Triumph Thruxton R vs BMW R nine T

We head to the Lake District and find some amazing roads to test these 2 stunning bikes...
Reloaded from the Bike World show.

[@chienergy8577]

In the end I bought the Thruxton. The looks, fully adjustable suspension and view from the seat swung it for me. The top yoke, clip ons and dials are such a pleasure to look at whilst riding. For my body the ergonomics are just right. Once over 50mph the air holds me and the faster I ride the further I slide back in the seat and a cushion of air takes more of my weight. So far I feel fine after 3 hours. Great to have the choice of two wonderful bikes.

[@shwesq]

They are both highly appealing bikes. But the Triumph is the one that evokes retro nostalgia more. It's like a 1973 Norton Commando 850 or a 1967 Royal Enfield Interceptor with modern performance and reliability! Very nice scenery by the way and I have lived near a number of nine and ten thousand foot mountains in the American West!

[@fasthracing]

Evokes yes bit its made in Thailand

[@alians1978]

I've test ridden these bikes back to back last week. This review is as accurate as you could get. Well done!

[@digger4rar]

probably the best review of any motorcycles iv seen on youtube, honest in covering the pros and cons of both, and i watch a lot, keep it up

[@BikeWorldTVshow]

Cheers

[@tryarunm]

Loved this review, especially your which-horse-for-which-course comparison at the end!

[@NWPipeSmoker]

The best review I've seen - just a great mood, the right discussion points, the right perspective. Thank you! -Tom

[@Tom-jc2fq]

An honest review from a true English gentleman. For me BMW all the way, just for the stock exhaust sound alone is incredible

[@volt7cooltangs701]

Man you absolutely nailed this review 5 years ago. I own the Thruxton 1200 & also think it’s not to most immediate in the corners, I often have lean that bit further to make the turn. Tends to understeer but it is very stable on motorways, etc.

[@kiwiandyt123]

Great review! Beautiful bikes, beautiful scenery - what's not to like? These are my 2 dream bikes, so nice to hear your back-to-back opinion. Keep up the good work!

[@gonnahavemesomefun]

Fantastic review. Honest and thoughtful, answered everything I wanted to hear.

[@enriquejoseortiz9902]

One of the best reviews on both bikes. Good job and keep it up

[@stevenswm9844]

I don't know if I could give up the looks of the Thruxton, even if giving up a bit of performance. The visual is just such a Class Act, while the bmw is only an attempt at Classy. But, like you said, it's just a personal preference thing. Good objective reviewing!

[@antonoat]

An excellent review. I'm really liking this bike channel, proper reviews and meaningful dialogue, great job guys. cheers tony

[@jeffkeni]

Very informative, useful AND enjoyable to watch review. Well done mate.

[@Flashman4444]

This is an excellent review, very genuine and you explain your points very well. It felt like you had carte blanche to say what you wanted rather than being in thrall to one manufacturer or the other.

[@Phil480]

Good to see these two bikes put head to head. I have ridden both myself, and although the seating position of the BMW is more to my liking, I would still go for the Triumph. I prefer the looks, and it did make me grin more :D

[@sonamgate7]

Thats exactly what I was looking for. Being in a dillema on which of these two to buy as my first bike and totally helped me see the differences. To be honest I was leaning towards the bmw. Great review

[@PixelAttack1]

Best channel ! I really love yours reviews from canada :)

[@foxhound9406]

Great review thanks. I've got an 08 Thruxton and have been leaning towards the R Nine T over the new Thruxton and I think you've just sealed it for me.

[@amotorcyclerider3230]

Excellent candid review! I have a Triumph Streetcup and now seriouslly considering to get a new BMW R Nine T.

[@victorgimenogranda8019]

As usual, great review. Keep up the good job guys, like your youtube stuff

[@greggusan]

Great review, the kind that would actually help me decide between the two bikes if I was ready the pull the trigger on one of them. Subscribed!

[@Lowebrau]

Been on the fence about these bikes since the Montreal Moto Show and this vid nailed the proper points. Totally agree with the BMW preference.

