2014 BMW R nineT Production Begins

The first production models of the BMW R nineT roadster have rolled off the assembly line in Berlin. The R nineT is a special model for BMW, representing the company’s 90 years in the motorcycle industry, so it’s no surprise the start of production was made with much fanfare.

BMW invited 100 guests including the team from German customization studio Urban Motor to watch assembly of the first three units of the R nineT including the final dynamometer testing where more than 1,000 different parameters are measured before a motorcycle can be released.

Guests also saw how the R nineT’s air-cooled boxer engines are produced in parallel beside the new liquid-cooled engine equipped in the current R1200GS and R1200RT models. BMW demonstrated fine details such as the aluminum nameplate riveted to the steering head and the process of applying the black lacquer finish to the aluminum fuel tank. The entire process involves 21 employees and 14 assembly cycles.

Project Manager Roland Strocker and his team demonstrated the R nineT’s customization potential, setting up a workshop display where they could alter the bike’s character by installing various accessories.

[Source: BMW]

By Dennis Chung