2025 discontinued 🤷‍♂️….updated title, nope it’s not! 👍

[Rufus]

Well well, just found the first advert in the UK for a new Euro+5 R18 for next year, with all the updates. List price quoted as £21,220. Be really interesting to see if this sells knowing what we all do and after all the speculation. It doesn’t say it’s in stock so i presume it’s floating the bike on the market, fishing i suppose, see if anyone bites.

 

[Beemer-Me-Up]

Almost every single ride that I've been on with my buddies, that all ride Harley-Davidson bikes; where we stop at an establishment that caters towards bikers.. I always get a small crowd asking about my bike.. they always seem very impressed with the look and craftsmanship of the R18 B.

Same here..

 

[HUNTS]

My 2025 is about a month and 400ks old now. I went to a bike meet yesterday (21/12) and it was crazy how much attention and positive comments it got. Even the ‘Harley crowd’ gathered around when I went to leave and some huge biker dude gave me the thumbs up.
BMW need to cut down their models to 3 (standard/Roctane/bagger) and focus on good marketing. “Build it and they will come”….

 

[Luis]

Well well, just found the first advert in the UK for a new Euro+5 R18 for next year, with all the updates. List price quoted as £21,220. Be really interesting to see if this sells knowing what we all do and after all the speculation. It doesn’t say it’s in stock so i presume it’s floating the bike on the market, fishing i suppose, see if anyone bites.

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All the speculations about discontinuations where from forums or Facebooks pages, no one from official dealers... Why BMW would think about to stop manufacturing and selling R18? The bike was sold in every country in the world (with more or less success, but always selling). My seller (in my small country) said once "I don't think the B will sell", and both R18B didn't last not more than a week at the dealer.

 

[Rufus]

I know Luis, it’s not easy to work out what’s going on to be honest. I’ve been toying with the idea of buying a 2nd Base R18 because there are so many low mileage bikes about now at much lower prices than a few years ago. It doesn’t make sense really on any rational level but because I like the bikes so much that doesn’t stop me mulling it over. I visited my dealer again today to discuss this and was told, again, that they are not being imported into the UK routinely in 2026 and any new orders would be on a case by case basis. Dealers do not want to have them in stock because they take ages to sell. Behind the scenes many ex PCP bikes are now coming back onto the used market (after the 3 year term finishes) and they will need to find a home too, so the whole thing is a mess, in the UK anyway. When I mentioned the advert I saw for the 2026 Euro+5 bike over the weekend I was told that that BMW dealer probably got told to do it, what we call ‘Hobsons choice’, in other words suck it up buttercup. Your having it.

These bike do sell, this forum alone is evidence of that but I guess the numbers are modest in the overall scheme of things.

 

[Petrus]

I know Luis, it’s not easy to work out what’s going on to be honest. I’ve been toying with the idea of buying a 2nd Base R18 because there are so many low mileage bikes about now at much lower prices than a few years ago. It doesn’t make sense really on any rational level but because I like the bikes so much that doesn’t stop me mulling it over. I visited my dealer again today to discuss this and was told, again, that they are not being imported into the UK routinely in 2026 and any new orders would be on a case by case basis. Dealers do not want to have them in stock because they take ages to sell. Behind the scenes many ex PCP bikes are now coming back onto the used market (after the 3 year term finishes) and they will need to find a home too, so the whole thing is a mess, in the UK anyway. When I mentioned the advert I saw for the 2026 Euro+5 bike over the weekend I was told that that BMW dealer probably got told to do it, what we call ‘Hobsons choice’, in other words suck it up buttercup. Your having it.

These bike do sell, this forum alone is evidence of that but I guess the numbers are modest in the overall scheme of things.

It is weird that an Ural with sidecar holds value better.
Yes I think the PCP is the crux too.

 

[Keehn]

BMW need to cut down their models to 3 (standard/Roctane/bagger)

As a 2022 R18 Transcontinental owner, I respectfully disagree. The added top box and windbreakers not on the bagger model help make the TC the top of the line. For those who've ridden any amount of time on the interstates will quickly realize how valuable those front fork windbreakers are on overall ride comfort.

I wish BMW would however, make the windshield electronically adjustable, as well as the stock seat not being such sh*t quality (it's a TC, not a commuter...why then a commuter seat?!?!), thus forcing us who ride our TC's for hours on end to upgrade to aftermarket seats. Also, the reach of the handlebars on the TC should extend back a few more inches, so a more relaxed riding posture can be achieved. I can "relax" on mine only when my hands are just gripping the metal handlebar endpoints.

Oh, and an official BMW service manual (yes, I know of the one SM that's floating around) for sale to the public would be incredibly helpful, now that Clymers isn't making manuals for beemers anymore.

All that said, I don't see BMW just quitting the big boxer engine. They likely put serious R&D $$$'s into that and would like to see a positive ROI, even if it means the sales numbers aren't as spectacular as they/we would have liked to see (just my opinion). The old r1200c was "easier" to discontinue, because the chromehead motor was an existing design that no doubt, didn't need the R&D budget this 1800c monster required.

