BMW R18 First Review. Harley-Davidson Killer?
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- Опубликовано: 27 сен 2024
- Full review, ratings, and specs: drvm.co/BMW-R18
The BMW R18 just made its debut on the market. We’re among the first ones to test it and we tried to learn as much as we could about the first BMW cruiser. Featuring a 1,800 cc engine, it’s the first BMW to be able to compete in the American cruiser segment, ruled by Harley-Davidson.
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Actually, Harley is doing a stunning job of ending themselves.
This is true, they destroyed HD trying to get assholes to buy them!
@Carl Lewis guess what the funny thing is.
Their 500cc street 500 was made in India
But sold in America. They made a bike for the Indian market, and they didn't even sell it here.
Well well well, I own a Harley Road glide and a 2020 bmw R1250 GS, they are both great bikes that do things differently! The GS is my24 th motorcycle, Harley is regrouping to a changing market, I’m very fortunate every time I get on either bike! I just enjoy riding Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda, bmw, and Harley! Happy new year and ride safe, no matter what you ride! Had a great time in 2020at Sturgis, couldn’t wait to get home to ride my beemer! ( it’s my second bmw). I glad there are so many ice motorcycles!
Nice motorcycles
Or looks like and sounds like the BMW my grandpa used to drive when I was young
Harley-Davidson Killer?... nah Harley-Davidson is killing itself...
Sad but true
...but BMW give the last punch.
If I want power and quality, then I buy a BMW and definitely not a Harley!
@@vladir9t_freak439 i'm with you! Well said!!!
@4The2nd why riding a dead horse on his last journey?!
For my own, i handle and own a oldtimer Kawasaki, i'm not in need to invest in a dead horse.
If anyone, ever, tried to imagine Dracula speaking English, should listen to this guy.
That’s hilarious 😂
That’s hilarious 😂
Hahahaa Dracula riding BMW motorbike...
That would be Bela Lugosi who actually did have that accent and played in the original sound movies about Count Dracula.
you are absolutely right
Nice honest review without all the BMW marketing hype. The bike is a work of art with innovative engineering but I don't see it capturing market share from Harley and Indian in the US. It seems to be targeted at upper income professionals who like to dabble with motorcycles on the weekend for a ride around town and stop at Starbucks. It just doesn't seem like a bike for the high mileage long haul or designed for a ride down the Blue Ridge Parkway (Virginia and North Carolina), Beartooth Highway (Montana and Wyoming), or Pacific Coast Highway (California). Or am I missing something?
My feeling is that a lot of americans like this bike and a fat boy oder breakout cost the same (in europe)
I ride a RnineT racer which is quite different in style but I’ve got to say that I really like the R18, the engine, the style, the classic black tank with pin stripes. And by the way you guys 🇷🇴 are great too !! 🇬🇧🏍
considering my current salary, and especially my country's insane import tax, i can only congratulate the lucky owners of this beauty.
Harley-Davidson doesn’t need a “killer” they are killing themself :/
The R 18 is very beautiful :)
yawn, get over yourself..this vibrating dinosaur is what you think will kill Harley? hahaha
@@81722Les try and read that comment again. At what point did this person state that the r18 would kill harley?
Christian Jacobsen in the title
81722Les and harleys don’t vibrate at all? Lmao
@@nathank6468 here, have a cookie...
RIP Cristian, we will miss your videos and passion. Thanks for all.
yes same...just awful...
I test rode thr R18 a couple of weeks ago and loved it :)
I own a 2020 H-D Low Rider S and have 10,000 miles on it! I love it, it's the best motorcycle I have owned.
Another great video and review. Nice work guys! 👍🏻
Love the way you talk about this bike.
Honest review. I just bought an R18 Transcontinental and i fell in love with this bike that is not perfect and for this reason too i love it: perfection is boring (even in a woman...). I come from the HD Touring world (Street and Road Glide, Limited, CVO) but i wanted to change and try something different but with a high level of quality and reliability. In a BMW R18 Transcontinental (the same is with the B version or the FE or the Classic version) i could find it. As you said: this engine is a sort of mechanical piece of Art and it pulls STRONG with more than 150 Nm of Torque.
Some wonderful videography. Enjoyed this. Rode it this week myself. Thanks.
It seems too heavy for what it is? Same weight more or less as the 6 cylinder BMW 1600 with panniers. At 345 kilos you wouldn’t want this to tip over while you’re manoeuvring around the carpark ( I can hear my legs snap ...)
First thing I will change is the Hilsa Fish shaped exhaust..Second one will be the seat..to make it more comfortable for a hardtail. Rest is all ok.
