R18 Boxer Cruiser

[Bozo]

BMW will release the 1800cc R18 boxer powered Cruiser in Australia around October 2020.

I wonder how long it will be before the motor is shoe horned into a R1250 GS frame.



Bozo

[Digger]

Needs knobbies!

[Goldie1]

Set of panniers & top box needed

[pspencer]

What it really needs is club member to buy one ASAP. Bozo it could replace your R1200C!

[brian/5]

It looks as if as the cc's goes up the size of fuel tank goes down so what's the range.
But then again it's not a tourer so has enough to reach the few local coffee shops.

[JeffD]

Long, low, wide bars & looks like 19 inch front wheel, should be better than a GS in the sand...

[Raider]

Howdy lads,

Just viewed one of the two pre-production R18 “specials” to be released April and here September? I am in Melbourne right now at a Greek restaurant in Moonee Ponds. Where else? Recovering from the sight. FAAARQUE! Soectacular. Got to sit on the R18 too...

Raider

[Raider]

Lads,

FAAAARRRQUE!! SPectacular.

Raider

[spacey1]

Hi Raider,

For your viewing pleasure

[Raider]

Howdy lads,

I managed an invite to the Australian launch of the R18 in Melbourne. Had to go - kicking and screaming. Here is a quick heads-up. Wasn’t able to assimilate everything in the few minutes with the bike. A little overwhelmed by what I saw. Please excuse any incorrect information. Very special bike! The R18 Special. Faaarque…

Catchy phrase for the launch: “Icons never die, the next chapter in our motorcycling history”. Catchy but accurate.

The REVEAL location: The Ascot Lot, next to the Bearded Jaffle (an HD riders hangout?) in Moonee Ponds. A low rent affair near to where Dame Edna lived…

The “BLACK BOX”: A small darkened room in which the R18 was located.

The BLACKOUT: No photos of the bike! All phones / cameras etc taken away for safe keeping before entry to the “Black Box”. BMW is keeping tight wraps on appearance of the first production bike. See photo of the table with the phones etc…

The REVEAL Experience: Approximately 20 riders at a time were “shown” the bike - one of two pre-production bikes circulating the planet. A 15 minute spectacle. How this was done is worth telling on another occasion. First rate presentation. Very cleverly orchestrated. I got to sit on the bike. Good enough!

The BMW R18 “SPECIAL”:- The first limited production run to be delivered to the first persons who put up the deposit.

The R 18 Special is very close to this bike:
https://www.bmw-motorrad.com.au/en/expe ... ptr18.html

Nothing like the bikes in the photos above… haha

Black with white pin-striping & lots of chrome parts
Horsepower: 90
Torque: 158 Nm (bigger torque numbers than the standard big HD V-twin)
Air-cooled with a small oil cooler front-bottom of engine
Fuel injection
Upside-down forks (?) covered with the classic fork cowls
Spoked wheels
Open chrome-plated drive shaft - classic!
Single seat similar to (but thinner) that on standard Harley Davidson Fat Boy
Removable pillion seat bolts onto rear fender
Single conventional-looking headlamp - complete with fancy cornering stuff…
Electronic ride modes etc but no cruise control
Conventionally placed bar levers
A pair of chromed fishtail exhausts

The solitary factory option - an electric reverse gear!

After market “stuff" co-ordinated with Arlen Ness et al… Is there a sidecar in the offering?


Pricing approximately $30,000 plus on-roads; another $2,000 for the reverse gear option.

First deliveries commencing in April / May 2020? October 2020 in Australia?

Phew… That will do for starters.

The bike ergonomics seemed quite reasonable. I was worried I would be very cramped on it. Not so… I suspect the rear fender and general height around that seating point are a little higher than that in the earlier prototype. Full marks to the designers on this one. Who would have thought?

Three Western Australian riders and Auto Classic's Wesley Liew were on-hand for the occasion.

Thanks to Cookie and Spacey1 for sorting the photos...

Raider

[Cookie]

Our pleasure, the excitement in your voice when we spoke last night was evident, sounds like it was an amazing event and it was great to receive the photos within minutes of the actual event. Great work Raider.

[Raider]

Cookie,

Calico carry bags with the "Icons never die" logo were handed out at the event. I grabbed one to be offered-up at the next Club meeting lottery. See the photo of Wesley Liew holding one of the bags...

Cheers,

Raider

[spacey1]

Raider,

Awesome that you've added your excitement to the compliment your photos!

Always happy to help out

[spacey1]

[davebeemer1]

Thanks for the report on the much anticipated R18. Another tantalising teaser.