BMW’s R nine T boxer scores a KO

Among the breakout hits at this year’s Progressive International Motorcycle Show is BMW’s new R nine T.

The twin-cooled, urban-styled, naked street cruiser (don’t get excited, that’s actually an industry term) is powered by the German company’s 110-horsepower Boxer engine. Sitting lower to the ground than any traditional BMW, the retro-looking R nine T also features a shaft drive, 6-speed transmission, lightweight all-aluminum fuel tank and the same braking system as the S1000RR road racer. Fully fueled, it weighs 484 pounds -- substantially lighter than the R1200s it resembles.

The bullet-like bike has very clean, minimalist lines, which the company hopes will inspire consumers to customize. The R nine T can be a cafe-style bike, a scrambler style bike, or a modernist road warrior, depending on which parts the owner removes or adds. Key elements, like the passenger seat and rear frame, are bolt-on, bolt-off parts.

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The company is also offering an array of accessories -- from tank bags and tail bags to upgraded seats, seat covers and silencers.

Just don’t order it in red.

“You can have it in any color you like, as long as it’s black,” said the company’s product manager Sergio Carvajal -- channeling Henry Ford as he hawked his Model T.

Also impressive on the BMW showroom floor were the recently unveiled K 1600 GTL Exclusive and R 1200 RT, which boasts two exciting new features: clutchless shifting up and down in every situation except arriving at or leaving a full stop, and “hill start” automatic rear braking when the bike is at a full stop on a hill -- allowing the rider to keep one foot on the ground while clutching and shifting into gear.

BMW has not announced a price point for the new R nine T, which will be available in stores this spring, but expect an MSRP of around $15,000.

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