BMW R18
BMW have launched their most anticipated Cruiser Bike BMW R18 with a starting price tag of approximately 20lakh which goes up to 25lakh (Ex-showroom price), the main centre of attraction here is the big boxer engine which is the highest capacity twin-cylinder boxer engine on a production motorcycle in planet earth!!!
Design
BMW has shown justice to the original 1936 R5, which has been the inspiration for the R18. The round headlight, mirrors and instrument cluster, along with the raked front end with girthy fork covers are just some of the elements that pay a tribute to the original.
This Bike has some serious amount of chrome in it especially when you look from the side your eyes will just hook to the chrome elements, With the teardrop shaped tank only complementing this design element. BMW has also done a phenomenal job hiding the catalytic converters in the twin fishtail exhaust pipes, which look like works of art. The rear, meanwhile, is as simple as can be, with the tail-light integrated into the turn indicators and a small BMW emblem. There’s no denying that the R18 is an incredible looking machine.
Performance
Fire up the engine and it fires up with a strong rock in the direction of the spin of its longitudinally mounted crankshaft. Combine that with the smooth rumble and you have an engine that feels vivacious. The intensity of the rock and rumble only increases as you twist the throttle which makes you feel alive.
On the move, in typical boxer fashion, it’s smooth as can be but there’s just the right amount of pulses coming through under the acceleration. Despite its gigantic size, this engine is no powerhouse. It only puts out 91hp which doesn’t feel like a lot on a bike this heavy at 345kgs. But what this engine aces at is making loads of torque – 158Nm to be precise, almost all of which comes in as early as 2,000rpm. It also doesn’t complain as much as a V-twin at low revs and you can lug it from as low as 1,300rpm without protest.
Ergonomics
Its here where you have to sacrifice quite a bit with no proper leg room and low positioned foot pegs which scrapes on the tarmac while taking a sharp turn and manoeuvring at slow speed is really difficult with such a gigantic engine pushed out in front of your legs.
But after all this struggle you can cruise at 100kph with smooth and ease in this beauty...
By Nirmal Nandakumar
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