SuperBike Magazine November / December 2020

25
By Clinton Pienaar
Pics by BMW Press
BMWR18
Immediately you are aware on seeing
the bike for the first time that this bike
is squarely aimed at the North American
Harley market.
Never mind about South Africa,
we are not important as far as
numbers go at all but considering
Harley Davidson sold
well over 100000 big American
motorcycles in North America alone last
year, you can imagine, BMW want a slice
of that pie. This bike is made to appeal to
that exact market, chrome and all with
plenty of cubic capacity to boot.
You also can’t bring something that
is not authentic and real into that market
and for sure you cannot just copy the
establishment’s Softail Slim on which this
bike seems to be modeled. You also need
to have your own angle and that BMW has
plenty of. I thought its very clever how
BMW are quick to point out that the styling
harks back to their 1936 R5 showing that
the DNA of this bike also has a very long
heritage and history. Starting off with the
(historically correct) white “hand” painted
pin striping on shiny black painted surfaces,
tear drop tank harking back to history
with spoked rims and that very classic
looking speedo clock, fenders and exhausts.
My favorite part was the open drive
shaft with universal joints spinning around
in the open. This bike oozes cruiser but in
its own very unique way.
Standing a little closer I like the clean
design, no loose cables and switchgear.
Even the engine heads are clean and
chromed out. It’s got a very stylish and
simplistic design approach, again harking
back to the R5 I thought. Even the 49mm
front forks are wrapped in period correct
fork covers. She is a big girl at 345kgs
but also easy to ride for shorter people
because it is so low. I actually found it a
little cramped for my long legs if I must be
honest.
Another thing, as you push the starter
motor and this big 1800cc boxer motor
rumbles to life and it kind of just sits their
rumbling and vibrating and shaking a
little, it has its’s own very unique Bavarian
character and does have a familiar Boxer
BMW sound, albeit a little deeper. The
exhaust note was good but I’d like it aftermarket
louder.