12 minute read
BMW R18
WORDS: KEVIN DUKE IMAGES: KEVIN WING
THE VISUALLY STRIKING 2021 BMW R18 is out each side of the R18 is awe-inspiring and one of the most character-rich motorcycles on regularly elicits provocative comments about the road today. Ironically, it’s also objectively big jugs. BMW’s least dynamically impressive motorcycle since the ill-fated R1200CL. However, this “The relevance of cubic inches couldn’t majestic Beemer is uniquely appealing, be ignored,” says Edgar Heinrich, BMW overshadowing its dynamic flaws. Motorrad’s design chief, so he says the engine BMW drew inspiration from its early history Here, the air/oil-cooled Boxer displaces a to create a cruiser unlike any other and apart whopping 110 c.i., pumping out a grunty from the many Japanese cruisers that mimicked 116 lb-ft at 3,000rpm. Harley V-twin formula. Go back to 1936 and needed to displace at least 100 cubic inches. BMW’s R5, and you’ll see key styling cues It’s interesting that BMW has decided to trod that have migrated to the new R18: teardrop down the cruiser alley again during this era tank, hardtail-look rear suspension, black fork when cruiser juggernaut Harley-Davidson has tubes, an exposed driveshaft, and, of course, been suffering dwindling sales. In fact, the BMW’s iconic flat-twin engine arrangement. target for this new R18 was Harley’s Softail Slim. BMW market research dictated that “It BMW says its new cruiser needed to be has to be as American as possible to do well impressive to look at, and man, is it ever! globally,” according to Vinnie Kung, Product Seeing those massive 901cc cylinders poking Manager at BMW of North America.
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Kung, a former Harley owner, also notes there is currently a level of “Harley fatigue” in the cruiser market, but what’s there is still quite strong and BMW doesn’t expect many OEMs to be investing in this market in the near future.“This is a perfect time to take this chance (in the custom cruiser market),” says Kung, “and we are very bullish on it.” Kung admits BMW won’t reach the 57% of cruiser customers that are “loyal to the bone” Harley riders, but he notes that custom cruiser customers are younger and open-minded, so BMW is targeting older millennials and younger Gen-Xers around 40 years-old.
are hoped to be poached from Harley and The uber-Boxer thuds to life with a twist, rotating others, BMW also expects many of its current the chassis to the left as the hefty longitudinal customers will want to diversify their garage by crankshaft spins to life. A flat-twin BMW will adding an R18. BMW optimistically predicts never sound like a Harley, but the BMW R18’s sales of the R18 to nearly equal the brand’s beefy baritone sounds appropriately butch and iconic R1250GS. More than half of R18 blats out a pleasingly deep rumble. Motorrad production will be directed at the U.S. and engineers tuned this mill for instant grunt rather Canadian markets. than top-end power, punching out more than
110 lb-ft of torque available from 2,000 to To BMW in this application, a bit of vibration 4,000rpm. Horsepower peaks at 91, arriving is a feature, not a bug. So there are no at a low 4,750rpm. rubber mounts for the handlebar, which yields includes a party trick that is endearing and accurate, non-rubbery steering responses, as As is typical these days, the R18 has a choice well as discernable vibes, felt through the of ride modes that deliver alternative engine hands that ramp up with revs. Best to simply responses with complementary traction control upshift through the remarkably light-action and ABS tuning. Here, BMW gets a little gearbox and surf on the surplus of torque cute. Rain mode is self-explanatory, while dry- at lower revs where vibration is present but weather choices are Rock and Roll, literally. subdued. Sloppy downshifts are eased by Roll delivers smoother engine response, while throttle butterflies to reduce the strong engine Rock is decidedly more aggressive and braking endemic with big-twin engines. a slip-assist clutch and a system that lifts the annoying: it exhibits a lumpy idle like it has hot- Low-speed trundling is where the BMW R18 rod camshaft tuning that shakes the handlebars is least adept. Combine 761 pounds of quite visibly at idle. The effect is initially kinda weight with a 68.1-inch wheelbase and an cool but eventually irritates. I’d prefer to have engine that wants to rotate the chassis with rev the smoother idle of Roll combined with the changes, and you’ve got an unlikely candidate more direct throttle response of Rock. for the slow-speed gymkhana race at Bike Night. It can be a handful in especially tight
confines. While we’re whinging, let’s bring up the fact Cruiser riders covet low seats, and the big doodads is lacking a fuel gauge as well as Beemer delivers with a saddle 27.1 inches a miles-to-empty meter. (It does have a miles high. The nicely low seat is enabled by a count-up feature when the low-fuel indicator is squat rear suspension that works through 3.5 triggered.) It’s difficult to imagine the meeting inches of travel. It performs adequately for the of BMW department heads when they most part, but big hits will make you wish for decided to leave out these useful items, both more cush. An overly firm seat doesn’t help. of which have negligible cost, especially on The beefy 49mm fork performs better, as it has a machine that in every other respect screams 4.7 inches of stroke to work with. “premium.”
