The latest member of the R 18 family was introduced by BMW earlier today. The R 18 Roctane is, according to BMW, “a cruiser, a bagger, and everything in-between.” This new model gets a 21″ front wheel, 18″ rear and mid-rise handlebars. Starting price is under $19,000, and includes paint-matched hard side cases. Considering the monster, 1800cc twin, not a bad value, perhaps.
Here is the press release from BMW:
Woodcliff Lake, NJ – May 11, 2023 . . . BMW Motorrad is proud to announce the newest and fifth member of the Heritage line R 18 family, the BMW R 18 Roctane. The R 18 Roctane joins the R 18, R 18 Classic, R 18 B and R 18 Transcontinental.
The R 18 borrows styling cues from past models, such as the 1936 BMW R 5, where the iconic air-oil cooled boxer motor is the epicenter of the purist, “streamliner” design.
Modern technology discretely supports the R 18 Roctane in delivering an emotional riding experience, from the first start of the engine to wherever your heart and the front wheel may guide you, near or far.
Unique R 18 Roctane features
- Mid-rise handlebars
- Instrument cluster integrated into the headlight housing
- Painted hard side cases with integrated turn signals.
- Blacked-out engine and drivetrain
- Dark Chrome exhaust system
- 21-inch front and 18-inch rear alloy wheels.
Design
The new BMW R 18 Roctane is a cruiser, a bagger and everything in between. The larger 21-inch front wheel, combined with the 18-inch rear wheel and the mid-rise handlebars give the new R 18 model a more purposeful look.
Taking design cues from air/oil-cooled BMW boxer models of decades past, design features such as the engine acting as center piece, the double-loop frame, the exposed drive shaft and the rigid-style rear all combine to deliver the tapered streamliner design language intended by BMW Motorrad.
Starting from the steering head, the frame spine and rear swing arm top frame tubes visually form a continuous line. In conjunction with the swing arm’s lower beam tubes, which are aligned with the frame down tubes, this flowing line gives the new R 18 Roctane a muscular appearance.
Attention to the smallest details can be seen throughout the R 18 Roctane. The classic bodyparts of the R 18 Roctane are made of metal. The 4.2-gallon fuel tank’s teardrop shape is derived from the R 5, as are the design of the front and rear fenders, the fork covers and the headlight housing. All, also made of steel.
The flawless paint finishes that have been featured on all R 18 models are found on the new R 18 Roctane. Black Storm Metallic is standard while Mineral Grey Metallic Matte and Manhattan Metallic Matte finishes are available as optional colors. These matte paint finishes contrast with the high-gloss black chassis and ensure a classically modern look.
Painted Hard Cases
The new R 18 Roctane is equipped for cruising and touring thanks to body-color painted cases with integrated LED taillights. The cases offer 27 liters of luggage space each and can be equipped with optional removable liners. The “filler stripes” that cover the space between the cases and the bike can be selected from the available accessories. The original BMW MotorradAccessories range also offers soft luggage options such as the rear bag or frame bag made of waxed canvas with genuine leather trim.
Headlight with Instrument Cluster
Inspired by the legendary 1936 BMW R 5, and from then, on almost all BMW motorcycles until the early 1970s, the R 18 Roctane’s round instrument cluster is integrated into the metal LED headlight housing to give a unique and classic look. The “BERLIN BUILT” lettering on the instrument dial is a reference to the bike’s origin and for all its classic looks, the instrument cluster delivers all the important information such as engine rpm, gear indicator, status inquiry and trip computer details.
Engine
The heart of the new BMW R 18 Roctane is the 1,802-cc boxer engine. This motor carries on the tradition of motorcycles from Munich and Berlin-Spandau from the very beginning of BMW Motorrad production in 1923.
The engine output remains unchanged; 91 hp at 4,750 rpm and a maximum torque of 116 lb-ft at 3,000 rpm, with more than 110 lb-ft. available between 2,000 to 4,000 rpm. The maximum engine speed is 5,750 rpm.
