[Auto|Moto] We drive the BMW R18 For 2021

[WilkerCSBD]

An immense motorcycle ready to travel and with a rebellious character, although it also has details to improve

The R18 is a model that was born as a concept in mid-2019, inspired by the 1936. A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to drive it at its launch, but now we had it for a more personal and unlimited test, so we were able to squeeze more. one of its greatest attributes, the nearly 111 kg boxer engine that dominates the eye.To begin with, I

at it can do more and I do not doubt it, but that morning it was a lot of air against it and as you can imagine the Riding position with the exposed chest means that at those speeds you have to hold on to the handlebars or fly away. The response of the engine is total, with a torque delivery from 3,000 rpm that propels you at all speeds, although it is not something abrupt, but like a good European something to a certain extent docile.

No, it is definitely not a motorcycle to travel, at least not this first edition of the motorcycle, since the seats are very hard and the suspension too, although there will surely be many users who do not care about the point of comfort and take it away to travel kilometers. The engine is obviously thirsty, and without a tank gauge on the gauge, you will have to learn quickly how to manage the throttle.

The entrance to the track forced us to roll a bit on dirt, obviously the suspension makes you feel every stone, but the tires being not so wide allow a slightly easier handling.

As they prepared the motorcycle for the photo session, we began to see what it offered, details such as the hand painting of the tank and tail, something that they did not mention in the presentation which is a kind of "hand brake" where when applying twice as fast the rear brake the R18 locks, which is used for example for a traffic light on a slope. And of course, play around with the reverse of this bike for a while, something that you will appreciate when you have to park.

At the time of entering the track and from the test laps we noticed that as in all the motorcycles in this segment, the footrest indicators drag, yes, they allow a better lean angle than a Harley-Davison, but the effect is still there. When braking you feel the weight of the motorcycle, since even with the ABS brakes, when pressing the front in emergency, the front suspension lowers and the rear tire loses slightly “footprint” and you get to hear the squeak or a nervous movement.

The R 18 gains a lot in power and style, although it loses in comfort in the long run, although as we could see with the R nineT model, they were not always used for a long trip but as a status symbol. And yes, be careful with a detail that seems to be something simple but it is not, the exposed cardan looks incredible, but that mobile element can be a danger for the passenger in the tie of a boot or pants.

The response of the engine is not as spirited as the engine would indicate, but it is more gradual, and you feel it for example when recovering speed in an overtaking, power is not lacking, and in this driving time I reaffirmed that the space that exists between the instep of the foot when being on the gear lever or brakes is very reduced by the size of the engine something that you can still get used to, but it was very annoying.

Anyway, today we drive this First Edition, and like the already mentioned R nineT we will surely see many variants such as the imminent R 18 Classic, which offers a windscreen, side cases and a larger visible seat.

must tell you that in a controlled part of acceleration I was able to take the R18 up to 180 km / h, in the technical sheet it says th