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2025 discontinued šŸ¤·ā€ā™‚ļøā€¦.updated title, nope itā€™s not! šŸ‘

  • <i class="fa--xf fal fa-check "><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" role="img" aria-hidden="true" ><use href="/data/local/icons/light.svg?v=1758297946#check"></use></svg></i> Discussion starter Discussion starter Rufus
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Mr Signore said:
Does not look the R18 is desirable by anyone, except by those who bought them new during the first few years of production.

Iā€™ve been considering selling mine, as my garage is already crowded with other great machines. Plus, the R18 isnā€™t exactly an all-season bike for the UK weather - itā€™s a bit too heavy for slippery roads and tends to collect dirt like a vacuum.

Iā€™ve had over ten interested buyers come to view the bike, but none of them were R18 enthusiasts. Instead, they were mostly bargain hunters, intrigued by the idea of owning a high-end machine for the price of a Chinese or Indian bike.

It seemed like they wouldnā€™t have minded buying a Boss Hoss or any other piece of junk if it came with the same discount. I found this attitude from the bidders frustrating and ultimately decided to take the bike off the marketā€”I didnā€™t want it to end up with any of them.

It was a stark contrast to my experience selling Harley-Davidsons, where every buyer was an enthusiast who truly appreciated the bikes. BMW completely missed the mark on this one.

So instead, I sold one of my cars to free up space in the garage and decided to keep the R18 for sunny summer days.
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Canā€™t deny our bikes arenā€™t an easy sell but I think these are difficult times across the board. Iā€™ve owned 4 HD myself over the years and trading those was not easy, at all. In the end two went over into Europe, literally. A guy, think he was Belgian if I remember correctly, maybe Dutchā€¦anywayā€¦.he made me a reasonable but lower end bid and I took it. He explained he came over to the UK three or four times a year to basically hoover up bikes, fill the van, take them back and turn a profit. He had a big van, a roll of cash and off they went.

Iā€™ve recently bought a Roctane, I put in a Honda & Yamaha that I thought were popular models, easy to p/xā€¦..err nope. I had to haggle hard with a number of dealers to get something I was willing to take, others just would not take them. Reason given, the market is saturated with new & nearly new bikes and heavy discounts are around, itā€™s a buyers market. They wonā€™t sit on stock waiting for months for it to sell. It is quite depressing really, like the death throes of motorcycling (as we have known it anyway).

Norton have just flogged off all their leftover stock on a 0% PCP deal that was really a ā€˜fire saleā€™ as you guys call it. It doesnā€™t bode well.
 
Today's young men don't like to ride motorcycles. HD sells mostly touring bikes to older riders. There has been a gradual feminization of masculinity since the turn of the millennium.
 
Rufus said:
Canā€™t deny our bikes arenā€™t an easy sell but I think these are difficult times across the board. Iā€™ve owned 4 HD myself over the years and trading those was not easy, at all. In the end two went over into Europe, literally. A guy, think he was Belgian if I remember correctly, maybe Dutchā€¦anywayā€¦.he made me a reasonable but lower end bid and I took it. He explained he came over to the UK three or four times a year to basically hoover up bikes, fill the van, take them back and turn a profit. He had a big van, a roll of cash and off they went.

Iā€™ve recently bought a Roctane, I put in a Honda & Yamaha that I thought were popular models, easy to p/xā€¦..err nope. I had to haggle hard with a number of dealers to get something I was willing to take, others just would not take them. Reason given, the market is saturated with new & nearly new bikes and heavy discounts are around, itā€™s a buyers market. They wonā€™t sit on stock waiting for months for it to sell. It is quite depressing really, like the death throes of motorcycling (as we have known it anyway).

Norton have just flogged off all their leftover stock on a 0% PCP deal that was really a ā€˜fire saleā€™ as you guys call it. It doesnā€™t bode well.
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I totally agree with you. This is another reason for me to stick to my guns and keep my R18B.
I love the bike to bits, has everything and more I would like on a bike. Some say it is a HD look like but the Japanese have been building similar models and none one makes the same statements. I donā€™t think it is a HD wannabe, especially the pure and classic. The B and TC has been compared with the Ultra Glide. Why, because the fairing? I donā€™t see it that way. Imagine comparing a car with others because the windshield, utterly none sense. What I think BMW tried to achieve (and failed) was to incorporate similarities to appeal the US market but a market dominated by HD and Indian is a tough nut to crack, mainly because this market has a loyal customer base and the new kid would be seen as an alien trying to fit in.

The R18 is definitely not everyoneā€™s cup of tea. I bought the R18B as I fell in love with her lines and character. I had to let go of my M109R which I utterly loved and kept for 15 years in order to accommodate the B and I am planning to keep her for the foreseeable future. God knows I am a sucker for the K1600B but then I ride my B and the desire sort of vanishes away. If I could have both I would, but I canā€™t.
 
