BMW R18/2

[loudbeard]

I have to admit, this has me interested, BMW R18/2 Concept. Word is this has the green light for 2020 production. As a dude who is going to be buying a motorcycle (now two maybe) in 2020 this would be perfect for a lot of my riding. To and from work; ~15 mile round trip of back roads. Occasional weekend jaunt. Substantially more appealing to me than any of the cruiser offerings from HD or Indian. I like the mid-controls. I think the bike is absolutely beautiful. I must say, I'm a bit smitten.

[Point37]

heard the price tag on that is crazy

[loudbeard]

I haven’t seen anything about price yet. If it’s a ~$15k bike I’m in. If it’s $20k+ then no way.

[Chippertheripper]

That’s a less stripped down than the version I saw.
Given that the r9t is so pricey, I don’t expect this to be too easy on the wallet.

[Stoneman]

I like the looks! I can't bend my knees like that anymore, which is a big reason I'm now on a Harley. Doesn't look like forward controls/highway pegs would work well on that boxer though.

[Not Sure]

I can't bend my knees like that anymore:

Christ Stoneman, c'mon - you can't bend your knees to 80 degrees?!

[Not Sure]

BMW is really a reminder for Bring My Wallet

Just the way it is. All their machines are silly expensive but IMO their fit & finish, functionality, and engineering are often worth it. I've owned three BWMs, all great.

[Paul_E_D]

I like the looks! I can't bend my knees like that anymore, which is a big reason I'm now on a Harley. Doesn't look like forward controls/highway pegs would work well on that boxer though.

Yeah, but Jay, let's face it. Your legs would be straight on that bike.

[loudbeard]

They had the R18 Concept at IMS over the weekend. Really can't emphasize enough how ridiculous this engine is, pictures don't do it justice.

[Paul_E_D]

They had the R18 Concept at IMS over the weekend. Really can't emphasize enough how ridiculous this engine is, pictures don't do it justice.

Ridiculous is the right word! So odd, and so...big.

[Stoneman]

Christ Stoneman, c'mon - you can't bend your knees to 80 degrees?!

Not like that for more than 5-10 minutes. Sure I can bend 'em that far on good days. But it always costs me.

[Chippertheripper]

They had the R18 Concept at IMS over the weekend. Really can't emphasize enough how ridiculous this engine is, pictures don't do it justice.

that's probably the one I stumbled across. That's much better looking than the maroon one above. Any other standouts?

[loudbeard]

that's probably the one I stumbled across. That's much better looking than the maroon one above. Any other standouts?

It is indeed, that one is entirely concept bike. The maroon one is a concept, but the production bike is going to be very close to it.

That motor is so damn scrumptious.

[Stoneman]

Love the look, love the idea of a 1800cc motor. But man, FOR ME, the comfort level looks real low. It's a shame forward controls won't work with that motor layout. I think that will be it's downfall in the US market.

[nhbubba]

Motor is cool. Looks like they took an early 80's air-head and super-sized it. (That's a good thing.)

I agree. No forward controls, no sale for the demographic they are selling. And those jugs are in the way.
Look at the v-rod. They had a mid-control version and sold like 3 of them. Most sold were forward control. FXDR too.

I wonder what that motor would be like in a bagger/tour-barge?! Take some rake out of it, install a normal swingarm setup (or maybe a single-sider, gold-wing style), cover it all up with bags..

[loudbeard]

I wonder what that motor would be like in a bagger/tour-barge?! Take some rake out of it, install a normal swingarm setup (or maybe a single-sider, gold-wing style), cover it all up with bags..

*Bubs when wife surprises him with lingerie*
"Babe that's GREAT but have you thought of putting on a sweater and some baggy jeans?

[SVRACER01]

I like the looks! I can't bend my knees like that anymore, which is a big reason I'm now on a Harley. Doesn't look like forward controls/highway pegs would work well on that boxer though.

weve figured out that we can get floorboards onto that FXLR.

[loudbeard]

Production model has been released as the BMW R18

Turns out the love I was feeling before was just lusting over that motor. Production bike doesn't look as grand but throw on a set of the stainless steel slip on pipes on the bike builder and it calms the bulbous look down a bit. About $18k for the pleasure of this motocycle.

Love the look, love the idea of a 1800cc motor. But man, FOR ME, the comfort level looks real low. It's a shame forward controls won't work with that motor layout. I think that will be it's downfall in the US market.

They have a "high seat" in the accessories catalog

[Chippertheripper]

oof, those mufflers are ridiculous.
The rest of the aesthetic is relatively unoffensive.

[loudbeard]

They're terrible. There's a difference between a woman with a fat ass and a fat ass woman. This is much cleaner:

[feralchimp]

If I were in the market for a bike this heavy, there's just no way I'd choose this one. I predict these will go to collectors, get built into show bikes, or get passed through long lists of owners in a state of permanent "low miles."

[Garandman]

If I were in the market for a bike this heavy, there's just no way I'd choose this one. I predict these will go to collectors, get built into show bikes, or get passed through long lists of owners in a state of permanent "low miles."

BMw tried this experiment previously, with the R1200C ("Cruiser") in the late 1990's. They produced them for a number of years, culminating the in the R1200C Montauk.


BMW apparently considered the experiment a success, though it doesn't seem many were sold in the US. There are a total of five for sale on CycleTrader. I've seen one, once, at a Yankee Beemers event.

To my mind, extending their lightweight and mid-range lines to compelement the popularity of the GS line makes more sense. The 1,000cc four is a monster, and it's not like they've advertised bikes like the F900R very much.

https://www.rideapart.com/articles/3...le-sales-2019/

[Chippertheripper]

There’s another one after that that’s equally gross too, if I recall. With some weird elevated solo seat or something.

[obsolete]

There’s another one after that that’s equally gross too, if I recall. With some weird elevated solo seat or something.

Isn't that when they fucked Bond all up with BMWs and Pierce Brosnan?

[aldend123]

Isn't that when they fucked Bond all up with BMWs and Pierce Brosnan?

Ya, that's the bike (R1200C) they had in Golden Eye. I really admire that they tried something pretty unique. Shame it ended up being one of the ugliest bikes I can think of from the major manufactures

This R18/2 looks like they got quite a bit closer to successfully executing what they were trying to do with the R1200C. Except for bloated mufflers.