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There’s one thing a few massive, heavyweight cruiser, with dollops of gleaming chrome, an all-metallic physique, a rumbling twin-cylinder engine, and the open highway. It’s the stuff of bike desires; or motorcycling as Hollywood has created, of the all-American quintessential American heavyweight cruiser. That’s exactly what BMW tried to emulate with the all-new BMW R18; to take a shot on the heavyweight cruiser market, which has lengthy been dominated by iconic American manufacturers like Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle.The R18 although is BMW Motorrad‘s second try at wooing the cruiser crowd.
Also Read: BMW R18 Classic Unveiled
The first BMW cruiser was within the 1990s, and in case you’re a James Bond fan, you’d keep in mind a motorbike chase sequence from the 1997 Bond flick, ‘Tomorrow Never Dies.’ In that film, Pierce Brosnan, as 007, rides the BMW R 1200 C throughout the streets of Saigon, Vietnam. The film was used as promotion for the BMW R 1200 C, and apparently fifteen bikes have been used whereas filming that chase sequence. Now, twenty years later, we now have the all-new BMW R18, however this time, there is no Bond, however what we now have, is an exquisitely designed heavyweight cruiser, which is to be seen in actuality to actually admire its magnificence.
Also Read: All You Need To Know About The BMW R18
Design
The BMW R18 is a powerful motorbike, from all angles! The big cylinders of the boxer-twin, 901 cc in every, stick out on each side, coated in gleaming chrome. The cylinders are as a lot of the bike’s design, as is the general ‘trendy traditional’ theme, which is certainly retro. The spherical headlight lends a traditional contact, though it’s LED, and the round single-pod instrument console additionally appears to be like retro, however the small digital display provides modernity. And it additionally gives entry to all the knowledge and options, together with the bike’s electronics. Three driving modes are provided, with names of two, which might have been significantly better. So, you could have Rock, Roll, and Rain modes on supply.
Also Read: First Look At BMW R18 First Edition
But there is no mistaking the traditional strains of the BMW R18, with touches of heritage, that are all too apparent. The interval-right pinstripes on the gloss black paint, and the fishtail exhausts all add authenticity to the retro design of the R18. The twin cradle chassis and the swingarm triangle which loops across the rear hub all lend an aura of genuine BMW heritage, going again over 90 years to the BMW bikes from the 1930s.
Also Read: BMW R18 Launched In India; Priced Start At ₹ 18.90 Lakh
More particularly, the BMW R18 pays homage to the 1936 BMW R5, all the way down to particulars just like the hid rear shock, giving the bike a tough-tail look, in addition to the uncovered drive shaft, one other throwback to BMW’s bikes from nearly a century in the past. And it is an enormous, lengthy motorbike, and when you swing a leg over it, and take it off the facet stand, you’ll be able to simply really feel its heft, all 345 kg of it! Everything appears to be like elegant and feels premium. There’s keyless ignition, in order quickly as you pocket the important thing fob, and thumb the starter, you will be each “shaken and stirred” by the large 1,802 cc boxer-twin coming to life.
Performance & Dynamics
The BMW R18 has the biggest boxer twin ever manufactured by BMW Motorrad. The Big Boxer, because it’s referred to, will shake the bike back and forth at idle, however on the transfer, the engine smoothens out. And as you shift via the gears whereas accelerating, there is no mistaking that it is a trendy BMW. And the engine is a torque-y lump, proper from idle, and it urges you to brief shift via the gears, and experience the torque, as a substitute of chasing excessive revs.
Maximum velocity is claimed at over 180 kmph, and it’ll fortunately cruise at 130-140 kmph all day, as long as you are okay with the wind blast providing a spot of hassle at excessive speeds. In numbers, the engine makes 90 bhp at 4,750, nevertheless it’s the whopping 158 Nm of peak torque at 3,000 rpm, is what you have to be . More than 120 Nm of the torque is obtainable from 2,000 rpm all the best way to 4,000 rpm, so at any set of revs, you are by no means in need of pulling energy.
