I will avoid the obvious rejoinder... another one of those language things.

40mm carbs on 900cc pots? Sorry guys - that will run so weak it might as well be drinking Budweiser. If it  starts at all.

Gotta love the toe-cooker exhausts.

I guess anything goes as long as it's not the actual motorcycle.

It runs. I've heard it in a video clip. The Japanese design team are the first to sample what will be BMW's newest large displacement cruiser. After the pitiful R1200C and CL let's hope they do some research.

It resembles the Brough Superior redux with an addition of chipmunk cheeks.

I loved the bit about the wheels being milled from blanks.  One of them likely costs more than my BMW investment to date.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.  If I had that kind of coin I'd do all kinds of whimsical things.  

Riesige Tuts are real

From the recent Motorrad Magazin, by Google translate:

"New BMW cruiser with boxer engine

The most important thing right away: It will be a boxer again, and he should come soon. Our draftsman Stefan Kraft picked up the pen and drew the new BMW Cruiser. Pretty much it will come. What do we see? A cruiser with a mighty rear wheel, huge front wheel and an air-cooled two-cylinder boxer somewhere in the vastness between, which should be a bit lost considering the ellenlangen wheelbase. However, he must not complain, because his very special design is indeed the actual reason for this stretching.
Where to put your feet?

That was the Gretchen question in 1997, when the boxer was allowed to drive a cruiser in the R 1200 C for the first time. At that time, the plan failed so grandiose that the "C" was finally set in 2004, because also the Tourer R 1200 CL and the mix of both, the Montauk, flopped. Presumably because of lack of foot and displacement. The new BMW Cruiser should be significantly more space, in the leg and in the combustion chamber. For, as one will not repeat the mistake with the uncooled sitting posture again, one has of course also long since registered in Munich that a 1200 Pröttel boxer in the concert of the mighty 1800s V2 cars neither on Route 66 nor on Leopoldstraße would really rock in Munich-Schwabing.

"How much displacement can you expect?

"That's a good deal of pressure per cylinder," jokes a BMW insider. "But you know well how to pour in the Oktoberfest?" Aha, on the left and on the right a measure, but not quite full. Or two liters minus foam. Where do you land then? Where they all land, around 1800 cc. The Bavarians, if they are clever, will not do that. Maybe it will be a little more. Even a boxer-typical Hubzapfen- and ignition offset with the associated sound is rumored. Yes, there are even rumors from the big big bang boxer that both cylinders fire at the same time, but that's more than unlikely. Anyway: A 1800 plus boxer with V2 sound - with the old engine that never goes. He is already at around 1400 cc on the limits of its possibilities. For a project that thinks a little bigger anyway, that should not be a problem. "Think big" manifests itself in many other components of the new cruiser, which would have to be named after the BMW nomenclature BMW R 1800 C strictly. Where, where the V2 competition extends its mighty second cylinder, the new holds a bread box of air cleaner housing, behind it then an eternally long rocker with rigid frame look, including a pre-muffler, which empties into two not just short main silencer.

All in all, this is a pronounced accumulation of raw materials by European standards, strikingly reminiscent of a Harley-Davidson Fat Boy. And that is obviously calculus. Beat the market leader, Harley, with his own weapons, that's the plan. Indian is currently quite successful, how to do that, and especially BMW Motorrad has proven it in terms of super sports with the S 1000 RR already impressively that they poach in foreign areas and can establish themselves. Is this also possible with the new BMW Cruiser? The technical requirements for the big-bore boxer are not bad. The economic conditions - keyword punitive tariffs - however, have not improved, at least in the home of all cruisers with the new US president.

A piece of the thick cake

This annoys the man, for a long time. Whenever a Harley comes over to BMW CEO Stephan Schaller on Munich's Mittlerer Ring, he thinks: why only we have nothing on offer? And why does not this company, with its technologically very down-to-earth products, dominate not just the huge US market, but virtually the entire cruiser world? Affected Schaller then looks down at his motorcycle. They stretch proudly into the wind, the two powerful boxer cylinders. Exactly where on a real Cruiser the footpegs or running boards are.


This story is of course fictitious, but has a serious background. Is it really true? Is not the boxer suited to the cruiser, as everyone in Munich thought after the unfortunate R 1200 C? Given the numbers, it certainly pays to think again. 260,289 bikes were sold by Harley worldwide in 2016, and even if a large proportion of them are clearly "tourers" by US diction, the normal Western European would somehow refer to most of them as "cruisers". The largest chunk of it went to the American market (USA, Canada, Central and South America) namely a good 180,000. That means a market share of more than 50 percent in the USA.

For comparison, BMW sold 145,032 motorcycles worldwide in 2016, compared to almost 24,000 in Germany. And this across the entire model range, not only in the lucrative high-price segment, in which the Harleys primarily vorbollern. That means for BMW in the home country a market share of about 20 percent. The fact that Harley is still vulnerable on their own doorstep, has proven not least Indian. The new old brand managed to nibble on the Harley cake a good deal (exact figures are not available). Bayern want that with their big-bore boxer too, and there is reason to be confident. However, this could be curbed by recent political developments."

