Very subjective, I suppose the first thing is if you are already drawn to it then you are well on the way to liking it. These are my thoughts, no better, no worse than anyone else on the forum based upon my R18 (pic below).
It’s NOT a Harley so don’t expect it to sound like one or have any of that legacy, what I mean is some people love Harleys some really don’t and some people will think you are mad for having an R18 instead of a Harley (but they probably haven’t ridden one). The R18 is an ‘occasion’ bike and feels special every time you fire it up and ride off. Is it a commuter? nope, tourer? nope, off road? nope. You get the idea. You can do those things but there are better bikes for that not forgetting the B and TC models. There’s lots of chrome and they take effort to keep nice, ride in all weathers at your peril. The newer Base models will be a lot better in that respect (de-chromed) and some have cast wheels (no tubes if that matters to you).
Problems? Considering these bikes are sold all over the world and there are thousands out there now reliability is excellent. There have been some isolated issues covered in the forum (take a look through the threads) but the engine is hugely understressed it should last forever.
Lots of owners home service, you will need a tool to reset the service light. Easy. All on the forum. Main dealer service costs in America are high (by all accounts) so bear that in mind.
They go well, handle well, are very tall geared but are very wide and low so slow speed corners have to be taken with consideration or you drag the pegs. You just adjust your technique, that’s all. Slow speed balance is superb.
Resale. Elephant in the room. This is a niche bike in a niche cruiser segment and it depends where you are in the world. Plenty of early adopters have lost a lot of money and struggled to sell them on. In the UK our used bike market has tanked, all brands. So go into it with your eyes open. If you buy at a good price then it’s not so bad, just be aware.
I would sum up by saying this, if you
know you just
know and any minor niggles or compromises are irrelevant. I’ve been lucky enough to have had many bikes over the years and this one does have a timeless elegance to it, a bit like say the Queen Mary liner on the open sea. Art Deco on wheels. This is my screensaver (below) that I took this summer and will sustain me through the long shitty winter we are just about to go through…..best of luck
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, what’s a forum for. I suppose living in America with huge wide roads, no roundabouts, a dry climate and loads of space it’s a world away from where I ride mine, couldn’t be more different.
). Went to test ride a K1600 and an R18 TC, knowing that the K1600 was my personal idea of the ultimate bike for me. Hah, how fate plays with us! Bought the TC and have no regrets.