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BMW gives up the R18 !!!!

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It is a decent number indeed but still a niche market in my opinion because the cruiser market is very limited. There are a few younger riders that appreciate the curves and nostalgic looks of a cruiser bike but the vast majority out there are on street bikes, adventure bikes, RR or GSX something, not including the ever increasing delivery something scooter riders and lately the electric revolution. One can’t blame them, they did not have exposure to the oldies classic models that were a common sight in the 50s and although I was not around that early, the place I grew up had a good selection of vintage cars and motorcycles around, so I have always been attracted to the classic silhouette.
I hope the R18 continues to be around for a few more years. It is a beautifully crafted motorcycle and very unique in any variant.
The side car option is an interesting one, I have seen a few pictures over the net and I think there are a couple of members here with one fitted, similar to the Urals with sidecar.
 
Anibal said:
The side car option is an interesting one, I have seen a few pictures over the net and I think there are a couple of members here with one fitted, similar to the Urals with sidecar.
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With the R18 lane splitting is pretty much a NoNo as is high speeds whereas torque is aplenty so fitting a sidecar less of a compromise than with most bikes. Parking challenge remains though: cannot use underground car parkings as no front number plate will be a pita. Though legally a motorbike so theoretically could use motorbike only parking space or park on the sidewalk but it is most definitely frowned upon if not a Vespa or historic gem. Not sure if the R18 would be lucky and be perceived in the latter category.
I have owned and between repairs driven a Dnepr MT16 (driven sidecar wheel).
Would for the Ural/Dnepr association not fit such type sidecar even if from Steib or Hollandia. As my Nimbus has a ´torpedo´ model, that is not on the list either.
Regardless need to budget say 11k €.

Currently reading up on the German R18 forum about sidecars. Our Spanish ITV homologation/periodic inspection falls somewhere in between of the permissive UK MoT / Dutch APK and the German anal TüV.
 
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On 2023 BMW Motorrad reported global sales of R 18 Heritage models to be around 20K units.
From scouring reports with Grok, Copilot etc it seems R 18 sales are 5% of total sales today which would put them at around 10K units a year. In comparison G 310 sells about 22K a year and the GS about 70K
I think BMW Motorrad has to keep working on the #soulfuel theme to go along the R 18 and R 12 series.
 
emgarciax said:
On 2023 BMW Motorrad reported global sales of R 18 Heritage models to be around 20K units.
From scouring reports with Grok, Copilot etc it seems R 18 sales are 5% of total sales today which would put them at around 10K units per year.
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Oh wow, that is a lot less than the AI report I saw. I knew it, don’t trust the darn thing 😂😂😂
 
Hmm.... there seems to be a grand canyon sized rift btween the two data sources. From what I can garther they sold some 4.000 in ´20-´23 thus 4 years in Germany alone.
I am not savvy enough about the mc market to extrapolate that hence I asked.
In 2021 they sold 1339 R18s. The best selling HD was the Street Bob 114 sold 950. Now that is only óne year and Germany so in no way representative for ww and way less still for the US but it does still stand out as a mile stone: The R18 outselling the best selling HD model.

p.s. I have dug up some perspective:
The Toyota MR2 Spyder.
This is quite a popular and familiar little sports car yet only 100.000 were produced in 5 years. I mean we are talking car giant Toyota here.
Again americans think they are the world market MR2 buyers yet under 30% went to the States.
Obviously BMW marketeers are more than aware of the world wide markets and of the US big twin industry complex.
 
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Let's be real folks...the R18 series is akin to the Pan America or Live Wire for Harley Davidson...both companies stuck their toes in a market where it doesn't belong...with disasterous sales results, coupled with the fact that all bike sales, new or used is tanking across the globe..

Personally, after spending 10 years aboard various versions of the HD Police Road King while playing cops-n-robbers in central Florida as well as suffocating in Harley swill during 35 years of BikeWeek/Biketoberfest here in Daytona...I can assure you that anything R18 is worlds better than anything produced in Milwaukee. That includes the entire HD CVO line at $50k+. The fit/finish, handling, ride quality and craftsmanship of the R18 series is something BMW should be proud of. The brakes on the R18?....well , they just suck...why BMW did not opt for the "standard" 320mm rotors and radial calipers on a 800lbs bike is a head scratcher for sure.
 