As is the case for long and low cruisers, the The triple-disc brake system is strong, and it R18’s dynamic performance is compromised. one-ups the Softail Slim and its single front The BMW’s big jugs, er, cylinders, demand disc. The R18 is also endowed with corneringfurther concessions by forcing a rider’s feet to ABS and is a partial-integral system by which reside behind the voluptuous cylinders rather the front brake lever also applies one piston at than being stretched out ahead. Long-legged the rear for extra stability and no noticeable riders will prefer shorter trips, and all riders will intrusion. prefer a cushier seat. BMW graciously offers the option of a taller seat at no extra charge, As a BMW built in Germany, the R18 can’t which is likely a smart choice. be bargain-priced, so it starts with a base And with the tighter knee bend, BMW was First Edition version, which includes the classy forced to place the footpegs as low as possible white pinstriped paintwork, numerous chrome for adequate legroom, which unfortunately surfaces (even the brake calipers!), a seat results in the pegs dragging at even modest badge and a “First Edition” chrome clasp on lean angles. Yes, many cruisers are short on the side covers. It retails for $19,870. cornering clearance, but I can’t recall another bike that touches down so early when leaned Still no sticker shock? Then option up for the over. Sport-minded riders will be frustrated. $1,450 Premium package, which includes It was a strange PowerPoint slide when BMW peers into corners, and a reverse assist that execs bragged about their bike being longer uses the starter motor to propel the hulk out of and heavier than Harley’s Softail Slim that tricky parking spots. was their target. Yep, the R18 has a 3.9-inch that this pricey motorbike full of electronic price of $17,495. The R18 seen here is the hill-holding brakes, an adaptive headlight that longer wheelbase and weighs 90 pounds BMW reps say cost isn’t much of a concern extra compared to the Softail. Despite the girth, for American cruiser riders, and hundreds of the R18’s chassis is willing and imperturbably thousands of Harley riders seem to agree. stable, but its sporting potential is held short Many sport-minded riders will decry the R18’s by the cornering-clearance issue. limited cornering clearance, but to concentrate on dynamic performance is perhaps to overlook
the brilliance of the R18’s appearance and its wonderful Continental styling that sets it apart from everything else on the road.
The R18 has so much presence that it’s impossible not to gawk at it. There is no plastichrome here, just high-value metal housings. The open-running nickel-plated driveshaft is delightful to observe. The brake lighting is incorporated into the turn signals for a clean look. Heck, the key fob is even styled to look like the R18’s fuel tank! The 2021 BMW R18 is an impressive interpretation of historic BMWs supersized for cruiser consumption where being large is desirable. During our time with it, the R18 received an outpouring of positive reaction from a wide cross-section of riders, including many of the Harley faithful.
The big Beemer is tremendously appealing but not without a few notable foibles, so it will be interesting to see how the market reacts to it.
THE PRESS ROOM GRID NEWS
MOTOGP'S PROVISIONAL 2021 CALENDAR
In these COVID times, it is nice to read some tread of normalcy. Today’s bit comes by way of the unveiling of the 2021 provisional MotoGP calendar.
2021 is scheduled to kick off in March at the usual venue of Qatar before heading to Argentina and North America in April. The season will wrap up in Valencia on the 14th of November.
