We firmly believe that you can have an adventure on any motorcycle, so we’re always interested in swinging our legs over the latest and greatest touring bikes. Simply put, if it’s two-wheeled and moving your body and mind in one ride, it’s up our road.
That’s why we cruised through the German countryside at the beginning of September with the BMW R 18 B, the brand new excavator-style cruiser from the Bavarian manufacturer.
If the numerous chrome details and the retro-American design are not enough as a promotional gift, the R 18 B is clearly not a traditional one APR Bicycle. But don’t let this fool you into thinking that a spin is less adventurous.
On the ride, we discovered that BMW made a stunning motorcycle and packed tons of boast and character from every shiny column. In fact, we liked it so much that it took every ounce of our self-control to avoid that huge wing panel turning south and heading into the Alps when our day ended with it.
Instead, to give you a little foretaste before you go to the upcoming November / December issue of. write a full review APR, written by Chief Bike Tester Julian Challis, we have put together five things that we liked about driving the BMW R 18 B.
That monstrous boxer engine
The heart of the R 18 B is the iconic boxer engine from BMW, which many adventure bikers are already familiar with. However, it was compared to the horizontal cylinders of the R 1250 GS.
At 1802 cc, the air and oil-cooled engine with 91 hp is the largest boxer of all time from BMW. And what makes it even more impressive (and more important for a cruiser) is a whopping 158 Nm of torque at just 3,000 rpm, 150 of which come at just 2,000 rpm.
This is a comfortable cruising bike and it delivers properly. More than capable of dragging you, your significant other, and all of your luggage across the asphalt with ease.
Combined with the typical boxer low profile and the lush growling of the exhaust, it is safe to say that you are on a winner with the R 18 B if you are a fan of the flagship engine from BMW.
Classically good looks
Looks are subjective, but there is something about sitting on a retro-style motorcycle that appeals to the soul.
Ask 100 non-bikers to sketch a motorcycle and I guarantee you at least 90 of them would draw something similar to the R 18 B. It’s a definite eye catcher when you’re out on a cruise, and let’s face it, there’s something in there for all of us who enjoy the attention.
With four colors available, including two blue and matte green options, there is a wide choice too. Mine is the Manhattan Metallic Matte, but we did our test drive with the black model with white details as you can see in the picture above.
Seamless technology
While the R 18 B has the look of a bike that fits into the quaint towns of Route 66, under the skin it is anything but old-fashioned.
The electronic suspension is extremely comfortable and has travel-dependent damping and automatic load balancing. This means that the bike is automatically set for every trip, regardless of whether you are traveling alone, as a couple or fully loaded for a week.
We also love the huge 10.5-inch TFT screen, which you can navigate through with the BMW wonder wheel on the left handle. The inclusion of four analog clocks across the vivid screen is a nice nod to the cruiser heritage, especially when we synced our phone (which we kept in a fan-cooled pocket in the center of the tank) and used that TFT as a sat nav.
After all, we’re fans of the three riding modes, which do a great job of curbing the big boxer engine and controlling the power delivery when the conditions are far from ideal.
The names of the modes Rock, Roll and Rain bring another pinch of cruiser splendor to the new edition of the German manufacturer.
Relaxed comfort
If we were planning a cross-country road trip in the US, the new Bagger would undoubtedly be high on the list when it comes to bike choice.
It’s just comfortable all day. The seat is soft, the posture relaxed and natural and the front fairing offers plenty of wind protection so you can sit behind on the motorway.
The conventionally positioned footrests, unlike the front sets found on other cruisers, also make it easy to get used to the seating position, especially when riding off our usual adventure bikes.
Armed with a large, high-torque machine, it was just a pleasure to hang the R 18 B in a high gear, sit relaxed in the saddle and enjoy the ride.
Riding to a soundtrack
And we’re not talking about the throaty exhaust.
BMW has teamed up with the legendary British loudspeaker manufacturer Marshall to equip the R 18 B with a full sound system for the ultimate cruiser experience. At launch, each bike had a carefully curated playlist that boomed everything from Deep Purple to Metallica, and we loved it.
The exact number of speakers depends on which specification you choose. two are included as standard in the cladding, others can be fitted in the cases as special equipment.
So launch Spotify and prepare to sing your heart out. When the speakers are on, no one will be able to tell.
BMW R 18 B
We really enjoyed our time with the BMW excavator in Germany. While it’s undoubtedly a far cry from the usual boxer bikes we ride from the brand, cruising through the countryside on the big, throbbing cruiser had something soul-stirring, a true adventure in the truest sense of the word.
Whether or not you feel the same is entirely up to you, so we encourage you to learn more about the R 18 B on the BMW website or go to your local dealer right away to put it to the test. Go on.
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