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My 10cts

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Petrus

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 18, 2025
Messages
727
Location
Vva. del Rosario - Málaga - España
Visit site
Bike
R18, Nimbus Type C sidecar, Vespas
Started my presence on the forum with https://www.r18forums.com/threads/saludos-from-andalucía.4118/

Thought it time to promote to general :ROFLMAO:

Not gobbling up US-like kilometers but them kilometers here are mostly mountain twisties counting several times. Live at 700 meters altitude, north of the southern (andalucia) climate devide. On an average ride go to sea level and some 1500 meters.
To give a perspective the network of secondary and local roads makes for ´touge´ driving heaven; lighweight drivers´ car world. BMW E36 is about the top limit for size/power. You can extrapolate that to motorcycles.
The tramac is generally very good, well maintained but obviously moves about a bit on the mountain slopes so it can be ´undulated´.
Gas stations are not few nor far between. Traffic light are. On an average ride gas stations are half a dozen to a set of traffic lights.
From where we live to parking at the beach in Torre del Mar is 85 lovely kms and only one light at a pedestrian crossing in Torre.

Enter the R18. Mine is 2022 non-FirstEdition. Seat and pillion seem more padded than FE. Also a small fugly but véry practical luggage rack which the previous owner fitted using hammer and chisel it seems :eek::oops:
Has reverse, no cruise control.
First is essential in this nowhere flat bubble, the latter would be superfluous in nowhere straight ditto.
Have a look on Google maps for Colmenar A-7000. Down towards Málaga, turn left at Venta Galwey MA-166. You can follow on eastwards or pick anywhichone road down to the coast. The switchbacks on the southbound roads are as challenging with th R18 as the views rewarding.
Alternatively look up Ventas de Zafarraya and look at the roads in any direction. Drivers/riders heaven.

Back to the R18 5th is very rarely used and 6th not. I think BMW could have done with 4 gears. Leave 1st as is, make 4th as long as 5th and fill the space with the other two. The engine has torque everywhere and it would reduce gear changes. Remember that ´we´ only got a 5th gear because of increased revs/specific power and 6th for more of that. For broad power band engines a 6 speed box is all marketing and contraproductive if anything more.
Ah and I ride almost exclusively two up.
Fuel economy over 22 kms/l.

Me as a rider have 50 years of motorbike riding experience, 23 of which also racing on European circuits including real róad racing in the eighties and the IoM TT.

Right; that is the perspective for my experiences with and opinions about the R18.
Sofar I would rather fit a sidecar to it than sell it :cool:
 
Just been down to Málaga capital inner city on the R18. Wanted to go to three locations a bit too far apart to walk and loath parking and paying through the nose three times with the car. This way we parked for free right where we wanted to be so had drink & bites for the parking money saved.
The elements; local mountain roads to highway, highway, Málaga city traffic, parking the bike on sidewalks. Back reverse but in the dark; all unlit from leaving Málaga city boundary.

´That was quick´ charming observed back home,´you desérve to be my favorite piloto´. Tbh it was not thát quick as still quite careful with lots of extra getting-to-know-new-bike safety margin, but yes we were faster than most traffic which is not bad with a lardy cruiser at night. Point being that I basically abused the bike by driving half sporting and still comfort is quite good, the stability/road holding better than it should be and lighting is exemplary. On the latter, do not see the point of the adaptive lighting. Not found it usefull yet, just distracting.

Ah and agaín the bike was commented upon very positively. This time at a traffic light by a bloke on a BMW scooter. His female passeger rolled her eyes to my passenger. Mine agrees with her driver though.

Also my opinion on the exhaust sound. I think the OEM fishtail peardrops just right. Nicely quiet when driving about but quite an audible punch when you open the throttle. On the highway going up the stretch with two tunnels has no speed control so gave it full from 80 km/h when inside the tunnels. Man does it fill a tunnel! Nóóó complaints about being too quiet at all!!!
It also pops and bangs occasionally. Nothing obtrusive but still fun.

A negative is the tendency of the front end to tram rail. Maybe the tyre but does not change the fact.
 
and now for a cultural interlude.
Over here in Spain a motorcycle is la motocicleta; feminine. Thus any name should be too.