Nice video, very honest and a perfect blend of objective vs subjective outlooks.
My only thing is that you titled the video “BMW R18 first review. Harley Davidson killer?”
With that title, I would have hoped for more comparisons, or at least some references to why you would question it being a Harley Davidson killer.
Hope that wasn’t being disrespectful or even condescending, but that is what made me click on your video vs the others that were out there. Great job though. Thanks for the review.
Thanks for one of the first reviews. But have you ever reviewed any Harley Davidson? Looking at your channel history it looks like you don't have any riding experience with HD. Is this bike so much better than HD softails? R18 cost in europe is 22-27k eur, HD street bob is 15k. Looks like it's way too overpriced.
Exactly and same goes for all the HD hardly ridden opinions splattering all over like a horde of crazies. The bike reviewer plus all the other Yuotube reviewers BMW is going to throw out in the following days hardly have any experience riding Softails nor Harleys for a considerable amount of time but want us to come lather up their 3min rides and 90,000 worded opinion thats full of biased rabid raves. Fortnine said it right, RUclips reviewers are crap
Breakout and Fat Boy costs also over 21k
@@81722Les most legit motorcycle journos probably have a whole lot more experience than you, or any harley rider. 44teeth, drivemag, zack and Ari, motorcyclist, mcn, etc. There's a reason people with lots of experience don't ride harleys, they suck
Dude, any bike that competes against HD, is better than HD.
@@keeno86 hahahha, yea they do...when they sit on a bike for 10mins and give the review of a lifetime. just ride and stop frothing between your gums with hate for brands, "Mr, I ride for the sake of a brand name"
I am so in love with this bike!😍
Thanks for your review.
RIP when the bike falls...🥴🥴🥴
This bike from BMW has been launched in India too costs around 18.5 lakhs. Very fortunate to see the review here as in India auto reviewers are not that lucky to feel the ride experience as its still in showroom.
You've got to make up your mind about the bike; which one is it?
i) nimble and easy to steer (2:38), or hard to do so due to its 350-ish weight (3:55)?
ii) very precise throttle response to ride (4:30), or have to work a lot with the throttle (3:58)?
Hello. It's nimble for its class, but still it's not suitable for short turns and hairpins. The throttle reponse is very precise, but you have to open/close often due to the short gears ratio. :) All the best, Cristian
BMW makes a knock off HD softail slim and everyone loses their minds in the comments. Lol jk but you’re right it looks much better in person and it is pretty cool. I saw it at the dealer this week. I wouldn’t trade my Harley for it but I would definitely own as a second bike. You guys make the best videos with the best in motion footage. Keep it up.
H H absolutely but you do realize this bike looks almost exaclty like a Softail slim right? It’s closer to the slim than a vintage bmw cruiser in looks other than the boxer engine sticking out. There’s really no denying that.
It’s a boxer not a creíble two different animals
A very well executed professional review,thks.JHB-SA.
I wouldn't trade my 10 year old Raider for it . GROSS !
Rode yesterday. Ive ridden several HDs and currently main bike is Rocket3 TFC. This bike looks stunning and riding position is good. Just developed hand cramps after 30 mins in clutch hand probably due to handlebars. Front brakes have no feel and not enough bite. Engine has very good low down punch but gutless after 4k like a Harley. Engine shakes but more refined than HD soft tails. Handles quite well as weight low down but not much clearance. Seat not comfortable on first edition.
I personally would not add to collection as Rocket is waaaay better in every way except looks. Rocket gets lots of looks and thumbs up just like this.
Where are you driving? yes saw in flesh for first time yesterday blown away with the amount of detail and quality of the bike, Dealer is just in process of registering bike as we can start taking it for a day out
shed, good luck sellin em
Those grapes are sour🤣
@Fail Zero "If they weren't selling then it wouldn't be made". Said Nokia with the N-Gage phone, RED with their Hydrogen phone and Jeff Bezos with the Amazon Fire phone ;)
I dont know why but i absolutley LOATHE the way those exhaust pipes look .
They don’t look great. I agree. My dealer did however say you can order it with different pipes and blacked out, at extra cost. I think up to £30,000. A lot of money.
Good review!I like this bike a lot.Looks a bit sinister and mean....Your snazzy crash helmet was neat too!
BMW just nailed it with this amazing bike.
Absolutely !!!!!
They need to allocate 30mph for each gear shift. Then ... It will be nice.
Hi, what is the helmet model?
Thank you
certainly i prefer my africa twin adventure sports! but this is a really great bike! it's the details that make the difference! it has a crazy engine! excellent video and quality! congratulations Cristian!
