BMWR18

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BMWR18

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1957
4 years ago

I think that BMW should have used the 1600 K bagger to build its new tourer to compete with HD

Krash Kinkade
4 years ago

Quoting 1957 on 16 Oct 2020 08:19 PM
I think that BMW should have used the 1600 K bagger to build its new tourer to compete with HD

I would not own a BMW!!

Ratbob
4 years ago

It’s an odd looking thing, much like some Euro customs and I’m thinking it’s more targeted at the Triumph Bobber market than Harley.
Don’t know why Krash wouldn’t own one, there’s no doubting the engineering, basic reliable stuff but for me it’s the foot peg position, not much else they can do with the boxer format.

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Krash Kinkade
4 years ago

RB , I've never liked BMW bikes, but I like most bikes, just never wanted one ( personal choice ). I've just about always been on Harley's.

Far Canal
4 years ago

Quoting Krash Kinkade on 17 Oct 2020 05:51 AM
RB , I've never liked BMW bikes, but I like most bikes, just never wanted one ( personal choice ). I've just about always been on Harley's.

"I've never liked BMW bikes,"
Same here Krash , I have always thought they were just downright ugly. They may be well engineered and they might go and handle well but never yearned for one.

1957
4 years ago

The R18 is really beautiful. I am a harley and BMW rider (Harley Streetglide, BMW K1600 B and BMW S100XR).
The R18 is a really nice retro BMW with modern technology aimed at the cruiser market which is not really what I do. I like touring. Nevertheless I gave away my order after a test ride as it has no fuel gague and no “distance to empty” in the sophisticated menu!! Also no cruise control. To my mind it could have competed with the road king and street glide Harleys as it is 345 kg and a long bike if they fix these issues. Also tank size a bit small and this bike is even lower than Harleys with limited ground clearance and scraps the pegs when cornering. Otherwise a nice bike

Ratbob
4 years ago

Quoting 1957 on 17 Oct 2020 07:42 AM
The R18 is really beautiful. I am a harley and BMW rider (Harley Streetglide, BMW K1600 B and BMW S100XR).
The R18 is a really nice retro BMW with modern technology aimed at the cruiser market which is not really what I do. I like touring. Nevertheless I gave away my order after a test ride as it has no fuel gague and no “distance to empty” in the sophisticated menu!! Also no cruise control. To my mind it could have competed with the road king and street glide Harleys as it is 345 kg and a long bike if they fix these issues. Also tank size a bit small and this bike is even lower than Harleys with limited ground clearance and scraps the pegs when cornering. Otherwise a nice bike

I think your valid criticisms show it’s not hunting the Harley market.

Ratbob
4 years ago

Quoting Krash Kinkade on 17 Oct 2020 05:51 AM
RB , I've never liked BMW bikes, but I like most bikes, just never wanted one ( personal choice ). I've just about always been on Harley's.

Quoting Far Canal on 17 Oct 2020 06:22 AM
"I've never liked BMW bikes,"
Same here Krash , I have always thought they were just downright ugly. They may be well engineered and they might go and handle well but never yearned for one.

Thanks Krash and FC, yeah they are odd beasts. For some demented reason though I now see the BMW Cruiser, used on the Bond movies, as desirable..... Did I say that out loud?
Is there a vaccine for that?

fatbat
4 years ago

I was always curious about the r1200c (James bond) bmw cruiser. They come with dual brembo brakes up front and the cheapest one on Bikesales right now also has ohlins rear suspension. The oem pillion seat folds up at adjustable angles to provide a rider backrest which is clever. Something different but have I no idea how they go or handle

Ratbob
4 years ago

Quoting fatbat on 18 Oct 2020 03:42 AMedited: 18 Oct 2020 03:43 AM
I was always curious about the r1200c (James bond) bmw cruiser. They come with dual brembo brakes up front and the cheapest one on Bikesales right now also has ohlins rear suspension. The oem pillion seat folds up at adjustable angles to provide a rider backrest which is clever. Something different but have I no idea how they go or handle

They go well mate but bland.
They’ll do pretty much everything you ask of them, need to brake hard into a corner, even in a corner, no worries, they just pull up without changing attitude, flicking through the twister bits it had me on my limits, top end speed, yep plenty of that etc etc but it’s a soulless experience, like riding a sewing machine. Maybe because there’s more power than torque, delivered oh so smoothly and silently.

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fatbat
4 years ago

Quoting fatbat on 18 Oct 2020 03:42 AMedited: 18 Oct 2020 03:43 AM
I was always curious about the r1200c (James bond) bmw cruiser. They come with dual brembo brakes up front and the cheapest one on Bikesales right now also has ohlins rear suspension. The oem pillion seat folds up at adjustable angles to provide a rider backrest which is clever. Something different but have I no idea how they go or handle

Quoting Ratbob on 18 Oct 2020 07:35 AM
They go well mate but bland.
They’ll do pretty much everything you ask of them, need to brake hard into a corner, even in a corner, no worries, they just pull up without changing attitude, flicking through the twister bits it had me on my limits, top end speed, yep plenty of that etc etc but it’s a soulless experience, like riding a sewing machine. Maybe because there’s more power than torque, delivered oh so smoothly and silently.