[@alexdb77]

man you do an excellent job on this review, congrats from Portugal

[@alwynmcmath]

Great to hear an actual opinion at the end and backed up with some good reasoning; I'd choose the same.

[@MrRockydee07]

Had a Norton 850 commando Interstate and 750 Atlas, I think both them bike's your showing are great ......

[@phonetic808]

Great review guys, I would go for the BMW but I'm biased

[@MrPetrovsky1980]

I got r9t scrambler and I love how it looks, goes and sounds. Fantastic bike

[@jacquesduplessis6310]

Took the R9T around Kyalami racetrack last year. Fantastic job for a retro👌

[@Motolimey]

I've been drooling over both bikes for a while now.... just about to watch the video and I'm hoping it's going to lean me one or the other....

[@HarryHipster]

Great review. Very insightful and fair. Thanks very much. Although I'm a German BMW driver i must admit that the Thruxton R is a hell of a bike. Classy looks, stunning performance and riding abilities. Not an easy choice, but you made it very clear that the Triumph is the weekender while the BMW goes for the whole week.

[@f4aus508]

I've got a thruxton r and I agree with you it's a weekend bike for ridding for me . And week bike just to looking at as it looks so good . I do like the bmw r9t and was thinking buying the BMW before the thruxton r . It does what it says on the tin cafe racer . It can get uncomfortable on a long ride

[@HarryHipster]

I know about the origins of Triumph as a German company, first producing bicycles, then motorbikes, later cars. But "Mein Führer" did not show any mercy with a former German brand. The German air force bombed and destroyed the whole Coventry factory in 1940 so they had to build a new one in Meriden. We must be lucky not to live in war times - at least not in Western Europe.

[@erikarneberg11]

Wojtek Turski Fourth time!

[@Vanrocco66]

Excellent and honest review and comparison for sure! Nice work!

[@Tom-jc2fq]

Great review. Honest and informative. I think the BMs exhaust is stock too.

[@misteryoftimetravel]

Great review ,so eloquently delivered.

[@daveztatorcuts719]

Hi. Wondering if you can do an updated review of the two bikes given that the Thruxton has the new RS. Thanks and D thank you for the informative bike features.

[@Samuel-dc2mq]

Well done and well thought out video.

[@alphacapo]

This kid Is a top notch reviewer/speaker. Nicely done sir.

[@MrAndrew1953]

Had an R80GS and a R100GS. Hard thing to go past is the BMW'S shaft drive and that super-tractable twin that just gets better with time. You know it will get you there with a lot of fun, minimum of fuss and ready for more.

[@YiannosG]

First let me just say that your presentation on those videos is great. The delivery of the speech is just brilliant, and it seems to just flow out of you. This by far my favourite motorbike YT channel, and today I subscribed too. I have a question though, that does not seem to get answered, despite the fact that I have been looking at videos and text reviews for the past week. My last bike was a Yamaha MT-01, which now I've passed over to my brother. So I am looking for something that is for S twisty roads and city commute, with a bit of exposure to a ring road as well (I live in Manchester.). Something that has character, but more importantly pulls from below. Like the MT-01 which at 2500 rpm had huge amounts of torque (1690cc twin cylinder engine). I've looked at the Monster, the Diavel (love the look of the XDiavel, but the feet-forward position put me off), the Super Duke (both R and GT), the NineRT, the MT-10... you know.. along those lines. What would you recommend? Also, any reader comments are welcome too, I am sure some of you know exactly what I'm looking for.

[@alians1978]

Great job guys. Awesome review

[@fonjohnson1099]

The review of the Thruxie makes me wonder if the suspension was dialed in. Simply changing the preload on my street cup made the bike go from unsettling in the turns to far more stable, at 20 mph faster. The whole dynamic of the bike was changed.

[@MrSmileyshaun]

great review but i will have to say Thruxton so much that i Brought one but I am a Triumph man any way to be honest this is my 8th Triumph motorcycle starting from 2004 thruxton. good and fair review.

[@Shah_creates]

What an amazing and well-done comparo.

