Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1292986
2021 BMW R 18 R I D E R E V I E W P108 pun). Its deliverance is not fast but hard—at 2000 rpm, the R 18 will deliver a whop- ping 110 lb-ft of torque, which is just six lb-ft less than its peak. That means you can be incredibly lazy on the gearbox if you desire, letting the motor lug you from corner to corner. Speaking of the gearbox, it's probably the best cruiser gearbox I've ever experienced. A few weeks ago, when I tested the quickshifter-equipped R 1250 RS, I noted the click into first gear was always a thud on the boxer. Not so on the R 18, which has a lovely, smooth engagement of every gear, not just first, and that's without a quickshifter fitted. Sixth gear is certainly an overdrive, with the revs sitting at just over 2000 rpm in sixth gear at 65 mph, with our fuel mileage reading 37 mpg. At these speeds, the ride is nice and smooth, with the Showa-developed fork and ZF non-adjustable shock soaking up the major- ity of bumps before they reach the rider. The rear provides 3.5 inch- es of travel, and given you're sitting on the low side, if you hit square-edge bumps, you'll certainly feel it, although you get an extra 1.2 inches at the front coupled with that big 19-inch wheel. Braking has been de- veloped by Brembo and if you've ever ridden a Harley, it should feel familiar. The levers are massive—big chunky units look like they've been fashioned from old Katana swords. The braking performance is ample, but nothing to rave about. You need to heave on the lever hard for quick stopping, mainly because you're deal- ing with a very large piece of machinery that when coupled with a rider and full gear, in my case, is knock- ing close to 950 pounds. In this case, it's good that the braking system operates all three calipers. It's needed. I must commend BMW for succeeding in what is a very hard trick to pull off. Cruis- ers are very particular motor- cycles and we've seen some of the best manufacturers in the world fail miserably at it. BMW has not. BMW has created not just a motor- cycle, but an experience in the R 18. The R 18 is a visual feast and a completely dif- ferent ride to anything gone before it with the blue and white badge. This R 18 will be the first in a new line of machines to come from BMW as it makes its biggest push yet into the American market. It remains to be seen whether U.S. riders will take the bait, but from the hot seat, I can promise you, the ride is a special one. CN "The future is uncertain but the end is always near."—Jim Morrison. All the more reason to enjoy the ride. 2021 BMW R 18 ($17,495/$19,870 FIRST EDITION PACK)