Okay, so I got this BMW R nineT, right? Solid bike, runs great, looks decent straight from the factory. But I dunno, it felt a bit too… normal? Predictable? I’ve always had a soft spot for that stripped-down cafe racer vibe. You know, low bars, single seat, lean look. So, I figured, why not give my R nineT that treatment? Turn it into something a bit more unique, a bit more ‘me’. Didn’t have a master plan drawn out, just decided to dive in and see what happens.
Getting Started – Taking Stuff Off
First job, really, was just getting rid of the clutter. Pulled the bike into the garage, grabbed some tools, and started unbolting things. That pillion seat setup had to go immediately. Took off the seat itself, then the subframe bit that holds it. Made a huge difference right away, just cleaning up that back end. The stock handlebars felt way too high for the look I wanted, so they were marked for removal. Same for the big, clunky fenders, especially the rear one. It felt pretty good just stripping it back, seeing the basic shape emerge.
Shaping it Up
Now for the fun part – adding the cafe racer bits. The biggest visual change comes from the seat area. I ordered a classic-style solo seat cowl. Getting it fitted wasn’t too bad, bolted onto where the old passenger stuff was. Man, that changed the whole silhouette instantly. Looks so much better. I decided to keep the stock fuel tank. Honestly, the R nineT tank has a pretty nice shape already, quite classic, so no need to mess with that. Getting rid of the stock license plate holder was key too – that thing is massive. Just taking it off tidied up the rear end loads.
Getting Low
Next up: handlebars. Those standard bars just kill the cafe racer stance. I looked at proper clip-ons, but decided to start with some lower, flatter ‘tracker’ style bars first. Less extreme, maybe more comfortable for me. Swapping them over involved moving all the controls – brake, clutch levers, switches. This part was a bit fiddly, making sure everything fit and the cables weren’t stretched or pinched. While I was there, I ditched the stock mirrors and put on some small bar-end ones. They look way cleaner, really.
- Got rid of the tall stock bars.
- Mounted the new, lower handlebars.
- Carefully moved all the switches and levers.
- Fitted bar-end mirrors. Much tidier front end.
Making Some Noise (and Looks)
The stock exhaust on the R nineT is okay, I guess. But it’s pretty big and sounds kinda polite. Cafe racers need a bit more bark, don’t they? And a cleaner look. Didn’t want to splash out on a full system, so I found a nice slip-on muffler. Something shorter, angled up a bit. Taking the old one off and putting the new one on was pretty straightforward. Just a few bolts. Sounds deeper now, got a bit more rumble without being crazy loud. Looks much better too, less bulky.
The Little Things
With the main parts sorted, I focused on the details. Those stock turn signals are huge, like orange lollipops sticking out. Swapped them for some tiny little LED indicators, front and back. Much sleeker. Wiring them up took a bit of patience, figuring out connectors and resistors so they flashed right. The stock taillight also went, replaced with a smaller LED strip tucked under the back of the seat cowl. Then there was the license plate. Since I took off the original holder, I got a side-mount bracket. Bolted it onto the swingarm pivot. Really cleans up the tail, lets you see the wheel properly. Looks ace.
All Done (For Now?)
So, after all that wrenching, wiring, head-scratching… I finally put the tools down and stepped back. Yeah. That’s what I was picturing. It looks low, mean, and much simpler. Took it out for a ride. The riding position is definitely different with the lower bars, more leaned forward. Takes a bit of getting used to on the wrists, but feels more connected to the bike somehow. It still rides like a dream, handles beautifully, it’s just got a whole new attitude now. Feels good knowing I did it myself, turned it from a standard bike into my bike. There’s probably more I’ll tinker with down the line – you’re never really ‘finished’ with these things, are you? But for now, I’m just enjoying my R nineT cafe racer. It was a bit of work, couple of skinned knuckles, but totally worth it.
