2018 BMW R NineT Urban G/S Specifications

Name: 2018 BMW R NineT Urban G/S
Brand: BMW

Naked bike • Specs last verified 31 October 2026

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2018 BMW R NineT Urban G/S Overview

BMW R NineT Urban G/S is a naked bike motorcycle, displacing 1170 cc. Power comes from a Horizontal Boxer Twin engine running DOHC Radially Aligned valve actuation, a compression ratio of 12.0:1. On the performance side, it delivers 81 kW @ 7550 rpm of peak power and 116 Nm @ 6000 rpm of torque. On the road, the 2018 R NineT Urban G/S tips the scales at 221 kg, carries a 17-litre fuel tank, offers a seat height of 850 mm and spans a 1527 mm wheelbase. That's roughly 20 kg heavier than the average naked bike in our database. The full 2018 BMW R NineT Urban G/S spec sheet below covers every technical detail, from suspension travel to tyre sizes.

2018 BMW R NineT Urban G/S compared with other bikes in the Naked bike category

We checked the recorded figures for the 2018 BMW R NineT Urban G/S against up to 1666 bikes in the Naked bike category in our database, counting each model once at the model year nearest to this one.

Only 21 of the other 1310 bikes in the Naked bike category have a taller seat height than the 850 mm of the R NineT Urban G/S.
With 116 Nm, the R NineT Urban G/S has the joint 90th highest torque of 1318 bikes in the Naked bike category, 71% above the category average of 67.7 Nm.
Engine displacement of 1170 cc is larger than that of 1512 of the other 1665 bikes in the Naked bike category.
Narrowing the field to the 546 models within five model years of it, the seat height of 850 mm is taller than that of 533 of the other 545.

2018 R NineT Urban G/S - Pros & Cons

Strengths

Strong power output: With 81 kW @ 7550 rpm and 116 Nm @ 6000 rpm of torque on tap, the R NineT Urban G/S is no slouch for its class.
Fuel injection: Fuel injection means consistent cold starts and clean throttle response without the fussiness of a carbureted setup.
Strong front braking: Stopping power up front is strong thanks to the disc setup, with plenty of room to upgrade further with braided lines.
Low-maintenance final drive: Running a shaft final drive cuts out the regular chain cleaning and tensioning that most bikes need.

Considerations

Tall seat height: At 850 mm, shorter riders will likely be on tiptoes at a standstill - worth sitting on one before you buy.

Wear Points & Servicing Notes

Heat management in traffic

Because the R NineT Urban G/S relies on airflow rather than a coolant jacket, expect noticeably more radiant heat at low speed and in traffic. It's inherent to air cooling, and ventilated gear largely offsets it.

Fuelling & injector care

The Electronic intake pipe injection / digital engine management with overrun cutoff on the R NineT Urban G/S needs little beyond good fuel and periodic use of an injector-cleaner additive - no jetting or float-bowl maintenance to worry about.

Valve clearance checks

With DOHC Radially Aligned valve gear, the R NineT Urban G/S needs periodic clearance checks; caught early they're a cheap adjustment, left unchecked they accelerate valve seat wear.

Brake disc and pad wear

Braking up front comes from 2 x 320 mm Foating brake discs, 4 piston radial calipers - solid stopping power, with disc and pad wear best checked on the same schedule as tyre changes.

Suspension condition on used examples

The R NineT Urban G/S's suspension runs Telescopic forks, 43 mm fixed-tube diameter at the front. The rear uses Cast aluminium single swinging arm with BMW Motorrad Paralever; central spring strut,spring preload fully adjustable by hook wrench, adjustable rebound-stage damping. Fork-seal condition and rear linkage play are the two things worth checking before buying used.

Final drive maintenance

The R NineT Urban G/S uses shaft final drive: essentially maintenance-free day to day, with periodic gear-oil changes the only real service item.

Frame & chassis check

Built around a Three-part frame concept with front frame and two-part rear frame, load-bearing enginegearbox unit, rear-set frame removeable for one-up riding, the R NineT Urban G/S's chassis is straightforward to inspect: look for corrosion, cracks or repair welds around stress points like the head-stock and swingarm mounts.

Handling the weight at a standstill

221 kg puts the R NineT Urban G/S toward the heavier end of its class. It's most noticeable at walking pace; once underway the mass settles into the handling rather than fighting it.

