BMW reveals K18 six-cylinder bagger concept

BMW has unveiled a luxury inline six-cylinder bagger concept at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este show at Lake Como.

The Vision K18 is described by BMW as a “one-off vision bike”, but it’s not hard to imagine a production version, which would almost certainly rival the Honda Gold Wing.

BMW has developed production motorcycles from concepts presented at the Concorso d’Eleganza before – most notably the R 18, which was first showcased in 2019 as the Concept R 18.

At the heart of the Vision K18 is an 1800cc inline six-cylinder engine, which is presumably a larger version of the 1649cc six-cylinder engine in the K 1600 touring range.

According to BMW’s press release, the Vision K18 is inspired by “long-haul aviation” and features an “arrow-shaped silhouette” that looks like an “aircraft taking off” and a “sprinter in the starting blocks”.

There are also many design elements that reference the six-cylinder engine, including six LED headlights, six intakes, and six tailpipes.

“With the BMW Motorrad Vision K18, we show how we interpret performance, luxury and emotion in a new, very confident way,” said BMW Motorrad CEO Markus Flasch.

“For us, the inline six-cylinder is far more than an engine – it is a statement. The Vision K18 translates this power into a sculptural form that makes dynamism and speed tangible even at a standstill.”