Motorcyclist USA — September-October 2017

100 | september | october 2017

GARAGE

JULIA LAPALME

• • \ \

If there are

possibilities

for riders, I

think the

way to do it

is through

MotoAmerica.

• •
  / /


• life with the RnineT is pretty
  good. The snort emitted from those
  Akrapovic high pipes makes me smile
  every time I start the bike, and it feels
  good to get a thumbs-up from motor-
  ists at stoplights. I’m definitely not the
  only person who thinks the Scrambler’s
  classic lines look killer.
  I’m also not the only person who
  dislikes the Scrambler’s knobby
  Michelin Karoo 3 tires. Everyone on
  staff who’s ridden my long-termer has
  complained about the same falling-over
  turn-in behavior, squirmy edge grip, and
  vibey, loud ride. The Karoos may work
  well in the dirt—and I intend to put them
  to the test with an off-road adventure
  once I get the time—but for now my
  riding is restricted to the street, where

the Karoo’s poor grip and odd handling

just won’t do.

Seeing as the knobbies and “cross

spoke” wheels are an option (the tire

swap is free from the factory, while

the wheels carry a $500 premium),

I figured I should try the base equip-

ment. In this case, that’s the same

five-spoke cast hoops and Metzeler

Tourance Next enduro-style tires that

come on the new RnineT Urban G/S.

With the wheels swapped, the

Scrambler feels like a different machine.

The street rubber makes steering lighter

and linear, the ride is smoother, and

there’s so much more grip that it feels

like the brakes and engine got upgraded.

The Karoos were clearly inhibiting what

is otherwise a fun and fairly sporty bike.

With the Tourance rubber, I enjoy riding

the RnineT a lot more.

I still like the look of the wire wheels

though, so I think the hot ticket is to put

the smooth Metzelers on the spoked

hoops. Once I put the Karoos through

their paces off road, maybe I’ll get a set

of Continental TKC 80s. I’ve ridden

thousands of miles on those on a variety

of adventure bikes, and they work

well on road and off. Frustratingly, the

new Urban G/S, which is essentially

just a restyled Scrambler, can be had

with TKC 80s from the factory, but

the Continentals aren’t an option for

the Scrambler. Your dealer will surely

install a set for you, but you’ll be on the

hook for the price of the tires and the

labor to mount them. —Ari Henning

DOIN’ TIME

BMW RNINET SCRAMBLER

Knobby tires, you’re fired

wrist Ari Henning

msrp (2015) $5,499

miles 3,738

mpg N /A

mods Coolant thermometer

update 14

wrist Ari Henning

msrp (2017) $13,000

miles 1,247

mpg 36

mods Non-knobby tires

update 2

MCY1017_TIME.indd 100 7/24/17 3:44 PM