Did BMW Just Kill The R18? | BMW R20 Concept

[@dhc8guru]

I chose the R18 Roctane over a Harley. I do see the 2L engine ending up in the current R18. I don’t see them phasing out the R18 all together, they are just going to evolve it. That air cooled engine is wonderful in a cruiser.

[@nelsonphilip4520]

This Valkyrie rider just demoed the Rocktane at the Lake George Americade rally and give it two thumbs up!!

[@1990-t1j]

This could compete with the Triumph Rocket 3 R. The flat-twin engine looks good to me.

[@wave6413]

I am a HD fan boy. But when I finally got to the point where a cruiser was going to be my next bike. I had fallen for the R18… I had never ridden one and got a great deal on a second hand machine. I am not disappointed. That engine is magnificent to look at and when riding and looking down even more amazing. Fit and finish first class. Makes HD less polished when comparing them. That’s my 5 cents anyway…

[@paulharrison8155]

BMW build them because they can. I’m seeing used R18 models for sale with a couple of thousand miles on them for almost half the price they were new. That doesn’t make them a bad bike but it does make them much cheaper than a Harley or Indian equivalent. I’m currently watching an R18 with a Bobber kit fitted sat at a dealers showroom dropping every quarter it remains unsold. If it gets down to £11k I will sling in a cheeky offer

[@dhc8guru]

The ones you see for half price are usually the base models that were $16k new. They are impractical weekend sub-50 miles ride bikes. Which is perfectly fine if that’s what you do.

[@saddle8bag]

The cylinders just get in the way of a feet forward cruiser rider. This little standard is a much better use of the old lump. I like the idea of keeping the old, simple engine around for those who don't want a PHd in setting a million modes on a speedometer ipad for no apparent reason. Plus the old one still feels motorsickley. The new ones are fine for turbine smoothness for old people to go on long trips, but the old ones have a more raw feel that lends itself to shorter hops on a sportier bike. I do wish they'd make the engines smaller though. They just look more and more freakish the bigger they get.

[@deanletter335]

How many boxers have you ridden? I own a couple including the R18. Most of the complaints of the boxer are unfounded. I am 6’2” and fit both the R1200 and R18 comfortably. The hot air that comes out of some of these videos is interesting/laughable.

[@peterchivers6312]

Good video- but I hope you’re wrong about BMW phasing out the R18. I considering a Roctane and spent an hour riding one a couple of weeks ago. Was very sceptical when I got on, loved it by the time I stepped off. The bike actually handles and feels light once moving. At 63 and only ever owning sports bikes I’m after something more laid back and the Roctane felt spot on… for what I’m after. I think this R20 concept looks fine, but if I wanted a Rocket 3 I’d buy one. What I like about the R18 is that it’s not generic- it does one thing well. If you don’t want that - don’t buy one.

[@nelsonphilip4520]

Well said! I wish the buying riders would investigate this model rather then be swayed by the nay-sayers.

[@jfro5867]

Well said Peter

[@bernardlesperance742]

I'd like to see this bike (R20) with the engine from the R12 - which I would then seriously consider as my next bike.

[@pl7zma]

it already exists, the r9t

[@nigelgreen1246]

I disagree with pretty much everything you have said. I switched to a new R18 from a Harley at launch because it is, in my opinion, a better looking bike than Harleys as well as much better fit and finish. No brainer for me. I don't, however like the look of the R20. thanks for your video.

[@nelsonphilip4520]

The Motor Company's fit & finish is like a fine wine and it improves with age. Clearly BMW had H-D in its cross-hairs when developing the R-18 line and I give them credit for their jewel-like accomplishment with the R-18 line-up. And to H-D's credit they have responded with the stunning Road & Street Glide models.

[@nigelgreen1246]

@@nelsonphilip4520 No, they dd not haVe harley in their sights. It's based on their 1935 R5 and bears no relation to Harley

[@David-uu3wq]

I have an R18, and I like it because it's different. It's also very well made. I have had a lot of compliments from people when it's parked up, looks better with dragpipes though. As for the R20, it won't sell well for the same reason the R18 didn't. It was too expensive, and very niche. It's a Marmite bike, and I love it. 😊

[@rubo1964]

I may be a minority but love R18 and everything about it.Big doesn't scare me.I ride 1500 cruiser and that's 800lb.