[@suburbanhobbyist2752]

Both really cool bikes. I bought an Indian Scout, which is similar I guess. I almost went with the Thruxton but I don't like having to be bent that far forward while cruising. I guess I'm old!

[@bryanhatch6688]

Exceptional review! I agree with your findings 100%. Here in the United States however, the Thruxton is so much more popular. Ofcourse, hard to pick anything over a Triumph

[@wellsbengston4132]

I own a Thruxton R and mostly agree with this review. In my case, the Thrux is my third bike, and is strictly for fun. The other two are more practical and comfortable for the commute and touring. Having two other bikes, I was able to leave practicality out of consideration, and let my heart choose.

[@ceesklumper]

Excellent review, thanks

[@adrenalinwillusa3314]

Fair and accurate assessment! Bravo!

[@jschauer31]

Excellent review! Loved it. I want that BMW.

[@RobertKwolek]

Fantastic, objective review!

[@Lar308]

I went for the Thruxton R. Still have my T120. Its such a jewel like a nice heavy expensive watch. Got to mind them though so no use in the rain or wet roads and those chrome / aluminium surfaces need regular polishing even if the bike has not been used since its last clean.

[@michaelwozniak6237]

You guys are amazing I've been looking for a video to compare the thruxton to the R9T for months. You guys should review the Yamaha xjr1300 as well. Great job guys top class video!

[@BikeWorldTVshow]

Thanks!

[@worldsgonebonkers4512]

Michael Wozniak I agree The Yamaha XJR1300 would compare well with these two bike. I for one think the XJR is fantastic value for money. 👍🏼

[@chienergy8577]

MCN did a video review of the Thruxton, RNineT and Yamaha.

[@juanmillaruelo7647]

Is the Thruxton steering geometry the same as in a 'normal' Bonneville? Would wider bars restore some of the lost flickabiliy with no loss of stability? I like the looks, the suspension and the brakes of the Thruxton.

[@nicholasspacey1225]

Quite agree had my xjr1300 for 4 yrs lovely bike.

[@fahimmosharrof7209]

Is there any kind of protection for the engine in case you low side on the R9T? I am looking this bike, it's engine extends so far out, asking to get broken, is it really like that or something is going on

[@bretpetersen4942]

Well presented, well balanced review. Thanx.

[@tooyoungtobeold8756]

Nice, calm, balance review. I can't decide, but as I like BMs I may get one. How do I keep it hidden from 'er indoors though?

[@naiart82]

Loved the review!!

[@djpetuh]

Both bikes are amazing indeed. I'm getting hard on both of them. You did a great job on this review. Could you, please make a review of the Triumph Thunderbird Storm in the same way comparing it to some other cruiser? Regards!

[@coolriderkumar3854]

Hi, would you guys compare some retro bikes with Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 or Interceptor 650, just curious guys ; )

[@Scootir185]

Just faced this very question - Thruxton R vs. R Nine T. To begin let me say they are both awesome bikes, and personally I think the Thruxton is the better looking bike by far. What's weird is that when you're riding in public the R Nine T gets way more nods. And having ridden both I am so happy to have picked the R Nine T. So much more character, and so much better performance. And then so easy to hack apart and make it your own. You really can't go wrong with either bike, but for me the R9T rules.

[@triumphdetroit-riders6853]

I love my RnineT and I love the Triumph Modern Classics. I believe they are in different groups, as us riders feel different depending what we ride that day. I love them all! Yep *)

[@GorillaProduction38]

I own several bikes and, among them, there's also a Triumph T100 Steve McQueen. That bike was my daily ride of choice. I used it for long rides too in spite of its terrible seat, shitty standard suspension and its crappy brakes, none of that mattered to me, that bike was my darling. And then I bought the R9T as an addition to my eclectic collection. What a difference... Don't get me wrong, I still adore my Triumph, but since 2014 R9T has been my number one choice any time of the day, no matter the occasion. Funny thing is that I'm always tempted to pick her even when I'm supposed to travel long distances but since I'm perfectly aware that her big mama (my R1200GSA) is way better at this kinda' jobs I fight myself to drop the idea... R9T is nimble, gentle, powerful, stable, different, forgiving, chic and more importantly, reliable. If I had the money for only one bike, definitely R9T would be my first pick. Safe rides

[@Scootir185]

My beautiful and amazing mistress - I think they're both beautiful. Unfortunately the Scrambler isn't suspended like the black bike so it's not quite as much fun to ride.

