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BMW gives up the R18

  • <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 Gerard
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I cannot help but feel we are experiencing a fundamental change in motorcycling.
Some of us are senior enough to have experienced the shift from (and demise of) motorcycles as transport to affordable cars; next the revival as ´freedom´/hobby; advent of Japanese motorcycle industry and diasppearance of the British one.
Now, I feel, there is a more serious aspect to it. No, not the Chinese emerging strongly nor the pressure to go electric. It is ús going the way of the dinosaurs. The baby boomers basically áre the motocycle market in the western world. Us literally dying out can be seen in MC clubs: There is no new gen taking over. Ergo, the market itself is declining. The bagger/cruiser market is probably the most ´pensioner´ and thus most threatened with extinction.
I think thát is what is happening with the slide of HD and the BMW R18 sales dropping. It is ús...

That observed, think about it for a moment.
Without any critisism, look at the situation for HD. Most specifically their situation in the US.
There are many more HDs than surviving baby boomers.
Look at clubs and fora; the getting older thing; how long can one ride? is an issue éverywhere.
So who is going to buy a new HD, who is going to buy grandpa´s low mileage 2020 model standing in grandma´s garage?
It is not an error, not a model mismatch. Imo nothing HD did or could have done. HD is simply the most vulnerable brand on the US market because of their market share and heritage image. It simply is the demographics changing fundamentally.
 
Star-Lord said:
If money wasn't an obstacle (which it always is... college tuition, cost of living in Bergen County NJ, NYC commuting cost & taxes, etc..)

Dragon Fire Red, with the following replaced with Roland Sands Design Machined parts: Levers, Mirrors, Reservoir Covers, Floor Boards with machined Brake & Shifters

Jekyll & Hyde exhaust in the blacked out chromed finish.

I'd probably add the same TC attributes that I've added to my existing First Edition; engine protection bar, lower leg wind protection fairing, adjustable fairing Winglets, Auxiliary Lights and relocate the front directionals up front to the Auxiliary Lights mounting bracket..

I can dream... In all honesty.. after a recent 1,000+ ride upstate with buddies last week, I'm still really enjoying my R18 B
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Same here
 
Petrus said:
I cannot help but feel we are experiencing a fundamental change in motorcycling.
Some of us are senior enough to have experienced the shift from (and demise of) motorcycles as transport to affordable cars; next the revival as ´freedom´/hobby; advent of Japanese motorcycle industry and diasppearance of the British one.
Now, I feel, there is a more serious aspect to it. No, not the Chinese emerging strongly nor the pressure to go electric. It is ús going the way of the dinosaurs. The baby boomers basically áre the motocycle market in the western world. Us literally dying out can be seen in MC clubs: There is no new gen taking over. Ergo, the market itself is declining. The bagger/cruiser market is probably the most ´pensioner´ and thus most threatened with extinction.
I think thát is what is happening with the slide of HD and the BMW R18 sales dropping. It is ús...

That observed, think about it for a moment.
Without any critisism, look at the situation for HD. Most specifically their situation in the US.
There are many more HDs than surviving baby boomers.
Look at clubs and fora; the getting older thing; how long can one ride? is an issue éverywhere.
So who is going to buy a new HD, who is going to buy grandpa´s low mileage 2020 model standing in grandma´s garage?
It is not an error, not a model mismatch. Imo nothing HD did or could have done. HD is simply the most vulnerable brand on the US market because of their market share and heritage image. It simply is the demographics changing fundamentally.
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Well aware of confirmation bias however…..last week my wife & I had a few days away in the beautiful County of Derbyshire. We called in at a tiny cafe in the middle of nowhere for a bite to eat, (The Old Smithy), unbeknown to us it was/is a favourite stop off for passing motorcyclists. We were there a good hour, smashing place, great grub. By the time we left quite a few bikes had turned up, maybe 25-30, didn’t see anything exotic, no sports bikes mostly all rounder type bikes around ten years old ish or younger, that kinda thing. No R18 but they are like unicorns in the wild here anyway!

What was very apparent was the age of every single rider. A symphony of grey hair. I’m 56 and yep, I’d say they were all at least as old or considerably older than me. It was only a snapshot but it’s always seems to be the same these days.
 
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So, they made the R18 First Edition just for me :-). It is a gorgeous motorcycle, it‘s fun to ride and it has some real nods to BMWs heritage… and I have ridden their bikes for 45 years… The pinstripes and black paint and simplicity of it all makes me feel like I‘m riding a motorcycle that was, not what motorcycles are now… and I like that.

