THE EMPIRE
On this episode of The Open Road – Nick reviews the BMW R18 – First Edition
My first BMW review on 2 wheels at least, and a few other firsts in this film too.
SPECS
Design Air/oil cooled two-cylinder four-stroke boxer engine with two chain-driven camshafts above the drive shaft.
Bore x stroke 107.1 mm x 100 mm
Capacity 1802 cm³
Nominal capacity 67 kW at 4750 rpm
Max. torque 158 Nm at 3000 rpm
Compression ratio 9.6 :1
Fuel preparation Electronic intake pipe fuel injection, BMS-K+ electronic engine management with overrun cut-off, twin-spark ignition: BMS-O with e-gas
Emission control Regulated three-way catalytic converter
Consumption per 100 km based on the WMTC 5.6 l/100km
Single-disk dry clutch
Seat height, unladen 690 mm
Rider step length, unladen 1630 mm
Usable tank capacity approx. 16 l
Length 2440 mm
Unladen weight, fully fuelled/road-ready 345 kg
As I mentioned, the bike has been out for a while so there are now some deals to be had, I think they aren’t brining many into New Zealand as they aren’t a high demand bike within the market but its nice to know you can get one if you want one. It was quite fun bumping into a reader who also had the R18 but the full fairing variant. its nice having all the dials and a bit more wind protection, but I think this bike feels so good as it is including the wind and the rain I’d rather not have the protection and add the more open feeling to the experience. I do think this is one of the bikes I’ve reviewed that I would actually own. I think if it could be justified in the budget, this would look awesome in the garage with other bikes that might be a bit more use case chosen but… This is the kinda bike everyone should own, Its the kinda bike when you open the garage door and think “What shall I ride today” and the conditions are great so you rev up the wife, or someone else’s wife since you’re a BMW owner now, and set off into the sun and the pub thats a good ways away; Enjoy something just for you. I was pleased to get back on my bike after the BMW had gone home. My bike is still my favourite. But there is a place for the R18 with me, be it something beautiful to look at in a line up of steeds, to that warm saturday morning ride along the coast for a nice breakfast. I also since heard that my gripe about the engine colour is an optionable change, it comes in a black which I think would accentuate the chrome pieces and finish it off nicely.
Make sure you jump on our socials, lots of behind the scenes things happening!
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