Rufus said:
Canā€™t deny our bikes arenā€™t an easy sell but I think these are difficult times across the board. Iā€™ve owned 4 HD myself over the years and trading those was not easy, at all. In the end two went over into Europe, literally. A guy, think he was Belgian if I remember correctly, maybe Dutchā€¦anywayā€¦.he made me a reasonable but lower end bid and I took it. He explained he came over to the UK three or four times a year to basically hoover up bikes, fill the van, take them back and turn a profit. He had a big van, a roll of cash and off they went.

Iā€™ve recently bought a Roctane, I put in a Honda & Yamaha that I thought were popular models, easy to p/xā€¦..err nope. I had to haggle hard with a number of dealers to get something I was willing to take, others just would not take them. Reason given, the market is saturated with new & nearly new bikes and heavy discounts are around, itā€™s a buyers market. They wonā€™t sit on stock waiting for months for it to sell. It is quite depressing really, like the death throes of motorcycling (as we have known it anyway).

Norton have just flogged off all their leftover stock on a 0% PCP deal that was really a ā€˜fire saleā€™ as you guys call it. It doesnā€™t bode well.
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This... is the best well thought-out answer, in my view. I've seen a few others suggest the same thing. Even the pundits are saying the market is saturated and that younger folks are not buying bikes in any quantity. There are such a variety of bikes on the market, and so many niches, that this doesn't surprise me.
 
BMW confirmed today via instagram that itā€™s the 2025 R18 update tomorrow (probably posted elsewhere also, but I donā€™t have other channels).
 
While I have my gripes about the R18 (e. g. plastic battery covers, versus the metal covers the r1200c had), I think it's a bike BMW needs to continue building past 2025, but be open-eyed that it isn't a bestseller.

There are niche bikes, and there's no shame in that. Rather, BMW should lean into the fact that the R18 platform is simply beautiful to look at. If I had the $$$, I'd buy a pure model, simply to place it in my living room to admire (although my wife would certainly veto my decision ;) ).

Mike
 
I don't think its any secret that the R18s aren't selling well here in the US. I bought my bike used and got it for over $5k under the book value. All my Harley riding friends love it, but would never consider buying one. It seems the general consensus is that they wouldn't own a bike that doesn't allow for forward controls. Mid controls don't bother me, so I'll take advantage of the great prices and enjoy having something unique that I rarely see another of on the street. Also, I think the 110 cubic inch motor is considered small by current shoppers for Harley and Indian.
 
I would imagine that the Euro 5+ legislation isn't going to affect the USA. Perhaps any talk of R18 discontinuation is limited to Europe?
 
Well, just watched that video, certainly looks like the 2025 facelift is real, none of the UK dealers I spoke to (in person btw) were any the wiser so make of that what you will. BMW must consider the product is doing well enough (as a whole).
 
The press release is dated today and would seem to conclusively de-bunk any discontinuation theory. I've read it through a couple of times and with all the planned enhancements and modifications across the R18 range there is no mention anywhere of the reverse gear,,,
 
Bluebogartlabel said:
The press release is dated today and would seem to conclusively de-bunk any discontinuation theory. I've read it through a couple of times and with all the planned enhancements and modifications across the R18 range there is no mention anywhere of the reverse gear,,,
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Ahh, now thatā€™s interesting, thankfully on the YouTube launch video you can see the LHS of the bikes and the reverse lever IS present so I do hope BMW get their finger out.
 
Rufus said:
Well, just watched that video, certainly looks like the 2025 facelift is real, none of the UK dealers I spoke to (in person btw) were any the wiser so make of that what you will. BMW must consider the product is doing well enough (as a whole).
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I found the video very powerful and will certainly add a lot more confidence to present owners and should catch the attention of new ones.
 
Just bought a new R18 TC a few months ago in Spain. I'll hang on to it and hopefully make the most of it around Europe. Might be my last bike. If we do go back to the US at some point, might have to resort to a HD trike. Ugh. Or maybe a walker. Ha!
 
I'm wondering if a firmware update will make the Central Lock button, function as the shortcut to the Heated Grips & Seat menu..

Maybe something that the GS-911 can enable..
 
Rufus said:
Well, just watched that video, certainly looks like the 2025 facelift is real, none of the UK dealers I spoke to (in person btw) were any the wiser so make of that what you will. BMW must consider the product is doing well enough (as a whole).
Click to expand...
This is exactly why I take every bit of anything from the dealer - whether they claim to know or not know - with a block of salt.

I donā€™t think the chain of communication/information really involves the dealers until thereā€™s something ready from the factory. Anything before that is speculative at best.
 
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