But there are some vibes, particularly over 3,200-3,500 revs, however the R18 is greatest loved at decrease revs, the place it’s going to cruise all day, with none obvious effort at triple digit speeds. On the flip facet, the laborious-tail look, with the brief hid rear shock, additionally has a tough-tail really feel, so it is best to decelerate over damaged patches and highway undulations, the place bumps are felt in a pronounced method.
On a protracted, easy highway, the BMW R18 stays planted and secure, and regardless of its dimension and weight, it handles superbly. Show it a set of corners and the R18 dips effortlessly, nevertheless it’s solely whereas manouevering it round a car parking zone, or making a decent u-flip that you simply really feel its weight and dimension. And sure, the engine’s sideways movement may also be felt then. And regardless of its eagerness to nook, the dearth of footpeg clearance considerably robs you of the enjoyment of exploring the bike’s dynamics; the R18 forces you to decelerate, take within the sights, fairly than give attention to exit strains round a nook. It’s a compromise, however with a motorcycle just like the R18, you are prepared to forgive it.
Tech & Ergonomics
The experience-by-wire throttle affords three modes, providing completely different engine maps and traction management perform. The quirky (and considerably cheesy) names of the modes are Rock, Roll and Rain. Rock affords extra aggressive energy supply with faster throttle response and least intervention from the traction management system, whereas Rain mode applies energy extra slowly with essentially the most intervention from the traction management system. For me, Rock was the default alternative, and it is not so aggressive as to make the R18 intimidating. There’s additionally Hill Hold Control and engine drag torque management included within the traction management system. Anti-lock braking system (ABS) is normal, and the entrance brake lever has mixed braking perform for easy braking.
From a driving place, the R18 has a low seat peak, of solely 690 mm, and the footpegs are positioned mid-manner, with the large cylinders stopping a stretched out foot-ahead perch. For me, the mid-mounted footpeg positions are extra snug than stretched-out, ahead-mounted pegs of some typical all-American cruisers. The gas tank has a capability of 16 litres, and through our check experience, the BMW R18 returned a median of 15 kmpl, which can quantity to roughly 240 km of vary on a tankful of gas. But you will be excused for eager to take a break, lengthy earlier than you want a refill, if not for the rest, simply to park the bike on the shoulder and to take one other admiring look at this gleaming chrome and metallic magnificence of a cruiser.
Prices
The normal BMW R18 is priced at ₹ 18.90 lakh (Ex-showroom), whereas the highest-spec BMW R18 First Edition, the one we’re testing, is priced at ₹ 21.90 lakh (Ex-showroom). For the additional value, you get the interval-right BMW pinstripes on the bodywork and extra chrome, together with the valve covers, entrance engine cowl, cylinder consumption covers, hand and foot controls, grasp cylinders, mirrors and even the brake calipers.
Verdict
The BMW R18 will not be flawless. It’s fairly a handful of a motorcycle if you wish to negotiate tight areas, like in a car parking zone, with its 345 kg kerb weight. And we managed to shear off the footpeg feelers with out even making an attempt to be wherever close to aggressive round a twisty highway. Even when getting out of a gas station, or a ramp off the expressway, you have to to watch out about these footpegs, and it isn’t all the time a pleasant feeling if you hear the screeching sound of the feelers dragging alongside on asphalt.
So, in case you’re anticipating sportier efficiency, you’d greatest look elsewhere, however nothing within the cruiser section appears to be like as magnificent and as beautiful because the BMW R18 with its interval-right appears to be like and a focus to element. Despite its flaws, the BMW R18 is the close to-good trendy traditional heavyweight cruiser. It’s a assured head-turner, and it undoubtedly begins to develop on you, the extra time you spend within the saddle.
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(Photography: Prashant Chaudhary)
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