[@nelsonphilip4520]

From my perspective as a Honda Gold Wing Valkyrie owner, I see the R-18 as the successor to this timeless classic.

[@jfro5867]

I’ve got an R18, had it two years, absolutely love it. Had four Harleys in the past. Worldwide sales of the R18 range have been on par with the R9T, pretty decent. Tbh I do think you’ve mixed up seeing more Harleys around because you just will, they’ve been on sale for decades. Question I put to you is how many Harleys registered since 2020 have you seen, the same length of time as the R18? I expect not nearly as many.

[@nelsonphilip4520]

Good point; registrations would dictate trends.

[@jfro5867]

@@nelsonphilip4520 thanks Nelson. I myself see Harleys out and about often but they are not new ones, or nearly new even. Harley has closed no end of dealers down here which tells its own story. I’m not knocking HD I really like them myself I just get tired of the pile on as soon as R18 is mentioned. It shouldn’t matter what we buy/ride as long as it’s two wheels does it matter?

[@nelsonphilip4520]

@@jfro5867 Amen! In the end it's not what you ride it's THAT you ride!

[@nelsonphilip4520]

Kudos to BMW as they know how to build world class motorcycles. And they know how to build off their heritage. Now they just need to link the two together and build a world class heritage bike. Of course maybe they've already done it with the K1600 Grand America??

[@michelangelo3674]

If they stay true to this concept I would certainly buy one. Compete with Ducati and triumph. I for one,would only buy Harley Davidson for bagger cruisers.

[@ronaldthomas9396]

This is in addition to the R 18 and not its replacement!

[@_audacerider3838]

All this 😢 about not having feet foward. All the best big mile crashing bikes from ADV to BMW RTs and Honda Goldwings all have mid controls and You don't see anyone complaining about it. It is just the "Mericans" making a big thing out of nothing. Plus you can get the leg rests over the cylinder heads or even aftermarket pegs attached to engine gards. I have mids on my Moto Guzzi Audace 1400 and I can go for a 12 hours ride with no problems. The biggest issue woth the R18 was that the concept for it was excellent and the first edition was not so much. I recon if BMW would made it look more like the "R18 Concept/2" it would have been received better. The exhaust on the the R18 was a massive let down compared to the concept bikes with lovley short exhausts. Plus BMW should have gone more competitive with the price from the get go. So the bike shoud have been round 13K pounds for the first edition 14K for the Classic and 17K for the Bagger 20K for transcontinental and 14K for the Roctaine. They would have sold more of them. Cause if You look at the Auto trader that is what you pay for 2023 models with less then 100 miles on clock. The R20 is a cool concept but again i feel that the production version will be to "boring" after adding all the euro5+ nonsense indicators and number plates. I actually see more and more of R18s on the road but most of them are second hand bought for much less then the original asking price.

[@swcrossii]

An informed and substantive comment 💡

[@nelsonphilip4520]

On the other hand a potential BMW buyer could easily cross the showroom floor and buy the K1600 Grand "Merican" and never think 'bout an air-cooled boxer ever again!

[@tmar0075]

In my opinion my 😢Transcontinental has the unique factor goin for it.. most people who see it in person gives compliments accordingly..yes the engine is a bit ostentatious...but it is deceptive in how well balanced this machine handles..truly appreciate the one of a kind motorbike..😅

[@nelsonphilip4520]

From my vantage I've always felt that both that adding the fairing, panniers, & top box to TC & the Bagger variants evened out the proportions.

[@AC-iy1ov]

Love the R18’s look so much and traded a road glide 2017 for a new transcontinental

[@evgenismirnov2924]

I love my r18 first addition Because it’s unique, love big engine.

[@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff]

Being air-cooled that motor is always going to underperform compared to a water cooled equivalent. I did like my ride on the 100 year edition model but couldn’t bring myself to spend so much money on a one dimensional bike.

[@HellWalkerPrider]

The r20 design seem to want to compete more with the xdiaval or the rocket3, which are sportier looking muscle cruisers. The r18 doesnt compete with those models.

[@hermannhesse7587]

BMW needs to put the K75 engine in the R12 frame

[@jamessouthworth1699]

I wish these manufacturers would forget about the displacement war and just build better classic displacement bikes at fair prices. Not everyone is caught up in sitting outside the cafe and bragging. Some of us actually want to ride.

