It is a rare occurrence in the motoring world to see top marks given all round in terms of style for a new release. The BMW R 18 is one such case. A neo-retro masterpiece of design that has no qualms about going toe-to-toe with motorbikes sized for the wide-open American spaces. Did somebody say “born to be wild”?
Let’s take a look under the hood. With its 1,802 cc two-cylinder engine and its laid-back driving position, the R 18 already has what it takes to stand up to the great US cruisers produced by Harley Davidson and Indian. But with its own style, taking its aesthetic inspiration from the BMW R 5 of the ’30s (not to be confused with the French R5 by Renault, marketed in the US as Le Car). Following the premiere of the R 18 last spring, BMW is presenting the second member of its new model series: the R 18 Classic.
Better equipped for cruising, it features a large windscreen, passenger seat, saddle bags, additional headlights and smaller front wheel.
Ready to burn up Route 66?
The centrepiece of the R 18 Classic has to be its two-cylinder boxer engine. Hats off to BMW who have succeeded in obtaining Euro5 approval for a 1.8L traditional air-cooled flat-twin engine (whereas its competitors are doing everything possible to hide their clumsy water-cooled devices). With 67 kW (91 hp) at 4,750 rpm and over 150 Nm of torque from 2,000 to 4,000 rpm, there’s no doubt that there’s more than enough pulling power to drive this 345 kg beast.
And this blast of nostalgia does not mean there aren’t 21st century features: the R 18 Classic offers three standard riding modes, “Rain”, “Roll” and “Rock”, to adapt to individual rider preferences. The standard trim also includes ASC (Automatic Stability Control) and engine drag torque control (MSR - which prevents your wheels locking on slippery surfaces if you take your foot off the accelerator suddenly or shift down a gear fast).
Although the proportions of the R 18 are designed for highways, the motorcycle has been a hit with urban bikers in Europe straight out of the gates. We would highly recommend the reverse assist option, which is more than just a gadget when it comes to parking something of this size...
With its design and quality finishes, the R 18 can easily support comparison with its American rivals, especially since it is inspired by what Harley Davidson does best: for the first time, BMW is offering individualisation options as part of the Original BMW Motorrad Accessories programme. Its (base) price is also in line with its segment, at €25,450 (£20,980).
And to impress your friends, here’s a #SoBARNES titbit: the R 18 two-cylinder ‘boxer’ engine is a horizontally-opposed flat-twin engine. This type of engine takes its name from the back-and forth motion of the pistons, which resembles the punches of a boxer! A system used on the Porsche 911 since its beginnings and... the Citroen 2CV!
Infos : Bmw-motorrad.fr
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