportion to the light touch needed to bring out their full power. Never did I feel fade or action not in proportion to my input. Just fantastic.
Instrumentation duties on the 2023 BMW R nineT 100 Years are handled by two round units. Within each analog-style unit is a digital display offering the usual information, accessed by scrolling via the Menu switch—up press for the left display and down press for the right. There is no fuel gauge—only a low-fuel warning light.
Not all BMW models have the same tires, and this test R nineT is equipped with Bridgestone Battlax Sport Touring T31 tubeless rubber on 17-inch Option 719 Classic wire-spoked wheels. In 450 miles of riding, the Bridgestones proved themselves to offer excellent grip commensurate with the needs of this bike. The T31s are happy to turn in fast, run well on the highway, and hold well under heavy braking and acceleration.
There are no provisions on the 2023 BMW R nineT 100 Years for a tail bag or side cases; hanging some soft bags off the back does not look like a straightforward task. Plan on wearing a stylish backpack, using a small magnetic tank bag, or just stuff your things into your pockets.
If you are looking for a motorbike to ride around town, strafe the twisty bits, and take the occasional short trip, all while riding one of the most attractive bikes around, you may want to put the 2023 BMW R nineT 100 Years, or any flavor R nineT, on your short list. I’ve had an incredible weekend with it.
Action and static photography by Don Williams
Travel photography by Jonathan Handler
RIDING STYLE
• Helmet: Schuberth S3
• Communications: Schuberth SC2
• Jacket: Spidi Garage
• Gloves: Spidi Rude
• Pants: Bolid’Ster Jean’Ster 2
• Boots: Alpinestars Oscar 2
2023 BMW R nineT 100 Years Specs
ENGINE
Type: Horizontally opposed twin
Displacement: 1170cc
Bore x stroke: 101 x 73mm
Maximum power: 110 horsepower @ 7750 rpm
Maximum torque: 86 ft-lbs @ 6000 rpm
Compression ratio: 12.0:1
Valvetrain: DOHC
Fuel delivery: EFI w/ 50mm throttle bodies
Cooling: Air
Transmission: 6-speed
Clutch: Hydraulically actuated dry single-plate
Final drive: Shaft
CHASSIS
Frame: Tubular steel w/ removable pillion frame
Front suspension; travel: Non-adjustable 43mm fork; 4.9 inches
Rear suspension; travel: Spring-preload and rebound-damping adjustable BMW Paralever shock; 4.7 inches
Wheels: Option 719 Classic wire-spoked
Front wheel: 17 x 3.5
Rear wheel: 17 x 5.5
Tires: Bridgestone Battlax Sport Touring T31
Front tire: 120/70 x 17
Rear tire: 180/55 x 17
Front brakes: 320mm floating discs w/ 4-piston calipers
Rear brake: 265mm disc w/ dual-piston floating caliper
ABS: BMW Motorrad ABS Pro
DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES
Wheelbase: 58.8 inches
Rake: 26.6 degrees
Trail: 4.1 inches
Seat height: 31.7 inches
Fuel capacity: 4.5 gallons
Curb weight: 475 pounds (approx.)
Color: Avus Black/Classic Chrome finish w/ Oxblood Red/Black Seat
2023 BMW R nineT 100 Years Price: $19,995 MSRP
2023 BMW R nineT 100 Years Review Photo Gallery
