Hey riders! The brand-new BMW R18 cruiser is an absolutely gorgeous piece of engineering marvel. But, what would you expect from BMW Motorrad. In fact, it so stunning and appealing to the eyes that one would expect a clandestine Italian designer had deflected from perhaps Moto-Guzzi or Ducati to work with the German designers. The R18 is rolling art on two wheels. It is so drop dead dazzling that is would make sense to display it an arts museum.
But is it appealing enough for the motorcycle cruisers? Does it pack the necessary panache to compete with Harley Davidson or Indian Motorcycles? Will the timing of its release during the COVID19 craziness contribute to its demise? It is hard to answer these questions.
Although I am not a motorcycle reviewer, I do ride a cruiser. For cruising purposes that humongous boxer engine, although beautiful, interferes with the laid-back riding style that the R18 is supposed to capture. The idea of having to cruise down the asphalt with your legs on top of the cylinders is not quite what cruiser riders want. And those sexy exhaust pipes, well let’s just leave it there. No wonder BMW offers a Vance and Hines option.If I could store a stable of motorcycle in a nice garage, the R18 would be one of the bikes in my collection. I would have my friends look at it and wonder at its design. In fact I would probably take it for a spin on my birthday and a few holidays. But that’s it! I hope BMW does well with the R18. Yet even if it bombs out, BMW has other splendid motorcycles that will continue to satisfy the non-cruiser riders for decades to come.
