The haters´ magnifying glass

[Petrus]

In 2016 BMW shows an R5 ´homage´ which in 2019 grows a modern engine and in 2020 prooves to be a new addition to their production model range.

It is to all extends and purposes a BMW. Well engineered with attention to detail of all aspecst of a motorcycle. Well built and finished with quality also on BMW level.

Now we are 5 years down the road and the R18 has proven to be BMWs most controversial motorcycle model.
Why??
Ah.... the ham question.
The answer is simple; a knee jerk reaction from the traditional V-twin family.

Apart from two teething issues which although not major, did need adressing and in the light of US letigation prompted recalls, the bike has proven to be VERY reliable and problem free.
Yet a short list of non-issue ´issues´ keeps shining a negative light.
To paint a perspective; the worst thing ´testers´ could come up with in ´20-´21 was the rear shocks not being adjusted dwon from the shipping setting to their weight leading to a gripe stíll sticking to the rear suspension of the series.
Even more telling is BMW supposedly ditching the range starting in ´22 based on.... ???

Bottom line is that the R18 range is if anything a very reliable model family. I mean the worst handling thing we can come up with is a noisy front tyre contrasting sharply with death wobble models from an established competitor.

Ok, this is an R18 forum and the nature of that is sharing experiences and also the nature of it is a greater need for sharing doubts and issues. The latter is (thinking positively) probably why the majority of negative posts comes form posters with few or o previous posting history.

I have tried balance things by starting a positive things thread but that soon got bogged down to a standstill.

All in all I find it amazing that a large, leading main stream manufacturer like BMW has given the motorcycle world this refreshingly different, literally and figuratively outstanding R18 motorcycle. The only akin example I can think of is the Honda Rune.
Congratulations to all here; you have a gem of a motorcycle; enjoy!

 

[skidward]

Haters gona hate...

 

[fleabag]

Maybe it’s me, but I love it when people hate my motorcycle.

 

[justabill]

I buy motorcycles for one person. Me. I make them my own and keep them as long as I like. My 1250 RS gets hate because it's neither a sport bike nor a tourer. My 85 R80 gets hate because it's not as BMW made it. My 91 R100 will get hate because it's being modernized as much as I can. The R18 gets hate because it's not a Harley and has no forward controls.

I'm used to getting hate from folks. I don't need the affirmation of others. I will be just fine and enjoy my choices. That's who I made them for anyway.

With what I am going to do to my R90S when the 91 is done, I can't wait to see the hate from the Church of Internet BMW History.

 

[ccmjr77]

One of the biggest reasons I fell in love with the R18TC was it was different and that big boxer engine...

 

[Petrus]

The way I see ´it´ the R18 is just another not American big twin cruising type bike like so many from Japan. The Japanese entries however do not invoke the same negative responses. Neither did the MotoGuzzi Calfornians for that matter.
It is the BMW quality which provokes defensive agression?
I just don´t get it. Especially as the FE and base are retro bikes not really probing into the American V-twin scene. Yet WHOOOOSJJJJ....

Now even íf the R18 family model range would tread on HD territory because of in any way better, than HD owners should be happy with that no as it would be a motivation for improvenent.

Mind I personally over here neither experience any negative, quite the contrary actually, nor care. It is strikingly prevalent on the web though. Interesting.

 

[Marcilio]

In my case, I have to control myself not to buy more R18s.
Used ones are going cheap, and I love mine.
Sometimes I want to buy a TC, Bagger, etc.

 

[emgarciax]

Close to 10k and no issues.

 

[DIAGREG]

Having been lusting after an R18 classic since they were first released, I was able pull together enough cash to purchase in early 2025.
When I started to look at dealer stock, I also noticed there many private sales listed for practically new "used" R18s, many with less than 500 miles on them.
Seems many people had bought them as an investment that did not pan out.
I found a 2021 model FE Classic in absolutely mint condition with 176.0 miles on it for 10k, that's what? 7k less than new?
The market for these, is small, affecting the price, however, I think due to negative reviews, and bad timing (scamdemic) they just never took off.
So now at 63 yrs old, I finally have a bike that feels absolutely wonderful to me, and I don't see myself ever getting rid of it.
The only downside? My R1100rs did not even leave the garage this summer!

Ride safe, Greg

 

[fleabag]

Having been lusting after an R18 classic since they were first released, I was able pull together enough cash to purchase in early 2025.
When I started to look at dealer stock, I also noticed there many private sales listed for practically new "used" R18s, many with less than 500 miles on them.
Seems many people had bought them as an investment that did not pan out.
I found a 2021 model FE Classic in absolutely mint condition with 176.0 miles on it for 10k, that's what? 7k less than new?
The market for these, is small, affecting the price, however, I think due to negative reviews, and bad timing (scamdemic) they just never took off.
So now at 63 yrs old, I finally have a bike that feels absolutely wonderful to me, and I don't see myself ever getting rid of it.
The only downside? My R1100rs did not even leave the garage this summer!

Ride safe, Greg

(scamdemic) - The officially reported death toll (confirmed COVID 19) deaths worldwide is ~6-7 million people. And your Scamdemic data source is what?

Keep bullcrap opinions to yourself.

