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BMW R 18 in the driving postponement

When gasoline turns into a fat grin

Around two decades after the R 1200 C, BMW tries again on the cruiser floor. The new BMW R 18 really has a chance of becoming a bestseller. MOTORRAD was already able to drive the Big Boxer.

R.and 25 percent of all globally registered motorcycles over 500 cubic meters are cruisers. No wonder the people of Munich want to eat a piece of this big cake. The new BMW R 18 should set it up: 1,800 cubic meters. 91 hp. 158 Newton meters. Almost seven hundredweight. Open-running cardan shaft.

Sitting position fits – for everyone

You start at the push of a button. For this to work, the clutch must be pulled. OK then. Because it is advisable that the driver has both hands on the handlebars for the start … The reverse torque of the displacement giant is similar to Bruce Lee kicking the 345 kilo bike from the right with a mighty kick.

After waking up, the boxer begins to kick at low speed. The slightly unstable and fidgety idle, somewhere between 850 and 950 tours, is intentional. While the first gear jumps into its teeth without a hitch, you sort your legs behind the two cylinders for the first few meters. And thus invalidates the greatest prejudice of all skeptics: Regardless of whether the driver measures 1.70 meters or 1.99 meters – despite the protruding cylinders, you sit relaxed on the R 18.

Low-speed fits best

It goes out of Munich. Highway. Direction of the alpine panorama. The six-speed gearbox is derived from the R nineT and tailor-made for gliding on the endless roads of this world. In sixth gear, the 1,800 boxer turns 2,200 rpm at 100 km / h and is hardly present. It runs silky smooth, supple and produces extremely delicate noises that do not survive the wind. Even 120 km / h still feels casual at 2,700 rpm, but now it tingles slightly in the handlebars. At 140 km / h the crankshaft rotates 3,100 times per minute and the vibrations are noticeably noticeable. Downshift, accelerate. It gets interesting above 3,800 turns. The saddle vibrates violently and is very reminiscent of a massage chair. Gas further on. The limiter only intervenes at 5,750 rpm. One thing becomes immediately clear: Anyone who drives the R 18 in these speed ranges has chosen the wrong product. The machine is designed for relaxed strolling to enjoyable cruising. Should someone try: At 180 km / h the Chose is electronically braked.

Bmw

Off the highway, up on Bavarian country roads and tried out the three driving modes Rain, Roll and Rock. Anyone who switches to Rain mode after driving 50 km in roll mode on a winding route will immediately miss the ideal line because they will end up elsewhere than what they are aiming for. The fat boxer reacts so cautiously to gas commands in rain mode that the suspicion arises that they stole half of his 91 horses from the stable. The exact opposite is the case when you switch to rock mode. Here the 1,800 depends extremely directly on the gas. However, the hard load change reactions in the drive train that occur in rock mode also take a lot of getting used to.

Driving dynamics despite 345 kilograms

This does not affect the driving dynamics. The R 18 swings purposefully, precisely and relatively lightly from one inclined position to the other. The chase around corners is only stopped by the footpegs that hit the ground quite early, BMW promises a 30 degree incline. The rather tight chassis set-up in connection with a modest 130 mm at the front and 90 mm at the rear as a path allows a very agile driving style. Of course there is something to complain about. The sound could be more voluminous, the brakes more aggressive. Although the integral stoppers decelerate perfectly.

Bmw

One thing you have to be clear about: Even with its 1,800 cubic meters, the R 18 boxer does not offer anywhere near the entertainment value of an American Big Twin, as it was still produced until 2018. The fat boxer is simply too cultured. The driving experience is still outstanding and the drive always turns gasoline into a big fat grin.

Conclusion

Around two decades after BMW danced cautiously successfully on the cruiser floor with the R 1200 C, the Munich-based company is now bringing a bike with the R 18 that really has the chance to become a bestseller.

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