The BMW Motorrad Concept R 18 and R 18 / 2

MOTORCYCLE/DESIGN: The BMW Motorrad Concept R 18 and R 18 / 2

In early summer, the BMW Group presented the BMW Motorrad Concept R 18, a purist, historically inspired version of the big boxer, at the Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa d’Este on Lake Como. Six months later, BMW Motorrad is presenting the BMW Motorrad Concept R 18 /2 (pronounced “dash two”), its second sensational concept bike based on a big boxer engine, at the largest international two-wheeler trade fair, the EICMA in Milan. It is the stylistic counter-design to the Concept R 18: a modern, dynamic custom cruiser with a rather rough performance appeal. The BMW Motorrad Concept R 18 /2 thus shows another possible manifestation of the Heritage concept and thus impressively demonstrates how diversely customisable and flexible this basic architecture is.
The presentation at the EICMA is exclusively via moving image and photos.

“In contrast to the rather classically elegant BMW Motorrad Concept R 18, the Concept R 18 /2 transfers its large boxer engine and frame into a modern custom concept. The Concept R 18 /2 is an extroverted one-off. Elements from the past and future of BMW Motorrad merge here into an engaging cruiser and form a strong statement: a highly emotional bike made for active riding. At the same time, the Concept R 18 /2 is representative of the range of characters and customer dreams we can realise with the same basic concept,” explains Edgar Heinrich, Head of Design BMW Motorrad.

A performance cruiser à la BMW.
The BMW Motorrad Concept R 18 /2 celebrates the fascination of the cruiser in an interpretation that is as sporty as it is modern. A minimalist handlebar fairing, together with the deep, elongated proportions, promises a dynamic riding experience. The fairing, drop tank and seat create a flowing gesture that is perfectly rounded off by the shortened rear wheel cover. All body parts are painted in Candy Apple Red met, an expressive shade of red that expresses the flowing movement in the side view. This luminous custom red with plenty of depth is a real eye-catcher and changes from radiant red to almost black depending on the incidence of light. Also striking are the graphic lines on the painted body parts, which extend over the side and top view of the tank to the wheel cover and are visually extended over the seat. They give the concept bike a special appeal.

The big boxer at the centre.
The heart of the BMW Motorrad Concept R 18 /2 is, as with the Concept R 18, a large two-cylinder boxer engine with 1800 cc, modern air-oil cooling and 1960s aesthetics. The engine, in a warm shade of grey, with integrated hero chest and high-gloss black painted valve covers in a black frame, has a sporty look. The engine badge bears the name of the concept bike and sets a high-quality accent.
After the “Departed” from the Japanese custom forge CUSTOM WORKS ZON, “The Revival Birdcage” from Revival Cycles in Austin, Texas and the BMW Motorrad Concept R 18, the BMW Motorrad Concept R 18 /2 is already the fourth interpretation of the large-volume boxer engine from BMW Motorrad.

Attention to detail.
As a true BMW, the BMW Motorrad Concept R 18 /2 features not only the boxer engine, loop frame and teardrop-shaped tank, but also the classic and high-quality staged exposed propshaft. The striking cast wheels, with 19-inch front and 16-inch rear, form an equally discreet and dynamic dragster look, thus authentically rounding off the appearance. Features such as the high-performance brake callipers from Brembo and the stainless steel tailpipe system from Hattech refer in detail to the care with which the BMW Motorrad Concept R 18 /2 was designed.

Wide range of possibilities.
The BMW Motorrad Concept R 18 /2 presents a new interpretation of a dynamic performance cruiser that not only opens up an unprecedented facet for BMW Motorrad, but also demonstrates the versatility of the “big boxer” platform. “After the BMW Motorrad Concept R 18, we now want to show with the Concept R 18 /2 how flexible the basic engine and chassis are as a starting point for customisation and how easy it is to authentically realise different styles. And I must honestly admit: It does impress us that you can take this boxer concept from the 30s through the 80s and into the 2020s,” concludes Bart Janssen Groesbeek, vehicle designer of the Big Boxer Concepts at BMW Motorrad.

In early summer 2019, the BMW Group presented the BMW Motorrad Concept R 18, a purist, historically inspired expression of the big boxer, at the Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa d’Este on Lake Como. Six months later, BMW Motorrad is presenting the BMW Motorrad Concept R 18 /2 (pronounced “dash two”), its second sensational concept bike based on a big boxer engine, at the largest international two-wheeler trade fair, the EICMA in Milan. It is the stylistic counter-design to the Concept R 18: a modern, dynamic custom cruiser with a rather rough performance appeal. The BMW Motorrad Concept R 18 /2 thus shows another possible manifestation of the Heritage concept and thus impressively demonstrates how diversely customisable and flexible this basic architecture is.
The presentation at the EICMA is exclusively via moving image and photos.