Well I ride a 1200CL, not mine - part of my mate's collection. Cruisers aren't my choice but it's a grand old thing, well made, no real faults at all. EXCEPT the engine is woeful, utterly gutless, no power, no torque, no character at all. I expected it to have at least a reasonable amount of detuned stomp, but, nothing. First time I rode it I opened it up at the end of a joining sliproad in order to accelerate into a gap on the motorway, and it plain wouldn't do it.
If you ask me it failed because the engine isn't fit for a sludge pump. No other reason that I can find.

Then they released the CL version. 100 lbs heavier. Same engine. I went to the dealer release at the BMW factory in Spartanburg SC. When choosing bikes the first day...look around...20 shiny cruisers...heading to the twisties to ride...instead I grabbed an R1100S Boxer Cup to ride the bottom end of the Blue Ridge Parkway on.

You picked the right bike. I got my 1100s in 2000, I've added Ohlins at both ends, PFM 6 piston calipers & discs, shortened telelever and other stuff, and a bit of work on the engine to give 100hp at the wheel. It's more than enough for my aged reflexes and sticks to the road* like a magnet. Every time I ride it I realise how rubbish my other bikes are in comparison.

I can see a R1200CL with a 1800cc boxer engine though. Be interesting if that's what they produce.


* Okay, assuming the road is made of ferrous metal, which it obviously isn't. Hmmm

Agreed, they're great machines, but the R1100S and its sister R1200S were two often overlooked bikes in BMW's arsenal. They're not quite sport but in their day, well-piloted, they could stick with a lot of squids in the twisties. The R1200S-HP2 Sport was a bike I lusted after but never got close to owning. I did ride one as a BMW test ride member, bringing up the rear at rallies and such in the US west some years back. This was not what it was for, sadly.

That bike  ^^^^^^ is just plain gorgeous  

Another R18 concept 'on hand' at Handbuilt in Austin TX over the COTA MotoGP weekend.

BirdCage

Almost perfect but they forgot to wrap the headers with that fabric pipe wrap sh$t 

It's certainly an impressive piece of engineering, but...

“BMW came to us months ago and presented us with an engine, gearbox and rear differential drive that was never before seen.”


Wonder why BMW gave them a differential?

chris846 wrote:It's certainly an impressive piece of engineering, but...

“BMW came to us months ago and presented us with an engine, gearbox and rear differential drive that was never before seen.”


Wonder why BMW gave them a differential?

It is meant for a trike?

I often wonder how folks don't get the obvious difference.

I remember being fascinated with a differential as a kid, and being in awe of the brain in the person who had dreamed it up. I guess that's why it's important to me (but not 'normal' folk) that  there's a difference between a bevel box and that miracle of imagination known as a 'diff'.

I had the same thought when I first saw a cutaway demo diff. It's pretty easy to look at one that exists,  but someone visualised it before it existed. Whoever that bloke was, we could call him a genius.

Further proof of the relationship of motorcycles to differentials.

How about if you have a car tire on the rear?

chris846 wrote: ...being in awe of the brain in the person who had dreamed it up...

There are a number of things that we take for granted now where it would be fascinating to see the early prototypes and/or sketches.  Very few things come to the designer fully evolved.  I would love to be able to have a boo at the way an idea has evolved in the mind of the maker.

Apparently, Leonardo Da Vinci (never owned a motorbike, so not that smart) had a brain that was able to hold two thoughts at the same time. Technical term is polyphasic functioning. I'm sure that helped with lot of stuff.

Not suggesting for an instant that I stand with geniuses (somehow I don't think that is the plural form) but I think I experience this 'polyphasic functioning' occasionally when my wife is talking to me.  She usually points it out to me when it is happening as well.

Here it is as it will be

The Berlin Built in the bottom of the round speedo/combo is a nicely subtle nod to the Spandau factory.

The R18 has arrived in the dealership. I had to take it for a burble, being a longtime Boxer fan.

It doesn't have a lot of horse at about 100, but it sure has a herd of torque at 117ft/lbs.

It is well-built, solid, with more metal than plastic, and the accompanying weight, though down low, that comes with real steel...

Cruisers in general aren't my thing, but I did notice a slight ball drop whilst astride it on the boulevard.

Super styling - especially the tank. I bet that torque figure is from tickover all the way to the 2000rpm redline.....