R NineT Urban G/S - Buying & Maintenance Guide

What to check before buying

Before handing over money for a used 2018 BMW R NineT Urban G/S with its 1170 cc naked bike, cover the fundamentals: service book and oil change history, drivetrain wear, and any sign of oil weeping around the casings. This model runs shaft final drive, so ask for proof the shaft-drive gear oil has been changed on schedule - it's easy to overlook since there's no chain to draw attention to it. Now 8 years old, this naked bike is as likely to show age-related wear (perished rubber, seized fasteners, degraded seals) as mileage-related wear. Cold-starting it yourself tells you a lot - a healthy R NineT Urban G/S should catch quickly and settle into a smooth idle.

Oil and filter changes

Nothing protects the R NineT Urban G/S's 1170 cc horizontal boxer twin like disciplined oil changes - stay on the manufacturer's schedule (roughly every 6,000 km or annually). With a 12.0:1 compression ratio, running the octane grade specified in the manual matters more than on a lower-compression engine. Match the viscosity grade to what the owner's manual specifies, not what's cheapest.

Fuel system care

Fuel injection on the R NineT Urban G/S needs little attention beyond decent fuel and an occasional system-cleaner additive. Anything left standing for three months or more should have its fuel drained and replaced before it varnishes the injectors.

Valve clearance service

Valve clearances are easy to overlook on a used R NineT Urban G/S since a bike out of spec doesn't always feel obviously wrong - but the wear it causes is real. Ask the seller for documentation before assuming it's been done.

2018 BMW R NineT Urban G/S - Frequently Asked Questions

What engine does the 2018 BMW R NineT Urban G/S have?

The 2018 BMW R NineT Urban G/S uses a Horizontal Boxer Twin engine with 1170 cc of displacement. It is air/oil cooled.

How much does the 2018 BMW R NineT Urban G/S weigh?

The 2018 BMW R NineT Urban G/S weighs 221 kg. This is the manufacturer's wet figure.

How much power does the 2018 BMW R NineT Urban G/S make?

The 2018 BMW R NineT Urban G/S produces 81 kW @ 7550 rpm of power and 116 Nm @ 6000 rpm of torque. These are peak figures.

What is the fuel tank capacity of the 2018 BMW R NineT Urban G/S?

The 2018 BMW R NineT Urban G/S has a 17-litre fuel tank. At around 5-6 litres per 100 km, that is roughly 283-340 km between stops.

Is the 2018 BMW R NineT Urban G/S suitable for shorter riders?

The 2018 BMW R NineT Urban G/S has a seat height of 850 mm. This is towards the tall end of the spectrum and will require most riders under 175 cm to tiptoe at stops.

What brakes does the 2018 BMW R NineT Urban G/S have?

The 2018 BMW R NineT Urban G/S uses 2 x 320 mm Foating brake discs, 4 piston radial calipers at the front and single 265 mm disc, 2 piston floating caliper at the rear.

What tyre sizes does the 2018 BMW R NineT Urban G/S use?

The 2018 BMW R NineT Urban G/S runs 120/70 - R19 front and 170/60 - R17 rear tyres. A good selection of sport, touring and all-weather rubber is available in these sizes.

What gearbox does the 2018 BMW R NineT Urban G/S have?

The 2018 BMW R NineT Urban G/S is fitted with a Constant mesh 6-speed transmission.

BMW R NineT Urban G/S Spec Evolution

The BMW R NineT Urban G/S was produced across 3 model years (2018-2022). The table below highlights the key specifications that changed across the production run - useful whether you are comparing years or tracking down a specific variant.

Specification	2018	2021	2022
Max Power	81 kW / 110 hp @ 7550 rpm	80 kW /109 hp @ 7250 rpm	80 kW /109 hp @ 7250 rpm
Wet Weight	221 kg / 487 lbs	223 kg / 491.6 lbs	223 kg / 491.6 lbs
Seat Height	850 mm / 33.5 in unladen	850 mm / 33.4 in	850 mm / 33.4 in
Fuel Capacity	17 Litres / 4.8 US gal	17 Litres / 4.5 US gal	17 Litres / 4.5 US gal
Frame Type	Three-part frame concept with front frame and two-part rear frame, load-bearing enginegearbox unit, rear-set frame removeable for one-up riding	Four-part frame concept with front frame and three-part rear frame, load-bearing engine-gearbox unit, rear-seat frame removeable for one-up riding	Four-part frame concept with front frame and three-part rear frame, load-bearing engine-gearbox unit, rear-seat frame removeable for one-up riding
Displacement	1170 cc / 71.4 cub in.	1170 cc / 71.4 cub in	1170 cc / 71.4 cub in
Wheelbase	1527 mm / 60.1 in	1527 mm / 60/1 in	1527 mm / 60/1 in
Brakes - Front	2 x 320 mm Foating brake discs, 4 piston radial calipers	2 x 320 mm discs, 4 piston calipers	2 x 320 mm discs, 4 piston calipers

