BMW R 18: bikesales Bike of the Year 2021 finalist

Any fears that the highly-anticipated BMW R 18 would be nothing more than a novelty were mostly unfounded, because the Munich firm has crafted a beautiful, timeless, and surprisingly capable cruiser that will, in time, be a serious competitor for Harley-Davidson.

Of course, it was foolish to expect anything less from BMW; a company with impeccable attention to detail and a track record of building amazing motorcycles.

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When the R 18 was finally revealed in April 2020, all the hype and anticipation was well and truly justified. The heritage-inspired design blended vintage and modern elements, resulting in a bike that would not look out of place in the Louvre.

With American cruiser attitude and elegant European style, the R 18 looks simply incredible, but it’s not just a case of all style and no substance. The R 18 is a genuinely capable cruiser with a monstrous engine and surprisingly agile chassis. It has gentleman’s style and a rebellious spirit. Who ever said Rock 'n' Roll was noise pollution?

This is a tough question to answer, and I’m not sure BMW itself really knows the answer. On one hand, the Munich firm’s marketing for the R 18 arguably targets a younger, hipper demographic. But the usual cruiser crowd is often of an older vintage.

Throw in the rather big price tag, and the R 18 is more likely to appeal to cashed-up middle-aged motorcyclists looking to make a statement.

The R 18 might also draw in cruiser fans looking to separate themselves from the Harley crowd, while some older riders will love the bike’s historical connections.

The BMW R 18 starts at $27,206 ride away – a pretty reasonable price for a bike of this quality. But it still isn’t cheap, and that may put off some of the younger folk that BMW might like to attract.

Like all BMW models, the R 18 features a vast catalogue of options and accessories that will bump that starting price tag up very quickly. And the likelihood is that most customers will want to personalise their bike.

Other variants in the growing R 18 range include the Classic (starting at $30,864 ride away), the B (starting at $41,157 ride away), and the Transcontinental (starting at $43,591 ride away).

Yeah, it’s not cheap. But true art never is cheap.

It was a seemingly endless wait to ride this machine. It was revealed in April 2020, but we didn’t get to ride it until January 2021. But it was definitely worth being patient.

bikesales editor, Dylan Ruddy, tested the R 18 in January and wrote: “The BMW R 18 is a true rock star with a timeless design that will hopefully never fade. It has the potential to reinvigorate the motorcycle world with its style, attitude, and simplicity.”

Ruddy also commented that the bike exceeded expectations in terms of performance. “People don’t want an R 18 simply to look at it,” he wrote. “And many people, like myself, were sceptical about the bike's on-road performance. It is big, heavy, and doesn’t make a lot of sense in terms of physics. So, how does she go? Surprisingly, bloody brilliantly.”

BMW R 18 at a glance:
Price: From $27,206 ride away
Engine: 1802cc, Air/oil cooled, four-stroke, boxer flat-twin
Output: 91hp (67kW)/158Nm
Transmission: Six-speed
Weight: 345kg (wet)
Seat height: 690mm
Fuel capacity: 16 litres

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