07 Oct On yer bike: BMW R 18
There is a smile on FMM Curator Wayne Harley’s face as he attends the reveal of BMW’s R 18…
What’s that saying, ‘Go big or go home’? Well, BMW has done just that. This is one of my most anticipated retro motorcycle intros in years, even though I’m not a Cruiser or Bopper type of guy. However, I knew that the sheer scale of BMW’s attention to technology and quality would make this bike a class-topping machine. The reveal event was planned for earlier this year but had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a disappointment, but when I was invited to the Cape Town reveal at Motorrad on September 5, my excitement was rekindled. The reveal format took on a new and totally different feel, with the numbers attending and social distancing requirements being adhered to. But to be honest, I couldn’t wait to see the R 18.
BMW stated that the R 18 “invokes the history and the iconic hallmarks of the BMW brand”. This was all set around the largest boxer engine BMW has ever produced, set within retro styling, all topped-off with the elegant double-white pin-striping of a BMW first edition.
To a fanfare of music, lights, smoke and mirrors, screens lifted skywards to reveal a stunningly sculpted motorcycle of impressive scale – it’s BIG. The R 18 oozes quality in typical BMW style with only the best materials used. You cannot but notice the bespoke machined parts, polished aluminium finishes, stitched leather and high quality paintwork. For a lack of any other term to explain it – and because BMW owns the brand – I think it is safe to say there is almost a sense of ‘Rolls-Royce’ about the motorcycle.
As I mentioned earlier, this bike boasts the biggest boxer motor in BMW’s 97-year history of the horizontally-opposed layout and is mounted in a double-cradle steel frame. The 1 802 cm3 flat-twin only pumps out 67 kW, but it’s the 158 N.m of torque at only 3 000 r/min that is really impressive and is available almost right throughout the rev range, which is exactly what you need from a bike such as this. It is easy to ride at any speed and in almost any gear – you could tow a caravan with this bike! BMW had to strengthen the original crank design by adding a third (central) journal and bearing to accommodate the massive increase in torque and eliminate vibration. When the engine fires up it does torque twist quite noticeably, but in a strange kind of way it is what you would expect from a monster like this. Actually, I would have been rather disappointed if those men at BMW in their white coats came up with system to eliminate the torque twist.
BMW has not overlooked the latest tech in this retro-styled motorcycle and as we have come to expect have included a number of riding aids. Most important of these is the feature that eliminates the rear wheel from locking up if you are too aggressive in gearing down, or happen to tap off suddenly in an emergency.
Power to the road is transmitted through a six-speed manual gearbox and a beautifully designed exposed chromed driveshaft to the rear wheel. Because of the R 18 tipping the scale at 345 kg – some 24 kg more than Harley-Davidson’s Fat Boy – BMW has included a reverse gear to help you manoeuvre out of your favourite coffee shop parking spot. I must point out that all these modern aids have been incorporated to meet Euro safety standards without too much compromise to the bike’s overall retro look.
If I can humbly point out a few issues with the R 18, one has to be fishtail exhausts that are just too large and overstated but I know it’s done to meet emission standards. Second, the oil cooler is badly-placed and modern looking, and finally it’s the foot peg position. Going with the boxer motor forces the pegs to be set back and this may well be a problem with trying to lure riders from other brands used to a feet forward/laid back riding position into the BMW fold.
My two cents worth aside, the R 18 is a very impressive and well-built motorcycle that is going to capture a large part of the South African retro cruiser market. I have put my name down to test ride one soon, and once this is done I will give a complete riding impression. Can’t wait …
