The Ditch Pump Taken To New Levels

One of the things I've found interesting and don't quite understand this model year and 2021 is why motorcycle companies are deciding to jump into the fray with model types they've never made before and aren't known for. Especially with the motorcycle industry so depressed Well, maybe that's why they are doing it.

This BMW R18 cruiser and Harley's yet-to-be-released Pan American ADV bike are the specific examples that I use in conversations related to the industry. I've had Harleys along with Truimphs now for 10 years. I've never had an adventure bike but if I decided to buy one I'd most likely be looking at BMWs (or Triumphs of course). If I wanted a new cruiser I'd be unlikely to be looking at a BMW. To me it seems like going to an orthopedic surgeon for my cardiac issues because he or she decided it would be good to try her/her hand at a new area of practice. Just my two cents. But I don't know the business mind nor model of either BMW or Harley. Or Triumph either. Also, I'm fairly familiar with the history of H-D but not that of BMW so perhaps they are harkening back to an earlier time that I don't know about.

 

Don't mind me, I'm just getting my tools organised for a more effective derailment

*whistles*

 

Well I have had one BMW or another in the garage for 23 years now and am on my 3rd GS , and I think it's proper ugly!

If I was going for a cruiser, I'd pick up a Guzzi California I reckon.

I agree with Sandi T about manufacturers moving into different areas, but then people buy Porsche 4x4s there is clearly a market for this sort of thing.

DS

 

I may have come across as against the BMW R18, @littleade, but hope I didn't come across as a "hater". I'm really not against the bike in general. There are simply aesthetic aspects to it that are not my cup of tea--the exhaust and the those two "concrete mixers" as you referred to them. In fact, I really should withhold most all comments unless and until I see the bike in person and--even better--take it for a test ride. So my comments have been aimed at particular design features of this model and that from photos alone. I'm definitely not a hater based on brand loyalty. There's probably at least one model among all or nearly all MC makes that I'd have in my garage. In the BMW family it would be the R1250RS.

 

I understand all that you're saying. I would have had all the problems that I listed. As my wife says " if a bike has issues it'll have them on the one you buy."
So I've been running Tiger 955i's these last 3 years and to date 45000 miles.
Cheap as chips and tough as old boots too.
What's not to like about that?

 

Lots of guitar players/lovers around here. We could probably have enough to create a dedicated thread? Fine playing Marty. (well I'm in guitars too)

 

Was speaking to local dealer yesterday and asked if they’d sold many 18s....’no, just a couple, (Presume that means 2) but we don’t have many to sell yet due to deliveries’.
Ken.

 

I didn't realize there where some Victor Meldrews in the bike world.

 

One thing BMW do have is heritage... and it’s obvious where their design queues come from... the r5 which was a 1936 bike... maybe not exactly a cruiser but I don’t think they could have done as good a version/tribute with the r9 family so why not cruiser it?

 

and in 1939 they pressurised europe with their machines

 

Didn’t they used to make military aircraft engines and was “asked” not to after WW1, so they started to develop motorcycles?

 

Hence the blue and white badge (propeller/sky).

 

Hmmm,
Ken.

 

Well the blue/white of the BMW logo is based on the Bavarian flag of blue and white diamonds (They are, after all the Bavarian Motor Works) and, after WWI they weren't asked to not make any aero engines, they were told they couldn't as Germany was banned from manufacturing aircraft that might be used for future warfare.

 

I'd not spotted this thread until now. I rode one a few weeks ago.

Summary... 1.8 litres of monstrous torque wrapped up in a very shiny black and chrome package. Lots of vibration, suspension harsh at legal speeds, poor brakes, uncomfortable and bloody heavy. Exhaust not quite as ugly in real life as it looks.

The engine is phenomenal at the bottom end but vibes are really intrusive above 3,000 RPM. It works nicely between 45mph and 60mph in 4th though so the engine is great for cruising. Brilliant at firing out of slow corners. I'm not sure why there are 3 engine modes though as the "Roll" setting is very soft and I can't see the point of it.

I do like that they've engineered the torque reaction back in (or not engineered it out if you prefer) so it behaves more like older boxers, at least in terms of rotation around the crank if not the rear rise and squat.

Suspension is harsh and needs to you to press on before it starts to work well, which suits neither the engine vibes or the riding position. It does mean that it is quite unpleasant at cruising speeds on imperfect tarmac.

The handling is actually rather good and you can press on, but obviously ground clearance is a limiting factor. Thankfully the bike isn't hampered by a huge rear tyre and skinny front requiring lots of counter-steering to keep it on line

It's possible that the brakes weren't fully bedded in on the demo, but I wasn't confident that they'd haul me to a stop if I needed them to. Thankfully engine braking helped out.

Comfort isn't something that BMW feel they need to trouble us with on this bike. The riding position is a little cramped but bearable, but the seat is like a bench. I note that BMW offer a higher seat which might make the knee bend a little easier.

The electronics package is a little basic, there's no fuel gauge or range indication which surprised me. Nor is there cruise or even an option of sat nav. Neither is there a quick shifter, but with the torque reaction that's perhaps a good thing.

I've no idea why it's got a 200mph speedo either other than for bragging rights down the pub.

In addition to my Street Scrambler, I own 3 BMW boxers at the moment and haven't been without one since, I think, 1987, so I am pretty familiar with the product and what BMW can do. The R18 feels like an opportunity missed.

 

I was being jokingly facetious... sorry!

 

The review I saw said it was vibe city until the rider realised he was one or two gears too low and that the torque the engine produced allowed much higher gears than expected and that fettled the vibe issue

 

I saw that too, and I'd sort of agree. It does have loads of torque, and as long as you keep the revs down it's OK.

However because you need to keep the pace up to smooth out the ride, there's always a tension - fast enough to be comfortable and slow enough to be avoid the vibration.Possibly easy enough to achieve on the sweeping, perfectly paved Californian and South African roads from all the launch videos, much harder to achieve on the B roads or rural Gloucestershire.

I'm afraid BMW have managed the same as they did when they launched the R1200C[1] all those years back; they've made a cruiser that it's very hard to cruise on.



[1] The engine of the 1200C was set up to be lumpy at low revs to mimic the character of the HD twins again which they were trying to compete. Unfortunately, whereas the HDs smoothed out pretty much as soon as you were above walking pace, the BMW continued with this further up the rev range and only smoothed out in top at about 80mph. I test rode the R1200C and went on to buy a Harley. History may well be repeating itself with the R18.