Key Specifications

Engine

Horizontal Boxer Twin

Power

81 kW / 110 hp @ 7550 rpm

Torque

116 Nm / 11.8 kgf-m / 85.6 lb-ft @ 6000 rpm

Top Speed

Not recorded

Weight

221 kg / 487 lbs

Fuel Capacity

17 Litres / 4.8 US gal

Full 2018 BMW R NineT Urban G/S Specifications

Year 2017 - 18

Make BMW

Model R NineT Urban G/S

Make Model BMW R NineT Urban G/S

Seat Height 850 mm / 33.5 in unladen

Wheelbase 1527 mm / 60.1 in

Height 1330 mm / 52.4 in (excl. mirrors)

Length 2175 mm / 85.6 in

Seat Height (Inner Leg Curve) 1890 mm / 74.4 in unladen

Width 870 mm / 34.3 in (incl. mirrors)

Dry Weight 209 kg / 461 lbs

Fuel Capacity 17 Litres / 4.8 US gal

Maximum Load / GVWR 430 kg / 948 lbs

Wet Weight 221 kg / 487 lbs

Max Power 81 kW / 110 hp @ 7550 rpm

Max Torque 116 Nm / 11.8 kgf-m / 85.6 lb-ft @ 6000 rpm

Stroke 73.0 mm

Displacement (cc) 1170 cc

Displacement (ci) 71.4 cu-in

Engine Type Horizontal Boxer Twin

Fuel Control DOHC Radially Aligned

Displacement 1170 cc / 71.4 cub in.

Engine Detail Four stroke, two cylinder horizontally opposed Boxer, two camshafts and four radially aligned valves per cylinder, central counterbalancer shaft.

Bore x Stroke 101 x 73 mm

Compression Ratio 12.0:1

Cooling System Air/Oil cooled

Emissions Controlled 3-way catalytic converter, exhaust emission standards EU-4

Fuel Induction Electronic intake pipe injection / digital engine management with overrun cutoff, twin-spark ignition

Fuel Reserve 3 Litres / 0.8 gal

Lubrication Wet sump

Starter Electric

Battery Capacity 12 V / 14 Ah, maintenance-free

Clutch Single dry plate clutch, hydraulically operated

Final Drive Shaft

Gear Ratios Ist 2.375 / 2nd 1.696 / 3rd 1.296 / 4th 1.065 / 5th 0.939 / 6th 0.848:1

Transmission / Drive Constant mesh 6-speed

Frame Type Three-part frame concept with front frame and two-part rear frame, load-bearing enginegearbox unit, rear-set frame removeable for one-up riding

Suspension - Front Telescopic forks, 43 mm fixed-tube diameter

Suspension - Rear Cast aluminium single swinging arm with BMW Motorrad Paralever; central spring strut,spring preload fully adjustable by hook wrench, adjustable rebound-stage damping

Steering Head Angle 61.5 °

Trail 110.6 mm / 4.4 in

Wheel Travel - Front 125 mm / 4.7 in

Wheel Travel - Rear 140 mm / 5.5 in

Tachometer Standard

Alternator Three-phase alternator 720W

Brakes - Front Diameter (mm) 320 mm

Brakes - Front Diameter (in.) 12.6 in

Brakes - Rear Diameter (mm) 265 mm

Brakes - Rear Diameter (in.) 10.4 in

Brakes - Front 2 x 320 mm Foating brake discs, 4 piston radial calipers

Brakes - Rear Single 265 mm disc, 2 piston floating caliper

ABS BMW Motorrad ABS

Tyres - Front 120/70 - R19

Tyres - Rear 170/60 - R17

Wheels - Front 3.00 x 19, Cast alloy

Wheels - Rear 4.50 x 17, Cast alloy

Specifications are compiled from manufacturer documentation and cross-referenced technical sources, and corrected on an ongoing basis. Spot an error? Let us know.