The air/oil cooled motor features a vertically split aluminum engine and weighs a combined 244lbs. with the transmission.
In contrast to the classic air-cooled two-valve boxer engines from BMW Motorrad, the forged crankshaft of the R 18 motor, has an additional center main bearing, which became necessary, due to the large cylinder volume, to prevent undesirable bending vibrations of the crankshaft.
Forged connecting rods, cast aluminum pistons, cylinder walls coated with NiCaSil and a wet sump lubrication system with a two-stage oil pump driven by the crankshaft via a sleeve chain are additional features of the largest BMW boxer motor ever installed in a production motorcycle.
When developing the valve drive for the R 18 boxer motor, BMW Motorrad engineers were inspired by a very special engine design from history – the 2-cylinder boxer of the 1936 – 1941 R 5 / R 51 and the 1950 – 1951 R 51/2, the latter having been the first BMW motorcycle with a boxer engine after the Second World War.
The twin camshaft design allows for shorter pushrods. This arrangement reduces the moving masses, decreases deflection and minimizes the linear expansion of the push rods. The two intake and exhaust valves in the cylinder head are actuated in pairs via fork rocker arms. Valve clearances can be changed by means of one adjusting screw with lock nut per valve, making valve clearance adjustments quicker and easier.
Transmission and Shaft Drive
The constant-mesh, 6-speed gearbox, is located in a two-part aluminum housing and features a four-shaft transmission with helical gear pairs. The transmission input shaft with cleat damper, drives the two transmission shafts with the gear wheel pairs via a countershaft. Reverse gear,driven by an intermediate gear and an electric motor, is available as an option.
A single-plate, dry, self-reinforcing anti-hopping clutch eliminates undesired rear wheel hop which may be caused by engine drag torque during hard down shifts.
As in all BMW motorcycles with boxer engines, torque is transmitted from the gearbox to the rear wheel via a driveshaft or Cardan shaft drive. The open, nickel-plated drive shaft and universal joint are examples of classic motorcycle technology commonly used on BMW Motorrad models up to and including model year 1955. A so-called tripoid joint is installed on the gearbox side for the purpose of length compensation.
Chassis
The chassis in the new R 18 Roctane is the same double-loop steel tube frame used in the R 18 and R 18 Classic. The high manufacturing quality and attention to detail is evident in barely perceptible details such in the steering head struts as well as in the welded joints between steel tubes and cast or forged parts. Some of the tube joints in the steering head area are cut at an angle, which makes the connection look particularly pleasing to the eye.
The rear steel swing arm is made of steel tubes and cast or forged parts and combined with the central cantilever shock, is designed to give the look of the rigid frame used in the original BMWR 5. As a result, the rigid-frame style layout also provides the so-called flyline, from front to rear, of the overall R 18 design.
The suspension elements of the new R 18 Roctane, also reflect the classic design. Electronic adjustment options have been deliberately omitted. Instead, telescopic forks and a central shockwith travel-dependent damping and adjustable spring preload ensure superior wheel guidance and suspension control and comfort. As in the legendary BMW R 5, the fork tubes are encased in fork sleeves. The fixed fork tube diameter is 49 mm, while suspension travel is 4.7-inches at the front and 3.5-inches at the rear, same as on the R 18.
Controls and Ergonomics
The new BMW R 18 Roctane features mid-mounted controls, a long-standing BMW Motorrad philosophy of rider positioning. This classic position behind the cylinders is not only typical of BMW, but it also allows for a relaxed and active riding position for optimally controlling themotorcycle. The R 18 Roctane features a slim two-level seat that tapers towards the rear, with rear passenger straps, and is equipped with running boards in conjunction with a heel-toe gearshift controls. The mid-rise, black-coated handlebars and the comfortably low 28.3-inch seat height (27.3-inches for the R 18) ensure an upright and relaxed riding posture.
