Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
REVERSING BACK TO A BMW CLASSIC
As soon as you lay eyes on BMW’S R18, you know it is a bit special. It looks like it might be a one-off German custom from the early 1930s, standing proud and shiny on a plinth in a Berlin motor museum.
For there’s no denying that this is a beautiful piece of machinery. This bike takes influences from BMW’S early boxer-engined models of the 1920s and 30s – in particular, the 1936 R5.
It’s low, elongated, black-and-chrome form includes features such as the single round headlight, the pear-drop tank with gorgeous white double pin-striping, and the amazing exposed, nickel-plated driveshaft.
The centrepiece is the air/ oil-cooled 1802cc two-cylinder boxer engine. That monster motor sits within a double-cradle steel frame, which blends into the swingarm so it looks like an old-fashioned hardtail.
BMW boffins have used some clever engineering in the form of a cantilevered rear end. The bottom part pivots on the frame, while the top is a single rear shock offering 90mm of travel. It results in the almost complete removal of ‘shaft jacking’.
Fire it up and the beauty of that big boxer engine becomes apparent. Some 110ft lb of torque is available from right down at 2,000rpm all the way up to 4,000rpm. Third gear is super long, making pulling away at almost all speeds just a matter of twisting the wrist. If you do fancy changing gear, the box provides a surprisingly smooth transition.
For a cruiser, it thrives on being ridden quite hard.
Most of the 345kg weight is down low and through the bends it behaves pleasingly well, the suspension being firmer than you’d expect.
Attacking corners it’s a little too easy to start scraping the road, but it’s a minor gripe.
The brakes, with linked ABS, do a commendable job too. There’s keyless ignition, hill-start control and even a reverse gear.
The Classic model I tested has additional features including active cruise control, removable windshield, 16in front wheel with a fatter tyre, a plusher seat, a pillion seat and pegs, and removable panniers.
At around £2,000 more than a standard R18 it’s not cheap, but it’s a beauty. An absolute Classic, even.