Menus
- When gasoline turns into a fat grin
- Sitting position fits – for everyone
- Low-speed fits best
- Driving dynamics despite 345 kilograms
- Conclusion
BMW
10 photos
BMW
1/10
BMW is back in the cruiser segment. MOTORRAD was already able to drive the Big Boxer.
BMW
2/10
Regardless of whether the driver measures 1.70 meters or 1.99 meters – despite the protruding cylinders, you sit relaxed on the R 18.
BMW
3/10
In sixth gear, the 1800 boxer turns 2200 rpm at 100 km / h and is hardly present.
BMW
4/10
Even 120 km / h still feels casual at 2700 rpm, but now it tingles slightly in the handlebars.
BMW
5/10
At 140 km / h the crankshaft rotates 3100 times per minute and the vibrations are noticeable.
BMW
6/10
In Rain mode, the boxer reacts so cautiously to gas commands that the suspicion arises that they stole half of his 91 horses from the stable.
BMW
7/10
In rock mode, the 1.800 hangs extremely directly on the gas and slams the car wonderfully powerfully from corner exit to corner entrance.
BMW
8/10
The R 18 swings purposefully, precisely and relatively lightly from one inclined position to the other.
BMW
9/10
The chase around corners is only stopped by the footpegs that hit the ground quite early, BMW promises a 30 degree incline.
BMW
10/10
The rather tight chassis set-up in conjunction with a modest 130 mm at the front and 90 mm at the rear as a path allows a very agile driving style.
BMW R 18 in the driving report
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 tours. 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 partially 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.
Related articles
-
Artificial driving report BMW R 1200 RT Lounge Control Pleasantly subdued atmosphere, cool beats around your ears and sitting on cotton balls ?? who at …
-
Driving report BMW R 1150 R Gaudi max Langenscheidt’s dictionary translates roadsters with open sports two-seater or strong touring bikes. Who the intimate …
-
Manufacturer The 800cc naked bike from Kawasaki Driving report Kawasaki Z 800 Mission: Check out Kawasaki’s new Z 800. Crime scene: southern France….
-
Driving report Triumph Thunderbird with Big-Bore-Kit
triumph 11 photos triumph 1/11 Triumph Thunderbird triumph 2/11 Triumph Thunderbird triumph 3/11 Triumph Thunderbird triumph 4/11 Triumph Thunderbird…
-
Driving report Rossi NSR 500 Sharp as a scalpel If you play with the doctor’s tools, you shouldn’t forget the swab to wipe the sweat from your forehead….
-
Driving report KTM 950 Adventure
Driving report KTM 950 Adventure attack! KTM blows to attack: The two-cylinder rocket 950 Adventure is intended to open the gate to the street market for…
-
fact Driving report Yamaha MT-03 Kodo, the third …in this case does not come from the center of the star, but from Italy. The MT-03 is produced by…
-
Suzuki GSX-R 1000 R in the PS driving report
Suzuki 14th photos Suzuki 1/14 With the 2017 version, the GSX-R 1000 enters the sixth generation. The superbike was launched for the first time in 2001,…
-
Driving report Yamaha XVS 950 A Midnight Star
Enzmann Driving report Yamaha XVS 950 A Midnight Star Sound machine Yamaha once played a leading role in comfortable locomotion with the XV 535. The…
-
Honda VFR 800 F in the PS driving report
Honda 21st photos Honda 1/21 With the new model one would like to lure new customers among other things. But experience also shows that many die-hard VFR…