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BERZERKER-RSV4 said:
Let's be real folks...the R18 series is akin to the Pan America or Live Wire for Harley Davidson...both companies stuck their toes in a market where it doesn't belong...with disasterous sales results, coupled with the fact that all bike sales, new or used is tanking across the globe..
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I think that is nonsense on several fronts.
For one; ´does not belong´ ???? BMW is covering máy very different market segment, not remotely like HD. Furthermore even HD ´belongs´ where it can. They just have dug themselves a very deep makrting hole which BMW has not.
Sales results are not at all disastrous; it is all relative.
Bike sales are not tanking world wide. In developing countries they are stronger than ever. The map of worldwide manufacturers has changed; shifted towarad India, China, SE Asia. Also us baby boomers whom ´worldwide´are going the way of the dinosaurs.

All in all the conclusion of this therad is than BMW has not given up n the R18. The perspective of HD´s problems of a different order and nature is just that; a perspective.
 
Business 101 is based on the premise of producing products the consumer wants and will buy..HD market is cruisers, not EVs or ADV bikes.. Triumph's bread and butter is not dirtbikes, Kawasaki introduced a Hybrid lark in the US..Tesla has the Cybertuck...on and on and on. They all have been met with dismal sales....including the R18. The manufacturers responce is deep discounts and incentives to clear the dealer floors of languishing unsold units... Business 101 to the core. BMWs cash cow for years has been the GS and GSA, not to sure how the 2025 Toaster GSA sales will be...but nonetheless..BMW recognizes the growing ADV market for smaller displacement bikes and that's where they are putting their money/research and those consumers are in the developing countries you mentioned.. and the average consumer cannot afford $35k for a bloated 1300cc GS/GSA resulting in a emphasis 300-500cc products...politics and taxes also play a role... Bottom line my 24 Roctane was $15.2k OTD... an easy $8-$9k off the MSRP , dealer fees, taxes ect... That my friend is not indicative of a red hot seller in BMW' s product line.. at that price the Roctane was a no brainer and will slide in quite nicely with its Ducati, Aprilia,BMW, MotoGuzzi, KTM and Yamaha stable mates...

And don't rule out CF Moto as a up and coming player...
 
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I still do emphetically not agree.

For me the R18 is a laudable initiative by BMW and a success regardless of sales or model logevity.

Have a Dutch classic motorcycle magazine on the R63, R16 and R17. Though BMWs teaser homage was R5 linked, the model name R18 is :cool:
One would almost buy an R24 to keep it company ;)
(look at the rear end)

1755106556449.png
 
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I agree it's a galant retro attempt ....problem is retro is not going to keep a manufacturer in business.. I absolutely adore the retro looks of my R9T..it harkins back to when we were kids....that's why I bought it..but today's demographics don't give a hoot about retro....or motorcycles in general or even showing up to work on time...aside from dirtbikes nearly all segments are ailing ....kids these days just don't care , factor in cost ,insurance , Interest rates , ect and just plain malaise do not bode well for manufacturers...
 
BERZERKER-RSV4 said:
....kids these days just don't care
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You do realise that wé raised/educted those kids? So complaining about that reflects on ourselves no?!
My 23 y.o. son, last year mechnical engineering uni student, lóves his daily Volvo 345 variomatic. He would instantly hop on a /5 if he gets his bike license.
 
Petrus said:
You do realise that wé raised/educted those kids? So complaining about that reflects on ourselves no?!
My 23 y.o. son, last year mechnical engineering uni student, lóves his daily Volvo 345 variomatic. He would instantly hop on a /5 if he gets his bike license.
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American kids are lazy, spoiled and entitled...they care more about Taylor Swift, Call of Duty and Twitter than MotoGP....what's scary is that today's lazy kids are tomorrow's leaders ..
 
BERZERKER-RSV4 said:
American kids are lazy, spoiled and entitled...they care more about Taylor Swift, Call of Duty and Twitter than MotoGP....what's scary is that today's lazy kids are tomorrow's leaders ..
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This is an over-generalization and pushes rhe popular narrative of EVERY older generation.
If you only look for the problems, you only see problems. I've worked with plenty of good, hard-charging and motivated young(er) folks and I've worked with plenty of lazy bastards who are my age. Generalizations only apply generally.
 
Cu Dubh said:
This is an over-generalization and pushes rhe popular narrative of EVERY older generation.
If you only look for the problems, you only see problems. I've worked with plenty of good, hard-charging and motivated young(er) folks and I've worked with plenty of lazy bastards who are my age. Generalizations only apply generally.
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Id like to see the last 2 generations of kids storm the beaches of Normandy like my dad did at 18...ain't gonna happen
 
BERZERKER-RSV4 said:
American kids are lazy, spoiled and entitled...they care more about Taylor Swift, Call of Duty and Twitter than MotoGP....what's scary is that today's lazy kids are tomorrow's leaders ..
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Suburbia and big city kids maybe, that's the nonsense you see on TikTok (which I don't have) but my experience is that once you go outside those you'll find hardworking young men and women in most of the country.
 
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