Although BMW The R nineT was originally designed as a throwback to classic BMW boxers, and it has always had a modern look. That leaves customizers with two options — enhance the nineT’s retro appeal or lean on its modern underpinnings. There’s no point in guessing which way Sean Young chose with this BMW R nineT. cafe racer.
Living in China, Sean has been tinkering with his nineT since he bought it five years ago. Much of his experimentation has been directed toward the outside world, using the bike as a test bed to develop parts and kits for other nineT owners. So not only does his BMW look cool as hell, it’s also packed with carefully prototyped 3D-printed parts.
Sean’s project gained momentum when he connected with an industrial designer on the other side of the world. “I like to share rough drafts and prototypes in Facebook groups to get feedback,” Sean tells us. “When I posted the tail stand prototype, I met Trevor Dyment, an industrial designer at Formlabs, who liked my designs and offered to help refine them.”
“We collaborated across the Pacific Ocean via the Internet. The basic idea was to build a futuristic, sleek, high-performance street cafe racer based on my favorite BMW R 9T.”
Most of the parts on Sean's R nineT (which he nicknamed “The Futurist”) were created using four different 3D printing methods. The clear parts were made using the popular stereolithography (SLA) printing method, HP's multi-jet fabrication (MJF) method handled the medium-sized nylon parts, and the selective laser sintering (SLS) method was chosen for the larger nylon parts.
Finally, fused deposition modeling (FDM) was used to create the parts mounted next to the engine. These parts were printed from PAHT-CF, a high-temperature carbon fiber-reinforced polyamide that can withstand temperatures up to 194℃.
The main parts of the PAHT-CF are the “wings” that run along the bottom of the tank, replacing the original right air intake and left trim. These are the only 3D printed parts on the bike that are left unfinished, a deliberate move by Sean to highlight the technology used.
At the front of the bike, you’ll find a 3D-printed fender that’s been designed to hide all of its mountings. Just above it is a custom headlight with a clear surface that has an LED sticking out of it. The lightweight structure is attached to the bottom clamp, giving the illusion that it’s floating in front of the forks.
The cockpit features a CNC-machined upper triple clamp and sleek clip-ons, with a tiny Motogadget speedo and LED warning light strip positioned front and center. The brake and clutch master cylinders are Brembo items, but the fluid reservoirs are unique, inspired by BMW’s Vision DC concept. The design is currently in the prototype stage; Sean reports that it works as intended so far, but he’s checking the integrity of the material before he puts his full trust in it.
Sean kept the R nineT's stock fuel tank, but dressed it up with a Rizoma fuel cap and special aluminum roundels. “We added twelve intricately crafted grooves around the outer ring, like a clock, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of BMW motorcycles,” he adds.
The seat and rear overhang are taken from BMW’s nineT options catalog. Sean chose them because they complement the OEM fuel tank perfectly, focusing instead on reworking the areas below and behind them. A 3D-printed section covers the lower portion of the tail, ending in a ribbed section that’s framed by a pair of hidden Rizoma LED taillights and combination turn signals.
To keep the design slim, Sean had to relocate a lot of the electrical parts that would normally be under the seat. They are now under the tank and behind the new fenders. With the airbox swapped out for a pair of SF Spring filters, the frame now cuts a super sharp line from engine to tail.
Sean and Trevor’s custom details only tell half the story. Behind the neo-futuristic aesthetic are plenty of tasty upgrades. “I didn’t want to build a showroom model that would be kept in a showroom and only driven on special occasions,” says Sean.
“It should outperform any factory model in both city and highway conditions in everyday life, giving you an unrivaled driving experience.”
To that end, Öhlins inverted forks grace the front end, while a longer-than-standard Öhlins shock bolsters the rear. Brembo brake calipers do their job at both ends, squeezing a pair of snazzy Brembo T-Drive rotors up front. HEL brake lines provide further braking improvements.
The wheels are forged castings that take inspiration from the BMW HP2 Sport, while the front axle is a custom-made titanium piece. A noisy box exhaust from G&G Bike adds the finishing touch.
The BMW R nineT's vibrant paintwork matches the bike's focused stance and flowing lines perfectly. Now that his BMW R nineT cafe racer is complete, Sean is getting ready to put some of those parts into production.
Keep an eye on this space.
