Shown at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este at Lake Como, Italy, the 2018 BMW Motorrad Concept 9cento – pronounced ‘nove cento’ or Nine Hundred in English – is the Munich firm’s take on an all-rounder motorcycle in the mid-range market. Perhaps a move back to the “do anything” motorbike, the 9Cento is said to combine the agility of a naked sports with the distance capability of a touring machine.
Duality is a trademark of the 9Cento’s design, with dual hard case panniers hooking into the tail section and electromagnets holding them down. Installing the cases also widens the pillion seat for passenger carrying duties while removing them makes the 9Cento effectively a single seater for more spirited riding.
Stylng on the 9Cento is a mix of cues from various models in the BMW Motorrad range, including its S-series four-cylinders, GS adventure bikes and the R boxer twins. The rear shock is a long travel unit, designed for touring, as is the front fairing and windscreen.
Power on the Concept 9Cento appears to be Motorrad’s vertical twin, currently used in the F-series range of sports and adventure bikes. In that guise, the parallel-twin engine displaces 853 cc and produces 95 hp at 8,250 rpm and 92 Nm of torque at 6,250 rpm.
The frame on the 9Cento is reinforced with Carbon-Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) fleece, adding lightness and increasing stiffness. Machined aluminium is also used extensively throughout the build, accentuating the lines of the 9Cento with grooved surface detail that can be seen on close inspection.
LED lighting is used throughout, with twin two-element symmetrical headlights and ‘U’ shaped LED DRL in front and twin ‘C’ units tucked under the tail section. Brembo radial-mount brake callipers are installed on upside-down forks with a single calliper in the rear.
“It doesn’t always have to be about ‘bolder, bigger, brighter’ nowadays: this concept bike focuses on achieving a sense of balance,” says Edgar Heinrich, Head of Design BMW Motorrad. “We’ve created a bike that combines the appropriate power with reliable sports touring properties and above all lots of riding fun, so it’s an attractive overall package,” he said.
No word yet if the 2018 BMW Motorrad Concept 9Cento will make it to production but considering BMW’s proclivity for chasing niche market segments, this might happen sooner rather than later. In this section of the bike market, competition comes from machines such as the MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800 (RM94,751) and the Ducati Hyperstrada 939 (RM70,659).
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