[@craik7]

Funny you say that because I personally think the thruxton is a bit on the ugly side. don't get me wrong I like the cafe racer style in general just not the thruxton. the R Nine T on the other hand, is a very good looking bike, overall.

[@Gintonious]

Currently stuck between which to choose of these 2, this video has helped and made it worse! I want both! Great work!

[@diawmd]

Stephen McGuinness which one you've chosen ?

[@Gintonious]

Diaw Mandech went with the bmw

[@matoko123]

@@Gintonious Oh dear.

[@Gintonious]

@@matoko123 I did go with the BMW :)

[@mowler8042]

This review did help me decide on an 2017 R9T and so far 10000 KM still the best quality fun bike I’ve owned. Fuel gauge and tachometer would be nice.

[@Spartansrule118]

Do you still have it? How is it going? Reliable?

[@mowler8042]

@@Spartansrule118 yes no issues around 25000km

[@Spartansrule118]

@@mowler8042 thanks

[@jimmorrison5520]

Great review, man.

[@voltov1]

BMW R9T looks good and exhaust sound is great. But, in Thailand, the price of R9T can buy 1xThruxtonR and 1xStreet Twin. So I go with ThruxtonR.

[@USARAY1947]

Does Triumph having a factory in Thailand have anything to do with price difference?

[@rajendertkr]

voltov1 yeah they make Triumph in thailand

[@erikarneberg11]

Wojtek Turski That’s the THIRD TIME you’ve posted exactly the same thing! Are you a BOT employed by BMW?

[@maxflight777]

May i ask? ...what brand is the brown jacket ? I'm curious. Thanks

[@karna6982]

Damn now I want both 😄 Great review, thanx

[@justinmcginty6815]

I have had a close look at a Thruxton. I love the Pommie bikes, works of art.

[@theincrediblesulk5543]

Could you track the RnineT or would it be completely out of its comfort zone? Thinking of ground clearance

[@MotoMichelle]

Great Review :) I love my Racer

[@OZBIE]

Excellent review, I based my purchasing decision on this review 3 years ago, I was originally looking at the new Norton and ended up looking at the Thruxton, and ultimately chose the BMW RnineT, with no regrets. I've been riding for over 35yrs. and I've never ridden a bike so connected. My bike is like the one in the video but with the awesome exposed welds.

[@antonoat]

You have to test the BMW R1200R LC, please . cheers

[@ClutchFirst]

Both are gorgeous bikes! For sheer looks, I'd go with the Truxton. Overall, the BMW seems to be the more practical out the two. It would have been nice to mention the cost of the major service and intervals.

[@amhedet]

The word that comes to mind, for me, is versatile. The BMW is more versatile.

[@Heavywall70]

Major service intervals on a bmw are virtually unparalleled They are as low maintenance as it gets for motorcycles. I’m sure a triumph is well made and won’t break the wallet at the shop but beamers are next level reliable.

[@nicholasduke7584]

Love these guys!

[@robertpolkamp]

Tubed tires on these bikes? Haven't had tubes since the mid eighties not going back now.

[@garrywright3380]

Excellent review….

[@DaveDayve]

Question.... Bikes apart, who's the background music by pls? What's it called? Need to see u more on bike world. :-) :-) u say it strait up :-)

[@bigwheelsturning]

I was looking at a Triumph until I watched a valve check/shim replacement video. So it's either a Moto Guzzi V7 or the Nine T.-

[@jimmorrison5520]

Beautiful landscape, besides the bikes.

[@mark223556]

Rode the R9T with a view to buying one, but the main detraction was that every time I put my foot down at traffic lights....I banged my shin on the right hand side cylinder. Not much fun if you're tall

[@jurgenswolfaardt6610]

At 5:19 and 9:52 the Triumph does an awkward fishtail when reversing its lean in the S-turn? It also happens at other points in the video but not as obvious. That's not something I would like happening to me on a wet road! Is that rider style or the bike doing that?

