2021 BMW R 18 Power Cruiser First Look Preview

BMW Motorrad officially announces the debut of one of its worst kept secrets: the all-new R 18 power cruiser. After showing off a prototype last year at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este (read the BMW Concept R18 Cruiser First Look), the Motorrad division is entering the cruiser class with this beautiful boxer-engine-powered R 18.

The R 18 is powered by a giant oversquare air-and-oil-cooled 1,802cc (110ci) flat-twin (read the BMW R 1800 Big Boxer Twin Technical Details for all the juicy details). BMW says the engine is good for 91 hp at 4,750 rpm and a whopping 116 pound-feet torque at 3,000 rpm. Redline is listed at 5,750 rpm.

Related: 2021 BMW R 1800 Cruiser Preview

For reference, BMW’s water-cooled and six-cylinder-powered K 1600 GTL B Bagger produces 106 pound-feet of torque when we dyno tested it.

What we can’t measure is BMW’s signature sound, feel and character—a feature that few other motorcycle manufactures can emulate. On a side note, this engine is the largest-capacity twin-cylinder boxer engine ever made by the 99-year-old company. All told, the powertrain weighs 244 pounds.

“Cruisers have big-inch engines because that’s what produces hard roll-on acceleration,” explains Cycle World’s Technical Editor, Kevin Cameron. “[But] it’s tough to cool big cylinders with air, as the makers of high-horsepower radial aircraft engines discovered in World War II. Even with dense masses of cooling fin area, bombers and fighters needed over 200 mph for adequate cooling.

“This has been a problem for air-cooled cruisers, too,” notes Cameron. “Each time engine displacement increases, engine cooling needs to keep up. BMW has tackled this problem by thoroughly coring the R 18’s heads for oil cooling passages. Its cylinders and heads are well-finned (nine on each).

“Smaller BMW flat twin crankshafts have two main bearings but this giant, with its much larger combustion forces, has been given a center bearing as well, to keep crankshaft stress levels low,” he adds.

Related: 2020 BMW R 1800 Power Cruiser Spied Testing

The engine is hung in a double-loop steel tube frame reminiscent in appearance to BMW’s legendary R5, which the German company introduced 84 years ago. It is suspended by a classic-looking fork-sleeve-encased 49mm telescopic fork that offers 4.7 inches of travel. Rear suspension consists of a cantilever-style direct-mount shock with 3.5 inches to the bump stop. Power is put back to the 16-inch Bridgestone tire via right-hand-side shaft final drive.

The R 18 rolls on a 19-inch front spoked wheel with a pair of 300mm rotors and embossed BMW axial-mount four-piston calipers. Rear brake duties are handled by another 300mm diameter disc and what we assume is another four-piston caliper. Per European legislation, fixed always-on ABS is standard and the front brake is linked to the rear. However, the back brake actuates independently to the front.

Ergonomically, the BMW makes use of conventional cruiser-style mid-mounted rider foot controls which are mounted behind the horizontally opposed cylinders. Full LED lighting graces the R 18 and optional cornering functionality is available for an upcharge. Instrumentation consists of a classically style swept-face analog display with an small rectangular-shaped LCD. Opposed to the mechanical simplicity of a conventional mechanical key, the R 18 employs proximity-based keyless-style ignition fob.

In typical Motorrad fashion, the R 18 employs all of the latest and greatest rider aids including automatic stability control (traction control) and drag-torque control (a combination of a slipper-clutch and electronic engine-brake control via engine fueling). It also offers three global engine power and traction control modes (Rain, Roll, Rock). Additionally, Motorrad offers a “reverse assist” option (à la Honda’s Gold Wing) which makes it easier to maneuver this heavyweight easier to handle.

Editor’s Note: BMW has not listed any official weight aside from the weight of the engine.

In typical BMW spirit, a plethora of accessories are available for the R 18 so riders can customize this German-built cruiser to their liking. No word on when the 2020 BMW R 18 arrives but it has confirmed that it will carry an $17,495 MSRP, with two-year warranty.