On the 2021 provisional MotoGP calendar, you’ll note that there are 19 venues announced with one circuit between July and August to be confirmed, as well as three venues on reserve. You’ll also see that Brno is not included on the schedule as they are waiting to see if the local government will approve the resurfacing of the circuit by the Safety Commission.
“This year we tried to compromise between the possibilities and the short time we’ve had given when the pandemic allowed us to re-start. In Europe it’s not possible to race later than we are doing. We are here in Valencia and the weather is so-so – I hope it will be even better in Portimão! Unfortunately we couldn’t travel outside Europe so we did the maximum we could, during this period from July until now. Including Qatar, we have had 15 Grands Prix and we’re very proud; everyone in Dorna, the FIM, IRTA, the teams… we are extremely happy with the result we’ve obtained working together in this difficult year.” – Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports.
Additionally, the provisional 2021 pre-season test dates were also announced. Two testing dates are penciled in for MotoGP at the Sepang International Circuit, the first being a shakedown test, February 14 – 16, and February 19 – 21. The final test is scheduled to take place from March 10 – 12 in Qatar.
5 TIME MOTOAMERICA SUPERBIKE CHAMPION CAMERON BEAUBIER STEPS UP TO MOTO2 Beaubier, 27 from California, signed a twoyear contract with the American Racing team that will see him competing in the 2021 and 2022 Moto2 seasons. Monster Energy Attack Performance Yamaha Racing released Beaubier from his contract early so that he could step up to the new challenge, ending his nine-year career as a MotoAmerica superstar.
GARRETT GERLOFF WORLDSBK SEAT SECURED FOR THE 2021 SEASON
Garrett Gerloff’s 2020 season has been impressive and exciting. With a career-making podium weekend at the Catalunya round, Gerloff is the first American WorldSBK since the late, great Nicky Hayden, to achieve such an accomplishment. Not bad for a rookie. For Garrett Gerloff, WorldSBK is full of opportunites.
It so happens that Gerloff will have more opportunities to put it on the box for another season after agreeing with GRT Yamaha to pilot a new Yamaha R1 for the 2021 WorldSBK season. Gerloff will be joined by Kohta Nozane, a 24-year-old rookie from Japan. Nozane is the 2020 MFJ All-Japan Road Race JSB1000 Championship leader, having won every race this season, thus far.
“I’m just super excited to be staying with the GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team for the 2021 season. This year has been incredible; the people I work with on the team are exceptional, really positive and awesome people, so to be able to continue with them is fantastic. It’s going to be nice to hopefully have more of a normal year and to have some consistency in the team will be great for me.” – Garrett Gerloff.
FOUR-YEAR BAN FROM MOTOGP FOR ANDREA IANNONE
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that the Italian rider is guilty of violating an anti-doping rule, delivering a sentence of a four-year ban from MotoGP for Andrea Iannone. to the 2019 Sepang GP, but was unsuccessful in identifying the type of meat or where he ate it. Further, Iannone was unable to establish any issues of meat contamination by Drostanolone in Malaysia.
It was almost a year ago when Andrea Iannone was suspended, provisionally, after he failed an in-competition drug test, that was administered on November 3, 2019. The mandatory suspension went into effect on December 17, 2019. Iannone exercised his right to appeal the decision, filing in March of 2020, but has been unsuccessful in that effort.
The CAS found that the presence of an anabolic steroid, Drostanolone, was evident in Iannone’s test result. Drostanolone is on the 2019 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List. Iannone claimed that he tested positive for Drostanolone because he digested contaminated meat in Malayasia prior The CAS ruling is rendered as such:
• Andrea Iannone is sanctioned with a period of ineligibility of four years commencing on 17 December 2019.
• All competitive results obtained by Andrea Iannone from and including 1 November 2019 through the commencement of his suspension are disqualified, with all resulting consequences, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.
The Court of Arbitration for Sports’ Andrea Iannone MotoGP ban ruling is final.
MOTOGP WITH B.T. WORDS: B.T. IMAGES: COURTESY OF MOTOGP.COM
