BMW Motorrad has released the second member of its new model series for the cruiser segment : the R 18 Classic .
The new BMW R 18 Classic is a nostalgic touring bike that echoes the beginnings of the great touring cruiser models . While the R 18 is purist in style , the R 18 Classic features a large windscreen , passenger seat , saddle bags , additional LED headlights and 16-inch front wheel .
The new BMW R 18 Classic and the BMW R 18 stand firmly in the tradition of historic BMW motorcycles . They borrow from famous models such as the BMW R 5 both technologically and visually , shifting the focus back onto the motorcycle essentials : purist , no-frills technology and the boxer engine as the epicentre of riding pleasure , combined with “ good vibrations ”. What is more , classic design is merged in the R 18 Classic and R 18 with clear-cut yet contemporary technology to create a fascinating overall concept – offering a riding experience that is as cultivated as it is emotional .
The centrepiece of the new BMW R 18 Classic and R 18 is a completely newly developed two-cylinder boxer engine – the “ Big Boxer ”. Both its impressive appearance and its technology reflect a continuation of the traditional air-cooled boxer engines that have offered an inspiring riding experience for more than seven decades , ever since BMW Motorrad began production in 1923 . The most powerful two-cylinder boxer engine ever used in motorcycle series production has a displacement of 1802cc . The peak output is 67 kW ( 91 hp ) at 4 750 rpm . From 2,000 to 4,000 rpm , over 150 Nm of torque is available at all times , and this elemental pulling power is combined with a full , sonorous sound .
The centrepiece of the suspension in the new R 18 Classic is a double-loop steel tube frame . Its design perpetuates the longstanding BMW Motorrad tradition of this frame type . Outstanding manufacturing quality and a meticulous attention to detail is also evident in barely perceptible features such as the welded joints between the steel tubes and the cast or forged parts . Like the legendary BMW R 5 , the rear swinging arm – sporting a comparable design – surrounds the rear axle transmission in authentic style by means of bolted connections .
The suspension elements of the new BMW R 18
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