BMW Motorrad Concept R18.

Munich/Cernobbio. Against the backdrop of a bustling
mix of the traditional and the modern on show at the Concorso
d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, BMW Motorrad presents an engaging alternative
for a time that is being increasingly characterised by rapid
technological change. You could see it as a return to the brand’s
core, but given a modern twist: the BMW Motorrad Concept R18
transports the essence of the big BMW Motorrad classics into the
modern age, or in other words, it is taking a historical motorcycle
design and giving it a modern, custom attitude. Dr. Markus Schramm,
head of BMW Motorrad, describes the design as follows: “With this
dream bike, BMW Motorrad presents its own version of an emotional and
authentic offer for the large cruiser segment.”

The BMW Motorrad Concept R18 shows how a forward projection of a
1960s boxer engine could look like today as a purist custom bike in
combination with all the classic design icons of BMW Motorrad design.
“With its clear aesthetics openly on display, the Concept R18 embodies
for me what motorcycling, at its core, is really about. It is all
about feeling instead of thinking, and not using technology for
self-staging, instead giving space for imagination. This concept bike
appeals to something deep down – you just want to just get on it and
ride off. But when you get off it again, you don’t just put it in the
garage and walk away – you turn around again and give it a final
parting glance”, explains Edgar Heinrich, head of BMW Motorrad Design.

Consistently purist design with timeless proportions.

The BMW Motorrad Concept R18 is the essence of motorcycling, a bike
in its original, natural form. In true custom style, it celebrates the
art of leaving out what you don’t need and then concentrating on what
is left. “The biggest challenge in the design is to render everything
visible. Every part has a functional purpose. There are not many who
would dare to take such an absolutely honest approach”, says Bart
Janssen Groesbeek, designer of the concept bike. The BMW Motorrad
Concept R18 is immediately recognisable as a genuine BMW: boxer
engine, cradle frame, exposed universal shaft and drop-shaped fuel
tank with its black paintwork and hand-applied contrast lines
interpret typical design icons of BMW Motorrad classics, while
displaying confidence along with modern-style linearity. The balanced
proportions are reminiscent of classics like the BMW R5, and convey –
even from a distance – the timeless beauty that comes about whenever
things are consistently reduced to their bare essentials. The frame
and tank create a common line all the way from the steering head to
the rear wheel hub and lend a flowing elegance to the side view. The
large spoke wheels (front 21 inch, rear 18 inch) provide a secure
stance and perfectly balance the dominant power unit. The tyres are a
further reference to history: just as it was in its day, this bike is
again fitted with Metzeler tyres.


The BMW boxer tradition brings out new splendour.

The heart of the BMW Motorrad Concept R18 is the large, newly
designed, two-cylinder 1800 cc boxer engine. Its outward appearance is
consciously reminiscent of the flat twin engines that BMW Motorrad
used to build up until the end of the 1960s – but with a considerably
bigger displacement and modern air/oil cooling. The big prototype
boxer has been designed down to the last detail: the engine block and
transmission are made of glass bead-blasted aluminium, providing an
ideal stage on which to present the hand-polished aluminium components
as well as the belt guard and valve covers. The engine badge bears the
name of the concept bike and emphasises the overall quality. In
addition, Solex dual carburettors – similar to those in the BMW 2002 –
hark back to the brand’s construction history and add the final touch
to the bike’s visual authenticity.

Another optical highlight is the exposed, chrome-plated
universal shaft that connects the back wheel to the drive. There are
no further covers anywhere on the motorcycle, which serves to keep its
engineering clearly visible. Similarly, the electronics of the concept
bike are reduced to no more than starter and lights, underlining its
purist design.

The BMW Motorrad Concept R18 is the third in-house
interpretation of the large-capacity boxer engine to come from BMW
Motorrad. Last December the model created by the Japanese customisers,
CUSTOM WORKS ZON was presented at the Yokohama Hot Rod Show, on the
basis of this new prototype engine. The ‘Departed’ won the biggest
accolade of the event, the ’Best of Show Motorcycle’ award, thrilling
motorcycle fans with its classic forms, modern production techniques
and all manner of manual art and craft in the details. The next round
was the interpretation by Revival Cycles.


The customisers from Austin, Texas created a spectacular bike
with their ‘Revival Birdcage’ model, an ideal presentation platform
for the Big Boxer. The specially developed titanium frame features an
unobstructed view of the engine and drive from all angles. This
American design created a furore at last month’s Handbuilt Show in Texas.

High quality details in fine custom work.

As for its colour design, the BMW Motorrad Concept R18 shows itself
to be a classic. The theme is typical BMW: the white, hand-applied
lines on the fork and fuel tank in combination with the black base
colour represent the classic BMW colour theme. A discreet yellow-gold
varnish effect lends the bright twin lines an exclusive touch, and the
black effect paintwork on the tank and fork rods similarly reveal, in
the best custom style, an unusual depth when the sunlight strikes the
large metallic particles in the various layers of the paintwork.

The visual design of the imprinted single leather seat is
borrowed from the classics of the 1950s. Reinterpreted and somewhat
more comfortable, its quality embossing sits perfectly within the
overall purist and high-class design. The cantilever spring strut is
integrated beneath the seat. The graphics of the headlamp design are
also reminiscent of the 1950s. The classic U shape of the original
glass cover components are now interpreted as LED lamp elements.

Every one of these details contributes to the unique character
of the concept bike and underlines its overall statement. The BMW
Motorrad Concept R18 merges traditional and historic design language
with the current functionalities of BMW Motorrad in a coherent and
cohesive whole.

Moreover, an exclusive and suitably themed horse leather jacket,
which recreates the aesthetics of those days, has been designed
especially for the presentation of the concept bike at the Concorso
d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. The leather jacket features a very smooth
surface with only little grain and the protectors are integrated
almost invisibly.

A counterpoint to contemporary times.

“For me, motorcycles like the BMW Motorrad Concept R18 are a response
to a growing need among the motorcycling community: instead of
technology, the focus here is on simplification, authenticity and
transparency. I observe an almost romantic yearning for real
mechanical engineering. Our aim with this concept bike is to address
this need and turn it into an analogue statement in a digital age. We
have a rich history of iconic motorcycles, and they all bear the same
design characteristics. We believe that this can still work well
together today with the current technology,” says Edgar Heinrich in conclusion.

 

Press materials for BMW motorcycles and BMW Motorrad rider equipment
are available from the BMW Group Press Club at www.press.bmwgroup.com.

 

In case of queries please contact:

Antonia Cecchetti, Communications BMW Motorrad
Tel.: +49 89
382-60757, Antonia.Cecchetti@bmw.de

Tim Diehl-Thiele, Head of Communications BMW Motorrad
Tel.: +49
89 382-57505, Tim.Diehl-Thiele@bmw.de

Internet: www.press.bmw.de
E-mail: presse@bmw.de

 

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW
Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and
motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services.
The BMW Group production network comprises 30 production and assembly
facilities in 14 countries; the company has a global sales network in
more than 140 countries.

In 2018, the BMW Group sold over 2,490,000 passenger vehicles and
more than 165,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the
financial year 2018 was € 9.815 billion on revenues amounting to €
97.480 billion. As of 31 December 2018, the BMW Group had a workforce
of 134,682 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term
thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established
ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain,
comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to
conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.

 

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