BMW gives up the R18

[Star-Lord]

HD are not garbage.

Yeah... They kinda are .. great looking... But way too overpriced...

 

[anjumkha]

Yeah... They kinda are .. great looking... But way too overpriced...

Overpriced and overhyped. Yes

 

[BER18 100]

I have a 2024 HD StreetGlide. The stock wind management is horrible. I ordered a 3rd party windshield since HD's is useless.
The winglets underneath are worthless.
HD bikes are definitely overpriced.
But I must say that the 117 cubic inch MilwaukeeEight motor is SUPERB! 1,917 cc's of smooth.
I waited until late May to buy a hold over 2024 model. Heard HD was wanting to get them off the floor so I made a lowball "out the door" offer on the last day of the month. THEY TOOK IT!

But but but.....my highly modified 2023 R18 Anniversary is very fun to ride and takes the cake.

 

[Rufus]

I did have a quick look online at UK websites yesterday and it’s true, there aren’t any new 2025 R18’s on sale (that I could see anyway). There were 45 on there, a few private sales, plenty low mileage minters with an odd one or two being advertised as new 2025 dealer or zero mile pre reg but they aren’t genuine 2025 models. When you know what subtle changes to look for it’s obvious. So . Who knows….

 

[Star-Lord]

I have a 2024 HD StreetGlide. The stock wind management is horrible. I ordered a 3rd party windshield since HD's is useless.
The winglets underneath are worthless.
HD bikes are definitely overpriced.
But I must say that the 117 cubic inch MilwaukeeEight motor is SUPERB! 1,917 cc's of smooth.
I waited until late May to buy a hold over 2024 model. Heard HD was wanting to get them off the floor so I made a lowball "out the door" offer on the last day of the month. THEY TOOK IT!

But but but.....my highly modified 2023 R18 Anniversary is very fun to ride and takes the cake.

Let's see a picture of the new Street Glide...

 

[BER18 100]

Let's see a picture of the new Street Glide...

 

[Anibal]

Nice colour

 

[Star-Lord]

What was the out-the-door deal and how'd it compare to the R18 B? If I was to jump over to an HD; it would mostly likely be a used Patriot or Fast Johnny edition Street Glide or Road Glide; however, my Engineering side of my brain would most likely steer me to what I already own - maybe a different color ... Pull Me Over Red..

 

[Petrus]

my Engineering side of my brain would most likely steer me to what I already own

Totally agree.
That observed the engineering of BMW vs HD does need a rather large caveat. HD are doing an áwesome job within the hard, HARD constrictions their buyers impose. There is no manufacturer that comes remotely close in putting as much engineering in designing vibrations and sounds.
Remember when they tried getting serious with engineering a proper bik and came up wth the V-rod family. Impressive thing indeed yet while abroad the model was succesful the US HD family saw it as an aberration.*
They cancelled the revo(lution) engine in favour of the evo for same reason.



For me it shines a different light on the HD engineering.
One can hardly blaim them from making the product not better, not price it lower than their buyers accept. It is after all a business for making money.
This latter observed, it is pretty much a US thing as HDs are under more quality scrutiny and more compatitive prices over here in Europe. The US geopolitics are not doing them a favour either. Not as per Canada but still not positive. Remains to be seen how the € / $ will balance that or not.

* over here a pristine VRSCA as above sells for very good money. Not a lot less than an R18 FE. And imo it does not compare all unfavourably.

 

[BER18 100]

What was the out-the-door deal and how'd it compare to the R18 B? If I was to jump over to an HD; it would mostly likely be a used Patriot or Fast Johnny edition Street Glide or Road Glide; however, my Engineering side of my brain would most likely steer me to what I already own - maybe a different color ... Pull Me Over Red..


View attachment 18644

The original Street Glide ask price was $27,999 not including 8.5% sales tax, freight, or office processing fee.
The sales on 2024 models was below expectations in spite of a wonderful revamp of that model. In addition the Alpine green wasn’t selling as well either (I love that shade of green).
So before freight, sales tax, etc I paid $22,500. Freight was $950.
Out the door was $26,500.

From an optics point of view, the R18B is much prettier. Much more elegant looking.
I thought the Galaxy Dust R18B was the best looking of all.

 

[BER18 100]

Lots of color options with HD.
The R18 anniversary model has silvered tank and rear fender. Like that. It is also the first bike in 50 years of riding that has black forks. That’s new.

One thing I liked about the R1200c was the variety of color. Tuscany Green, Pacific Blue, White Aluminum, Bumblebee, on and on…..

 

[Petrus]

not including 8.5% sales tax, freight, or office processing fee.

I understand it is US norm but what a sham no?! Sadly in Europe dealers are trying to sneak in add ons too.

Alpine green wasn’t selling as well either (I love that shade of green).

and besides, green = eco or something like that so

 

[estoma]

Yeah... They kinda are .. great looking... But way too overpriced...

I own three Harleys (2016 Sportster, 2014 Breakout and 2021 Street Glide) and two Buells (2006 XB12Ss and 2008 XB12S) - all keepers. Zero problems, no regrets. Overpriced - probably. So are MV Agusta, Ducati and increasingly even KTM and Triumph. And nothing cheap about BMW.
My R18 is my first BMW (motorcycle) and will also be my last. Can't say that I will not buy another Harley.

 

[BER18 100]

I own three Harleys (2016 Sportster, 2014 Breakout and 2021 Street Glide) and two Buells (2006 XB12Ss and 2008 XB12S) - all keepers. Zero problems, no regrets. Overpriced - probably. So are MV Agusta, Ducati and increasingly even KTM and Triumph. And nothing cheap about BMW.
My R18 is my first BMW (motorcycle) and will also be my last. Can't say that I will not buy another Harley.

