Remember when BMW turned the R NineT into a retro-style scrambler? That was pretty cool. Sad to say, though, not quite as cool as the BMW R NineT Classic, a customized version of the bike that’s been rigged to resemble a 1937 BMW R5.
Made by builder Roland Sands, the bike looks like an entirely different motorcycle, retaining the NineT’s power while sporting a cleaner, more barebones body that looks a whole lot like the retro classic. Granted, it’s beefier than the original R5, although the styling really cuts it beautifully close.
To recreate the R5 silhouette, the BMW R NineT Classic was cut up, with all sheet metal ditched to create the more minimalist look. It also gets a new seating position, as well as a drastically-narrowed sub frame, a slightly larger 19-inch Hutch front wheel, and a blacked out fork to better resemble the 1937 motorcycle. All frame work around the fenders are bespoke, along with a custom dual exhaust and intake that, according to Sands, have somehow made the bike much faster (compared to regular NineTs) without any extra tuning.
Features include a more aggressive GP suspension, better brakes, high-grip tires, RSD Radial parts, and Ohlins shock in the back. Of course, they also throw in a whole slew of retro-style accents to make for a genuine-looking throwback.
Learn more about the BMW R NineT Classic from Roland Sands’ website.