The BMW R 18 cruiser made its debut in 2020, introducing a model that is a heavyweight cruiser, and now BMW Motorrad has announced two more models in the same family announcing the BMW R 18 B "Bagger" and the BMW R 18 Transcontinental. Both models look more like big, heavyweight American cruisers, rather than German, and will be pitted squarely against heavyweight cruiser models from Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle. The R 18 Transcontinental is like a typical American grand-touring bike, designed to travel long distances in comfort and speed, while the R 18 B is more suited for solo riding.
Also Read: BMW R 18 Review
Both bikes extend the BMW R 18 family, and are built around the "Big Boxer" 1,802 cc boxer-twin engine
Both bikes are based around the BMW R 18's "Big Boxer" engine, a 1,802 cc, two-cylinder, horizontally-opposed twin, which makes 91 bhp at 4,750 rpm and 150 Nm of peak torque is available between 2,000-4,000 rpm. The engine is the most powerful BMW boxer engine ever built. Both the R 18 B and R 18 Transcontinental are based on the big R 18 cruiser, but get a big front fairing, as well as standard hard-case panniers. The R 18 Transcontinental gets an additional top case to offer more luggage space, as well as pillion comfort.
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Front fairing and standard hard-case panniers are the most noticeable differences in the R 18 B and R 18 Transcontinental
The luggage and front fairing are the most noticeable changes in the R 18 B and R 18 Transcontinental, but there are other changes as well. While the R 18 came with a single-pod analogue instrument console with a small digital screen, the Transcontinental comes with four analogue gauges as well as Marshall co-branded audio system managed through a massive 10.25-inch TFT screen.
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Both bikes get Marshall speakers mounted on the fairing, as well as four analogue dials and a big 10.25-inch TFT panel
Both bikes come with two-way 25W Marshall speakers integrated into the front of the fairing. BMW also offers two upgraded audio systems. The Marshall Gold Series Stage 1 adds a 90-watt subwoofer to each side case plus a 180 watt amplifier. The R18 Transcontinental can be fitted with a Stage 2 system which adds another pair of 25-watt speakers to the top case.
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The 1,802 cc boxer twin engine remains unchanged and 91 bhp at 4,750 rpm and 150 Nm of peak torque is available between 2,000-4,000 rpm
Both bikes come with three riding modes, Rock, Roll and Rain, as well as standard Automatic Stability Control (ASC) and engine drag torque control (MSR), which is electronic traction control. Reversing aid and Hills Start Control are available as optional extras. Like the R 18 and R 18 Classic, both the R 18 B and R 18 Transcontinental have an exposed drive shaft.
Both bikes come with sleeved 49 mm telescopic forks up front, while the rear suspension is concealed central cantilever strut with travel-dependent damping
Both bikes come with sleeved 49 mm telescopic forks up front, while the rear suspension is concealed central cantilever strut with travel-dependent damping and automatic load compensation. The rear suspension uses a servomotor-actuated hydraulic unit and data from a height sensor to automatically adjust spring preload. Both front and rear suspension offer 119 mm of travel.
The BMW R 18 B Bagger is suited for solo riding, and misses the top case of the Transcontinental
The 19-inch front wheel is equipped with dual 300mm discs and four-piston fixed calipers. The 16-inch rear wheel is matched with a single disc brake. BMW Motorrad's Full Integral ABS is standard with either the front lever, or rear pedal activating both brakes simultaneously, and the system automatically distributes brake force between front and rear wheel.
There's also an Option 719 Galaxy Dust metallic/Titanium Silver metallic paint option with an iridescent finish that shifts from violet to turquoise blue.
Both the R 18 B and R 18 Transcontinental come with Dynamic Cruise Control, and also get Active Cruise Control, which is adaptive cruise control, that uses radar sensors in the fairing to adjust the speed to maintain a safe distance from traffic in front. BMW offers a number of upgrades from its Option 719 customization program, including an AERO package with cylinder head covers, front cover and intake snorkel covers in sheet aluminum with a brushed clear anodized finish. There's also an Option 719 Galaxy Dust metallic/Titanium Silver metallic paint option with an iridescent finish that shifts from violet to turquoise blue.
The BMW R 18 Transcontinental is a heavy duty, American-style grand touring motorcycle
Both the BMW R 18 B and BMW R 18 Transcontinental have been announced with prices of $21,495 (approximately Rs. 16 lakh) and $24,995 (approximately Rs. 18.5 lakh) respectively. Once launched in India, we expect prices to begin at around Rs. 23 lakh (Ex-showroom) for the R 18 B, going up to Rs. 25 lakh (Ex-showroom) for the R 18 Transcontinental.