Greetings from Italy🇮🇹
ATAS any day of the week!!!
I don't like the idea of my legs restricted by the engine sticking out in front. I recall that the tester is quite short so I wonder what the situation would be if you have long legs (say 33" inside leg as I do).
Romania looks a really beautiful scenic country.
You can order an option to stretch your legs over the cylinders.
@@MzeeWeeed Do you have a link so i can see that?
Christian Jacobsen you should try the configurator from bmw
I'm 6'4" with 36" inseam. My legs are okay on my Wethead GS, the R1200GS. I do sometimes stand up while underway to stretch my legs on a long trip. I would not own a bike with forward controls.
@@HJC1950 Is the seat height 690 on your gs?
One bike with rock mode it’s so cool!!! Thanks for this great review. Can you say me the name of the shooting place? Amazing views! I think that this is one of the best motorbike channels. Your staff do it a great job 👏 Greetings from Spain!
I guess it was the Transbucegi where they shot the clip.
neighborsgoat thanks!
Very good short review, I’m from California & really want to buy this bike next year. I have a Yamaha cruiser 950
Great video and cheers from bukowina mc. Just picked my r18 up last week. I love it
Not sure why people are so hell bent on comparing this to a Harley. Harley riders will always ride Harleys, the bent twin, the sound, the history, I definitely get it. Me personally, I am not a Harley person, probably would never own one, butbi would think about the R18 (even though I am not a cruiser type of rider). Not even sure of the styling of the r18 (and I agree, those pipes are just hideous, off they come ...), but that boxer engine, that bit I just get. Quick confession, I already ride an r1100, but hearing that night pushrod lump of a zeppelin engine just puts a huge smile on my face. The sound, no doubt the wall of torque, not to mention that very unique boxer quirk of wobbling on idle, just the thought of it puts a fucking huge smile on my face. I just hope that bmer consider putting that gem is a backwards "lowtech" lump into something more manageable, it really does remind me of all the reasons I still like the old airheads. I dont dare take one for a rest ride, I full well know what will happen next. Fear not Harley riders, I dont see this taking Harley riders away, more likely adding numbers to the cruiser market, and not a bad thing
Of course 2020 would be the year that bmw makes a softtail and Harley makes a gs
It seems to me a monster bike like this needs some bags, some luggage.
Yeah i agree with Bill the Biker's comments, you see, a harley is a harley, its just about what it is, its THAT character, so its down to just preference actually, bmw is just trying to explore this segment. But like i said, a harley is a harley, that's it. Its concept.
HD killer? No not really. This will fill a small niche of the market like the Moto Guzzi California line up but anything more than that is not realistic. Indian is the real HD killer, well other then them selfs. 😏
Taking into account that more than half of HD's catalog will be retracted from the market, it proves well what HD is...
@@Andre-hi9xn You are really into this comment ... I've seen it three times. Copy and paste?
BMW is Not known for its competence in cruising, the Boxer Engine does not ensure a seating Position That ist comfortable for cruising, the bike does Not Look Good
At 3:57 it looks like there’s a big ass dent on the left side of the engine above the left cylinder ... look harder! But however; nice ride.
Completely agree about the exposed wiring
That kind of rattle and vibrate upon starting the engine. Whatever bike model you owned, dont let it idle with the bike facing down slope especially when sidestand is on. Happened yesterday, my girl friend bike slip forward and dropped on it side when she start the engine and let it idle when the bike was parked facing down slope.
Very cool bike. Harley Davidson killer? I don't think so. At least It comes with foot warmers for those cold weather rides.
Looks great. I would not be an early adopter on this but would wait for buyer reviews first. It’s a lot of money. I really think the limited lower leg room is going to be deal breaker for some.
Hello, where in Romania are those roads?
TransAlpina I believe...
BMW really is great with brakes,.. But the best breaks I've ever had is on the HD Ultra Limited... The mixing is ingenious. They need it... That bike is 900 lbs
Great honest review & relevant, informative information. 👌
That's ridiculous. I love it.
