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/1408163
P108 RIDE REVIEW I 2022 BMW R18 TRANSCONTINENTAL & R18 B test to me sounds like a flaw in the design. Once up and running, however, both bikes become big German magic-carpet rides. The ride qual- ity over long distances is superb as the rider is put in an ideal position to cruise big days on. The seat is wide and cushy and doesn't put the rider in the dreaded cruiser slouch like many offerings from Indian and Harley-Davidson. You need to take your corners carefully and precisely on both bikes but especially the Trans, as the extra weight becomes appar- ent the moment you sit on it. Glide through the corners, allow the mass of the motorcycle to soak up the road corrugations, and the ride is a delight. Get feisty with either bike and the weight works against you very quickly, with understeer rearing its head much earlier than I'd hoped for. It's all a reminder to take it slow, enjoy the scenery, and learn to love the quiet life (with Led Zeppelin at full noise from the Marshall speakers). When it comes to slowing down, however, that's a different story. The brakes are not up to what the sticker price asks, with not enough bite or feel at the lever for deft modulation. BMW needs to upgrade these bikes to match the weight, and given it was just me on the bike with no luggage, two people riding with luggage will only put more strain on the braking system. One of the killers for me with the Trans was that the top of the screen was directly in my line of sight, meaning I either had to stretch myself tall or crunch myself below the screen to get a clear view. For that alone, I would take the R18 B if I were to buy one of these and stick the top case on from the Transconti- nental (which you can do via the BMW accessory catalog). It's hard to say whether either the R18 Transcontinental or the R18 B will challenge king kong Harley-Davidson in America. Hon- estly, I suspect not, because the bikes are just that little bit too dif- ferent to what American riders are used to. They are visually stunning motorcycles and will turn heads wherever you ride, but the issues noted here might take a few years to iron out, at which point BMW may have missed the bus. Or maybe not. Maybe I'm be- ing too pessimistic, and maybe there really is a chance for BMW to steal some significant market share from Harley-Davidson. Time will tell. CN SPECIFICATIONS 2022 BMW R 18 TRANSCONTINENTAL ($27,145) / R18 B ($24,095) ENGINE Twin-cylinder 4-stroke Boxer COOLING SYSTEM Air/oil FUELING EFI DISPLACEMENT 1802cc BORE X STROKE 107.1 x 100mm POWER (CLAIMED) 91 hp @ 4750 rpm TORQUE (CLAIMED) 116 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm TRANSMISSION 6-speed CLUTCH Wet multi-disc CHASSIS Steel double-loop tube frame FRONT SUSPENSION 49mm inverted fork REAR SUSPENSION Cantilever strut FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL 4.7 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL 4.7 in. FRONT BRAKE Dual 300mm discs, 4-piston fixed caliper, ABS REAR BRAKE Single 300mm disc, 2-piston caliper FRONT TIRE 120/70 ZR19 REAR TIRE 180/65 ZR16 SEAT HEIGHT 28.3 in. WHEELBASE 66.7 in. STEERING HEAD ANGLE 62.7° FUEL CAPACITY 6.34 gal. WEIGHT (WET, CLAIMED) 944 lbs. / 877 lbs.