The BMW R nineT likely isn’t going anywhere soon, but don’t expect the platform to grow any larger. That’s the information being gleaned, at least, from a short mention in the German manufacturer’s recently released 2017 annual report.
READ MORE: 2018 BMW R nineT – First Ride
Under the heading “R nineT family now complete” the report explained that with last year’s launch of the R nineT Pure, R nineT Racer, and R nineT Urban G / S models, BMW had completed its plans for the platform. This runs contrary to some speculation that had claimed the successful platform would continue to expand.
Though, to be honest, it’s hard to imagine where else the platform could have gone. Bobber, perhaps? Or some sort of convoluted R nineT RT? As much as I love modern classic bikes, it may be that BMW’s making the right call here. Certainly the company’s success in 2017 would suggest it knows what it’s doing.
According to the report, last year saw BMW delivering some 164,153 motorcycles worldwide. That’s up 13.2 percent over the previous year, and a record for the company. Despite BMW’s eagerness to dig deeper into the US market through its K 1600 B, it’s in Europe where the company saw the bulk of its success.
Some 101,524 of the motorcycles delivered in 2017 went to European countries. Unsurprisingly, the company’s largest market was in Germany, where it sold some 26,664 bikes – almost double the 13,546 bikes it managed to shift across the whole of the United States. The company’s second largest market was France.
Meanwhile, the company also saw production increased thanks to its partnership with India’s TVS Motor Co. Ltd.
RELATED: Spy Images Show Updated BMW R 1200 RT
It all suggests that future products from BMW will be driven by European and developing market tastes. Although the R nineT has garnered a lot of affection here in Not America, it’s the R 1200 GS that has really captured the hearts and minds of riders. Combining its numbers with the R 1200 GS Adventure, the R 1200 GS has been the best-selling motorcycle in Europe for several years in a row.
Leave a Reply