BMW has launched its ‘cruiser’ motorcycle- the R 18 in India at Rs. 18.90 lakhs for the Standard variant and Rs. 21.90 lakhs for the First Edition (all prices, ex-showroom). While the motorcycle looks old school, the package is actually pretty modern.
BMW had previously showcased the R 18 as a concept during the 2019 EICMA, and the bike gets its styling inspiration from the classic BMW R 5. The concept was one of the most good-looking motorcycles at the show, and not much has changed.
The R 18 cruiser looks stunning and shouts retro from every angle. It’s long, wide, and the low stance adds to the cruiser feel. Details like the exposed drive shaft, front fork covers and the rear monoshock hidden inside the frame show the level of attention to detail on offer.
As you swing your eyes, you’ll notice the fish-tail style exhaust, which is again very classic. It is a bit too swollen for our taste (emission norms to blame) but it still suits the bike somehow. Moreover, BMW is offering numerous accessories to fine tune your R 18 to your liking.
The list includes a wide catalogue of bolt-on aluminium parts by Roland Sands Designs, Vance & Hines pipes, and special Mustang seats. For further tuning, BMW says that you can even swap the handlebars to convert the bike into a Bobber, Bagger or even an Ape-hanger!
You can also fit a bobber seat to make your R 18 look more classic. Sounds like a hard job, right? It isn’t, actually. BMW has added that clutch lines, brake lines, and the handlebar wiring, are all plug-and-play type which makes swapping the handlebars effortless. You also get a set of alloy wheels as options.
Moving to the tech bits, the speedometer is semi-digital with three riding modes on offer- Rain, Rock, and Roll. For safety purposes, the R 18 gets Automatic Stability Control, and an Integral ABS system (combined ABS braking system). If this doesn’t satisfy your thirst, the optional bits include hill-start assist, heated grips, cornering lights and a reverse gear!
However, the standout bit about the BMW R18 is its powerhouse. The ‘boxer type’ 1802cc, air- and oil-cooled engine produces 91 HP at 4750 RPM and 158 Nm of torque at 3000 RPM. While the power isn’t much, the torque numbers are impressive and most of it comes very early in the rev range.
Further, the 6-speed gearbox helps get the power down. Moving on, like the torque, the weight of the R 18 is high as well. It weighs 345 kgs (wet). However, BMW claims that the R 18 can still do a 0-100 km/hr sprint in under 5 seconds, which is pretty quick.
The BMW R 18 also has an exposed shaft drive, inspired by the old BMW bikes. For stopping duties, the bike has a twin-disc setup and single-disc setup at the rear, each being 300 mm. Further for a plush ride, you have 49 mm telescopic fork at the front and a cantilever strut at the rear mounted directly to the swingarm. The rear suspension is adjustable, though.
To sum up, the BMW R 18 is a very special bike. With this cruiser, BMW has stepped into a world which is dominated by Harley-Davidson’s and Indian Motorcycles. However, given the price, the R 18 is a superb bike with a lot on offer!
BMW R 18 Price
- The BMW R 18 Standard is priced at Rs. 18.90 lakhs
- The BMR R 18 First Edition is priced at Rs. 21.90 lakhs
- The bike follows the styling of the classic BMW R5