[@browngreen933]

The BMW opposed twin has got some advantages (cooling, smoothness, etc), but good looks is NOT one of them. The R18 would make a good sidecar machine though. The R20 concept bike is horrible. 😂

[@tomkarnes69]

Yes they did, but not just... they killed it when they dropped the first production run so far away from the concept bike, it was essential DOA, let's see if BMW has learned there lesson for the second go round

[@Man-In-The-Home-Stretch]

Harley Davidson has produced the world's most efficient machine at converting gasoline into noise, without all the annoying side effects such as power, handling and reliability. But if BMW wants to be SURE that the R20 is an utter sales flop in the U.S., they should keep the pink tank.

[@zander1960]

The minute you say I don't have the numbers.......

[@theopapathanasiou1261]

Loved your thesis and your delivery and voice tone, thus subscribed. I disagree (respectfully) on the point of R18 aesthetics and reasoning for lack of sales. Being a serial owner, collector, tourer, and lover of the weird and unloved (bmw k1, yamaha gts, early gs when nobody would touch them etc), I was in the market for an r18 (still am in a way). I think they are lovely looking beasts, the mahoosive engine heads and the open polished rear axle being the highlights, they ride well and have immense presence. They haven’t sold well (amd I haven’t got one) because (in random order); -they were wrongly priced initially , hence NOS pricing in dealers 3 years on at -40% (and those discounted ones are selling - they are designed for pottering about and touring mostly, and whilst they are able and good at it dynamically, touring is not about that. Its also about, the wife/pillion liking it, the panniers not being in the way, your small end and lower back not being in pain after 50miles, the pillions gear and her hairbrushes fitting in the panniers, the tank range being adequate and on and on. The R18 is fairly poor at the practical aspect of touring. Where a GS (the king of a practical-hence its sales), a K1600, any PanEuropean (dynamically a 20yo bike), any RT, any Harley Road king or equiv (minus the falling bolts and bits) are good tourers. Relaxed, easy, etc. And good looking. Unfortunately for it (perhaps fortunately for future ownership into classic status) the R18 is a bit of a chocolate teapot, v much like a Diavel for example. Less useful, most of the time. A chocolate teapot, which by your evidence, not all people like the look of either.

[@jfro5867]

Disclosure. I have an R18, had it two years. Love it. Don’t disagree with you really about it not being a practical, all rounder, pillion friendly bike etc. It’s not. It’s plastered in chrome for a start and would be a bugger to keep clean, however, what it is, is a rolling work of art on wheels. Riding along sat behind that aircraft like engine is just the best view ever. Anyway, BMW cocked up the launch by doing it right at the start of Covid lockdown, they continued production so had too many bikes stockpiling, pushed them onto dealers who couldn’t realistically sell so many hence the aggressive discounting. Shit happens.

[@nelsonphilip4520]

@@jfro5867 The 1975 Honda Gold Wing did not hit it's sales target either. But here we are some 50 years later and the Gold Wing is still the standard bearer for the luxo-touring segment.

[@jfro5867]

@@nelsonphilip4520 thanks Nelson, didn’t know that. 👍

[@beefy0978]

Mates got an R18. Constant electrical gremlins. Off the road more than its on…

[@MHeadroom]

Let’s face it the R 18 is a hippo on two wheels. It doesn’t sell well and from a depreciation aspect you might as well throw your cash into the fireplace. The R 20 concept looks way more appealing, modern, and useful. Let’s hope it is brought to market. Just not sure about the fixed bobber seat as it doesn’t give any wriggle room and comfort may be compromised for longer rides. But it is designed along the cafe racer style after all, so anything more than an hour in the saddle would be a stretch, me thinks.

[@MHeadroom]

Post script: On reflection, as entertaining as the R20 concept might appear I don’t think it will make it to the market. BMW doesn’t need another hippo on 2 wheels that probably won’t sell well either. 2litre bike? Isn’t that just a compensation mechanism for riders with deep pockets and really small bollocks?🤣

[@1990-t1j]

@@MHeadroom Torque talks.

[@nelsonphilip4520]

@@MHeadroom Hmm?? The R-18 caught my attention as does this 2 liter cafe style.

