BMW R nineT (“Classic”, 2021-2023) Maintenance Schedule
This is the complete maintenance schedule for the BMW R nineT made from 2021. It’s also known as the BMW R nineT Classic, to distinguish it from the Pure, Racer, Urban G/S, and Scrambler variants.
You may be searching for one of the following maintenance schedules from the BMW R nineT family:
| Model family | 2014-2016 | 2017-2020 | 2021+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| R nineT (Classic) | 2014-2016 R nineT | 2017-2020 R nineT | 2021+ R nineT |
| R nineT Pure | n/a | 2017-2020 R nineT Pure | 2021+ R nineT Pure |
| R nineT Urban G/S & Scrambler | n/a | 2017-2020 R nineT Urban G/S and Scrambler | 2021 R nineT Urban G/S & Scrambler |
| R nineT Racer | n/a | R nineT Racer | n/a (discontinued) |
The 2021 BMW R nineT evolved from the 2017-2020 BMW R nineT, adding full ride-by-wire with options for features like cruise control and pro riding modes. Ride by wire changes the maintenance requirements slightly.
There are a number of variants of the R NineT line, including the Pure, the Scrambler, and Urban G/S (the Racer was discontinued in 2019).
Each variant of the R nineT has some overlapping elements in maintenance, but a few things mean that we can’t put all their maintenance schedules together. Each model variant has different wheels (tubed or tubeless), suspension, and other components, that mean that while a lot is interchangeable, not everything necessarily is.
What the whole R nineT line has in common is the engine base — an air-cooled 1,170cc flat twin “boxer” engine with four valves per cylinder and double overhead camshafts, pushing about 81 kW (110 hp) of power and 119 Nm (88 lb-ft) of torque to the rear wheel through a dry clutch and a shaft drive.
From 2024, BMW has replaced the R nineT with the R 12 nineT.
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BMW R nineT “Classic” 2021+ Service Intervals
Like the previous 2017-2020 BMW R nineT, the 2021+ R nineT has an air/oil-cooled boxer engine with service intervals of a relatively short 6000 miles / 10000 km. At every service, you should change the oil and filter and also check the valve clearances.
Note that BMW also wants you to change the oil every year, regardless of whether you did the distance or not. There’s also an annual full multi-point inspection to check for leaks or parts that need lubrication (irrespective of distance, whether it was sitting or not).
Luckily the 10000 km / 6000 mile valve clearance inspection isn’t too hard. Once you’re changing the oil, it’s easy to remove the valve covers as they’re poking out the sides of the motorcycle.
Every two services, change the air filter and the spark plugs.
For the R nineT classic, which has inverted forks, BMW also recommends a change of the telescopic fork oil every few services (by distance only), which is unusual for most motorcycle manufacturers.
Finally, make sure you regularly attend to key fluids like shaft drive lubricant and brake fluid.
What you need to service the BMW R nineT 2021+ — Consumables and Special Tools
For the BMW R nineT 2021+, the manual recommends the following specific consumables.
| Item | BMW R nineT 2021 spec |
|---|---|
| Engine oil | Per manual for all R nineT bikes, maximum 3.8 L (1 US gal) L of SAE 15W-50, API SJ/JASO MA2. Additives (for instance, molybdenum-based substances) are prohibited, because they would attack the coatings on engine components, BMW Motorrad recommends BMW Motorrad ADVANTEC Ultimate oil. Mobil 1 15W-50 is a good alternative. |
| Oil filter | All BMW R bikes use a BMW/Mahle oil filter, part number 11 42 7 673 541. The best replacement is a Hiflofiltro HF164. |
| Engine coolant | BMW recommends… none! This is an air-cooled bike! (just a little joke to assure you I’m not a robot writing this) |
| Spark plugs | NGK MAR8AI-10DS. This is what the manual suggests. It’s different to the spark plugs for the pre-2020 models. |
| Air filter | The BMW part number for the air filter for the 2021+ R nineT is is 13728406673 (different to earlier models). |
| Brake pads | Use the standard brake pads by Brembo, which you can order from your dealer. Or use EBC double hardened brake pads to get the best out of your advanced braking system. For the R nineT “Classic” use two FA630HH for the front, and one FA363HH for the rear. * Note — Pads are different across the R nineT line (R nineT Classic vs Pure, Racer, Scrambler, and Urban GS) — get the right ones. |
| Drive oil | Called the “Rear axle differential oil” in the manual. BMW recommends “SAE 70W-80 / hypoid axle G3”, but many hypoid gear oils work, e.g. Mobil 1 75W-90. or Castrol 75W-90 gear oil. |
| Alternator belt | Super annoying when this breaks, but very easy to fix! The part number is 11 31 8 528 385. It’s easiest to pick this up from a dealer. |
BMW R nineT Classic 2021+ Maintenance Schedule
Below is the maintenance schedule for the BMW R nineT Classic as per the manual, but made more clear so that you can understand what needs to happen more easily.
The R nineT range is based on an air-cooled engine, and so it has quite short valve service intervals. You have to service the valves every 6,000 miles or 10,000 kilometres.
The good news is that on the BMW you can get to the valve heads very easily, as the cylinders stick out the side.
