BMW R 18 B 2024 — Specifications

Motorcycle: BMW R 18 B (2024)

Building a platform, not a model. That’s the gamble Munich took in resurrecting its large Boxer in a custom guise, and the method resembles that of another well-known manufacturer from Wisconsin. You start with an engine, you decline it, you gradually expand the offer. The BMW R 18 B fits into this logic with a precise ambition: to convert the cruiser into a grand touring bagger, without sacrificing maneuverability on the altar of highway comfort.

The positioning is readable at first glance. The enveloping Batwing-style fairing head, the 27-liter hard cases, the generous fenders, the raised seat at 720 mm: everything points to the same enemy, the Harley-Davidson Street Glide. And to a lesser extent, the Indian Chieftain. BMW responds point by point with the same selling arguments, chest protection, contained windshield, integrated luggage, but opposes these American models with a 1802 cm3 flat-twin engine. This is where the German stands out. The flat-twin develops 91 horsepower at 4750 rpm, a figure that doesn't tell the whole story. What matters is the torque: 157.9 Nm available from 3000 rpm, spread in a fleshy way across the entire common usage range. The thrust is deep, organic, without a jerk. You don't ride this engine, you let it propel you.

However, this block must be put into perspective with what it has to pull. The version B weighs 398 kg fully fueled, 53 kg more than the base custom. The fairing, the cases, the onboard equipment and a 24-liter tank against 16 on the original R 18, all of this weighs. The maximum speed is capped at 180 km/h, which remains consistent with the vocation of the machine. The chassis has been reworked accordingly: wheelbase shortened by 36 mm, rake increased to 62.7 degrees, rear shock absorber with an additional 30 mm of travel. Preload is automatically adjusted according to the load, without driver intervention. You get on, you put your belongings down, you ride.

On board, the experience turns into a mobile lounge. Heated grips as standard, integrated Marshall sound system in the fairing, Keyless Ride keyless technology, and a 26 cm TFT screen dominating the center of the cockpit. The latter can display navigation, on-board information, telephone connection and radio. Its format is undeniably spectacular, perhaps even a little beyond what usage demands. But it coexists with four classic analog dials, including a power reserve indicator, a rare and well-thought-out detail. The onboard electronics don't stop there: three riding modes, ASC traction control, MSR engine braking regulation, automatic emergency call, and optionally reverse, Hill Start Control and adaptive cruise control. For A2 license holders, a restriction is also available. The BMW R 18 B accessory catalog then allows each copy to be personalized according to taste, from Option 719 parts to Roland Sands Design collaborations, through audio systems up to 280 watts.

A detail of ergonomics finally distinguishes this machine from its American rivals. Where the Street Glide imposes feet forward, the BMW R 18 B retains a more upright position, knees bent behind the cylinders. It's less visually iconic, but more natural to ride over time. This German bagger at €28,190 doesn't seek to imitate Milwaukee, it imposes its own vision of grand custom touring. The BMW R 18 B price is in the high range of the segment, consistent with the level of standard equipment. It is aimed at an experienced globetrotter who wants to devour the miles without sacrificing character, and who prefers the regular breath of a Boxer to the syncopated cadence of an American V-twin.