Thanks for clip. Nice. Gotta give Germs some credit. They always try and their auto market is great as always. They really build very good awesome bikes. The features they offered on bikes Harley offers them almost a Decade later. Like their break system. Harley makes Manly Good looking bikes but that’s it. Safety and and performances not their top priority. For Germany it is. Safety n performance has always proven to be their top engineered vehicles. I’m a Harley rider and owned every class of Harley for past 20 years but my one BMW exceeded every standard and expectations of a bike owner. BMW R12 was the best cruiser I owned. My new softail M8 mini apes is a head turner BUT it’s not as Comfortable and Safe as My Harley Bikes. Thanks 🙏
Thank you again for a nice video. Well done 👍 🙏🌷❤️
I can’t wait for my New R18 in 2021 🤞🤞🤞
I’m in Australia & waiting for mine to arrive! So am I excited?...😍🤤😍🤤😍🤤👍🏻😎😁
Hope you enjoy it. I liked the r18 I test rode this week. Not a bike I would buy myself but it’s well made and enjoyable to ride. Health to ride it 👌👍
theonlyredspecial Thanks mate😎👍🏻
Here are my thoughts after I experienced one on Saturday:
BMW has included a traction control switch in the left controls. Why would you need to have a traction control switch on a 345kgs cruiser? I also don't get the 3 rider modes: Rain (OK), Roll (eh!) and Rock (eh!). What's wrong with Rain, Tour and Sport? It seems as if they let some 20 year old in the marketing department in charge of the rider modes and speedo information. The people who are going to be buying this bike are mostly going to be over 50 I would suspect and they don't what silly names like this to contend with. Seeing as this is software driven, it wouldn't take much to get an update, or an option to replace this with a sensible use of words. The speedo has a 200mph scale. The bikes maximum speed is 110mph so why a 200mph speedo. They means the scale is 60-70% redundant! There is no fuel gauge. There is not even a fuel range setting on the computer...
That poor oil cooler, its toast
I want to hate this bike but I don't, I bet it's a great riding on all that torque (btw, if you want retro nimble, ride a 650 Interceptor)
Hello again,
I believe you comparing this bike with gs and k1600 gt.
That’s why you are not very happy 😊
If you compare it with Harley or other choppers , you would realize how beautiful ride engineering wise and safety wise.
Keep up sending videos, I’m keeping up watching them with joy 🤩
Kind regards
I would most like to try the Chopper model with the Ape hanger bars which would be more comfortable.
Amazing vídeo!!!!! Great scenes and the bike is really amazing either
Very nice bike. Big cruisers are all about relaxation. Smooth ride, big torque, classic look. Nice and easy. But I don't think this bike will take any sales from Harley. Harleys are all about American heritage and nostalgia. This bike is about German heritage and nostalgia.
You are right HD is all about american heritage nostalgia but only if you are an american but for the rest of the world it is not .
@@cristian821987 You should stop living under a rock and meet the world. Many riders around the globe still like H-Ds.
@@omarsalgado9715 they like HD but they are not nostalgic or if they are nostalgic that's fake nostalgia .You must be American to really be nostalgic about something made in American .Ps. not trying to be rude so you shouldn't be either.
@@omarsalgado9715 you should really consider respecting others opinion .
@@cristian821987 You should know more.
If you look carefully headlight was jumping out of it's fixture, surely better than HD
Excellent review video. Thank you!
That helmet though!!! what is this beauty?
Nice video :) Sir , How is the vibration that is coming to the handle bar while riding ? . Thanks :)
beautiful roads! Where did you test the r18?
Romania
Loved the R18 Concept Bobber but this looks like a HD Slim with a boxer motor.
Funny how other bikes are measured against harley davidson
By "other bikes" i guess you mean cruiser bikes by other manufacturers. Harley was the the first to make cruiser style motorcycles successfully so it is only natural to compare to them. Like all new electric cars are compared to Tesla. So what's so funny?
Christian Jacobsen Funny how a simple observation can trigger someone.
@@babyvanta how is that triggerd...
Well it isn’t very hard to oneup them anywau
@@babyvanta Guess you know all about that
Wonder if bmw got everyone the same? Many don't like the exhaust, giving some testers a machine equipped with the various other factory options would clarify what's possible
I am not sure if the guy who designed this and the guy who approved the design, were intoxicated when they did that. Silencers are ugly, tank is puny and looks disproportionate. The handlebar should have been a thicker one as this 1 inch bar looks odd with that beefy front.
Harley Davidson Killer??🤫
Best Comedy of 2020😁😁
🛌💤Wake up Dude...
Do you know the difference between a Harley and a BMW????....... Nothing till someone sees on one. Harley killer? Buhuhuhuhuhu!
Great review thankyou! Subscribed!
Nothing else is like a Harley, not even Indian.
Where is the shooting location???😍😍
i think it's Transbucegi road
Lovely landscape, beautiful bike, great review! honestly this BMW it’s just another bike that aims to be just like Harley. Only that it’s not. Not a leader, a follower. The HD 114 M8 comes standard on softails. Let’s not mention the HD 131 ci milwaukee 8. (2,146 cc)
Awesome roads and scenery
Wow! what is this helmet called?