Wheels, Tires and Brakes
The new BMW R 18 Roctane features twin 300 mm front disc brakes with four-piston fixed calipers and a 300 mm single-disk rear brake. BMW Motorrad Integral ABS (partially integral) is standard. On this brake system, the hand brake lever activates the front and rear brakes together. The foot brake lever only acts on the rear brake. BMW Motorrad Integral ABS adjusts the brake force distribution between the front and rear brakes during braking based on the dynamic wheel load distribution.
The R 18 Roctane’s cast alloy wheels have a very distinctive look, greater wheel diameters at the front and rear compared to the R 18. The 3.5 x 21” front wheel (3.5 x 19-inches on the R18) is equipped with a 120/70 B21 tire (120/70 R19 on the R 18),
while a 180/55 B18 tire (180/65 B16 on the R 18) is used on the 5.5 x 18″ rear wheel (5.0 x 16-inches on the R 18). The 21-inch front wheel extends the castor significantly (7.3-inches in the R 18 Roctane vs. 5.9-inches for the R 18), improving straight-line stability.
Adaptive Headlight
The optional adaptive headlight, which is unique in this class, works by activating separate LED elements in the main headlight, which each have their own reflectors, depending on the lean angle. The function is used to compensate for the lean angle in relation to the cut-off of the low beam. The signal of the lean angle sensor is read, and the adaptive headlight is switched on. The function is activated when the engine is running, the low beam or high beam is activated, darkness is detected, and the motorcycle is moving at a speed above 6 mph and at a lean angle approximately between 7° and 25°. This significantly improves the illumination of the inside of the curve – a big safety plus when riding at night or in other situations with poor lighting conditions.
Available Reverse Assist and Hill Start
Control plus standard Cruise Control.
The new R 18 Roctane can be equipped with optional Reverse Assist and Hill Start Control. Reverse Assist can be activated via the selector lever when needed. Reverse is then initiated by pressing on the starter button. Hill Start Control makes it particularly easy to start off on an incline. It is activated by briefly operating the hand or foot brake lever. Optional heated grips will keep your hands warm on cold days. The R 18 Roctane is equipped with standard cruise control.
Riding Modes and Safety Systems
The BMW R 18 Roctane is equipped with standard keyless start and Riding Modes. Keyless Ride allows the rider to keep the key safely in the pocket.The new R 18 Roctane features the same three riding modes R 18 riders are familiar with: “Rain”, “Roll” and “Rock”. ASC (Automatic Stability Control, disengageable) and Engine Drag Control are also standard and ensures a high level of riding safety.
In “Rain” mode, throttle response is gentler, and the control characteristics of ASC and engine drag control allow for a more slippery road surface to achieve a very high level of riding safety.
In “Road” mode, the engine offers optimum throttle response, while ASC and engine drag control are set to achieve ideal performance on all roads.
The “Rock” riding mode allows the rider to explore the full dynamic potential of the new R 18 Roctane. Throttle response is very spontaneous and direct, and ASC allows a little more slip.
In each riding mode, the optimum interaction of throttle response, ASC control and engine drag torque control is provided. This means that the three riding modes offer optimum adjustment options – both, with regard to road conditions (Rain mode), and the rider’s personal ride experience (Rock mode).
The standard, electronically controlled, Engine Drag Control prevents the rear wheel from slipping because of abrupt throttle changes or downshifting. An anti-hopping clutch is opened from a mechanically preset threshold to prevent the rear wheel from hopping – for example when down shifting. However, if the tire’s available grip is below this opening threshold, for example in wet conditions, the rear wheel could still exceed the traction limit due to the engine drag torque and simultaneous activation of the rear wheel brake and then slip. Thanks to engine drag control, the new R 18 Roctane detects this danger at an early stage. Depending on the coefficient of friction between the tire and the road surface, the throttle valves are opened in milliseconds, in such away that the drag torque is reduced, and the rear wheel remains within its traction range. This results in further enhanced safety, especially on slippery roads.
