R18 first ride.

[aviator]

Got a txt from Pandora's that they have the R18 in the shop and I went over today after work.
Bike looks really cool, took some initial pics, then after some formalities, took it for a 20 or so mile ride.
Very interesting. Got oodles for torque and power. Very heavy very low down. Very!
And hold on, the bike will torque steer including you with it.
Overall I liked it much much more than the R1200C

[aviator]

I did not have time to inform my camera crew, so had to return to the dealership and ask one of the guys to take some pics with me on it.

[beech]

The chrome kind of talks to me from my old Harley days. I like it. Need some other pipes, those fishtails are just a little odd. They kept the open drive shaft from the concept bike, I really like that. No long scarfs.

[aviator]

Beech the new classic looks good. Even the pipes.

[beech]

I have changed my mind on the pipes. They are very different in person. Thin looking down on them. I like it as a package.

[aviator]

[Aa3jy]

The real question..would you buy one...?

[Loggiebone]

No! Hail no!

[beech]

I have a problem with the weight. Just me. I used to ride stripped down Harley 74's in the late 60's. The were about 450 lbs. and only 75 hp on a good day. But I could carry three cases of beer in my lap and ride.

[aviator]

I would, but will wait for the other models to show up. I think there are 3 or 4 variations with different configurations planned.

[Lee]

And hold on, the bike will torque screw including you with it.
]

What does that mean?

[aviator]

steer. You know what I meant Lee. I am not a moto journalist

[beech]

It's cool in it's own way. Tons of little custom bits available and it is designed to take non bmw custom bits too. I suspect some will come up with tune kits to get it out of the 85 HP range to serious tire smoking nasty. It is a cruiser not a sport bike, meant for around town and local riding.Like buzzing the Harley shop. I like the effort Germany is making to fit into the USA spot. A lot of thought was put into this.

[Loggiebone]

Just noticed...is that really a “push rod” motor or feaux?

[aviator]

Yes it is. Nice and quiet.

[beech]

Don't forget the exposed drive shaft, that is really cool. Wonder how the German TUV let that happen? It's a nice touch. The mag wheels that are available look cool, I say that because with the spokes I don't know if it uses tubes??? A no go for me if tube type wheels are used.

[Aa3jy]

Just noticed...is that really a “push rod” motor or feaux?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul5A2QD60zw

[Pittsdriverwes]

Today, I’m channelling my inner wild child. They were all out of loaners today at Bob’s so the sale manager gave me the pick of any of their demo bikes to ride. I figured what the hell, I’ll never get a chance to ride this thing again because I sure as hell wouldn’t want to own one.

I’m calling it Dolly. There’s something oddly disproportionate about the size of its jugs. If I only owned a sleeveless t-shirt and a brain bucket I could really look like a bad ass biker dude.

I think some ape hanger bars would finish it off nicely. It’s pretty quick off the line and is only turning 3600 RPM at 100 mph. It’s sneaky fast in a straight line but it doesn’t like to turn. Like, at all.

[beech]

One of the prototype models has high bars. I think that is a given for the market.

[Pittsdriverwes]

As quick as thing thing is off the line, I think I'd rather see drag bars and some rear sets on it . After riding it all day yesterday, every stop light or sign was a fun moment to rip on it. It won't/can't wheelie so it just leaves the hole like a bottle rocket and with the TC off leaves a long black stripe. The squatty potty ergos made my ass hurt so while I enjoyed a few hours on it, wasn't sad at all to turn it back in.

[aviator]

The classic version

[wildbears]

Much nicer exhaust!

[aviator]

[aviator]

https://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/en_US...22103241310113

[MattB]

Overall I liked it much much more than the R1200C

That should not have been hard for them to accomplish, if I recall correctly, sales numbers showed like 63 riders in the United States who liked the R1200C.

As Tim said, "not for me", but I do hope that they find buyers, I'm not a fan of manufactures being afraid to try something different for fear of failure.

[aviator]

Matt, this puppy is not for you or me. My ride clearly told me that. Its aimed at the cruiser crowd. I have had 5 min on a Harley back in 1996 and that was it for me. My ride on this lasted a fair bit longer, but that was it. Not for me.