I need your clothes, your boots, your motorcycle.

[@deedee5205]

" You forgot to say please "

[@eetuhannola]

Ömer Merken LOL

[@wazzamagoodiddlydoo]

Classic James Cameron

[@ridewherever]

I can’t let you take the mans wheels son.

[@johnwright6995]

I need his hair and his dashing looks

[@VineetKumar-js1do]

You just forgot to mention the huge price difference b/w those bikes. With that extra money i can buy a lot for my Triumph thruxton R like heated grips, aftermarket exhaust, suspension, led turn indicators, comfortable seat, cafe racer fairing. If you prefer cafe racer then i think Thruxton got the best cafe racer DNA. BMW R9T looks like a cross b/w cafe racer & a classic bike.

[@raymadani270]

honest review. thanks

[@lloydyjonesy]

can anyone tell me what boots the lad's wearing?

[@Lar308]

Back in 2016 the R9T had no extras so it was an easy choice for me to pick the Thruxton - even though I did not get around to it until 2019. Although I was a bit biased in favour of the thruxton anyway already owning a 2017 T120. Recently (at the end of 2022) I considered getting a new R9T and trading in my Thruxton. Nowadays the R9T (not the pure) has the comfort package which adds a nice lot of goodies the original bike lacked. But one thing (apart from a severe reluctance to part with my beautiful Thruxton) put me off. That was the weak mounting of the twin dials on the handlebars. I saw in You Tube reviews that they visibly quiver on the move even on smooth roads. I knew that that would drive me bananas as it conveys a flimsy cost cutting method of production and for the price they were looking for a new one not worth it.

[@jessemanjarrez5789]

Where can I find that jacket?

[@SirPatrickPictures]

Good review.

[@cbrooen]

R nine t racer looks so much better then the one in this video. Anyway nice bikes and review

[@scottstambaugh8473]

I have a Thruxton R with a Zard exhaust and the bullet fairing. Michelin pilot tires quicken up the steering. It is a really really nice bike.

[@PIETROMACMOTO]

NICE REVIEW MATE,, IF YOU ADD TO THIS VS THE DUCATI SPORT 1000 CLASSIC, DID YOU EVEN SO CHOSE THE BMW? LEAVING SIDE THE YEAR'S DIFFERENCE

[@chipereeno2973]

That is how you do a motorbike review. Views of it flowing over hill and around bends from different angles and sounds. Perfect. Great descriptive commentary to match. These bike reviews from a single helmet cam are pure garbage. Often very little views of the bike or the sound. Well done Bike World.

[@luisbraz-ruivo]

Are those the best roads you could find? Looks more like they more appropriate for dual sports than cafe racers. And please, can you give a bit more room to the bicycles when passing them? Thanks.

[@mistreku]

I'm not British but I still prefer the looks of the Triumph.

[@a.7801]

I mean.. It sure helps to walk out the door and fall in love with the looks of your bike every time again!

[@FiveFingerDissy]

rude

[@decoupageworlduk8107]

100% agree

[@decoupageworlduk8107]

what do you mean number

[@maresoldino]

Nice review!!! That jacket is that you are wearing? Thx

[@BikeWorldTVshow]

That's a Knox Leonard jacket, cheers!

[@TheOringinalBRadRaps]

to be fair you should have run the thruxton with vance and hines.

[@Joric78]

I'm staggered. I thought with a Brit review of the Thruxton and R Nine T the result was a forgone conclusion.

[@SmokinZen]

Nice review

[@sergioromano4901]

I've always been in love with Triumph but I always got a BMW and now a R Nine T

[@lauralassan325]

I don't know about the other comparison but based on looks thruxton any day

[@DanielVeloza]

great video!! i´ll go with the thruxton (the looks are killer!!), even thou i agree the BMW is probably the better bike overall.

[@786philb]

I hate the cylinders sticking out. So there