[@MHeadroom]

@@nelsonphilip4520 if it works for you that’s all that counts. Enjoy your ride, whatever it may be. Just not for me and a broad market seems to agree. 😎👍

[@beefy0978]

Cant make a cruiser without foot forward position…

[@1Chuck4U2C]

As a HD Guy in America, I have come to Like the R-NineT and Now the R12 NineT , I went into Euro Motorcycle Dealership to buy the R-NineT but bought the Moto Guzzi V85TT adventurer the smallest of the Shaft drive two years later I am going to purchase the R12-NineT now adding it to my many toys. R18 looks like a pig with lipstick on it.

[@Dzinbhudist]

R18 sales were bad and even declining now, test rode R18 bagger version, no power, very buzzing vibration to hands, to seat, to footpegs, if you have foot over 43+ gear lever is nightmare because always hitting cylinder… In stop and go traffic clutch started to heat and so awful smell, like rotten eggs because of dry clutch system, but suspension is very good smooth ride on any pavement … they sell 8k per year globally R18 it is awful numbers 4%~ of total sales.

[@nelsonphilip4520]

sorry about your experience. Nobody wants their pride & joy to smell like rotten eggs!

[@jeremypetch7006]

And the point is....?

[@nelsonphilip4520]

My point is kudos for Honda for sticking with it's "guns" on the Gold Wing. Which incidentally was targeting not so much H-D, but BMW!

[@tieredlabsllc5728]

I sat on an R18 at a show.. hard pass. With the jugs in the way, you're locked into a standard seating position, which on a would-be cruiser bike feels very wrong. I ride BMW standards and old Harleys, but the two just don't and can't go together. And BMW wonders why they don't sell. Did the people who birthed the R1200C abomination all retire? Was that lesson forgotten? Then again, they did the hideous "beaver teeth" vertical grills on the cars recently. Common sense ain't so common these days.

[@nicholasjarrold8649]

I ride a rocket 3gt and I love it beautiful bike but I also like the R18 love the engine how it looks I’ve never ridden one but if the ole man has bought one I’m sure they can’t be bad bikes but the R20 noooo looks terrible

[@hgm8337]

answer: no

[@Motobikereviews]

To see more indians you need to go to slough or bradford!

[@dennisinglis5500]

NO Thank you

[@andycarter7325]

Have to admit, they are an ugly looking bike, and again, regardless of how good the mechanical and tech, it still needs to look good on the road. 😊 sticking with my road glide thanks.👍👍

[@markh.harris9271]

Im not interested in either one of them; don't like the boxer power plant, don't want a shaft drive, and in my opinion BOTH are butt ugly... BUTT ugly. (but especially the R20) The boxer is actually the better engineering... hey, all of my Subarus have boxer engines; BUTT on a motorcycle its not ergonomically the best and its absolutely UGLY. Really, UGLY. The shaft drive is neat as a pin, but outside and in, but its not the best... you lose torque with shaft drive... its just not as efficient as either chain, or belt drive systems... don't want shaft drive. Did I mention UGLY?? marcus

[@rubo1964]

Your definition of ugly is severely skewed.I find R18 stunning along thousands of others.Shaft drive ugly?😂 a component you hardly can see? I ride vulcan 1500 with shaft drive and don't see the shaft😂and I don't have to lube or change the chain...Obviously your comment is in stupid catagory

[@markh.harris9271]

@rubo1964 , no dumba$$ I didn't say shaft drive was ugly, I said shaft drive was inefficient. I said the BIKE was BUTT ugly, and I stand by that comment. It's lines suck, it's ergonomics is painful, it's aesthetic balance is "skewed" and it's overall appeal is (in simplistic terms) low. Did I mention it's BUTT ugly? marcus

[@rubo1964]

@@markh.harris9271 Pretty efficient go ask BMW owners what they prefer!

[@SuperZeppelin2112]

No matter how good a ride is you want to at leat admire your investment and for me this is a fail.

[@paulharrison8155]

New motorcycles are never an jnvestment unless it’s made in very small numbers

[@jfarlandutube]

I own BMWs, but would not buy a 18. The bike is just way too heavy. The cylinders get in the way of your feet and they’re too close to the ground.

[@nigelgreen1246]

wrong on both counts