 

[Petrus]

(scamdemic) - The officially reported death toll (confirmed COVID 19) deaths worldwide is ~6-7 million people. And your Scamdemic data source is what?

Keep bullcrap opinions to yourself.

I agree that this is not the platform to discuss this but a bit of reasonable perspective is perhaps a good closure:
The official reported death toll has several footnotes.
Whereas there wás a pandemic it was also grossly abused for scams and not just by ´entrepeneurs´; ethically questionable decisions were enforced and ditto legislation approved/implemented.
As such the pun may not be funny but unfounded it is not either.
Can we now terminate this and continue with the topic?

I cannot see the pandemic as having affected the R18 sales negatively. In Europe it sold out in 2020 and kept this momentum in 2021. Sales already dropped in ´22. Néxt it seemed like the market neared saturation. Probably most old blokes had their nostalgic itch scratched by then
I personally also have the, totally unfounded by any fact, suspicion that motorbikes and cabrios saw a temporary positive demand because of post-pandemic effects aka memento mori, carpe diem.

More on topic still. As I wrote before, take a look at the public the R5 Homage and the R18 Concept were presented to. Quite telling imo.
BMW betted heavily on the nostalgic heritage thing with a strong up market top tier message.
One could see it as a counter movement to the HD experience thing.
As such it is not all that surprsing it saw and still sees a rejection from that side.
Secondly the buyers market they aimed for is a bit of a niche compared to the overall cruiser buyers.

 

[Marcilio]

I personally prefer to read opinions that I disagree with (Diagreg), than a personal offense (fleabag).

 

[DIAGREG]

@fleabag, who pee'd in your cheerios this morning? I used a common term for the PANDEMIC, only in reference to the timing of the release of the R18, chill out.
Feel free to ignore me from now on.


Greg

 

[fleabag]

I personally prefer to read opinions that I disagree with (Diagreg), than a personal offense (fleabag).

scamdemic”.

@fleabag, who pee'd in your cheerios this morning? I used a common term for the PANDEMIC, only in reference to the timing of the release of the R18, chill out.
Feel free to ignore me from now on.


Greg

I find it extremely disrespectful to the millions of families who had a loved one die from the pandemic.

@fleabag, who pee'd in your cheerios this morning? I used a common term for the PANDEMIC, only in reference to the timing of the release of the R18, chill out.
Feel free to ignore me from now on.


Greg

A common, disrespectful and insensitive comment to those millions of people who lost a loved one from the pandemic.

 

[Marcilio]

let’s go back to what we all agree on… this great motorcycle

 

[skidward]

I buy motorcycles for one person. Me. I make them my own and keep them as long as I like. My 1250 RS gets hate because it's neither a sport bike nor a tourer. My 85 R80 gets hate because it's not as BMW made it. My 91 R100 will get hate because it's being modernized as much as I can. The R18 gets hate because it's not a Harley and has no forward controls.

I'm used to getting hate from folks. I don't need the affirmation of others. I will be just fine and enjoy my choices. That's who I made them for anyway.

With what I am going to do to my R90S when the 91 is done, I can't wait to see the hate from the Church of Internet BMW History.

One of the main things that drew me to the R18 is the mid-controls. I didn't like riding with forward controls. I feel that mid-controls keep you connected to the bike much better.

 

[Marcilio]

One of the main things that drew me to the R18 is the mid-controls. I didn't like riding with forward controls. I feel that mid-controls keep you connected to the bike much better.

Agree.
When I bought my Diavel, I tested the xDiavel and didn't like the forward controls.

 

[RhoXS]

As much as we like our bikes, when we get objective, the R18 has a lot of challenges when compared to similar models from HD and Indian. The ergos on the R18 are simply atrocious compared to an EG Ultra. I've said before, the R18B and TC target the Street Glide. In that vein, ergos often get sacrificed for style.

I went for a ride today and the phone connectivity decided to act up as it does far too often. Those of you without the big TFT should count yourself lucky you don't have this half baked distraction.

 

[Petrus]

As much as we like our bikes, when we get objective, the R18 has a lot of challenges when compared to similar models from HD and Indian. T

All is relative. I have an R18; imo thé; the original retro design one. The best seller of the family. There is no similar HD model. And the ergonomics are ok. The rest of the family I do not know.
There is quite an interesting observation on the base R18 ergonomics btw. In an article about the Honda Rune. Quite a good article too imo:

Just why is the Honda Rune Such a Classic? A Brief History

All about the Honda Rune (a.k.a. the Honda NRX1800 Valkyrie Rune) — Background, overview, and what makes it special.

motofomo.com

for the lazy / not interested:

´In terms of comfort — your feet aren’t splayed out forwards. This means that when you take off on the Rune, there isn’t that sometimes awkward dance of getting feet up onto the forward pegs (which is fine if you’re on a level surface, but why am I always cursed with launching from angled driveways?)

On the Honda Rune, your knees are bent at a comfortable 45 degrees, and swept back bars make the seated position very comfortable. Another bike the Honda Rune’s riding position reminds me of is the much more modern BMW R 18.´

The foot pegs /pedals of the Indian Bagger racer....

 

[skidward]

I always wanted a Honda Valkyrie Rune. It just wasn't meant to be. They are gorgeous bikes.