To be unveiled at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy is the 2019 BMW Motorrad Concept R18 custom motorcycle, a reimagining of its classic sixties motorcycles. This is the third in a series of BMW motorcycles using the classic boxer twin engine, the first two being Custom Works Zon’s “The Departed” and Revival Cycles “Revival Birdcage”.
The Concept R18 is about bringing motorcycles back to the minimalist ethos of five decades ago, when form followed function. In this case, the Concept R18 uses a 1,800 cc version of the boxer engine, air- and oil-cooled as engines were back in the day.
The engine block and transmission are made of glass bead-blasted aluminium, off-setting the hand-polished aluminium components as well as the belt guard and valve covers. A classic touch is the installation of a pair of Solex carburettors, similar to the units used on the legendary BMW 2002.
Rolling on a 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel, the Concept R18 displays a common line all the way from the steering head to the rear wheel hub, giving the bike a sleek, seamless look. This is further accentuated by the chrome plated universal shaft with the rest of bike unadorned by any sort of covers, putting the Concept R18’s engineering on display.
The hand-painted white lines on the tank and front fork are laid over a gloss black paint harken back to the classic BMW bikes of the fifties and sixties. This classic BMW Motorrad theme is carried into the solo seat with cantilever strut integrated into the bottom of the seat pan.
According to Edgar Heinrich, head of BMW Motorrad Design, the Concept R18 was created to fill a need for “an analogue design in a digital age.” “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,” said Heinrich in a press release.
Does this mean a bobber style cruiser joining BMW Motorrad’s Heritage motorcycle line up? What do you think? Leave a comment with your thoughts and opinions below.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
Motorrad moving into Harley territory? It will be a bloodbath.
‘a reimagining of its classic sixties motorcycles’
In my eyes it looks more like a R32 from 1923 than a sixties boxer (R50, R69S)
Omg i want it… screw harley 1800 cc bro!!