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Production Numbers for First Edition

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Scott Young

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2021 R18 First Edition
Can anyone help with the production amount of the First Edition Model? It appears the R18 will not be continued altogether?
 
Such statements need to be accompanied with supportive documentation. Otherwise it's likely to be considered trolling.
In light of the facts that the First Edition has already been followed with the "Classic" model and that there also spy photos of a touring model yet to be released, I'm thinking that the R18 has some longevity as a model that will be around for a while.
 
The R18 First Edition was supposed to be the only launch edition with several options like the white stripes

End of R18 FE was programmed in December 2020, I wonder how long you can buy it from now.

May be the new one will be full black
 
The R18 First Edition was supposed to be the only launch edition with several options like the white stripes

End of R18 FE was programmed in December 2020, I wonder how long you can buy it from now.

May be the new one will be full black
Did they specifically state that the First Edition is a limited time option? I just assumed due to the name.

In their promo videos they showed fully black versions of the bike and it still looks pretty good. Although, after being accustomed to the pinstripes, they look incomplete in my eyes.

The release of pictures of the option 719 bike gives us some hints as to what might be in the future but who know... I hope more options bring more people into the platform, it'll be interesting to watch. But personally, I can say I'm quite happy with the looks of the bike as is!
 
The First Edition will stop in July 2021, after that it will be R18 and R18 Classic with 719 options. BMW produced so far just over 13.000 R18 &R18 Classics together.
BMW-R-18-Option-719-FOTO-001-960x720.jpgBMW-R-18-Option-719-FOTO-0018-640x480.jpgBMW-R-18-Option-719-FOTO-0019-960x720.jpg
 
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13000 produced with probably 10000 unit still waiting for buyer in Dealer shops worldwide. :)
This is probably more true than we'd like to believe, unfortunately. While some dealers are sticking to their guns (price), just do a quick search on Cycletrader and see how many FEs are going for quite a bit less than the 22,265 (USD/US Price).

I got my FE for 17k plus tax. (I will pay registration to the DMV). I had a Harley to trade in which they gave me FULL retail value for, not trade in value. I wound up only putting out about 500 USD out of pocket. When I saw the price I thought it was a joke or ploy with hidden fees. But nope, it was the real deal. Sticker was 22,265 USD. The salesman said they had not sold even one R18 since they got them in. The owner told them to basically do whatever it took to get one sold.

My closest dealer who I bought my F850GS from said, when they first received them, they sold 10 of them quickly. But from the new year up until April when I bought my 2021 F850GS they had not sold one. Both dealers said that they are getting alot of "looks" and test rides from Harley and Indian owners, but peer pressure OR motorcycle club rules prevent them from riding anything other than American made motorcycle

I would love to see this bike succeed. I love my R18. But I'm not so sure others do.

Again, these are just my obserations
 
Such statements need to be accompanied with supportive documentation. Otherwise it's likely to be considered trolling.
In light of the facts that the First Edition has already been followed with the "Classic" model and that there also spy photos of a touring model yet to be released, I'm thinking that the R18 has some longevity as a model that will be around for a while.
I was told by the dealership. All I am looking for are the production numbers for the bike I just purchased. Cannot find them online. I am new here. Not sure why this is "trolling" @theMucker. Seems kinda like a weird response.

I have seen the patent images of a "bagger". But just going by what the dealer stated, and the dealer said very clearly they are not producing any more R18's, Classics or otherwise.
 
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This is probably more true than we'd like to believe, unfortunately. While some dealers are sticking to their guns (price), just do a quick search on Cycletrader and see how many FEs are going for quite a bit less than the 22,265 (USD/US Price).

I got my FE for 17k plus tax. (I will pay registration to the DMV). I had a Harley to trade in which they gave me FULL retail value for, not trade in value. I wound up only putting out about 500 USD out of pocket. When I saw the price I thought it was a joke or ploy with hidden fees. But nope, it was the real deal. Sticker was 22,265 USD. The salesman said they had not sold even one R18 since they got them in. The owner told them to basically do whatever it took to get one sold.

My closest dealer who I bought my F850GS from said, when they first received them, they sold 10 of them quickly. But from the new year up until April when I bought my 2021 F850GS they had not sold one. Both dealers said that they are getting alot of "looks" and test rides from Harley and Indian owners, but peer pressure OR motorcycle club rules prevent them from riding anything other than American made motorcycle

I would love to see this bike succeed. I love my R18. But I'm not so sure others do.