There is an over a century old German pun, believe it or not, on what back then a common servant girl´s name; Bertha:
During WW1 the imperial army developed a húge gun. It was dubbed the ´Dicke Bertha´.

As the BMW R18 is both German bike and a fat one at that, Bertha it is.

A bit of trivial info is that the treaty after the war required all guns to be destroyed. The last development which standing at the Krupp test range was overlooked. It saw action in WW2.
Now as surprising as overlooking such a gun on a test rage is and more so in the light of meticulous German record keeping, it gets more incredible still; it is not known what happened to it.

Anyway, Bertha it is.
 
Went to Málaga capital again.
First to historic town centre for a drink on a terrace, watch people and then a French movie.
As per the norm receiven admiring comments. One of Kawasaki ZXR rider who parked next to us. He was áwed by the cilinder capacity and hwo the thing comes alive when started.
Next to the paseo maritimo for a dip in the sea. Again easily parked right where we wanted to be.

Anyway; now the crux:
Fínally had my accurate pump and manometer returned so could check adjust the tyre pressure accurately.
Rear on, front was 3.0 bar. Let it down to 2.5 bar.
The effect on tramrailing was WOW. Mostly gone. Nice!

Now looking for comfy but proper mc boots. A heel of my trusty old suede desert boots let go again last week. Meanwhile done some 700 kms with Vance sneakers and that is a bit flimsy.

Also looking for a different horn. The OEM one is imo both fugly and pathetic sounding. As I cannot remember having used the horn on a motorcycle, the former has the preference.
Love the Lucas Altette but Lucas on a BMW would be a cursing in church.
The R50 had a nice looking Bosch horn but that will probably look tiny and several German cars of same period had identical looking larger diameter horns.
 
Red64 said:
Looks interesting. Would like to hear about your experience. Any other alternatives you looked at?
Click to expand...
Will follow up.

Looking up vintage Bosch 12V hupe will give you several options.

The fitting will not be asap btw. They need to come across Europe and am marrying the charming passenger next week.Sodo not hold your breath.
 
Petrus said:
can´t see her as a (little) miss :unsure:
Click to expand...
There are no females in my stable. They are all Stallions. Those in red font are intended to be 'rolling spares' but nevertheless run, are titivated and enjoy a pampered life. Those in blue font are the go anywhere, anytime, mules. The others only venture out on sunny days, short enough to be back in time to sleep in the stable every night.

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Petrus said:
Started my presence on the forum with https://www.r18forums.com/threads/saludos-from-andalucía.4118/

Thought it time to promote to general :ROFLMAO:

Not gobbling up US-like kilometers but them kilometers here are mostly mountain twisties counting several times. Live at 700 meters altitude, north of the southern (andalucia) climate devide. On an average ride go to sea level and some 1500 meters.
To give a perspective the network of secondary and local roads makes for ´touge´ driving heaven; lighweight drivers´ car world. BMW E36 is about the top limit for size/power. You can extrapolate that to motorcycles.
The tramac is generally very good, well maintained but obviously moves about a bit on the mountain slopes so it can be ´undulated´.
Gas stations are not few nor far between. Traffic light are. On an average ride gas stations are half a dozen to a set of traffic lights.
From where we live to parking at the beach in Torre del Mar is 85 lovely kms and only one light at a pedestrian crossing in Torre.

Enter the R18. Mine is 2022 non-FirstEdition. Seat and pillion seem more padded than FE. Also a small fugly but véry practical luggage rack which the previous owner fitted using hammer and chisel it seems :eek::oops:
Has reverse, no cruise control.
First is essential in this nowhere flat bubble, the latter would be superfluous in nowhere straight ditto.
Have a look on Google maps for Colmenar A-7000. Down towards Málaga, turn left at Venta Galwey MA-166. You can follow on eastwards or pick anywhichone road down to the coast. The switchbacks on the southbound roads are as challenging with th R18 as the views rewarding.
Alternatively look up Ventas de Zafarraya and look at the roads in any direction. Drivers/riders heaven.

Back to the R18 5th is very rarely used and 6th not. I think BMW could have done with 4 gears. Leave 1st as is, make 4th as long as 5th and fill the space with the other two. The engine has torque everywhere and it would reduce gear changes. Remember that ´we´ only got a 5th gear because of increased revs/specific power and 6th for more of that. For broad power band engines a 6 speed box is all marketing and contraproductive if anything more.
Ah and I ride almost exclusively two up.
Fuel economy over 22 kms/l.

