[N0mad]

I do think they overestimated the market for the R18, and definitely price doesn't help. However, Unit Garage recently made a sportail kit and exhaust for it and looks awesome. I would seriously consider it if it I had the money for it.

 

[Benkos]

I do think they overestimated the market for the R18, and definitely price doesn't help. However, Unit Garage recently made a sportail kit and exhaust for it and looks awesome. I would seriously consider it if it I had the money for it.

View attachment 159617

That's about the only style of cruiser I'd ever consider riding.

 

[BlitzSchnell]

At my local dealer: 2022 R18 Bagger w/active cruise control, etc.

$25,740
Cash back $ 3,000
Demo Discount $5,245

Total $17,495. And 0% APR

You might be able to get the other discounts, MOA member, military…


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

That’s a California price I’m pretty sure. It’s become an issue there because some Californian’s are having a bit of a financial dilemma these days with everyone leaving the state … so I’m sure that dealership is feeling the pressure. Everyone who can stand-up and walk is walking.
The 18 is a big and beautiful bike … I recently saw a very custom R18 Bobber style that looked amazing …
I’d be afraid to leave that bike in a parking lot for more than just a few minutes …. It would be gone I’m sure.
…………………… Blitz

 

[JohanH]

While at the dealer for a tyre exchange, they lend me one for a test drive. I totally loved the bike, altough i was a HD Road King owner before my R9T, so i'm into the bike style.
It was the R18 First edition, and that thing has torque, lots really.

I think the problem is the price, only HD or Indian can sell these type of bikes at this prices.

As for me, later in life, i would own a r18 bobber style. I do enjoy the look and the power.

The price not only issue methinks. Heard dicussions where it is stated that even Harley are struggling to sell their bikes, simply because their biggest support are from the "Boomer " generation and the younger generation have different needs and it is alleged they do not even consider buying a motorbike. Could be that they read the market wrong in terms of needs and demands, however I take my hat off to BMW to play a bit with the boxer and build us a really big one. I am sure it is not such a nice ride as a GS or an RT or the 1600 GT, it is something nice to drool over and if I could I would have liked to play a little. Siince I am a "boomer" myself and after having been informed by my wife to plan for retirement, for me that ship has sailed. The younger guys can play.

 

[GenericUser1]

Was offered an R18 as a loaner over a weekend when my bike was getting serviced, took a 850 GS instead.

 

[BlitzSchnell]

Was offered an R18 as a loaner over a weekend when my bike was getting serviced, took a 850 GS instead.

@GenericUser1 Why ? Not even curious … that was perfect … to have and ride freely for a day or two … you would have been an excellent resource for the rest of us to learn … was it a 👍🏻 … or was it a 👎🏻 ? …………… Blitz

What’s wrong with this interpretation of what was originally a stock ugly bike ?
It went from stock R18 ugly to R18 beauty ! See how pretty those exhaust pipes could have been from the factory …. I’ve slowly become a “BobberBoy” and I’d surely give a bike that clean and that powerful a try for a week or two ….. and I’m pretty sure I’d end up buying it too … if you’re at all impressed with the available torque on your 9T … and you should be … wait until you test ride the 18 … 😱

Don’t you wish this had been your loaner GenericUser1 …………..

 

[DaveSnowPros]

The original teaser bike was beautiful. With the pogo style solo seat, and the inverted hand controls with the signals on the bar ends. Then it seems something happened between that and releasing it on the market. The bike became Americanized with the boring same old same old seat. To BMWs credit, some backpedaling was done, and that pogo seat was offered.
I don't know how many of you guys have actually got a chance to ride one but I did and I will say it is not very comfortable. The boxer engine does not allow a forward control look or feel much like the Harley and Indians do that big jug, 2 inches from your shin makes for an uncomfortable ride in my opinion. Plus the bike is awkwardly heavy for being such a low rider.
Now if you just wanted to be different, and your main riding style is barhopping, the bike works.

Exactly this. The concept was beautiful. If they had just mass produced that they would have sold loads of them. Unfortunately, they added those stupid exhausts and the big seat and now it just looks like a dogs dinner. The unit garage sport kit sort of makes it look good again.

I guess making it euro 5 compliant messed it up.

 

[if0rg0t2remember]

I had seen and ridden the R18 when I still lived in VA because the local dealer was actively bringing them to the Bikes N' Breakfast event. I admit I like the concept bikes from the promo series way better than the actual released version. Still it rode about how I expected given a Heritage styled bike chasing the Harley crowd. Still only ever saw a single one on the road that wasn't a dealer bike and it was always the same guy near where I lived.