Thanks For feedback about them Rb; strangely I’ve always been curious about them and the odd one pops up for sale cheaply. Didn’t realise they went so well but it shouldn’t surprise. The only Beamer I had was a k1200gt. It also did everything well but also had no soul. After my divorce goes thru I wouldn’t rule out the old James Bond cruiser if the right one pops up at the right price. Dunno if I could stomach a cream coloured one though

1957
4 years ago

Quoting fatbat on 18 Oct 2020 03:42 AMedited: 18 Oct 2020 03:43 AM
I was always curious about the r1200c (James bond) bmw cruiser. They come with dual brembo brakes up front and the cheapest one on Bikesales right now also has ohlins rear suspension. The oem pillion seat folds up at adjustable angles to provide a rider backrest which is clever. Something different but have I no idea how they go or handle

I had one if those and loved it. Ahead of its time in many respects. Not sure why it didn’t mKe more impact. I think the R18 May unfortunately go the same way.

Krash Kinkade
4 years ago

Quoting Krash Kinkade on 17 Oct 2020 05:51 AM
RB , I've never liked BMW bikes, but I like most bikes, just never wanted one ( personal choice ). I've just about always been on Harley's.

Quoting Far Canal on 17 Oct 2020 06:22 AM
"I've never liked BMW bikes,"
Same here Krash , I have always thought they were just downright ugly. They may be well engineered and they might go and handle well but never yearned for one.

Quoting Ratbob on 17 Oct 2020 08:25 AM
Thanks Krash and FC, yeah they are odd beasts. For some demented reason though I now see the BMW Cruiser, used on the Bond movies, as desirable..... Did I say that out loud?
Is there a vaccine for that?

RB take a deep breath, & stop looking at it! ( just joking , don't do a spear of the moment thing, ride one first ).

1957 I'm used to different bikes & for me one bike does all, but I don't like riding dirt roads ( I have ). I have never had an EFI bike ( but have ridden some ) so no menu knowledge on Motor Bikes, just on car's.

Having said that I ride with a lot of people that ride the latest & enjoy them, a few of them have New Honda Gold Wings that have air bag & unbelievable Ride & safety features. but I would not swap rides with anyone.

Krash Kinkade
4 years ago

Hey RB , that was well put!

Mr.Mow
4 years ago

Quoting fatbat on 18 Oct 2020 03:42 AMedited: 18 Oct 2020 03:43 AM
I was always curious about the r1200c (James bond) bmw cruiser. They come with dual brembo brakes up front and the cheapest one on Bikesales right now also has ohlins rear suspension. The oem pillion seat folds up at adjustable angles to provide a rider backrest which is clever. Something different but have I no idea how they go or handle

Quoting Ratbob on 18 Oct 2020 07:35 AM
They go well mate but bland.
They’ll do pretty much everything you ask of them, need to brake hard into a corner, even in a corner, no worries, they just pull up without changing attitude, flicking through the twister bits it had me on my limits, top end speed, yep plenty of that etc etc but it’s a soulless experience, like riding a sewing machine. Maybe because there’s more power than torque, delivered oh so smoothly and silently.

I’ve owned near 30 bikes and I’ve gotta day my new rninet racer is not at all soulless, there’s a shit ton of clever stuff going on, it’s pretty quiet in the ADR noise test range, but get to around mid 4000rpm and I’m surprised how rorty it is, has an exhaust valve that opens and yeah it’s surprisingly loud, on downshifts it crackles and pops like a rally car, throttle response is tight, suspension is sporty without being ridiculous, the more you throw at it the more it rewards you, it’s not the fastest bike I’ve ridden but it’s fast to ride.

To be fair I’ve owned BMWs in the past and I’d agree they were dull bland machines, but whatever they’re doing these days seems to be injecting some love.

liberator
4 years ago

I've got one of those James Bond R1200C's, had it for 15 years, I don't care if they always rank high in the ugly bike polls, I bought mine because it's different , I like different, kudos to BMW for not going down the V twin route, the bikes are well engineered with abs, heated grips and self cancelling indicators, and in my eye beautiful , somebody mentioned that there's no feet forward option, yes I agree this is a pain, these bikes have been tuned for torque, the R1200C only has 61hp, whereas the equivalent cop bike/tourer had I think around 85-90hp, the R1200C has 72 ?ftlbs torque at 2900rpm, I use it to pull a trailer, BMW made around 45,000 between '97 and '04, It's my ride at the moment, here in SA it's easy to own multiple bikes, rego for 3 months, swap them around, no roadworthy required, one thing about the R1200C is that in the 3 months I will not meet another one on the road, that's what I like,

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Ratbob
4 years ago

Yeah mate they are a bit fugly, and rare. There’s a nice one for sale in SA, low kms too. It’s in beige but somehow it looks ok. Jeeze I must be catching the Beemer virus. 🤪

Mr.Mow
4 years ago

So I’ve owned 6 BMs in my life and 6 Harleys, currently have my 05 softail and a new BM RnineT Racer, love em both for different reasons.

Went and looked and an R18 on Saturday, like the concept, but up close.. so much fake panelling to cover things, chromed plastic fake panels.
Now most harleys I can see potential ‘I’ll rip this off, change this over etc’, but this thing was borderline impossible for an at home kind of builder (ie not Roland sands or Cherry’s company) to mod up. Really disappointing, fake retro

Far Canal
4 years ago

Far Canal
4 years ago

This one is as visually pleasing as any of the latest BMW models if you ask me.

Topics

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BMWR18

BMWR18

1957

Krash Kinkade

Ratbob

Krash Kinkade

Far Canal

1957

Ratbob

Ratbob

fatbat

Ratbob

fatbat

1957

Krash Kinkade

Krash Kinkade

Mr.Mow

liberator

Ratbob

Mr.Mow

Far Canal

Far Canal