Colors
- Black Storm Metallic
- Mineral Gray Metallic Matte
- Manhattan Metallic Matte
Standard Equipment
- 2-cylinder 1,802 cc air/oil-cooled Boxer motor 91 hp and 116 lb-ft of torque
- 6-speed helical toothed gearbox
- Stainless steel exhaust system
- Anti-hopping single-disk, dry clutch
- Nickel-plated exposed shaft drive
- Mid-rise handlebar
- 21-inch front and 18-inch rear cast aluminum wheels
- Automatic stability control
- BMW Motorrad Integral ABS (partially integral)
- 300 mm twin-disk front and 300 mm single-disk rear brakes
- Dynamic Brake Control
- Steering Stabilizer
- 49mm Telescopic forks with fork covers
- 12v power socket
- Instrument cluster integrated into headlight housing
- Electronic immobilizer
- Comfort LED turn signals
- LED headlight and taillights
- Cruise Control
- On board computer
- Torque Control Assist
- Dynamic Engine Brake Control
- Riding Modes
- Adjustable hand brake and clutch levers
- Integrated side cases, painted body color
- Keyless Ride
- Black powertrain
- Dark Chrome plated header and exhaust
- Solo seat
- Floorboards
Optional equipment
- Select Package – Adaptive Headlight, Headlight Pro, Heated Grips, Tire Pressure Monitor
- Locking Fuel Cap
- Hill Start Control
- Reverse Assist
Accessories
The R 18 Roctane features a wide selection of BMW Motorrad and BMW Option 719 accessories, including:
- Exhaust systems
- Engine, cylinder head cover and are intake runner covers
- Wheels
- Mirrors
- Front fenders
- Expansion tank, fuel filler and fork covers
- Hand control levers
- Solo seats, passenger seats and back rests
- Windshields
- Tank bags
- Luggage rack
- Rear bag
- Mobile phone bag
Technical specifications.
| R 18 Roctane | ||
| Engine | ||
| Capacity | cc/cu. in. | 1,802 / 110 |
| Bore x stroke | mm | 107.1 x 100 |
| Output | hp | 91 @ 4,750 rpm |
| Torque | lb-ft. | 116 @ 3,000 rpm |
| Type | Air/oil-cooled 2-cylinder 4-stroke boxer | |
| No. of cylinders | 2 | |
| Compression / fuel | 9.6:1 / premium unleaded | |
| Valve / accelerator actuation | OHV / 4-valves per cylinder | |
| Ø intake/exhaust valve dia. | mm | 41.2 / 35.0 |
| Ø throttle body dia. | mm | 48 |
| Engine control | BMS-O | |
| Emission control | Closed-loop 3-way catalytic converter, EU5 | |
| Electrical system | ||
| Alternator | W | 600 |
| Battery | V/Ah | 12/26 maintenance-free |
| Headlight | LED low and high beam | |
| Starter | kW | 1.5 |
| Transmission | ||
| Clutch | Hydraulically activated single-plate dryclutch | |
| Gearbox | Constant-mesh 6-speed gearbox | |
| Primary ratio | 1.16 | |
| Transmission ratios I | 2.438 | |
| II | 1.696 | |
| III | 1.296 | |
| IV | 1.065 | |
| V | 0.903 | |
| VI | 0.784 | |
| Rear wheel drive | Universal shaft | |
| Transmission ratio | 3.091 | |
| Suspension | ||
| Frame construction type | Steel double-loop tube frame | |
| Front suspension | Fixed telescopic fork, 49 mm | |
| Rear suspension | Cantilever | |
| Suspension travel front/rear | in. | 4.7 / 3.5 |
| Wheel castor | in. | 7.3 |
| Wheelbase | in. | 67.7 |
| Steering head angle | ° | 55.3 |
| Brakes | front | Twin disc brake Ø 300 mm |
| rear | Single-disc brake Ø 300 mm | |
| ABS | BMW Motorrad Partially Integral ABS | |
| Wheels | Light alloy cast wheels | |
| front | 3.5 x 21″ | |
| rear | 5.5 x 18” | |
| Tires | Front | 120/70 B 21 |
| Rear | 180/55 B 18 | |
| Dimensions and weights | ||
| Total length | in. | 103.0 |
| Total width with mirrors | in. | 37.5 |
| Seat height | in. | 28.3 |
| DIN unladen weight | lbs. | 825 |
| Permitted total weight | lbs. | 1,234 |
| Fuel tank capacity | gal. | 4.2 |
| Performance figures | ||
| 0-62 mph | sec. | 5.46 |
| Top speed | mph | 111 |
Nice bike.
