BMW officially unveils 2021 R 18 Classic

BMW launches bagger version of R 18

BMW took the covers off their R 18 line starting with the biggest bagger they have ever produced – the R 18 Classic.

The new BMW R 18 Classic is a nostalgic touring bike that echoes the beginnings of the great touring cruiser models. While the R 18 is very purist in style, the R 18 Classic features a large windscreen, passenger seat, saddlebags, additional LED headlights, and 16-inch front wheel.

The new BMW R 18 Classic and the BMW R 18 stand firmly in the tradition of historic BMW motorcycles. They borrow from famous models such as the BMW R 5 both technologically and visually, shifting the focus back onto the motorcycle essentials: purist, no-frills technology, and the boxer engine as the epicenter of riding pleasure, combined with “good vibrations”.

This new cruiser by BMW is also highly-customizable – a focus even in the early design phases of the basic vehicle layout. As a result, it is fitted with an easily removable rear frame and a simple-to-dismantle painted part set. Carefully conceived interface points for the hydraulic lines of the brake, clutch, and cable harness likewise allow entirely problem-free installation of higher or lower handlebars in conjunction with matching hydraulic lines and cable harnesses. In addition, the visible valve covers (cylinder head covers) and the belt cover (engine housing cover) are designed in such a way that they are located outside the oil chamber, making them very easy to change.

Big Boxer

As the name implies, the R 18’s centerpiece is its massive 1800cc boxer engine. Dubbed as the “Big Boxer”, its appearance and its technology reflect a continuation of the traditional air-cooled boxer engines that have offered an inspiring riding experience for more than seven decades, ever since BMW Motorrad began production of boxers in 1923. This is the biggest two-cylinder boxer engine ever used in motorcycle series production by BMW and has a displacement of 1,802cc. The peak output is 92 Ps at 4,750 rpm. From 2,000 to 4,000 rpm, over 150 Nm of torque is available at all times, and this elemental pulling power is combined with a full, sonorous sound.

Availability in the PH

The R 18 and the R 18 Classic, could be available here in the country by the end of this year or first quarter of 2021, according to SMC Asia Car Distributors Corporation, the exclusive BMW Motorrad distributor in the Philippines. The price has yet to be announced.