Introduced in 2014, the BMW R NineT is sometimes called an Oilhead — a reference to the air/oil-cooled engine, which stands in contrast to the first-generation air-cooled Airheads:
“The name ‘Oilhead’ comes from the fact that the engines were redesigned to flow oil around the engine head to cool it. Oilhead BMW motorcycle engines gain an oil cooler (which looks like a little radiator), which BMW hides away under the fairing if there is one.” —Motofomo
In fact, if you really want to go into BMW geekspeak, the R NineT is more specifically a Camhead — meaning it has an air/oil-cooled engine with twin overhead cams per head — a DOHC Oilhead.
No matter what nickname you give it, the NineT still shares a lot of DNA with the original R32 BMW as showcased at the 1923 Berlin Motor Show a century ago. It has a twin-cylinder four-stroke boxer engine, manual gearbox with friction clutch, and shaft drive. And that’s how BMW wants it, as the NineT is a heritage model that more directly links to the Airheads of yesteryear than any other model the company still produces.
What’s more, the NineT was designed with customization in mind. In fact, it’s tough to think of another contemporary machine that’s served as the donor for more modern / “new wave” customs — whether they be roadsters, cafe racers, scramblers, or other styles. Builders have really embraced the machine, and it seems that nearly every major workshop has turned an R NineT custom. Moreover, several companies have begun designing and developing a range of parts for the model.
One of our favorite workshops to do so is France’s Le Motographe. Founders Jerome and Yvann are childhood friends with a long history of riding and racing enduro bikes, and they won our hearts in previous years with several popular builds such as their WR450F “Skeleton” and WR450F “Rally Beast” before turning their attention to the R NineT platform.
Today, we’re proud to feature this 2022 R NineT built for one of their customers, utilizing an arsenal of their high-end parts produced from aeronautical-grade aluminum. As Jerome says:
“The point of our products is not to make the NineT model look like a totally other bike, but to highlight the soul of the bike, and to offer better quality components to make it as sharp as elegant as possible.”
Below, they tell us about this new customer build — one of the sharpest R NineT customs we’ve seen, sure to turn heads wherever it goes. Photos by Damien Lorrai (@damien_lorrai).
R NineT Custom: In the Builder’s Words…
This is a BMW R NineT 2022 done for one of our customers. As you know we design and produce premium aluminium machined parts for motorcycles, including BMW R NineT, and have parts for all versions of it.
We do have four different types of fork clamp kits, two different tail sections (including approved lights), different footpeg options, different types of gas caps, license plate holders, etc. Any NineT owner searching for high quality products will find what is needed on our shop, parts 100% designed and produced in France with the greatest care.
Through our design work, we offer our parts as separate units or as a motokit that anyone can mount on his or her own bike with ease, transforming the bike into an upgraded version, fully customized with high end parts done from aeronautic aluminium.
For those who don’t have time for mounting everything themselves, we also offer a “Turnkey Service,” where we provide the brand new bike + the parts that the customer wants + a paint job, leather and alcantara seatwork, exhaust, etc. Because as long as we work on it, we can offer anything as additional options.
The point of our products is not to make the NineT model look like a totally other bike, but to highlight the soul of the bike, and to offer better quality components to make it as sharp as elegant as possible.
The best way to make it iconic!
Build Sheet
- Fork clamp kit V2
- Front indicators
- Gas tank emblems
- Gas cap V1
- Leather and alcantara driver seat cover
- Tail unit + 3in1 lights + leather and alcantara pillion seat
- License plate holder
- Pillion pegs brackets
- Pillion pegs
Detail Shots
Follow the Builder
- Web: www.atelierdumotographe.com
- Facebook: @lemotographe
- Instagram: @lemotographe
- Photos: Damien Lorrai (@damien_lorrai)
Coll bike that makes me want to get an R NineT, but please, please, please hipsters: STOP modeling non-protective clothing when you ride? I’m very impressed with your Stan Smith Adidas and no sock look; you’d be the star of a c.1985 Florida State frat party, so congratulations. But if you crashed dressed like that you could easily lose a foot. Young people emulate what they see in the media, which means you have a higher responsibility to model responsible choices. So stop it.