But it is not BMW‘s customers‘ thing. So they cobbled it into a bagger which, plain and simple… I think is a monstrosity :-). Then they hosed me so badly when I had problems it cost them a 45 year customer :-). They are probably best served selling bikes that sell (in other words, overweight GSes that guys use as touring bikes) and leave the rest to companies that know how to build a bagger.

I love my R18… but I can give you a million reasons why they don‘t sell. It was a very niche bike; it is a bigger, badder vintage style BMW that you don‘t have to sleep with a Clymer manual under your pillow to own :-). At this point they are just being stubborn Germans… but they do that and that‘s part of their history.
 
Ok so BMW is not giving up on the R18 family.

Here anóther pointer to sales not turning out as forecasted:
The excess stock of 100 years model gift boxes is being ´dumped´ through a German BMW outlet shop.
 
Your opinion is limited to you. If I agreed with you, we’d both be wrong. Most of us who own an R18 love the bike and will probably disagree with you.
 
Mr. Efficiency said:
But it is not BMW‘s customers‘ thing. So they cobbled it into a bagger which, plain and simple… I think is a monstrosity
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Here’re we go again.
Each to their own and you are entitled to have your own opinion (good or bad) and taste.
I own a Bagger and I think she is beautiful in every aspect of her design. I don’t believe I am alone there because even squids at the traffic lights or car owners give me thumbs up once in a while.
It is too bad your dealership did not provide the level of care you wanted. Mine goes above and beyond every time I visit, get follow up calls to ensure the work carried out was done properly, met my expectations, etc, and I only have good words about them.
 
+1. Bad news travels fast but it’s important to have balance. My dealer has been excellent too, friendly, efficient, very reasonable with prices for servicing. The B is a very handsome bike with some terrific colours, don’t understand the negativity.
 
Anibal said:
Here’re we go again.
Each to their own and you are entitled to have your own opinion (good or bad) and taste.
I own a Bagger and I think she is beautiful in every aspect of her design. I don’t believe I am alone there because even squids at the traffic lights or car owners give me thumbs up once in a while.
It is too bad your dealership did not provide the level of care you wanted. Mine goes above and beyond every time I visit, get follow up calls to ensure the work carried out was done properly, met my expectations, etc, and I only have good words about them.
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Oh, I agree. Aesthetics are a matter of opinion… But if I wanted a Road Glide I would buy one and the headlight wouldn‘t rattle around in circles. It is all good and to each their own. The naked, pinstriped R18 looks like an old BMW. The bagger well, looks like an R18 bagger
 
Mr. Efficiency said:
The naked, pinstriped R18 looks like an old BMW.
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I get a lót of positive response to that.
Whenever, wherever we park more often than not someone walks up for a chat about the bike.
As @Anibal observes, even stopped for a traffic light we get positive responses.

It should be observed though that during the sixties, seventies, tailing off into the eighties the police and royal guard in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France etc. extensively to the point of almost exclusively used the classic BMWs. In black with white stripes or white with black stripes. As such the classic BMWs are widely recognised by baby boomers and older.
 
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Fewer and fewer people want motorcycles like they used to be. They want spaceships that can cross the galaxy in ten hours :-). I know, because I loved my GSes because they were the cutting edge of travel :-). But the R18 is what they used to be like, raw… shaky… wind battering your face. Looking down at a coffin tank and even a speedometer they managed to look like an old analog light instead of a backlit LED :-). Nothing but low slung torque and bad noises and holding on tight… even though you know you‘re not supposed to.
 
Petrus said:
A fellow board member of the classic bike club observed that my R18 is just like my 1939 Nimbus but then modern.

Your comment goes a long way to explain the huge success of the retro Royal Enfield bikes.
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I had to Google that but you’re right. Very nice.
 

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Star-Lord said:
This RE bike caught my eye, while sitting at a traffic light on my way home from work:
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That is an entirely modern bike. Disc brakes front and rear, efi et al. Over here they have abs and because of productin unification in the US too.

The dash is analogue look digital high tech.

The one you show is I think a 350 Classic, a single cyl. thumper.
The 650 twin range is just like that but then newly designed in classic look and heritage claiming name; Interceptor.

It is not surprising that RE is a top seller in the UK.

I seriously looked at buying an RE sidecar combination. The 350 however is too aenemic for my intended use, the older 500 has reliability niggles and the 650 sidecar prices had me push the button on the R18.
 
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