BMW 1200 Nine-T Scrambler 2016 — Specifications

When a serious manufacturer like BMW Motorrad decides to play the card of unbridled nostalgia, the result is worth stopping for. The BMW 1200 Nine-T Scrambler was not born of a marketing whim; it extends the momentum of the original Nine-T by pushing the dial further towards low-intensity adventure, that of forest paths on Sunday morning rather than Moroccan dunes. Announced in the wake of the Path 22 concept, it clearly targets urban dwellers who dream of dirt roads without really wanting to put their wheels on them. An honest positioning, provided you don't mistake the catalog.

First contact is through the eyes, and the work is well done. The tobacco-colored seat, the raised exhaust pipes that clear the rear wheel, the conventional 43 mm fork with protective gaiters: all this forms a coherent ensemble, less tense than the pure Nine-T, closer to the motorcycle you imagine parked in front of a country café than in front of a sneaker boutique. The front wheel goes to 19 inches, which accentuates the adventurous profile and imposes a more relaxed geometry. However, the spoke rims so eagerly awaited remain in the options column, a financial decision that is irritating. Without them, the scrambler spirit loses a good portion of its substance, and you will have to pay to complete what BMW Motorrad BMW 1200 Nine-T Scrambler should have delivered as standard.

Under the 17-liter steel tank, the 1170 cc air-cooled flat-twin turns its Euro4 map with a pleasing frankness. The 110 horsepower arrives at 7750 rpm, the torque of 115.7 Nm peaks at 6000 rpm, and the whole thing pushes with a reassuring regularity, without the nervousness of a high-compression engine. This flat-twin is not a track engine, and it doesn't seek to be: it accompanies, it rumbles, it communicates. Compared to what Ducati offers with the Scrambler 1100 or Triumph with the Street Scrambler, the Bavarian Boxer imposes its sonic personality and power with a maturity that its competitors have not yet quite achieved. The steel tubular trellis frame, less noble than the aluminum of some siblings in the range, fulfills its function without pretension. The 220 kg all full are managed well in motion, less well during maneuvers.

What truly distinguishes the BMW BMW 1200 Nine-T Scrambler motorcycle in this segment is its personalization DNA. The rear loop can be removed, the wiring harness accommodates the accessories of the vast BMW range, and the minimalist dashboard, a single circular gauge without a tachometer, invites you to ride by instinct rather than watching the numbers. The ergonomics plays in the same direction: high handlebars, upright position, low seat at 820 mm. A confirmed beginner can get used to it, an experienced rider can find the relaxation that a sportbike no longer offers. The ABS as standard, traction control as an option, a minimum of electronics assumed: for those who think that too many aids sterilize the pleasure, it is a clear statement of intent. Where the Urban GS BMW 1200 Nine-T Scrambler city-oriented version pushes towards comfort and versatility, this Scrambler chooses raw emotion.

At 13,550 euros in base configuration, the bill remains reasonable compared to the level of finish and the reputation of the network. But to ride a machine truly faithful to what it announces visually, you have to count on the spoke rims, the engine guard, the dual-purpose tires. The BMW 1200 Nine-T Scrambler test reveals a pleasant motorcycle, sincere in its intentions, whose main defect is to deliver only its best potential after having well garnished the bill. It is the Bavarian paradox: sell the dream, then charge for the accessories.