BMW R 18 Roctane 2023 Review

Producing multiple motorcycles from a common base is nothing new in the motorcycle world.

Just as nearly every other manufacturer has done over the years with sports bikes that also double as tourers, cruisers, adventurers and so on, BMW is proliferating its model lines to great effect at present.

Cue the 2023 BMW R 18 Roctane. The fifth member of BMW’s R 18 cruiser line-up, the Roctane takes on a distinct hot rod bent, offering greater touring capacity and its own distinct styling.

It builds on the standard R 18 platform by adding two 27L hard cases, heated grips, high handlebars, and a blacked-out engine and exhaust as standard.

Perhaps the biggest change is a larger 21-inch front wheel (from 18 inches), which extends the R 18 Roctane’s trail to 18.5cm to purportedly offer greater straight-line stability.

Drawing inspiration from the legendary BMW R5 from 1936, the R 18’s positioning is visually embellished by black styling flourishes, a double-loop frame and rigid-style rear.

It does so while utilising a familiar 1802cc boxer four-cylinder engine, shaft driveline and a no-frills approach to its key instrumentation.

It’s one thing to have multiple models based on a common base, but each really needs to have a distinct flavour – both in terms of styling and the way it rides.

Does the R 18 Roctane achieve its objective? Let’s find out.

What does the 2023 BMW R 18 Roctane cost?

The R 18 Roctane will set buyers back $27,890 plus on-road costs.

At that price, it undercuts rivals like the Harley-Davidson Road King ($41,495) by a hefty margin.

The standard equipment list is quite generous, too: keyless ride, cast aluminium wheels, steering stabilise, LED tail-light, brake light and indicators, 12-volt charging socket, adjustable levers and cruise control.

Furthermore, the standard electronics and safety suite comprises of stability control, dynamic engine brake control, anti-locking brakes and three riding modes (Rock, Roll and Rain).

That said, even at this money buyers have to pony up additional cash for items like a lockable fuel cap, hill start control, adaptive headlight and daytime riding, floorboards, a reverse gear, tyre pressure control and an anti-theft alarm system. They’re all bundled into a $3100 Highline package.

What powers the 2023 BMW R 18 Roctane?

Power is sourced from a common air/oil-cooled 1802cc boxer two-cylinder engine shared with other R 18 models, including the R 18, R 18 Classic, R 18 B and R 18 Transcontinental.

The engine is mated to a 6-speed transmission and a single-plate dry clutch, sending drive via a nickel-plated driveshaft.

Officially, the big boxer outputs 67kW and 158Nm, while fuel consumption is rated at 5.6L/100km on the combined cycle.

Engine aside, the R 18 Roctane utilises 4-piston fixed calipers clamping down on dual 300mm discs up front, with a single 300mm disc on the rear – both supported by ABS.

The R 18 is suspended by a 49mm telescopic fork and a centrally-mounted rear shock flanked by a dual steel swingarm.

How comfortable is the 2023 BMW R 18 Roctane?

Generally speaking, it’s very comfortable.

The R 18 Roctane’s rider triangle is more or less built around touring, with easy-to-reach mid-rise ‘bars and cavernous foot boards that are positioned closer to the seat than you’d expect – behind its protruding heads to maximise comfort. Those wanting the real long-journey experience can spring for an optional windscreen with auxiliary lights, or suspended turn indicator lights – both from BMW’s optional extras catalogue.

BMW says it deliberately adopted a simplistic approach to instrumentation, too. The round centrally-mounted cluster speaks to that with its no-frills styling and lack of useability.

Integrated into the top of the metal LED headlight housing, the cluster does include engine rpm, gear indicator, status inquiry and key trip information. Truth be told, navigation of the lower digital display is quite clunky, yet in keeping with the simplistic positioning.

The R 18 Roctane’s 720mm-high, two-level seat offers decent ergos and long-journey amenity; we became a bit fidgety after a couple of hours in the seat, but regular stops mean it easily passes the idea of multi-day trips.

What is the 2023 BMW R 18 Roctane like to ride?

Not surprisingly for a 374kg, 2.5-metre long machine, the R 18 Roctane feels and rides big.

