2021 BMW R 18 Review

The all-new 2021 BMW R 18 has finally arrived, and it’s been well worth the wait

There is a touch of rock and roll in the air at Munich, and it’s thanks partly to the all-new 2021 BMW R 18. Combining classic looks with pure muscular performance, the R 18 is BMW’s answer to the American cruiser culture dominated by the likes of Harley-Davidson and Indian.

Powered by BMW’s biggest-ever boxer engine, the 2021 BMW R 18 is a bold and radical statement from a company that traditionally deals in sophistication, refinement, and maturity. And while the 2021 BMW R 18 does meet that criteria, it is also big, flashy, and a little bit angry.

The BMW R 18 has finally arrived

The cruiser world is painted with rock and roll, leather jackets and long beards, and is propped up by the ‘cool kids’ who revel in vintage bikes and vintage clothing. BMW wanted in on the action, and the end result is the R 18.

While the R 18 is clearly a work of visual art, many early critics were concerned it would be a case of all style and no substance. After all, how can a bike with gigantic cylinders hanging off the sides possibly work? The sheer idea of tackling a corner on this beast is a little terrifying.

Well, the 2021 BMW R 18 has finally arrived on Australian soil, and we took it for a spin to see if it is a winner, both on showroom floors and on the road. But first – a quick history lesson…

Is the R 18 just a showpiece? Or will it perform on the road too?

Long time coming

The R 18 isn’t actually BMW’s first attempt at a dedicated cruiser. That honour goes to the BMW R 1200 C which was built between 1997 and 2004. It was an attempt by BMW to tap into the competitive American cruiser market, but with its own distinct European style.

BMW discontinued the R 1200 C in 2005, explaining that it didn’t have the right engine to keep up with the cruiser market’s increasing thirst for large capacities. And so, the curtain was drawn on BMW’s American cruiser exploits – temporarily, at least.

The 2019 Concept R 18 got tongues wagging

The German marque began exploring a return to the cruiser market as early as 2015, but it was 2019 when Motorrad boss Markus Schramm announced plans for a new boxer-powered cruiser. With Harley-Davidson directly in its sights, BMW unveiled the Concept R 18 at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in May, 2019.

It was expected that BMW would unveil the production version at Italy’s EICMA show in Milan in November 2019, but it instead presented another concept. Finally, in April 2020, the Munich-based firm pulled the cover off the long-awaited cruiser in a virtual presentation. By the time it was released, anticipation for the R 18 was at fever pitch.

So was it worth the wait? Hell yeah, it was.

This heritage-inspired cruiser has been a long time coming

Heritage inspired

The idea behind the R 18 is not complex. It’s a large-capacity cruiser with strong heritage overtones and a whole lot of attitude. BMW used historic models such as the famous R 5 as inspiration – not only visually, but technologically too.

The BMW R 18 and its inspo – the R 5

We could talk all day about the construction of the heritage-inspired machine – from the double-loop steel tube frame, to the double-sided swingarm, to the cantilever suspension strut and nickel-plated open drive shaft – but all you need to know for now is that BMW has blended timeless technology with a heady does of modern high-quality engineering. The result is magical.

The Big Boxer is the centerpiece of the new BMW R 18

The centrepiece of course is the ‘Big Boxer’. The 1802cc flat-twin donk puts out 91hp at 4750rpm and 158Nm at 3000rpm. I’ll tell you how that translates to the road in a second, but the monster engine makes an impression before you’ve even hit the start button. Quite simply, it looks incredible.

More: BMW’s R 18 ‘Big Boxer’: 91hp/158Nm

Elsewhere, there is plenty more to marvel at, like the beautiful open drive shaft, the white pinstripe on the tank, the ‘Berlin Built’ inscription on the dash, the beautiful chrome components, and the super-clean and concealed wiring. All these details show BMW’s intention of creating something special. There are a few misfires – like those odd-looking pipes (each to their own) – but on the whole, this is motorcycle art as its finest.

The open drive shaft is a thing of beauty

On the road

Of course people don’t want an R 18 simply to look at it. 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.

The first signs of a good time come when you fire up the Big Boxer. When you hit the start button, the engine rocks from side to side and then rumbles, showing plenty of that aforementioned attitude and anger. It’s a visceral experience – there aren’t many bikes where you literally feel the components working together to give the engine life. Try not to smile – I dare you.

Riding the BMW R 18 is one hell of an experience

When you hit the road, the surprises keep coming. The 158Nm of torque hits quickly as you rocket off the line, but it remains smooth as you hammer through the rev range. The sweet spot is about 3000rpm, but things drop off quickly after 4000rpm, a small price to pay for the excellent low-to-mid range torque. There is a lot of vibration at higher revs too, which does distract a touch, but big cruisers like this are designed to be ridden lower in the rev range anyway.

Minor issues

My only other gripes about the R 18’s engine and drive is that the gearbox can be a little clunky (especially between first and second) and the engine is a little quiet. You can forgive BMW for the gearbox – it is an 1800cc boxer twin after all – but for a piece of heavy metal like this, you’d expect a big sound, and sadly the R 18 never really gives more than a muted growl.

The noise coming from those odd-looking pipes could be better

There are three ride modes available, which BMW has cleverly named Rock, Roll and Rain. Rock mode gives you full power, while Roll tames things down for a more relaxed and user-friendly ride.