Yet another brand stealing Harley-Davidson’s styling. The front fender and saddlebags have a near identical outline to the current H-D Touring models. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I suppose H-D should be feeling pretty good right about now. As for the BMW purists, I can only imagine how sacrilegious this must be. Ha ha.
For those who like the boxer engine this looks just fine. And for what it was designed to do, longer highway stints, it works great. Bad mouthing a bike before riding it in it’s ‘natural habitat’ is not very bright.
I think you are missing the whole point of the peanut gallery/ comments section. 🙂
When do I get my R1800GS?
Glad to see that the designers of the Pontiac Aztec have found work at BMW.
Now Gerry . . . that’s mean.
I’m not personally familiar with the Pontiac Aztek but a quick search shows that, while hardly pretty, the Aztek was little different from the small/midsize SUVs that are so common now, at least in the UK. As such, BMW may be thinking they have started a profitable trend rather than spawned a monster!
@Gerry – BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Long, low, blacked out and German, this would definitely be the ride of choice for up and coming SS officers, had things worked out differently in the 1940s.
825 pounds before sitting on it or loading those hardbags. A 175 pound rider makes it a half ton! The front end is kicked out so far it won’t corner worth a crap. Not even 100 horsepower either. Oh, and all for (just) 20K+ well equipped. Well, it’s cheaper than a Harley!
Good to see that BMW (Baader-Meinhof Werke) is dying. The most worthless engineers in history have teamed up with the most uninspired designers ever and come up with this.
The abomination that is the boxer powerplant which in 70 years of development still has teething problems like the rear lift before take-off, the cylinders being where your feet should be, the roasting of your shins because of the colossal heat from the cylinders and least but not least the right side torque reaction, simply boggles the mind
They now found BMW designers even more useless than their engineers and thought that copying a Harley-Davidson street glide was good enough.
I expect the announcement of the demise of BMW motorcycles very soon. The world will rejoice and I will be hosting a large party.
Have you ridden one?
Oh! It just disappears beneath you! It only takes a half a block to make a U-Turn! Oh, you’ve got to ride this…Ad nauseam.
So you have no problem riding a fat pig in public…wearing “protetion” i.e., a full face helmet?
And no, I said “fat pig” not a Hog. Looks matter not to you, eh Mr. Sensitive New Age Guy.
SNAG. You bought one, didn’t ya?! In the immortal words of Rodney Dangerfield as “Al Czervik” in “Caddyshack”: “Ooo! It looks good on you!”
Well then, good for you!
ORT as in Old Road Toad, i.e. Hodaka made ’em!
Yes I have ridden different BMW’s. Either as a rental on holidays or borrowed from friends.
All boxers engine powered ones are horrible. They are abominations in the world of motorcycles. Everything is wrong with them. Unrideable.
The single cylinder and parallel twins are better but have nothing that sets them apart. As a matter of fact they are below average.
Apparently BMW is committing a slow suicide. Good. They will not be missed.
It’s evident that a lot of people thinks about the boxer engine totally different than you. I’ve never ridden one, but mechanically it’s very efficient and has a great sound.
I work for a dealer that sells several brands and the number one Adventure bike sold is the R1250GS and R1250GSA both Boxer engines. The number one Sport Touring bike sold is the R1250RT, again a boxer engine. We also sell Honda and the number one Touring bike sold is the Honda Goldwing, again boxer engine. We have been selling motorcycles for 75 years and the most reliable engine is a boxer engine. We have a goldwing in our museum with over 500,000 miles on a boxer engine. We’ve had over 50 customers put over 200,000 miles on many different boxer engines with little to no problems. How is the boxer engine horrible? The boxer engine is SMOOTH, extremely low maintenance, extremely reliable, linear power delivery, and BMW has a long history with the motorcycle community.
