BMW Motorrad unveiled its newest additions to its biggest motorcycle lineup yet — the retro-styled R 18 B and R 18 Transcontinental.
The R 18 received worldwide praise when it launched across various markets last year. Everything about the cruiser screamed a timeless design, albeit with neat touches blending classic with modern times, including pinstriping on the fuel tank, twin gullwing exhaust pipes, signature round headlight, analog dials, and the unmistakable 1,802 ccs air-cooled boxer twin engine! Simplicity at its finest.
For 2021, BMW Motorrad expanded the R 18 cruiser lineup into two distinct American-style cruisers — the R 18 B “Bagger” and the R 18 Transcontinental. The Bagger is a solo cruiser while the Transcontinental can also carry a pillion.
For starters, BMW fitted the motorcycles with fairings and a larger windshield for long-distance drives. Keeping with the touring theme, both variants also feature luggage mounts as standard, while the R 18 Transcontinental has a larger pillion seat with a backrest and an option to fit a top box for additional storage.
BMW Motorrad didn’t skimp on attention to detail, either. Details such as the dual-tone finish on the fuel tank, the matte black engine covers (R 18 B), chrome cylinder head covers (Transcontinental), and the quad analog dial leave the crowd impressed.
However, the main feature of the R 18 is undoubtedly the powertrain. BMW retained the torquey 1,802 ccs air-cooled (with oil cooler) boxer-twin engine, pumping out 91 horses and 112 lb-ft of torque at the crank. Power goes through a 6-speed gearbox, connected to the rear wheel via a shaft drive.
Taking advantage of all the power is the electronics suite, giving the rider complete control over the machine. It comes with three riding modes — Rock, Roll, and Rain modes that control the engine power and braking sensitivity settings accordingly. The rider can also adjust active Cruise Control (controls the speed based on the vehicle ahead using a radar), Dynamic Cruise Control, and Engine Braking Torque levels.
Being a grand tourer, BMW fitted the R 18s with a 10.25” infotainment screen displaying the riders’ information along with phone connectivity, GPS, and other features. Unique among other bikes is the addition of the well-renowned Marshall speaker system integrated nicely below the engine air intake. There’s also an option available to add a subwoofer plus a third speaker to raise the total wattage to 260 W — quite impressive for a bike like the R 18.
Both bikes are borne out of the same skeleton — a double-loop steel tube frame with a steel panel formed from metal forming parts. The frame helps keep the bike stable at various speeds and allows for some spirited riding. Supporting the framework is a telescopic front suspension with 49 mm tubes with adaptive dampers held on by a cantilever strut and enabling 130 mm of fork travel.
Furthermore, the rear gets a monoshock suspension with automatic load compensation, i.e., adjusting the level of damping based on the load exerted by the pillion and manually adjustable damping. Meanwhile, twin 320 mm discs at the front and a single disc at the rear with four-piston calipers on both ends handle braking duties. BMW Motorrad Full Integral ABS is standard on both R 18 variants.
BMW Motorrad also offers a raft of accessories specifically for the R 18 motorcycles, manufactured from milled aluminum in collaboration with Roland Sands Design. A limited-run First Edition is also available with unique metallic paint schemes, chrome parts, and the ‘First Edition’ lettering.
The new R 18 will arrive in the US next month, setting you back $21,495 for the “B” and $24,995 for the Transcontinental.
BMW Motorrad R 18 B
BMW Motorrad R 18 Transcontinental