It isn’t hard to be initially overawed by its size, especially upon pulling out of the hilly carpark at the national launch recently. Those bulky 27-litre panniers only add to the initial heft, though there’s no denying their practical advantage.

Once moving, however, the R 18 Roctane is surprisingly accommodating and easy to navigate.

The basic controls react positively to inputs, and for all of its heft and boxer orientation, the engine is quite neutral during weight transfers – the exception being a particularly notable jolt upon start-up and during walking-speed passage.

A neutral, mid-mounted footpeg positioning helps to create an open cockpit, complemented by high-set handlebars and a relatively soft, two-level seat. Getting a size 10 boot in underneath the gear lever for upshifts is fiddlier than you’d expect, though the problem is partly addressed by the fitment of a heel shifter as well.

Our 300km return loop up the Putty reveals the R 18 Roctane rewards a certain type of riding style: holding a higher gear through corners tends to accentuate the engine’s busy horizontal inertia; taking a lower gear mitigates much of the problem on launch.

In the softer Roll setting, the Roctane feels measured and linear in acceleration, accompanied by a muted off-beat warble that probably doesn’t do the bike’s bold styling justice.

Rock brings decidedly more oomph to the drivetrain, with a sharper throttle response and more pull through the rev range.

Regardless of mode selection, the R 18 Roctane rewards best in the lower end of the rev count, with peak torque materialising between 2000rpm and 4000rpm, and peak power chiming in from 4750rpm.

As those numbers might tell you, for all of its size and displacement, the 1802cc donk isn’t all that spirited around middling revs. It means you’re shifting up and down the six-speed transmission more than you might expect.

From a ride and handling perspective, the R 18 Roctane telepraphs what’s happening underneath you really well, be it through the handlebars, footboards and seat. Vibration levels are tolerable while wind buffeting is ever-present around the helmet.

The 49mm fork feels controlled and measured through the stroke, while the rear shock offers a surprising level of damping and sophistication, resisting against any harsh rebounds over undulating country roads with an 85kg rider on board.

It turns into corners positively and changes direction with more willingness than its kerb weight suggests, even kissing the bitumen with its floorboards through sharper corners.

Stopping power is linear and ultimately adequate but hardly earth-shattering – no surprise given the sheer physics at play.

All told, the R 18 Roctane is a jack of all trades: it will happily plod along a highway or country road with a settled, planted demeanour, and it will clip through a mountain pass with a surprising degree of athleticism given its size and weight.

Fuel efficiency is line-ball with the claim on launch, averaging 5.6L/100km on our trip and correlating with a rough 250km real-world riding range.

Should I buy a 2023 BMW R 18 Roctane?

The BMW R 18 Roctane is big on the details, and makes a convincing pitch to established rival cruisers.

It feels well put together, offers plenty of charm and feels well executed on-road. There’s charm in its inherent simplicity, too.

More than anything, it also offers a genuine point of difference from other R 18 models, justifying its place in the Berlin manufacturer’s evolving range.

ENGINE
Type: Air-cooled two-cylinder four-stroke boxer engine
Capacity: 1802cc (110 cubic inches)
Bore x stroke: 103.5mm x 117.5mm
Compression ratio: 9.6:1
Fuel system: Electronic manifold injection, digital engine management

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 91hp (67kW) at 4750rpm
Claimed maximum torque: 158Nm at 3000rpm

TRANSMISSION
Type: Six-speed
Final drive: Shaft
Clutch: Single-disc dry

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame type: Double loop tubular steel frame with bolt-on lower frame rails
Front suspension: 49mm Telescopic fork, 120mm travel
Rear suspension: Steel dual swingarm with central spring strut, 90mm travel
Front brakes: Dual disc, 300mm 4-piston radial caliper
Rear brakes: Single disc, 300mm 4 piston radial caliper
Wheels/tyres: 21- and 19-inch Aluminium Cast Wheels, 120/70/B21 front tyre and 180/55 B18 rear tyre

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed wet weight: 374kg
Seat height: 720mm
Length: 2515mm
Height: 1294mm
Fuel capacity: 20L

OTHER STUFF
Price: from $27,890 plus ORCs
Colours: Black Storm Metallic (standard), Mineral Grey Metallic Matt and Manhattan Metallic Matt (optional)
Warranty: Five years, unlimited kilometres