Estoma,
What is the first reason in your mind for not buying another BMW.
My R18 rocks.

 

[BER18 100]

There was a time when a motorcycle parked on the side of the road was certain to be a Harley. Not so much any more. That MilwaukeeEight motor is well designed.
Open the throttle and the bike accelerates without chattering. Some years ago I had a Kawasaki 1700 Voyager that chattered instead of accelerating. My R18 in Rock mode responds well when called upon while driving highway speed.

 

[estoma]

Estoma,
What is the first reason in your mind for not buying another BMW.
My R18 rocks.

German quirkiness.
But there are several, in fact. Also bear in mind that I have owned four BMW motorcars since 1986 and that my wife still drives one, our fifth.
The GS bug bit me in 2014. I took one for a spin, but I hated the telelever front suspension. So, I bought a KTM 1190 Adventure S instead. Good move - it remains one of my favorite rides.
I looked at the S1000RR in 2016. It did not light my fire. I bought a Ducati Panigale R instead.
I seriously contemplated a GTL 1600 in 2018 but still could not make my peace with its telelever despite several lengthy attempts, so, I got a Goldwing instead. Old stock, with front forks, not the new double-wishbone cluster-f4ck.
I received my R18 FE in October 2020. Stock standard, after having spec'ed a Bobber months earlier, online. The entire hoo-hah around that p1ssed me off no end, but I loved the outrageous concept of an 1800cc boxer twin-pot, so, I did not cancel the deal. There was very little available for it during the next two years. BMW hyped up a storm beforehand but had NOT done their homework ahead of time. Still no shop manual.
If they would replace the R18 with the rumored radically departing R20, it would be the same thing all over again. Pass.

https://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/en/e...-concept.html#/section-discover-more-soulfuel

 

[estoma]

There was a time when a motorcycle parked on the side of the road was certain to be a Harley. Not so much any more. That MilwaukeeEight motor is well designed.
Open the throttle and the bike accelerates without chattering. Some years ago I had a Kawasaki 1700 Voyager that chattered instead of accelerating. My R18 in Rock mode responds well when called upon while driving highway speed.

That applies to a lot of brands, in fact. The Brits of old were even more notorious for breaking down - BSA, Norton, Triumph, et al - never mind the oil leaks. Old Ducatis were terrible. All two-strokes were hard work. The Japanese effected the first seismic shift, starting with the Honda CB750. Their engines and electronics were better but frames, suspension, brakes and tires still s4cked for decades - improving in baby steps.

Things have really dialed up since around 2010 given the next (technological) seismic shift in computerized design, manufacturing and metallurgy kicking in across the board, improving everything; closer tolerances, electronic reliability, rider aids (nannies), suspension, braking, lubrication, tires, tuning, you name it. There has never been a better time to be riding bikes while youngsters now prefer to do so on PlayStation instead - when they are not on their cell phones (sensation deletion devices).

 

[Petrus]

That applies to a lot of brands, in fact. The Brits of old were even more notorious for breaking down - BSA, Norton, Triumph, et al - never mind the oil leaks. Old Ducatis were terrible. All two-strokes were hard work. The Japanese effected the first seismic shift, starting with the Honda CB750. Their engines and electronics were better but frames, suspension, brakes and tires still s4cked for decades - improving in baby steps.

Things have really dialed up since around 2010 given the next (technological) seismic shift in computerized design, manufacturing and metallurgy kicking in across the board, improving everything; closer tolerances, electronic reliability, rider aids (nannies), suspension, braking, lubrication, tires, tuning, you name it. There has never been a better time to be riding bikes while youngsters now prefer to do so on PlayStation instead - when they are not on their cell phones (sensation deletion devices).

Had a Norton type 7 and an AMF HD despairhead so say no more...
MotoGuzzi, Laverda were great and in the smaller cc the Aermacchis, two strokes Jawa and MZ.. Japanese shift started with the Honda Benly imo.

Best bike riding years were the eighties/nineties imo with electronic ignition but still carbs. and society still quite permissive of just about anything. 21st c. is all very sanitised, big brother watched; cannot get away with anything unless out in the boondocks and bikes cannot be repaired unless you have an electronics degree and a gazillion money worth of equipment.
Mind you, not complaining as bikes are now reliable and road side help is in the mobile phone. Very comforting for a pensioner but even rudimentary adventurous it is not.

 

[BER18 100]

German quirkiness.
But there are several, in fact. Also bear in mind that I have owned four BMW motorcars since 1986 and that my wife still drives one, our fifth.
The GS bug bit me in 2014. I took one for a spin, but I hated the telelever front suspension. So, I bought a KTM 1190 Adventure S instead. Good move - it remains one of my favorite rides.
I looked at the S1000RR in 2016. It did not light my fire. I bought a Ducati Panigale R instead.
I seriously contemplated a GTL 1600 in 2018 but still could not make my peace with its telelever despite several lengthy attempts, so, I got a Goldwing instead. Old stock, with front forks, not the new double-wishbone cluster-f4ck.
I received my R18 FE in October 2020. Stock standard, after having spec'ed a Bobber months earlier, online. The entire hoo-hah around that p1ssed me off no end, but I loved the outrageous concept of an 1800cc boxer twin-pot, so, I did not cancel the deal. There was very little available for it during the next two years. BMW hyped up a storm beforehand but had NOT done their homework ahead of time. Still no shop manual.
If they would replace the R18 with the rumored radically departing R20, it would be the same thing all over again. Pass.

https://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/en/e...-concept.html#/section-discover-more-soulfuel

View attachment 18647

This is a terrific looking R18! Homerun ball.

 

[AV8OR]

BMW automobile models have an iteration run, within a model, of 7 years. Even the classic BMW 850/840CI series ran for 7 years.