Again, these are just my obserations
It is not selling in South Africa either. BMW totally scr3wed up with the way they brought the R18 to market. I ordered mine in March last year, and I had it uphill doing just that at the time. The Motorrad dealer had virtually no information on it - ballpark price, availability, why one could not spec the extras and options and which models would launch. They tried hard to sell me an R9T instead initially. When I finally received it in October, they had ordered another two. They sold one by year-end but got it back within a week as the new owner invoked his 'buyers remorse' contract clause. The other one was turned into a demo. They still have both on the floor.

Look how HD brought their Pan America to market recently, stepping right into BMW's (R1250GS) backyard, as BMW had envisaged stepping into HD's. Following a year or more's ridicule by haters, journos and even supporters - for treading way out of their comfort zone - the Pan America has launched to rave reviews. You'll be on a waiting list already should you decide now to get one - in SA at present, you need to put down a big chunk of money simply because everyone else is. And the catalogue is all but sold out. Note sold out as opposed to not available yet, one year later and counting.
 
I never had any illusions that this would be a generically popular bike. I feel the same way about the R18 that I did when I purchased my R1200C new in 1998. Yeah, everybody thinks it's weird, and the things will never become ubiquitous....but I like it in spite of that, or maybe even somewhat because of that. My guess is that it'll go the way of the R1200C. It'll stick around for a few years, will engender some fanatical fans in relatively low numbers, there will be some efforts by BMW to expand what the bike is and can do, but ultimately it'll fade. To me, I don't care. I never had a problem with parts or support for the 1200C well after production stopped.
 
I was told by the dealership. All I am looking for are the production numbers for the bike I just purchased. Cannot find them online. I am new here. Not sure why this is "trolling" @theMucker. Seems kinda like a weird response.

I have seen the patent images of a "bagger". But just going by what the dealer stated, and the dealer said very clearly they are not producing any more R18's, Classics or otherwise.

Please understand that my comments were intended to be informational. I do not consider you to be a troll.
We strive to be clear here and certainly welcome all viewpoints. Your question was a valid one. If I have come away as confrontational, please accept my apology. It was not intended as such.
Ride safe & freer, Scott! I hope to see you on the road!!
 
I never had any illusions that this would be a generically popular bike. I feel the same way about the R18 that I did when I purchased my R1200C new in 1998. Yeah, everybody thinks it's weird, and the things will never become ubiquitous....but I like it in spite of that, or maybe even somewhat because of that. My guess is that it'll go the way of the R1200C. It'll stick around for a few years, will engender some fanatical fans in relatively low numbers, there will be some efforts by BMW to expand what the bike is and can do, but ultimately it'll fade. To me, I don't care. I never had a problem with parts or support for the 1200C well after production stopped.

I fear that you and Estoma are on the mark. And that ties into my other posts about labeling the R18 as a cruiser. Granted, my other posts bitching about it's not being a cruiser (read elsewhere), such a label by the OEM and the motorcycle press will drive THOUSANDS of riders away!
The riders who want a "put your feet up & assume the gynocological position" won't even try one out. The riders who want a great "sport bike" without having their heels against their buttocks won't even read the test bike writeups. If our R18 was produced in the 1970s it would simply be called a new, big displacement motorcycle from Europe. Calling it a "cruiser" is a curse that may kill it's sales.
BMW Motorrad take notice!!!!!
 
Yeah, everybody thinks it's weird, and the things will never become ubiquitous....but I like it in spite of that, or maybe even somewhat because of that.
Nail on the head.

Besides one at a dealership 250 miles away, I own the only R18 I've ever seen in person. How would I feel if there were half a dozen within 50 miles? Better? Happy that my choice has been validated by popularity? Nah, worse. How do I know? Well that's what happened recently with my Wrangler Rubicon. The Jeep was a terrific, capable, and reliable rig...which I saw various versions of dozens of times every day. I got so sick of that dang Jeep Wave, holy crap. Wave and wave and wave and ugh. I sold it and bought a Defender. Now I wave at every Defender I see, which hasn't even happened once. Freakin' love it. Yeah, so, I'm not disappointed at all that R18 sales are anemic. What'll sting a little is seeing them languish at dealerships and the eventual price drop and sales incentives, but such is life. We don't buy motorcycles as investments.
 
Nail on the head.

