BMW R18 to launch on September 19

The BMW R18 cruiser will launch in India this week. BMW Motorrad India began accepting bookings for the R18 cruiser back in April (for Rs 1 lakh), and over the last month has made its way to dealerships across the country. A dealer we spoke to said the price is expected to be revealed on September 19 and that both variants, Standard and First Edition, will be available here. 

• BMW R18 India launch this week

• Will be available in Standard and First Edition variants

• Dealers say the R18 is expected to be priced around Rs 22 lakh

What do we know of the R18’s engine and powertrain?

There’s a lot to talk about BMW’s latest addition to the cruiser segment, but the massive 1,802cc, air and oil-cooled engine that powers the R18 is its crown jewel. This engine is the largest ‘boxer’ engine manufactured by BMW Motorrad. Another mechanical aspect that really sets this BMW apart is the use of an exposed drive shaft; this is similar to the old BMW cruisers from which the R18 draws inspiration. 

Can you customize your R18?

BMW is offering a wide range of customisation options that tweak the bike’s design to suit individual tastes. This includes custom-made seats, exhausts, side panels, and even a handlebar, giving you the opportunity to transform this motorcycle as per your liking. 

Does the R18 have any modern electronics?

The R18 has three riding modes, Rain, Roll and Rock; a fun take on the usual Rain, Road and Sport. In addition, there's switchable automatic stability control (ASC) and engine drag torque control or MSR. The latter prevents rear-wheel slip under hard acceleration or aggressive downshifts. BMW also offers a reverse gear driven by an electric motor. This will probably come in handy, since the R18 tips the scales at a solid 345kg.

How are the two variants different?

Like we mentioned above, BMW will offer the R18 in two trims, Standard and First Edition. The First Edition gets extra chrome elements, a Blackstorm metallic paint shade, and a seat badge with a 'First Edition' clasp on the chrome cover. It also includes some more intricate additions like a tank emblem with copper letterings, copper screws, a pair of gloves, as well as a screwdriver to fix the emblem on the tank. Additionally, the First Edition will also feature hill-start assist, heated grips and cornering headlights.

What price can we expect the R18 to launch at?

At the moment, it isn’t clear how aggressively BMW plans to price these bikes. The challenges of the pandemic have led Triumph to price the Street Triple R quite aggressively, and it will be interesting to see if BMW Motorrad India takes a similar direction. Dealers we spoke with said they expect the bike to be priced around the Rs 22 lakh mark (ex-showroom, Delhi).