Good review. What shoes are those?
Hello I write from Portugal and I really like your motorcycle test videos, particularly from the turing segment. Which is mine with my K 1600 GTL.
If you don't mind I ask in this essay what is the make and model of the pants you wear, because I am looking for one of the kind.
Merry Christmas, Rui
Did you use all the power or just a little bit. We are not allowed to breaking the speed limit in Canada.. the max is 100 kilometres an hour .. to bad we can’t use 1800 cc of power.
Really? Lol my tiny Yamaha 125cc scooter is more than enough then for Canadian streets. 😁
I love it how around the 10 min mark he talks about vibrations being a criticism and American riders are like HELL YEAH IM SOLD!!!!!!!! LOL Thats why we ride!
I always like watching coz am a big fan of 2 wheelers, i ride a bmw gs1200 lc
I've seen six of these videos already having how the Harley is going to die from the BMW the BMW is not going to wipe out Harley-Davidson it's too heavy it can't turn and the jugs are too big 769 pounds for a bike with no fairing or bags means they're making the same mistake as Honda did with the VTX, Triumph with the California. Only Ducati kept it light.
Actually the R18 Classic comes with a windscreen, bags, auxiliary lighting and foot boards.
Just sat on this bike at dealership.The engine blocks on each side is super intimidating for me. Great looking bike,but am scared of it. Not for me.
Mid controls on a "cruiser?" Never. Exhaust pipes look like they were run over by a truck. Not a fan of the super exposed pipes ala Triumph Roadster. Front end looks its ripped off of an HD softail. All this AND it's super heavy? Harley-Davidson Killer? LOL... I'll be keeping my FLHX thank you very much.
Harley riders ride Harleys-nothing else
Thats why Harley is dying...lol
I got two harleies and R19 and Multistrada. I just like two wheels.
.. same said the last dinosaurs and take the last breath
Nice mid range looks like
u seem to be sponsored by BMW....as always
'You can't move your foot forward' ... proceeds to move foot forward. People have been riding with their legs over the Boxer heads forever. As comfy as any highway pegs.
I know who this is aimed at, but BMW don't have a HOG organisation, so you'll be on your own! So no camaraderie. But the big factor is, you don't have to ad many accessories to be in the realms of £20k plus. Which for a naked cruiser without the Harley heritage is a lot of money. I'm sure there are a lot of Goldwing owners who have been insulted by saying this bike is like a Goldwing to sit on, I'm sure this bike falls far short of any Honda, for quality and reliability.
I can see this being another R1200c the bike BMW wish they never made. Maybe that engine would be better in a big tourer, R1800rt?
I would defenetly buy this instead of a Harley Davidson
Amen!
I would buy a cement mixer with two wheels over a harley Davidson
@@luuk341 lol
@@craiglicata too go slow lol and to learn how old engeneering was in the day, but now.
Ok, now we know you've never ridden with forward controls. You just don't know what you're saying. Riding with cramped legs in long journeys is no fun.
Can you please share this rev'it jacket model? :)
I think this bike has great look but the riding won't match that look. The riding position is going to turn off many people. Plus what bout if someone tip over this bike. No engine guard? Even if there is one. How much it will add to the width?
The vibration at the beginning of the video is insane.
Don't tell me this bike for a long ride. It's impossible to ride long hours with this position.
With this massive engine in front. This is not going to have a good balance or center of gravity. I was hoping to test ride one soon but winter is already here in Canada 🇨🇦 and I Don't think I will like it anyway. But again. I like the way it looks as a collectible bike.
It is beautiful but it is one of those bike where you compromise on the ride for the look.
The counter torque is substantial... But if you ride Boxer's ... you are used to it,. How about how they slow down the idle to make it shake to simulate the HD motor... Again, a great attempt to copy HD.,..
For me, the riding triangle sucks for a cruiser but what are you going to do with those jugs in the way. I wonder if it is hot on you legs
How's your feet below those big engines???is it hot??
Really amazing. Why did BMW decide to build THIS is a mystery 4 me. BMW wad not in a competition with Harleys ever. They do not need this segment of the MC marked. Yes, new things are nice to have, but some, are simply not needed. This is one of them 😖
Well that's that for Harley
This looks very mean and beautiful at the same time. Great job BMW!
I thought the object of these HD style cruisers was to take advantage of the feet-forward option. Many older knees will not tolerate the restriction of those hulking barrels after just a few days of touring.
Having said that, it's a super butch looking machine. It is extremely expensive though and to my mind it should be used as much as possible to get the best value out of it otherwise it's a ludicrous indulgence.
Bike like that should last at the very least 20 years.