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BMW gives up the R18

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Gerard

Gerard

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Joined
Feb 8, 2021
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720
Location
South of France
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Bike
2020 R 18 First edition, 2005 R1200C Montauk
Source from my dealer.
Sorry for the double post (Forum news).
So we already own collectors...
 
Not to start an argument but I don’t think your dealer is well informed. He/she may be using some sort of manipulation to get people to buy the stock that he/she has not managed to sell. I have not seen any evidence that Motorrad is dropping the line, specially after redesigning the 2025 line.
 
2025


and 2026


the ´logic´ is that the R18 as a cruiser sold initially véry well and then tailed off whereas all GS and Naked models are bestsellers so .... have the R18 propel some GS and Naked models.
 
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Anibal said:
Not to start an argument but I don’t think your dealer is well informed. He/she may be using some sort of manipulation to get people to buy the stock that he/she has not managed to sell. I have not seen any evidence that Motorrad is dropping the line, specially after redesigning the 2025 line.
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+1. Having had their (and many of our) fingers burnt making too many of them back in 2020 I do expect BMW will be more savvy though and make fewer going forward, which can’t be a bad thing. I like what they’ve done with the 2025 bikes.
 
If money wasn't an obstacle (which it always is... college tuition, cost of living in Bergen County NJ, NYC commuting cost & taxes, etc..)

Dragon Fire Red, with the following replaced with Roland Sands Design Machined parts: Levers, Mirrors, Reservoir Covers, Floor Boards with machined Brake & Shifters

Jekyll & Hyde exhaust in the blacked out chromed finish.

I'd probably add the same TC attributes that I've added to my existing First Edition; engine protection bar, lower leg wind protection fairing, adjustable fairing Winglets, Auxiliary Lights and relocate the front directionals up front to the Auxiliary Lights mounting bracket..

I can dream... In all honesty.. after a recent 1,000+ ride upstate with buddies last week, I'm still really enjoying my R18 B
 
I also like the Dragon Fire Red B. I have not seen one on the flesh yet, my local dealer does not have one, which in hindsight is a good thing. I do love my mineral white, specially when the sun is out but I reckon the red one is a real killer and I could be easily persuaded 🤣🤣🤣
 
The R18 future is a bit :unsure:
It has to be understood that the German home market is probably more important than the slightly fickle US one.
In 2020 BMW sold out in September already on the home market.
This dropped near vertically to a dismal 669 in 2022.
Next dropped out of the top 50!
Mind: German home market.
In Spain it has never entered that league.
Have no info on rest of world.
Maybe some of you can complete the picture?
 
It would not surprise me if they drop the line. The R18 is a completely different animal to what a modern day motorrad customer would be looking for. It is also difficult to sway any HD fan away from the bar and shield based on the culture. When I first purchased my classic, I questioned if I made the right decision for weeks. That feeling evaporates every time I ride her and twist the throttle. I am glad I grabbed one while they lasted if this statement is true.
 
R. Munson said:
It is also difficult to sway any HD fan away from the bar and shield based on the culture.
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Hence why only in Germany the model took a chunk of the HD market. That culture thing may become a double edged sword for HD but for the R18 that is irrelevant as too late..
Still rather surprising as you would expect BMW marketing to have triple properly researched that after the R1200C which arguably was a superior product too.
 
I cannot say anything bad about HD's. I have had the chance to ride a couple and they are very nice. We all know that most of the HD following have blinders on with any other bike mfg. I have seen a few that tattoo the brand on their person. Anytime one asks why a BMW and not a road king, I tell them the $$ / quality difference. That typically gets me an eye roll. I normally follow up with " I also do not want to cook my nuts in August." I typically get a smirk when I throw out that one.
 
