BMW R18

The R18 is BMW’s second foray into the heavyweight cruiser market, after the now-discontinued R1200C. The R18 was launched in 2020 and is powered by a 1,802 cc (110 ci) engine, the largest two-cylinder boxer ever made.

Inspired by the legendary R5 of the 1930s, the R18 has shaft drive and a double-loop tubular steel frame: like the Softail range sold by Harley-Davidson, the rear shock is concealed, in an attempt to mimic a classic ‘rigid’ frame design.

The initial ‘First Edition’ model was soon followed by the R18 Classic, and in 2021 BMW revealed the R18B (bagger) and Transcontinental models—with slightly modified frames and an increased focus on touring.

Like the R nineT, the R18 is designed to make life easier for custom builders, with several easily removable parts and plug and play electronic connections. BMW has commissioned several custom builds to date, enlisting the services of leading shops during the prototyping and initial sales stage—including Revival Cycles, Roland Sands Design, Bernhard Neumann, Kingston Custom and Zillers Garage.