What ever happened to the W-3 cylinder bike?
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PHIPHIGOY
Member
To me, following the R18—designed to compete with Harley-Davidson—the R20 is designed to rival the Triumph Rocket 3.
HUNTS
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2023
- Messages
- 785
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- Western Australia
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- 2025 Brooklyn Grey ‘Blacked Out’
Agree.
CajunRider
Member
The Rocket III is now up top 2500 cc... The R20 will not be likely to rival it.
However... there's just something special about a boxer that a triple can never replace.
However... there's just something special about a boxer that a triple can never replace.
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2023
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- 957
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- Goolwa, Australia
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- R18 FE and RnineT Scrambler
The weight of it will be interesting..... r9t is 220kg wet... if this is a 280kg lump it will loose something.... rocket is 320kg wet.
If the 20 was 240kg wet it would be well positioned.
If the 20 was 240kg wet it would be well positioned.
CajunRider
Member
Considering the engine & transmission for the R18 comes in at 109 kg by itself...
It's gonna be tough to build a bike around it for less than 130 more.
It's gonna be tough to build a bike around it for less than 130 more.
Mr. Efficiency
Active member
Bigger than a Subaru motor. I really liked the retro bike, despite the ridiculous motor. This is just, well… an R20 I guess 
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2023
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- 957
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- Goolwa, Australia
- Bike
- R18 FE and RnineT Scrambler
I see it as a R15t......Bigger than a Subaru motor. I really liked the retro bike, despite the ridiculous motor. This is just, well… an R20 I guess
(R9t has 1200'ish motor.... so 9 represents 9/12 of capacity)
Following the "new" naming logic of the r9t replacement (R 12 nineT)... then the R20 could be.... "R20 eighteen".
I would grow young again if BMW wound introduce an R20 that looked identical to the R1200c. The c was a beautiful bike, it just lacked the kind of power some folks expected.
CajunRider
Member
ccmjr77
Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2025
- Messages
- 94
- Location
- North Carolina
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- 2023 R18 Transcontinental Manhattan Metallic Matte
Years ago, I wanted a R1200CL, never got one, now I have the R18TC, it would be cool to own both....
Cajun rider has a nice looking mars red to go with his Montauk.
Hammo
Active member
I agree why stick on a model that according to media and owner reports has turned out to be a flop mainly because of the Covid ? second hand value is terrible if you can get a trade in !!!!!
and viceversa..
HUNTS
Well-known member
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- Oct 4, 2023
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- 785
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- Western Australia
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- 2025 Brooklyn Grey ‘Blacked Out’
Where I see this as a good way to reinvent interest in our bikes and what they are and what they can be.
LBV
Active member
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- Oct 3, 2025
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- 307
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- GTA, ON, Canada
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- 2024 R18 Classic Option 719
Latest news here, first half:
"there is something special about a boxer...." I can't really put my finger on it, but this is a true statement. I like my R18 even better now that the engine is broke in. It has smoothed out nicely.
- Joined
- May 2, 2024
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- 80
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- Canberra, Australia
- Bike
- R18 Transcontinental, K1300 GT SE, K1200 GT, K100 RS
Well, the jump from R18 to R20 is only ~100 cc's per jug, then strip off all the R18s' extra bling and the wieght that goes with it, and off you go for a ride through the forest on an R20. Doesn't really work for me though - looks like they forgot to finish the bike on the line, and look at the rain (and wind?) exposure. I know, I'm a tough audience; which is why I bought a Transcontinental. There's something very special about all that glossy black, chrome, and pinstripe real estate wrapping around the 1802 jugs and the chrome exhausts. Bless.