If we’re being honest, you’ll probably want to leave it in Rock, because that’s where all the fun is. But be warned: it is potent – especially in wet conditions. There was more than one occasion where I physically felt the rider aids fighting to maintain traction.

The BMW R 18 can be a handful in wet conditions

Weight watchers

One of the biggest surprises about the R 18 is that it doesn’t feel as heavy as the spec sheet suggests. With a wet weight of 345kg, it is well and truly in the heavyweight category, but it actually feels nimble and agile.

It banks from side to side with ease and it tackles corners as well as any other heavy cruiser on the market. Even manoeuvring the bike around the shed is less of a chore than it should be.

The massive cylinders hang out like wings on a jumbo jet

Ground clearance is a slight issue (as with any cruiser), but apart from a little peg-scraping in tighter turns or roundabouts, there isn’t a whole lot to worry about. I was initially worried about the cylinders scraping the tarmac, but they never came close.

Incredibly, you can ride the R 18 much harder than you think. While the weight is evident when you take a corner too fast, the bike will still turn when you need it to. Pick the right gear, trust those powerful brakes, and roll through the corner like a rock star.

The BMW R 18 feels lighter than the spec sheet suggests

Electronic simplicity

Electronically, there isn’t much talk about apart from the aforementioned ride modes. It is all very simple, but you do get Automatic Stability Control (ASC), engine drag torque control (MSR) and BMW’s part-integral (or partly linked) ABS system. There is also hill-hold control ($155) and a reverse gear ($1500) available as optional extras, but unless you’re on the smaller side, you probably won’t need these.

The dash system is as simple as its gets these days, with an analogue speedo coupled with a small LCD panel that displays important information. The menu system is very linear, meaning no confusion or getting drowned in data. There is no analogue tacho, but there is a digital version which works well enough. It’s all beautifully basic, with no unnecessary bells and whistles. The only real downside is the lack of a fuel gauge.

The dash on the BMW R 18 is beautifully simple

Another concern pre-release was the ergonomics. Because of the position of the cylinders, BMW had no choice but to use mid-mount controls. While the cruiser faithful will shake their heads at the lack of traditional forward controls, the truth is that the R 18 ride position is super comfortable for my six-foot stance. You don’t complain about mid-mount controls on an adventure bike, do you?

Yes, the cylinders can get in the way of your feet sometimes, and heat does radiate from the engine (great in winter), but neither problem should turn you off this incredible machine. If you’re on the much-taller side then you might get a little cramped, but most people will be just fine.

No complaints on the BMW R 18 ride position from this reviewer

Money talks

Pricing for the 2021 BMW R 18 starts at $27,205 ride away, which is very respectable considering the build quality, performance and incredible style. The bike on test here is a ‘First Edition’ model, which adds about $3300 to the price. As well as ‘First Edition’ badges, this version also comes with more chrome, and the white pinstripes as standard (yep, that cool pin-striping is only an option on the base package).

We rode the BMW R 18 with the limited ‘First Edition’ package

Of course, BMW is famous for its vast catalogue of accessories and options, many of which you’ll want to add from the get-go. And with the R 18, BMW is encouraging customisation and creativity, so there will be an even bigger range of performance, comfort and aesthetic parts to choose from.

The downside is that it all costs money, and before you know it, you could be writing a cheque for over $35,000. But for those who resist the temptation of all the optional add-ons, you’re going to get a very decent bike for a very reasonable price.

You pay for what you get with the BMW R 18

The verdict

Honestly, there is so much to love about this motorcycle, and this review could be double the length if I was to discuss all the amazing details. But time is of the essence, so I can only recommend you go and have a test ride – you won’t regret it.

A day on the BMW R 18 will leave you with a smile on your face

There are no two ways about it – the BMW R 18 is special. Is it the most practical machine? No. Is it the fastest, best handling, or best sounding machine? Not quite. But is it a machine that will make you fall in love with motorcycling all over again? One hundred per cent.

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. Rock ‘n’ roll ain’t dead yet – not by a long shot.

Specs: 2021 BMW R 18

ENGINE
Type: Air/oil cooled, four-stroke, boxer flat-twin
Capacity: 1802cc
Bore and stroke: 107.1mm x 100mm
Compression ratio: 9.6:1
Fuel system: Electronic fuel injection

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

TRANSMISSION
Clutch type: Hydraulic single-disc dry clutch
Transmission type: Six-speed
Final drive: Universal shaft

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame: Double-loop steel tube frame
Front suspension: 49mm telescopic fork, 120mm travel
Rear suspension: Cantilever, 90mm travel
Front brakes: Twin 300mm disc brakes with part-integral ABS
Rear brakes: Single 300mm disc brake with part-integral ABS
Tyres: 120/70R19 or B19 (front), 180/65B16 (rear)
Wheels: Wire-spoked; 3.5 x 19″ (front), 5.0 x 16″ (rear)

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed wet weight: 345kg
Seat height: 690mm
Length: 2440mm
Width with mirrors: 964mm
Fuel capacity: 16 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $30,695 ride away (as tested)
Colour: Black Storm Metallic
Warranty: Three years
Bike supplied by: BMW Motorrad Australia