Simplified, the maintenance for the BMW R nineT involves:
- A standard service every 12 months (irrespective of distance)
- Oil change every 10,000 kms or 12 months, whichever is earlier,
- Checking the valve clearances every 10,000 km/6,000 miles (with no time restriction)
- A series of other periodic checks
On the pre-2021 R nineT you had to adjust engine synchro every 10000 km/6000 miles — this is no longer the case with ride by wire.
Notes on the maintenance schedule
- At the end of the indicated schedule, keep following it in the pattern shown (every 1-4 service intervals)
- Where there’s a time and a distance-based interval (e.g. for oil changes), follow the earlier of the two.
- The break-in service (running-in check) isn’t shown, as the dealer usually takes care of this during the warranty period.
| ‘000 km | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ‘000 miles | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | Every |
| Conduct BMW R nineT Full Annual Service (see below) | Year | ||||
| Engine oil change, using filter (BMW Motorrad ADVANTEC Ultimate oil, BMW/Mahle oil filter, part number 11 42 7 721 779) | X | X | X | X | Year |
| Oil change in the rear bevel gears rear (Castrol 75W-90) | X | X | 2 years | ||
| Check valve clearance | X | X | X | X | |
| Change transmission oil (Mobil 1 75W-90) | X | After 1 year, then every 2 years | |||
| Replace all spark plugs (NGK MAR8AI-10DS) | X | X | |||
| Replace air filter insert (part 13717706414) | X | X | |||
| Replace the alternator belt | X | 6 years | |||
| Change telescopic fork oil | X | ||||
| Change brake fluid in entire system (Castrol Dot 4) | After 1 year, then every 2 years |
BMW R nineT Full Annual Service
The activities in the “BMW Motorrad Service standard scope” (that are to be done periodically according to the service schedule above) are listed below.
The actual scope of maintenance work for your R nineT might be different based on the conditions to which it has been exposed.
Note: Some of the below tests, including those that need the BMW Motorrad diagnostic system or re-setting the service due date, require BMW-specific equipment. These are marked with a [B].
| BMW R nineT Full Annual Service |
|---|
| [B] Perform vehicle test with BMW Motorrad diagnosis system |
| Visually inspect the clutch system |
| Check steering-head bearing |
| Visually inspect the brake lines, brake hoses and connections |
| Check front brake pads and brake discs for wear (replace with a double set of FA630HH if necessary) |
| Check front wheel brake fluid level |
| Check rear brake pads and brake disc for wear (replace pads with FA363HH if necessary) |
| Check rear wheel brake fluid level |
| Check tire pressures and tread depth |
| Check side stand for ease of movement |
| Check tension of the spokes and tighten as needed |
| Check the lighting and signal equipment |
| Function test the engine start suppression |
| Final inspection and check for road safety |
| [B] Set the service-due date and service countdown distance (using the BMW Motorrad diagnostic system) |
| Check battery charging state |
| [B] Confirm BMW service in the vehicle literature |
You can also check the BMW R nineT torque specs to tighten down all bolts as necessary — good practise at every service.
BMW R nineT 2021+ Tire size and pressures
The following are tire sizes and tire pressures for the BMW R nineT Classic 2021+.
BMW recommends these tire pressures for most of their standard bikes and sport bikes. Note that the R nineT classic has spoked wheels and tubed tyres. Other variants may have different tyres.
| Wheel/Tire | Size | Pressure (cold) |
|---|---|---|
| Front | 120/70 ZR 17 | 2.5 bar (36.3 psi) |
| Rear | 180/55 ZR 17 | 2.7 bar (39.2 psi) one-up 2.9 bar (42.1 psi) two up with cargo |
About the BMW R nineT (2021-2023)
The BMW R nineT was an instant classic since it was first launched in 2014. The name R nineT is meant to pay homage to BMW’s 90 years in the business, not to any one specific model.
That first version was praised for being a modern and easy-to-ride bike — despite running a deprecated air-cooled motor. In contrast with earlier BMW roadsters like the R 1200 R, BMW ditched the Telelever front suspension for a traditional fork for the R nineT. But the first R nine% was criticised for not having adjustable front forks, even though they were inverted forks borrowed from BMW’s sportier bikes.
BMW rectified this with the 2017-2020 BMW R nineT, though, by adding fully adjustable front forks up front. They also made a few cosmetic changes to the R nineT, keeping it at the premium of the range.
The BMW R nineT is still powered by the final air-cooled version of the opposite-twin Boxer engine, which in DOHC form produces a claimed 85 kW (110 hp) peak, and 88 ft-lb of torque. BMW has updated many of their other motorcycles with liquid cooling, but the R nineT still keeps it simple with its air/oil-cooled shaft drive combo.
The major update for the 2021 BMW R nineT is the ride-by-wire (RbW) system. The RbW system means that the new R nineT can get things like cornering ABS and lean angle-aware traction control, as well as features like cruise control (an additional option). These are available across the entire R nineT range.
Like other retro motorcycles, there are many options you can buy for the BMW R nineT. These range from some performance parts (like silencers) to many cosmetic bolt-ons and colour packages.
From 2024, BMW replaced the R nine T with the R 12 nineT, with the same engine but an updated chassis.
Manual for the BMW R nineT 2021+
The above information was gleaned from the owner’s manual for the BMW R nineT from the 2021 model year. It’s slightly different to the service schedule for other models, like the Pure.
You can download it from BMW’s website directly here.