Now with all that said, I’m not sure jumping head on into the Cruiser and Cruiser touring market was a good idea but BMW makes a great range of other bikes that sell well and even some not Boxers like the S1000RR.
I own a number of independent motorcycle shops and we welcome the boxers in the garage because they are always broken or at the point of breaking.
My mechanics are not allowed to do test runs because they are too dangerous: rear lift before take-off, the cylinders being where your feet should be, the roasting of your shins because of the colossal heat from the cylinders and least but not least the right side torque reaction.
Since it is the official dealerships that brings these to us, we dont have to.
As for trade-in we don’t touch them with a bargepole.
Good as well because my salespeople never ever have customers asking them for BMW boxers.
Must be the sophistication of the clientele that we attract.
Riddle me this batman: if these boxers are so superior how come all of the other manufacturers are NOT building them.
Read my post again and you know why.
“My mechanics are not allowed to do test runs because they are too dangerous: rear lift before take-off, the cylinders being where your feet should be, the roasting of your shins because of the colossal heat from the cylinders and least but not least the right side torque reaction.”
I don’t know WTF you’re talking about (and suspect that you don’t, either)
“rear lift before take-off” – I don’t even know what this is supposed to mean. Are you talking about shaft jacking? It’s almost completely absent with the Paralever setup.
The cylinders have never gotten in the way of my feet. Admittedly that might be a problem with this cruiser model.
Shin roasting is no worse than any number of other bikes I’ve owned. Less bad than some of them, actually. Hardly a safety issue, anyway.
Torque reaction on throttle blipping? Slightly odd, but again not any kind of safety issue.
I’ve heard many criticisms of BMW Boxer engines, and BMWs in general, and share some of them, but not generally that they’re in some way unsafe (except for rear drive unit failures).
Who actually buys these boat anchors?
The fact that BMW actually followed others into a market segment that isn’t where they would normally go still surprises me. Secondly the last BMW cast in the American fashion was a complete disaster and makes one wonder why try again. The balance of this is the build quality is quite impressive and those immense jugs jutting out each side don’t scream mechanical presence, they bellows it like a huge ship entering port, it’s completely it’s own beast unlike any other.
I believe this motorcycle has a place in the cruiser market in spite of some issues that are unavoidable. Weight is both a curse and blessing. Certainly at parking lot speeds or less you’ll need to eat your Wheaties but when underway and we’ll beyond legal freeway speeds that same weight becomes the primary factor in locomotive like stability. The lack of for and aft foot placement impede long distance comfort, but almost any BMW has singular position foot placement, and yet BMW riders have earned respect for the distances they cover.
I personally really want to test ride one before I condemn or elevate it to remarkable status. In the right place under the right conditions this motorcycle likely shines, although this to is applicable to many motorcycles.
I like it.
Using the imagery of the R5 in a lame attempt to tie this behemoth to their heritage is more than a little cynical – those deco/streamliner BMWs of the 30s were handsome, iconic motorcycles, not whatever these cartoonish R18s are supposed to be. What’s sad is that BMW could’ve actually built a true deco style retro bike of reasonable size and weight but they chose to chase “heavyweight cruiser” sales instead – scrapping for a slice of HDs dying market share.
Both of my local Royal Enfield dealers have the Hunter 350 in stock. In all honesty I would sooner buy that bike, get 80 mpg and ride it across the USA before I ever considered an R18. It is not that I do not “get it” as I have owned a GL1800 but this BMW is to me, without any merit.
If others here like and want it, that is fine with me. The R18 in any version is F U G L Y. 😉
ORT
Oh common ORT. As art deco bikes go, they nailed it. The Germans have their own little fair. This thing brings it.