I liked the moto much more than I thought I would. It has presence. It's sturdy, although I s'pose you can't get away from plasticky looking switchgear these daze. The peashooters fishtails look better in person, and the sound is rumpty rump with a slight tappet tick and a distinct chuff chuff from the paint tins swinging slowly to and fro inside those massive horizontals. There is no tacho a tacho once you scroll through a dozen modes, and the engine produces some vibes, but is always ready for the next gear up, with no complaints which gear the rider selects (of six, plus reverse). My sense was that it was barely off idle whilst in 4th or 5th gear, moving down the road at 50 mph on country lanes. It tracks well, as befitting a football pitch wheelbase length, but turns in very easily on its (unfortunate, cheap Bridgestone) bias ply tyres. In a case of wanting more for the sake of more, the back tyre appears too narrow for the lines. I didn't get down to look at the size on the sidewall, but I suspect it's at least a 180 (on my knees, its actual size is 180/65B16), but could use wider rubber, subjectively. I suspect this is why it handles so lightly, however. A fatter rear could produce a sluggish turn in as the bike leans and attempts to lift itself across the width of the rear tyre's arc. The several people, customers, and shop personnel, who rode it throughout yesterday, came back with smiles and cries of joy, bragging of walloping cars at stoplights. Only one said he enjoyed the looks of admirers, but he is a K1600 Grand America rider and that bike, while a capable tourer, is in the bagger vein (vain?). The odo read just under 450 miles by day's end.

The riding modes are rain, rock & roll.

I've been riding the R18 a fair bit lately, and am beginning to enjoy its character and quirks.

Of course, folks often compare the earlier attempt by BMW to get into the cruiser market by suggesting the two are similar. There isn't much about them that one could compare except to say that neither one sold, or is selling, well.

If I desire a solid, stable, thumping but relaxed ride then the R18 is a good choice. My feet aren't forward in the breeze (they can't be due to the great bloody big stonking cylinders), the aftermarket (Roland Sands) seat is far more comfortable a perch than the too-thin original version, I have let several psi of air out of the bias ply tires and adjusted the single rear shock's preload to a softer setting than what it is set by the factory to, and I've rolled the beach 'bars back in their brackets for a more relaxed reach. The engine vibrates, the torque is all their just off idle to maybe 3,000 rpm, but by then you'll want to shift up anyway. The brakes (300mm x 2 w/4 piston callipers) are wooden in feeling but stop the nearly 800 lb beast well. The gearing is long-legged so it is always just chumming along with speeds achieved deceptively fast for what it 'feels' like. Would I spend 20 grand on one? Nuh, but it's a nice ride once in a while.

I'm spending lunch time and the occasional ride home and back on the electric Zero SRF & SRS as well.

BMW is as good at making cruisers as Harley is at making sports bikes

RicK G wrote:BMW is as good at making cruisers as Harley is at making sports bikes

Strewth, and HD has now made a 'GS' as in the Pan America, and while the R18 languishes in showrooms (we have sold just three out of eleven) the Pan America isn't available, and not from lack of build numbers.

Two Wheels Better wrote:

RicK G wrote:BMW is as good at making cruisers as Harley is at making sports bikes

Strewth, and HD has now made a 'GS' as in the Pan America, and while the R18 languishes in showrooms (we have sold just three out of eleven) the Pan America isn't available, and not from lack of build numbers.

I passed a Pan America today. Horrible looking bike. Best bit is I bet I paid less for my house...

Dai wrote:

Two Wheels Better wrote:

RicK G wrote:BMW is as good at making cruisers as Harley is at making sports bikes

Strewth, and HD has now made a 'GS' as in the Pan America, and while the R18 languishes in showrooms (we have sold just three out of eleven) the Pan America isn't available, and not from lack of build numbers.

I passed a Pan America today. Horrible looking bike. Best bit is I bet I paid less for my house...

Around here the PA base price is about $20k.

The R18 Bagger & Transcontinental have arrived, tho' the latter may be too-optimistically named during 'these times'. I took Mr B home from work for the weekend.



There's a hangy-on thing for the passenger. I reckon it could have multiple uses, whether your passenger is a lithe, athletic type, or whether she prefers flapping her bingo wings for seconds up at the all-you-can-eat buffet, I'm calling it the cli(n)t strap. Edited for family consumption.

The paint scheme fades from blue to purple like that '90s paint fad, which the last time I saw was on a '92 K72S, as a matter of fact. I'm calling that feature Purple Rain.


Oh, and don't feel too embarrassed for me: I wear a dark tinted visor so my friends and neighbours won't recognise me.

Not my cup of tea, but looking at it objectively I think BMW may have got the market right this time.

Dai wrote:Not my cup of tea, but looking at it objectively I think BMW may have got the market right this time.

Round these here parts I reckon no one would be manly enough to drink tea and ride one of these machines anyway (tho' I do exclusively). It's a coffee machine through and through.


The consensus in Beemer dealerships is that BMWAG should have delivered this model first then rolled out the 'stripper' versions later on. The First Editions sport a 68.1" (173cm) wheelbase while the B and TC models are only 65.5" (166cm) with rake & trail numbers befitting a sportier model - they do turn better than the raked out models, albeit with nearly 100lbs (46kilos) more weight.

First actual rainy day since June so the bike is parked in the garage while I wait for the promised sunshine of Sunday mid-arvo. That's a large area to have to clean to return it to showroom condition before returning the bike to the shop on Tuesday morning.