It looks like BMW has taken notice of our friends at NMOTO. Retro bikes are hot these days, so it is time to see what a 1960’s bike would look like in the 21st century. That is why BMW Motorrad has unveiled the concept R18. The setting was last weekend at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.
This massive 1.8L boxer engine is an air-cooled two -cylinder is fed by Solex carburetors. Essentially identical to the ones found in the BMW 2002, they are rugged designs from the past. They are bolted to an engine and transmission that were bead-blasted and hand polished. To give it a naked look, the chrome driveshaft has no covers.
If you want features, look somewhere else. The R18 has a starter and lights, that’s it. Riding on 21″ front and 18″ wheels, the boxer engine keeps the center of gravity lower than any other big cruiser. It might look like a hardtail, but the cantilever rear suspension is hidden under the seat. Dr. Markus Schramm is the head of BMW Motorrad, and he said ” With this dream bike, BMW Motorrad presents its own version of an emotional and authentic offer for the large cruiser segment.”
It would be fun to ride a bike with more torque than a car, but it is doubtful such a design would meet emissions laws. That’s why NMOTO bases their Nostalgia on the latest R9T, giving you the best of old and new. Tell us what you think of classic BMW bikes and stay with us for all your BMW updates.
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