Me as a rider have 50 years of motorbike riding experience, 23 of which also racing on European circuits including real róad racing in the eighties and the IoM TT.

Right; that is the perspective for my experiences with and opinions about the R18.
Sofar I would rather fit a sidecar to it than sell it :cool:
Click to expand...
What do you mean you hardly ever use 5th and not 6th at all. Are you riding on small bad roads or what. Here in the US, England, Ireland, and the EU 5th and 6th are used regularly.
 
That is quite a exhibition Estoma!
Not often you see someone actually owning an EBR.

In relation to the forum heroe; the R18 you seem to be the go-to for back to back comparisons with other bog ones.
 
Jgraf0107 said:
What do you mean you hardly ever use 5th and not 6th at all. Are you riding on small bad roads or what. Here in the US, England, Ireland, and the EU 5th and 6th are used regularly.
Click to expand...

Riding though the mountains here, on the very well maintained, góód, single track twisties, I indeed only use the first 4.
On the more flowing but still interior, not yet provincial roads, use also 5th.
6th is provincial roads upwards.

´The EU´ is a big place and even the various mountain massives in just Spain are proper ´hilly´. Cruising through is :cool: but ... lowish gears only.
Think UK greenlaning and add proper mountains. I líve at over 2000 feet altitude and on just about any ride see both over 4000 and sea level.

If you would take a moment and look at the map for the Spanish N-340 in Andalucía, you can see that anywhere from it turning up a local road going up/over the southern climate divide is hours of fun yet 5th? Nah...
I live just north of the southern mountain range and taking off east onto the A-7203 towards Granada, then south to Almuñecar, west and up, eventually Venta Zafarraya, will be long day of driving wonderfull góód roads with not much if any 5th gear use.

The mentioned N-340 btw is a WOW road from the Atlantic coast all the way along the south, then north all the way up to Barcelona. It is the Spanish predecessor (by some 20 centuries) of the Route 66.
Shunning July-August it makes for a great R18 tour. No need to take much gear or book overnights. You will experience what I observed about the gears; that spaced differently 4 would suffice and be much more EU-style cruising.
 
Petrus said:
Riding though the mountains here, on the very well maintained, góód, single track twisties, I indeed only use the first 4.
On the more flowing but still interior, not yet provincial roads, use also 5th.
6th is provincial roads upwards.

´The EU´ is a big place and even the various mountain massives in just Spain are proper ´hilly´. Cruising through is :cool: but ... lowish gears only.
Think UK greenlaning and add proper mountains. I líve at over 2000 feet altitude and on just about any ride see both over 4000 and sea level.

If you would take a moment and look at the map for the Spanish N-340 in Andalucía, you can see that anywhere from it turning up a local road going up/over the southern climate divide is hours of fun yet 5th? Nah...
I live just north of the southern mountain range and taking off east onto the A-7203 towards Granada, then south to Almuñecar, west and up, eventually Venta Zafarraya, will be long day of driving wonderfull góód roads with not much if any 5th gear use.

The mentioned N-340 btw is a WOW road from the Atlantic coast all the way along the south, then north all the way up to Barcelona. It is the Spanish predecessor (by some 20 centuries) of the Route 66.
Shunning July-August it makes for a great R18 tour. No need to take much gear or book overnights. You will experience what I observed about the gears; that spaced differently 4 would suffice and be much more EU-style cruising.
Click to expand...
Some amazing roads in that region I am very jealous. When we have visited Marbella in the past and i was forced into the rental car I could only dream of riding the bike which was then a 2005 K1200S.
Now to somehow get the Red Beast there for a week or two!
 
Red64 said:
Some amazing roads in that region I am very jealous. When we have visited Marbella in the past and i was forced into the rental car I could only dream of riding the bike which was then a 2005 K1200S.
Now to somehow get the Red Beast there for a week or two!
Click to expand...
The secondary and local networks are simply drivers & riders heaven.

Can you have the bike transported? If done with advance planning and a flexible pick up it can be quite reasonable. There are several (insurance) recovery services which pick up stranded tourists/travellers cars here in the south and those usually go this way empty.
 
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