Now that the Bagger and Transcontinental with the fairing and hard bags exist I'm starting to see them out on the road a now and then and almost always 2-up. They look more at home like that in my opinion I'd almost say I find those configurations attractive if I didn't hate speakers on bikes.

 

[GenericUser1]

@GenericUser1 Why ? Not even curious … that was perfect … to have and ride freely for a day or two … you would have been an excellent resource for the rest of us to learn … was it a 👍🏻 … or was it a 👎🏻 ? …………… Blitz

What’s wrong with this interpretation of what was originally a stock ugly bike ?
It went from stock R18 ugly to R18 beauty ! See how pretty those exhaust pipes could have been from the factory …. I’ve slowly become a “BobberBoy” and I’d surely give a bike that clean and that powerful a try for a week or two ….. and I’m pretty sure I’d end up buying it too … if you’re at all impressed with the available torque on your 9T … and you should be … wait until you test ride the 18 … 😱

Don’t you wish this had been your loaner GenericUser1 …………..
View attachment 159651

That looks pretty good but I just have no interest in a bike that weighs more than my R9T and Monkey combined and then some. I had never ridden a GS so wanted to try one and also didn't want risk dropping it.

This to me looks almost as good and is stock and also 250lbs lighter.

 

[BlitzSchnell]

That looks pretty good but I just have no interest in a bike that weighs more than my R9T and Monkey combined and then some. I had never ridden a GS so wanted to try one and also didn't want risk dropping it.

This to me looks almost as good and is stock and also 250lbs lighter.

Yes @GenericUser1 … I do agree, at only 6’ 180 lbs.. with the 9T at about 500 lbs she is currently as big as I can comfortably handle and pick up by my self……and if there is a draw back for me to the 18 it is indeed the weight. I have picked up my 9T off it’s side several times using my legs and it was a serious struggle at 73.. but I don’t think I could pick up the 18 that way, but I think I’d ride the 18 differently than the 9T anyway. The 9T is for me a Big (cc) but nimble bike I like to push around the turns and twisties……. the 18 is like a limousine where you just kick back listening to the thunder and gaze at the road ahead with a smile. I go through some kind of weird mood shift thing with my personality… if I just sit behind the wheel in a quick sports car (I’ve had a few) I’m focused, intense and almost anxious to go fast .. but .. when I sit in a cushy comfort car like a Cadillac or Lincoln Continental I tend to go into Cruze mode instead of Race mode. Bikes do the same thing to me. They cause (or I allow) a visceral response … the sound of an engine at high speed is like Pavlov’s bell to me, I begin to salivate with anticipation. Sitting on the 18 is like straddling a percheron or clydesdale, very wide and you know there not very fast either …..but what a ride !

 

[DaveSnowPros]

That looks pretty good but I just have no interest in a bike that weighs more than my R9T and Monkey combined and then some. I had never ridden a GS so wanted to try one and also didn't want risk dropping it.

This to me looks almost as good and is stock and also 250lbs lighter.

I tested one of those. The lack of any kind of meaningful braking for such a big bike was seriously worrying.

 

[JustABill]

To each, his own. After reading these comments about the concept version, I did a bit of digging to compare it to the production version. Frankly, I don't see a huge difference. The concept had more of a custom look, and was clearly minimal. Perhaps I found the wrong photos.

I'll give you all the point on the base exhaust. It's an abomination. Given that there is very little chance I would keep any stock exhaust on a modern cruiser, I am able to look right past it. Now the V&H factory option solves that issue well enough. Seats are pretty much the same deal. Not many modern BMWs have a seat worth keeping in my view, so yeah. Also something I would factor in from the start. I do think they are all a bit overpriced, but not criminally so.

+1 on the torque comment. That motor feels like you could pull stumps out of the ground all day. I'm not a small guy at 6'2 and 250 lbs, so I was really impressed with the grunt.

Side note, I dropped my 08 GS once by stepping in an oil patch at an intersection. Not an easy lift, even when done correctly. I think the 18 would be easier, given the height difference and the fact that those heads would essentially act as a tripod.

 

[GenericUser1]

I think it's a bit like some car brands, if you want a Wrangler, 911, Mini, etc. then nothing else will really do. If you want a cruiser you want a HD or maybe an Indian.

I like the R18 from a design perspective just like I like the CE04, it's different but just not my cup of tea.

 

[if0rg0t2remember]

To each, his own. After reading these comments about the concept version, I did a bit of digging to compare it to the production version. Frankly, I don't see a huge difference. The concept had more of a custom look, and was clearly minimal. Perhaps I found the wrong photos.