I like art deco. You should have seen the power plant that I worked in. Absolutely beautiful. Toss this bike on the turbine floor and take million bike selling photos.
Too late. They tore the place down and scrapped it.
If I were in to these sorts of bikes. I would think that I lived in a world of fabulous riches. Just reach up and pluck the apple of your eye.
But I’m not that guy. Motorcycles are sports equipment. I want the best street bike for the venue that I am riding on. So I live in a world of abject poverty.
My heart bleeds for you
I am an admirer of Fritz Lang’s Magnum Opus “Metropolis” and the R18 is not my idea of art deco but I understand it finding favor in others eyes. As I said, if others here like it and buy it, fine!
The R18 may well represent your ideal “Maschinenmensch” and that is again, just fine but I am more in favor of Lester del Rey’s “Helen O’Loy. I am old but somewhat a sentimentalist. 😉
This R18 is, if you will, just too “too” for me.
ORT
I haven’t understood the R-18 concept from day one. I’d -choke – buy a Hardley before I’d buy one of these.
So it comes in primer. Do they paint it or do I?
Come on BMW leave that segment alone. There is a lot of other neat things you could be doing
Too much weight on my tailbone causes me pain. No likey.
These R18’s are so heavy, it is even really hard to lift them off their sidestands. I looked at them at the dealer and the sales guy told me they are slow selling because of their weight. That said, I like the look and wish they made a 900cc version with the same aesthetic. I could deal with 500#, but not 825.
The way the thing starts out it sounds like they’re pimping a woods bike. It has 18 and 21 inch wheels and mid raise bars. But wait a sec. Look at the pictures. It looks like something that you would pull the engine out of to use to decimate a forest. Just hook that drive shaft up to the buzz saw and figure out which gear to run it in. Bob’s your uncle. That forest will be a wasteland in no time.
I’m kind of interested to see just what color the Germans think Manhattan is. And what are the people of Manhattan going to think about it?
The cruiser market serves as salt they rub into a wound that just won’t heal. In it they have everything under the sun and more on the horizon.
But will the street bike industry make even one bike for guys like me? Nope! Sorry Mick. You’ll get bupkis forever and like it. You want excellence? Go buy another dirt bike, if you can find a proper two stroke in that ocean of four stroke rubbish, and get out of our hair. If you find some guy named Link wandering around lost over by the dirt bikes send him our way. And give him a sack of money for us.
Maybe two stroke braid for grass engine. For a bicycle.
And…Get. Off. My. Lawn.
You are the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to motorcycling (cue eye roll) except through Mick.
1800cc with a 4.2 gallon (US) tank? Begs the question, WTF are the bags for? Auxiliary fuel tanks?
This bike with its “armadillo-on-the-barbie-motor” is the very definition of stupid-fugly. Victory’s Magnum had a 21″ front wheel. It still does but the company has gone the way of the Dodo. But it had a fuel capacity of 5.8 gallons (US) that allowed the owner to actually go somewhere on the bike.
This BMW is one dumb bike for really dumb people. People who go nowhere but the Starcucks to sip crappucinos and trash talk Harleys. Kinda like Goldwing owners since the recent demise of “Wing Ding”.
BMW – The legendairy BBQs of Germainey.
ORT
With 1.8L producing a very mild 91hp, it’s probably very fuel efficient at cruising/highway speeds, much more so than a 1.0L that makes ~125hp.
“Unique R 18 Roctane features
Mid-rise handlebars
Instrument cluster integrated into the headlight housing
Painted hard side cases with integrated turn signals.
Blacked-out engine and drivetrain
Dark Chrome exhaust system
21-inch front and 18-inch rear alloy wheels.”
None of these are “unique” features.
Maybe unique in BMW R18 production. Dontcha just love marketing people?
No.
This is the longest description and spec sheet about NOTHING, ever.
If it put out a true 120 HP might be worthwhile…if i was rich…
The 21-inch front wheel/tire appears surprisingly appropriate, which speaks to how large this motorcycle is. It looks gorgeous, at least in pictures.