BMW Motorrad has unveiled R 18, a supreme cruiser with historical roots. The new cruiser borrows from famous models such as the BMW R 5, shifting the focus back onto the motorcycle essentials: purist, no-frills technology and the boxer engine as the epicentre of riding pleasure, combined with 'good vibrations.'
The R 18 combines classic design with clear-cut yet contemporary technology to create a fascinating overall concept - offering a riding experience that is as cultivated as it is emotional. The centrepiece the new BMW R 18 is a newly developed 2-cylinder boxer engine - the 'Big Boxer.' Both its impressive appearance and its technology reflect a continuation of the traditional air-cooled boxer engines that have offered an inspiring riding experience since BMW Motorrad began production in 1923.
The centrepiece of the suspension in the new R 18 is a double-loop steel tube frame. Its design perpetuates the longstanding BMW Motorrad tradition of this frame type. Like the legendary BMW R 5, the rear swingarm - sporting a comparable design - surrounds the rear axle transmission in authentic style by means of bolted connections.
The classic bodywork features of the R 18 are also made of metal - as befits an authentic classic. The suspension is likewise aptly reminiscent of the legendary R 5. Together with the double-sided swingarm and a cantilever suspension strut, the rigid-frame concept of the R 5 is perfectly transported into the modern age in visual terms.
Photos: Courtesy of BMW