The new big bore R18 Cruiser debuts at the Villa d’Este Concours in Lake Como, Italy.
BMW does the heritage thing exceptionally well, and that’s evident in this two-wheeled masterwork. It has all the hallmarks of BMW’s most classic motorcycle designs, including a steel cradle frame, a twin-cylinder boxer engine and shaft drive.
“The BMW Motorrad Concept R18 is a response to the growing need among the motorcycling community: instead of technology, the focus here is on simplification, authenticity and transparency,” said Edgar Heinrich, head of BMW Motorrad design. “We have a rich history of iconic motorcycles, and they all bear the same design characteristics. We believe that this can still work well together today with the current technology.”
That twin-cylinder boxer engine is special – a massive 1.8 litres of displacement.
The bike’s unique stance is reminiscent of BMW’s earliest models and the 1920’s. The R18 concept’s front wheel is a colossal 21-inches, while the rear wheel size is 18 inches.
Other unique touches are the exposed chrome-plated driveshaft and the fuel tank is reminiscent of BMW’s early R-series bikes, with its sleek, teardrop shape and unique paintwork.
Modern touches, apart from the giant engine include, highly capable disc brakes and bright power-efficient LED lighting.
Following the success of its heritage motorcycles, speculation was rife as to where BMW would go next with the range. Now we know there is a production version of the R18 set to come out in the latter half of 2020. We can’t wait.
