SPOT ON

Producing a retro motorcycle is a tricky business. Nostalgia must blend with modernity. Enter the BMW R 12 nineT: the first serious update of the decade-old R nineT boxer twin and, perhaps, the most satisfyingly blended retro yet to come from the German manufacturer

- Adam Child

WHEN WE CONSIDER A RETRO motorcycle, the past must be celebrated while designing for the fast-changing needs of today’s markets. And whatever balance of old and new the manufacturer comes up with, for every person who applauds its looks and style, another half a dozen will fold their arms and say, ‘No, that’s wrong’. In the case of the R 12 nineT, there’s a new and lighter chassis and thoroughly updated electronics, a sleeker look, and, via a comprehensive model configurator, generous scope for customization, too. The price is £16,620 (Rs 17.45 lakh), a fraction more than the older bike’s and most owners will undoubtedly bloat that figure by adding a few pricey accessories to their build.

To give you an idea, the configurator had certainly been hard at work on our test bike which featured a host of options that included the Comfort Pack (gear-shift assist, heated grips, cruise control, hill start control: £980 = Rs 1.03 lakh), classic spoked wheels (£550 = Rs 58k), a single seat hump (£300 = Rs 31,500), and a digital dash (£120 = Rs 12,600), taking the price up to £16,620 (Rs 17.45 lakh), including the stunning San Remo Green Metallic paint that adds another £250 (Rs 26k) to the final invoice. Go for the Option 719 Aluminium package and you will be shelling out no less than £2,100 (Rs 2.2 lakh).

Amidst all this change and demand for customization is the small matter of an 1,170-cc air-cooled boxer engine, which, with BMW celebrating their centenary year, can be traced all the way back to 1923. On start-up, there is still that timeless boxer rocking movement at idle as the venerable shaft-driven twin warms its cooling fins, followed by a trademark bark when the throttle is blipped. It makes you realise how refined and smooth modern liquid-cooled BMW boxers have become and also appreciate the character and mechanical feel of the older design.