Some things to me that make all the difference in terms of overall look on the concept bike:

• Headlight sits lower between the clamps and set further back
• Black headlight bezel instead of chrome
• No visible meter on the bars (have a feeling it had no gauges at all but possibly something like a motogadget set in the bar clamp)
• Reversed clutch/brake levers coming from the bar ends
• No visible brake/clutch reservoirs on the bars
• Front fender and rear fender mounted via nice round bent tubing, giving more classic look (Might actually be a larger fender too ironically)
• No covers on the sides under the seat, leaving supsension visible
  (Most likely covers are to hide airbox and battery but concept appears to have a small coffee can type air filter and what is probably a lithium battery hidden in something that looks like an ammo can)
• Rear blinkers mounted under the set
• Single brake light on the left side of the tires with plate mounted there
• The sexy exhaust that everyone loves
• Bobber style seat (which is now available but wasn't at first)

The net effect is the whole front end is unbelievably clean and the side profile as well. Obviously, most of this was made possible as the concept bike doesn't technically need to meet road going guidelines and someone that doesn't need to have their bike inspected after purchase could most likely get away with recreating it. Specifically, the air intake and exhaust on the concept are probably possible since it doesn't need to meet any Euro5 or other noise and pollution standards. The small batttery would likely be hell to live with on the concept, but hey its a concept meant to look good not be reliable day to day. The clean front end clearly comes at the expense of having anything on the bars like mirrors, reservoirs or gauges.

Most of this is probably able to be reproduced with the production bike since the rest of the concept seems to be nearly the same as production. You are right that there aren't massive differences, but the net effect makes the production bike look clumsier... basically the same thing that happens to nearly every concept.

I'm not one that thinks the production bike looks ugly, just not as good. I think the early reviews panning the seating position and lean angle neutered the hype a bit.

 

[tarby]

Quite interesting comments on the R18. Like i said earlier on comments, not my cup of tea. Not been a cruiser fan. But. This bike is coming down in price at the moment. Probably the only vehicle (bikes and cars) which is. £3000 off and 0% interest for 3 years at my local BMW dealer. Possible extras could be had just to shift it out of the showroom. Not saying i would get one. But is the R18 one of those oddball bikes that manufactures like to throw up now and again? Not so much nowadays. Certainly USA had lots of (Japanese) models which we never got in UK. I can remember the Honda DN 01. About £10K new 10 years ago. A good one now, you're looking at £8Kish. This could be one of those bikes? BMW Rocker. Certainly not dropping in price. The K1 fully faired bike. A good one now. £5-6K. Would a R18 be better than crypto currency . Just food for thought

 

[Vectorbug]

R18 is a loss leader / proof of concept that made it into production. BMW never seriously expected the thing to be a door buster. It's a niche of a niche of a niche (seriously compromised luxury minimal cruiser made in Germany)

Which is awesome because 1.) It's a badass toy 2.) It's a badass toy made by a group like BMW who take themselves very seriously 3.) You don't see shit like this with the car industry.

I think it'll age better than the R1200C.

 

[if0rg0t2remember]

R18 is a loss leader / proof of concept that made it into production. BMW never seriously expected the thing to be a door buster. It's a niche of a niche of a niche

Same sort of passion project made the R9T. Some one off concept bikes turned reality take off, others don't. Glad they made it either way. If I had a lot of spare money burning a hole in my pocket I'd pick up either an R18 or a Triumph Bobber and customize them. But I don't...

 

[Norbi]

It's a niche of a niche of a niche (seriously compromised luxury minimal cruiser made in Germany)
Which is awesome because
1.) It's a badass toy
2.) It's a badass toy made by a group like BMW who take themselves very seriously
3.) You don't see shit like this with the car industry.

Well, same here: Porsche's Off-Road 911 Dakar Teased Before LA Debut

I guess, there’s just too much currency in circulation…

 

[BlitzSchnell]

Well, same here: Porsche's Off-Road 911 Dakar Teased Before LA Debut
View attachment 159711


I guess, there’s just too much currency in circulation…

Well Porsche is building SUV’s for soccer Moms, why not dune-buggies for Dad’s ……….
I had a souped-up VW once, about 125 HP and I drove it for a couple months and never learned to appreciate the rear engine characteristics, it’s handling on a drag-strip was great but on a circuit it’s crap ! I cut it up and built a trike. Dangerous as hell … sold it a month or so later. Loved that it was a boxer but hated how lite the front end was. Learned a few years later that I could have reversed the ring gear in the stock transmission and reversed the direction of the wheels .. thus allowing a mid engine mount and much better weight distribution over the wheels …… oh well ! Timing is everything … I’m not a Porsche fan but I love the engine … by the way … how do you say it Porsche or Porsha’ ….. I don’t really like either pronunciation ……………. Blitz

 

[Norbi]

how do you say it Porsche or Porsha’

Just pronounce it as any German does… always keep in mind it’s a two-syllable word!😂