BMW R18

The BMW R18 Transcontinental revisited…

The other day, we wandered in to visit the team at Motorrad East Rand. While we were there, one of the workshop guys rolled this rather Big Bertha onto the showroom floor. “How would you guys like to do a feature?” A day later we took it out for a two day ride…

The Transcontinental really is quite something. It has a presence like few other motorcycles on the road. This was highlighted by the fact that whenever we stopped, people would wander across just to have a look. Garage attendants were in awe of the big bike, with its big booming sound system. Kids were frightened as we roared into shopping malls, looking for the spot where nobody would bump the bike and we saw more than one head popping out of a car window just to catch a second glance of the rider doing his best to look as cool as possible.

It is big, bold and to many, beautiful.

And it’s not just about the looks. It’s the stuff that BMW has packed into the bike. Acres of luggage space,  a fairing that will deflect a tornado, a digital display that’s bigger than your flat screen at home, complete with graphics that you’d expect in the latest sci-fi movie. A broad, comfortable seat. Did we mention that phenomenal Marshal sound system? Then there’s the Boxer engine with dinner plate pistons that are big enough to move the world under your wheels…

BMW is known for its horizontally opposed Boxer twins. In the spring of 2019, BMW unveiled a prototype engine it called the Big Boxer. Later, they revealed that the Big Boxer displaced 1,800cc, making it by far the largest Boxer to come out of Germany. In early April 2020, just as the pandemic hit, BMW announced a production-ready model called the R18. Two models came out fairly quickly, with the third and final rendition, the one you are reading about right now.

Designed for two-up touring, the R18 Transcontinental is equipped with a tall windshield, a wide seat, wind deflectors, driving lights, heated seats, highway bars, a boot, and a passenger backrest. The saddlebags hold 27 litres each, and the boot holds 48 litres. The cockpit is packed with data, functions, switches, and buttons. Behind the fairing you’ll find four analog gauges, (speedo, tach, fuel, and power reserve)’ and a massive 10.25-inch TFT colour display, with different, very cool screens for vehicle info as well as music, phone, and navigation functions via a smartphone and the BMW Motorrad Connected app. BMW’s Multi-Controller wheel on the left grip makes menu navigation, volume control, and other functions easy. The TFT’s glare-resistant screen isn’t touch-enabled. Fuel capacity is a generous 24 litres.

Being the bright oakes that we are, our first trip on the bike was from the East Rand, out to the far West Rand through Joburg’s manic traffic. We aren’t going to lie, that was no fun. On a big bike like this, (we know of cars that are smaller), you are always afraid that you might just sideswipe someone with a pannier, mirror or a chunk of engine, so there’s no lane splitting.

Stopping at traffic lights…. or in GP’s case, the lack thereof was a special kind of scary. Everyone is in the same boat, in a hurry to get going, nobody looks, few give way and, without trying to sound like a naff, on a big bike like this, it’s pretty intimidating and the fact that this bike belongs to someone else constantly plays on your mind. Add to this, the fact that you kind of line up, legs out wide, (if you’re on the shorter side), stop, creep forward, stop, creep forward… you get the gist of it, and every time you pull away, those floorboards drag along just above your ankle… (once again, if you are a bit shorter than average)

We eventually rode out towards Sandton, where we planned to get a pic of the bike with the stock exchange in the background, but we chickened out. It’s just too cumbersome and we decided to quit while we were ahead, hitting the congested freeway for home. Eish, we were not overly happy by the end of the day, but read the first part about the brightness of our test pilot… DUH!

BMW R18
Big 1800cc Boxer engine with pistons big enough to move the earth...

This bike is not made for commuting to the Cafe and back. It’s built for going on holiday. So on day two, that’s what we did, and that’s when you come to understand what it’s actually all about…

Day two saw sunshine and roses as we selected Rock, (The R 18 has three ride modes: Rock, Roll, and Rain.) In Rock mode, they feel lumpy and shake a lot at idle to add some fun, and throttle response is more direct, opened up in the gorgeous end of winter weather and headed out on the long, quiet roads that we know with the radio, (did we mention that? It’s awesome!), playing our favourite tunes. It was a polar opposite kind of experience with a comfortable bike, a powerful engine and absolute luxury as we roared along in the bright highveld sunshine. This is a bike built for those motorcycle holidays with your nearest and dearest out back and enough clobber to see you comfortable for a week.

BMW R18
Hitting the open road with your nearest and dearest.

Airflow over the TC’s tall windscreen blows just above the pilots helmet and there is no turbulence. The top edge of the non-adjustable screen. At the bottom edge of the TC’s fairing are adjustable air flaps that can be closed or opened to direct air into the cockpit. Feeling lazy? Well hit that cruise control and let the bike do all the hard work. Cool huh?

We didn’t have a week. But we did have huge smiles as we stopped for breakfast, marvelling at just how lekker a big bike like this can be. And once again, patrons at the establishment flocked just to get a closer look at the big BMW. Peeling them off the bike, we headed back to the big smoke to get the bike back to the dealership, another great ride along back roads and the somewhat quieter freeways.

We didn’t have a week. But we did have huge smiles as we stopped for breakfast, marvelling at just how lekker a big bike like this can be. And once again, patrons at the establishment flocked just to get a closer look at the big BMW. Peeling them off the bike, we headed back to the big smoke to get the bike back to the dealership, another great ride along back roads and the somewhat quieter freeways. 

Two very different rides on the same bike. If you are looking to head for the hills, it’s a really great choice. The only downside that we can see is that there is more than enough luggage room for your Mrs to pack the hairdryer and…. the pooch can come along too. 

For urban commuting, there are far more suitable models in BMW’s lineup.

But this one’s in perfect nick. It’s a ‘22 model with low mileage and it’s on the floor with many more pre-loved bikes for R289 000.00 If you have a valid licence, you can go along and ride it.

BMW Motorrad East Rand

Here’s a little walk-around  the store with an idea of some of the stock.

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