I have had the privilege to first hand experience an AMF period 1000 XLCH Sportster. Even my ´53 Norton 500 typ 7 was more reliable. Nuff said.
Will say more tough: BMW had the R90 then R100. Beejeezus what a grand canyon of difference in every quality aspect you can possibly come up with. Yet HD had the, admittedly in Europe slightly wavering, cool culture rep.
EVO designs were a proper step up but design, material choice, assembly, fit, finish et al has nevvah evvah been BMW level. There is no possible difference in opinion possible; it is objective. Talk heritage, taste, image, culture, soul, feel,style whataevvah subjective... it´s rubbing shoulders with emotion. Where emotion enters the room, ratio flies out of the window. Botom line is that HD have always been great at marketing. Imo only beaten ónce; by Honda; with meeting the nicest people on one :p


need I say more??
Sums up one of two why a HD was not in the same time era as my short list :ROFLMAO:
 
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Speaking from riding experience for the bikes listed below, the best bikes out there as far as wind management is concerned is:
1) Transcontinental (hands down)
2) 2022 HD RoadGlide
3) 2023 R18 with 18” Jurock plus the lowers trick from Memphis Shades as taught to me by R2K.
4) 2024 StreetGlide if it had winglets that work like the ones BMW uses on the TC.
(It is amazing that HD would place useless tiny winglets on the StreetGlide)
 
BER18 100 said:
Speaking from riding experience for the bikes listed below, the best bikes out there as far as wind management is concerned is:
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thanks for the illustration of different priorities.
I prefer nó shield whatsoever.
But then I prefer travelling over twisties.
My style cruising is continental european; defined by the leísure, not by US style lang distance straight(ish) roads.
The R18 seat is very much suited to the former, less armchair for the latter.
Also positivelly lóath sound systems on a motorbike btw.
The windjammer cruisers, whether HD, BMW or GoldWing are for mé defeating the purpose, route around the essence of a motorbike. I have an MR2 Spyder instead. Took the sound system out. Again has no place in the wind imo.

Back to wind protection I wager you have not ridden the wind tunnel designed Moto Guzzi 1000SP or R100*. Both absolutely perfect but best at 120 km/h plus, like grand touring at 100 mph all day. Distance gobblers from days long since past. Drive like that nów and your drivers license is gone same day. So I am adpating to speed limits et all, no need for wind proteccion and I will happily eat the insects too. A low price to pay for the unobstructed experience.

As to the subject imo BMW shot themselves in both feet with the launch.
A launch is like any first impression and they totally, completely went heritage image. Look at their homage and then concept bikes. They hit all that spot on and the bike ís a wonderful modern retro. They executed áll aspects to perfection in top notch quality.
It completely missed the (US) HD cruiser market though. Those could not care less about pre-WW2 Bayerische Motor Werke. If at all then negatively.
Néxt they díd come out with proper cruisers on par with HD/Indian albeit with better quality.

* I suggest áll here who have never seen one in the metal totry have a close look. For me it is BMW´s motorbike high water mark and in terms of design, material and build quality a high water mark for the entire post war motorbike industry. And I am serious; do have look if you can.
 
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To illustrate the point:
In 2016 they wetted the appetites with the R5 homage:

www.bmwblog.com

BMW Motorrad Displays R 5 Hommage at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este

BMW Motorrad is honoring this icon at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2016 with a special model: the BMW R 5 Hommage.
www.bmwblog.com www.bmwblog.com

Obviously aiming at the older,better heeled, retro lovers and adding a contemporary bobber flavour. But it would not draw ány attention form those with bar&shiled jackets.

Next they bring the concept in 2019:


Much the same leaning more to complying with modern legislation and adding a luxury product flavour. Again no HD beard turned thataway.

To illustrate the point look at the venues they chose. These are the expensively dressed blokes that think Rolexi are for plebs. Maybe not Patek but certainly Jaeger LeCoultre. No long beards over a Hamilton railroad pocket watch on an oversized cain.

The 2020 launch of the production bike for mé is a land mark in retro bikes. The Chines built Jawa 350 in Mystique Oragnge coming second at a fair distance. The R18 is an awesome retro BMW homage and as a cruiser inherently seriously flawed by it.
As such it sold massively in especially Germany, even chops into the HD sector but in the US, surprise, not.
Again, they subsequently díd come out with porper cruisers and baggers but with the wrong heritage.
 
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Star-Lord said:
All of my HD buddies complain constantly about their Harley Davidson bikes; great looking bikes, but garbage overall straight off the showroom floor...

My R18 FE Bagger, is still pretty stock or OEM for the most part; minus, the added TC wind management attributes...

ZERO regrets...
Click to expand...
HD are not garbage.
 
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