Besides one at a dealership 250 miles away, I own the only R18 I've ever seen in person. How would I feel if there were half a dozen within 50 miles? Better? Happy that my choice has been validated by popularity? Nah, worse. How do I know? Well that's what happened recently with my Wrangler Rubicon. The Jeep was a terrific, capable, and reliable rig...which I saw various versions of dozens of times every day. I got so sick of that dang Jeep Wave, holy crap. Wave and wave and wave and ugh. I sold it and bought a Defender. Now I wave at every Defender I see, which hasn't even happened once. Freakin' love it. Yeah, so, I'm not disappointed at all that R18 sales are anemic. What'll sting a little is seeing them languish at dealerships and the eventual price drop and sales incentives, but such is life. We don't buy motorcycles as investments.
Huh... Great minds....

I haven't seen many defenders, but D90s aren't even on the dealer lots (I had to order it...)

 
Nail on the head.

Besides one at a dealership 250 miles away, I own the only R18 I've ever seen in person. How would I feel if there were half a dozen within 50 miles? Better? Happy that my choice has been validated by popularity? Nah, worse. How do I know? Well that's what happened recently with my Wrangler Rubicon. The Jeep was a terrific, capable, and reliable rig...which I saw various versions of dozens of times every day. I got so sick of that dang Jeep Wave, holy crap. Wave and wave and wave and ugh. I sold it and bought a Defender. Now I wave at every Defender I see, which hasn't even happened once. Freakin' love it. Yeah, so, I'm not disappointed at all that R18 sales are anemic. What'll sting a little is seeing them languish at dealerships and the eventual price drop and sales incentives, but such is life. We don't buy motorcycles as investments.
I have owned six BMW cars to date, all of them purchased new. I go onto the website, spec everything down to the colour of the leather and inlay on the dashboard, choose a dealer, sort finance and wait for a phone call to come collect it. Exactly as I chose. I know riders who do the same when they purchase new GSs and S1000RRs. I expected to do so too with my first BMW motorcycle, especially given the exact same configuration facility on the Motorrad website. Only, I was forced to purchase vanilla-plain instead and wait endlessly to procure options in retrospect and store/sell redundant take-offs. I know at least one prospective R18 buyer who walked away on that realisation. And knowing what I know now, I would either have purchased it later or potentially even not at all.

I own several bikes, endlessly dissed in Reviews and on Forums, e.g. a Boss Hoss and VMAX 1700. I am generally not swayed by anything else than my own 'simply-have-to-own-that' sentiment regarding motorcycles, and definitely not by others' opinions. But BMW seriously fudged this effort. Great engine, frame and the overall package - bar a couple of bean-counter-level scr3w-ups like tubed tires and no fuel gauge (?) Design, Engineering and Marketing did a good job. But the department(s) sorting outsourcing of accessories and options started too late and seems still hung up in contractual issues. German OEM stubbornness versus (invariably) American aftermarket astuteness.

BMW never intended the R18 to be a top seller, but they did, at the very least, fashion it to follow behind in R9T footsteps and finally to earn them 'cruiser credentials'. They did a 'hook, line and sinker' on so many with the R18 Concept, especially the bobber prospect, and then they dropped the ball. And lost it.

Oh, and the experience has me now also considering Volvo and Mercedes for replacing my wife's ageing X3.
 
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Huh... Great minds....

I haven't seen many defenders, but D90s aren't even on the dealer lots (I had to order it...)

That's fantastic, tommymc. The wrangler was two door and proved to be a bit smaller than I would've preferred, so I went with the D110.
7E77D509-389D-4527-8E36-09296CD3A5BA.webp
 
And the R18 (referred to as 'that thing' in the Video) hardly needs a 'test' like this; WE FINALLY TESTED A *REAL* BIKE! BMW R18 RIDE AND REVIEW - YouTube. Close to 900k subscribers. Approaching 50k views in just 4 days.

At 7:45 into the attempt, 'It literally becomes blurry because the front end is shaking so much because the... erm ...pistons are slapping the entire motorcycle side-to-side'.

'I am worried that it is going to shake itself off the kickstand' (?) Young tw4ts.
 
gateway bmw in stl where I got mine has about 10 of them. Could probably get a pretty good deal on one if anybody knows somebody looking for one right now
 
And the R18 (referred to as 'that thing' in the Video) hardly needs a 'test' like this; WE FINALLY TESTED A *REAL* BIKE! BMW R18 RIDE AND REVIEW - YouTube. Close to 900k subscribers. Approaching 50k views in just 4 days.

At 7:45 into the attempt, 'It literally becomes blurry because the front end is shaking so much because the... erm ...pistons are slapping the entire motorcycle side-to-side'.

'I am worried that it is going to shake itself off the kickstand' (?) Young tw4ts.

That "road test" is at times humorous and other times had me shaking my head, in wonder at how little they know about motorcycles and how sophomoric they are.
 
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