Mike

 

[HUNTS]

As a 2022 R18 Transcontinental owner, I respectfully disagree. The added top box and windbreakers not on the bagger model help make the TC the top of the line. For those who've ridden any amount of time on the interstates will quickly realize how valuable those front fork windbreakers are on overall ride comfort.

I wish BMW would however, make the windshield electronically adjustable, as well as the stock seat not being such sh*t quality (it's a TC, not a commuter...why then a commuter seat?!?!), thus forcing us who ride our TC's for hours on end to upgrade to aftermarket seats. Also, the reach of the handlebars on the TC should extend back a few more inches, so a more relaxed riding posture can be achieved. I can "relax" on mine only when my hands are just gripping the metal handlebar endpoints.

Oh, and an official BMW service manual (yes, I know of the one SM that's floating around) for sale to the public would be incredibly helpful, now that Clymers isn't making manuals for beemers anymore.

All that said, I don't see BMW just quitting the big boxer engine. They likely put serious R&D $$$'s into that and would like to see a positive ROI, even if it means the sales numbers aren't as spectacular as they/we would have liked to see (just my opinion). The old r1200c was "easier" to discontinue, because the chromehead motor was an existing design that no doubt, didn't need the R&D budget this 1800c monster required.

Mike

I totally agree with you as I can see the appeal of the ultimate R18 touring machine.
My thoughts are, concentrate on what will probably sell most, give the B options to be upgraded to Transcontinental setup, market all of them as an A Grade cruiser and not just a “Oh yeah, there’s the R18 if you dislike Indian or Harley” afterthought. The R12 has fallen into that trap because they stuffed up the rear styling (a bobber should have been the target styling) and have just crossed their fingers hoping some of them would sell.
Long Live the R18…. Make the R12 a proper Bobber.
I hope that clarifies my previous post as I love all model R18’s.

 

[Mr. Efficiency]

It is weird that an Ural with sidecar holds value better.
Yes I think the PCP is the crux too.

I can answer that as a Ural guy. Ural makes the only ready made leading link sidecar rig in the world. You can go buy a Heritage soft tail on facebook for $7500 . The R18 is unusual and weird. I like it but I knew what I was getting into when I bought it. BMWs only residual value period is to put 150,000 miles on it.

Now my local BMW dealer is a total crook but there is a good example. When I bought my R18 I wanted to trade my high mileage, fully loaded GS and my Harley Thug Dyna. The GS was worth $2000 and the Harley was worth $7500 . I just kept my GS and gave him the Dyna and wrote a check. BMW motorcycles lose about half of what you paid for them the second you ride it off a lot. Because we buy bikes and ride them until they break so badly we can’t put them back together… and that can be 50 years .

Motorcycling isn’t about value; it’s about having the motorcycle you want and loving it and riding it until it is a pile of rust. I’ve never owned a BMW I didn’t plan on putting 150,000 miles on. My current GS is at 125 and its not worth anything and I couldn’t care less.

I like my R18 but it simply is not BMW’s forte. I wanted a really old BMW that I didn’t need a guy named Klaus to move in to maintain it. Mission accomplished But I can see why no one else wanted it and I couldn’t care less. They made it for me

 

[HUNTS]

I worked as a G.M/salesman in the car industry for about 14 years and this is what I learnt…
Toyotas only appear to get better resale because you pay more. The exception to this is certain model Landcruisers.
All dealerships have to pay for the admin staff, the cleaners, the mechanics, the managers, the sales staff’s commission, the lights, the stationary, the gardeners, the painters and the advertising before they can start to think about taking your money. Oh yeah, and GST on every sale.
The more major accessories that you put on a car or motorcycle, the more you will lose. Harleys are proof of this.
You don’t need window tint, rim insurance or paint protection from any car dealership until you know what you can get it for outside.
Your motorcycle doesn’t need it either… especially window tint.
Generally, a $200k BMW/Mercedes/Audi sure as hell isn’t worth that after 12 months. But if you keep it for 50 years and hardly drive it…
The car industry IS what you think it is.

I paid $25k for my brand new R18, including one saddlebag, brackets and fittings. I have spent about $700 in accessories (other bag & brackets, black bolts, air filter, cylinder guards, decals and tbd powder coated levers). I have no need for aftermarket exhausts, dynotune, skull shaped accessories or the like. I think that puts me about $2500-5000 ahead of Indian and Harley owners and that doesn’t include the extra $4-10k I would have had to spend just for their bike without anything added. I could mention quality, but that’s unfair.

 

[Petrus]

Generally, a $200k BMW/Mercedes/Audi sure as hell isn’t worth that after 12 months. But if you keep it for 50 years and hardly drive it…

Classic cars (and the top money motorbikes) will no longer be like that. That market is shrinking too. Even the current new money younger superrich will be less and less interested because both the wow-factor and the investment value will deminish. The appreciating/aspiring public is shrinking.