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What Bike Would You Trade Your R18 for?

  • <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=1731440888#check"></use></svg></i> Discussion starter Discussion starter Calboy
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How Bad of a hit on the Trade did you get ?
I was upside down by about 1700.00, They got a "twofer" from me I traded the R18 still owing about 17K and change they gave me 16. Only had 8800 miles on the bike, I also traded a 2016 R1200 RT with 36K on it that was paid for so I still had a bit of down payment. I got 0% financing for 48 months and a new bike. Makes me giggle every time I throw a leg over.
 
I met a new neighbor this past weekend, who was interested in buying my Defender D90; anyways, he saw my R18 B in the garage and we immediately started talking bikes...

Turns out, he just purchased last year's introduction 2023 HD Road Glide CVO with the new LED fairing and large TFT Touchscreen. I was shocked as to how much aftermarket bling he has already put on it... New color wrap, new Legends shocks, Exhaust, etc..

Here's a bike that probably started North of $45k... and still requires upgrades..?? I probably don't say it enough, that my First Edition R18 B warms my soul when riding and or just admiring it..

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I met a new neighbor this past weekend, who was interested in buying my Defender D90; anyways, he saw my R18 B in the garage and we immediately started talking bikes...

Turns out, he just purchased last year's introduction 2023 HD Road Glide CVO with the new LED fairing and large TFT Touchscreen. I was shocked as to how much aftermarket bling he has already put on it... New color wrap, new Legends shocks, Exhaust, etc..

Here's a bike that probably started North of $45k... and still requires upgrades..?? I probably don't say it enough, that my First Edition R18 B warms my soul when riding and or just admiring it..

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From what I can tell of the past couple years, and this year especially, is that HD certainly rewards patience. Most, if not all, of the things that made the 2023 CVO a CVO have trickled down into what they're selling on the standard model 2024s. So, that badass CVO Road Glide ST might be next year's standard ST. If folks can wait a year, you can trim like 20 grand from your purchase price and get nearly the same bike.

I do get it though, the whole upgrade game. It's a bit of a sickness and no one understands that like HD. I would imagine their bikes are wholly rideable without modifications. But they offer a mod for everything on the bike, and those who want to "make it their own" will go hog wild (ba dum chick) and get seats, shocks, intakes, pipes, etc. I've been there with my Bonneville and Sportster. Perfectly functional bikes as they stood unmolested, but man o man, all those fun parts to make it "better"? Count me in! Conversely, and likely a product of two limiting factors more than anything (cost and selection), my R18B will likely live the rest of its life having only the intake and tune modded. But man, I do like those RSD mirrors and levers! Ain't about to pay ~$1000 to get em tho.

And yeah, that Defender is wild. Great looking machine.
 
If I had to sell my 2021 R18 FE, I would get a 2014 or 2015 Honda Valkyrie. Fortunately, I have a 2014 Valkyrie and it is one amazing bike. I also have a 2018 Goldwing. So, I don’t have to worry about selling my R18. :D. A bike for every situation!
 

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K1600, 1000 XR, RT1250, Goldwing, GS, Tracer 9 GT+, MT10 SP, Kawi H2 SX....but I've realized that I'll always want one more bike, no matter how many I have. Each bike has its strength and weaknesses. I have a Yamaha Super Tenere; it's the perfect bike, but yet it's not...

My R18B is the ultimate luxury cruiser.

I wouldn't mind an S1000RR either....
 
Recently did a straight swop with my 2021 FE R18 with a Bmw F900 XR TE 2022 model…..and I’m just loving the XR.
I adored the R18 for its looks but didn’t enjoy riding it over long distances. The XR is doing everything I could ever want.
 
I already have 4 other bikes than my R18 Classic, so I’m in no hurry to get rid of it. But, the last time I traded any bike in was 8 or 9 years ago…. I just add to the fleet.

The R18 is special though, I ride it the most of any of the bikes I own. When I head to the garage and look at the bikes, it’s the one that urges me to take it out for a ride. I never get the urge to get rid of it.

The only bike I do think of getting rid of is my S1000R. It’s very fast and handles brilliantly, but I can’t use all it is capable on most public roads. If I get rid of it, it would be for either a Triumph Bobber or a Moto Guzzi V7.
 
Thought about it A LOT.. Several ended up on my short list: '23 K1600 GTL (however I'm really attached to my '13 GTL), Pan America or back to a late '19 Road Glide Ultra (had one, LOVED it) or a T/C. Between looking at the loss I'd take on the R18 (even after getting a great deal on it), sales games played by the 2 BMW dealers here, I decided to stay the course w/ my R18... for now. It is sexy, nostalgic yet modern and completely makes no sense in my garage... but I really do like going out there like I did tonight and just puttering with it..
 
Probably not very helpful but.... none, at least at this point in my life. The TC has been, and continues to be, a great bike for me, either solo or 2-up.
 
I have owned Harley’s, Honda and primarily bmw. I currently own a 2022 R18B, 2021 K1600GTL, 2023 R1250RT and 2023 R1250GSA. I ride all the bikes frequently and love them all. But, the R18 speaks to me. That nostalgic sound and feel, the fit and finish and free feeling one get pulling the power on. There is no motorcycle like it. It brings back reminiscing of my early bikes.

Read a recent article claiming the R18 is a bmw flop blah blah blah. Those of us who own one know the feeling and the love.

Onward and upward all!
 
The R18 has a nice smooth drive train with no buzz in the grips. The Milwaukee 8 motor that HD builds for their cruisers has 1 counter balancer, i.e. a constant buzz in the grips. The M8 motor that HD builds for their big touring bikes has 2 counter balancers and is a very fine machine. The Road Glide is smooth at all rpms. Not so with the softail cruisers.
 
I contemplated getting an RT, but the R18TC checked more boxes. If not the RT, I would more than likely get a Street Glide CVO.
 
My bike is a Transcontinental. If I were to trade my Transcontinental for another bike it would be for something lighter. I really like the comfort of this bike and the ride quality but it is heavy and it feels heavy in the steering. Major difference to my standard R18. Also noticeably heavier steering than my Road Glide. I don’t think this is a flaw of the R18 itself. Any bike with a fork mounted fairing with headlight, auxiliary lights, infotainment center, guages, speakers, windshield, handlebars, heated grips, ect ect is going to steer heavy. If BMW sold a stripped down version with no extras but just a few gauges I’d be very interested. Would be really nice to have the extra trunk and saddlebag storage as well.
 
The R18 has a nice smooth drive train with no buzz in the grips. The Milwaukee 8 motor that HD builds for their cruisers has 1 counter balancer, i.e. a constant buzz in the grips. The M8 motor that HD builds for their big touring bikes has 2 counter balancers and is a very fine machine. The Road Glide is smooth at all rpms. Not so with the softail cruisers.
i must be retarded or ignorant, or it's not happening with my combo on my 2018 Softail Sport Glide. There isn't any irritating or noticeable vibration in my grips, or numbness I've ever felt in my hands, wrists or foot pegs. That said, my R1250 GS Trophy can be a bit buzzy if I keep the rpms up much past 4500 rpm. The GS will also suck fuel at an alarming rate at anything past 72 mph or 4200 rpm with that shift cam in it. Very noticeable when down in Baja, fuel stations are few and far between, and you need every bit of range from that 20 liter fuel tank. Only time I wish I'd bought the 35 liter tanked GSA instead.
 
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