New BMW R 18 Transcontinental and R 18 B unveiled

With the new R 18 Transcontinental, BMW Motorrad is adding a Grand American Tourer to the R 18 family as well as the R 18 B “Bagger”, which is particularly popular in the USA markets. The R 18 Transcontinental will be ideal for travelling and long-distance rides in American riding style – both for riding solo and with a pillion and luggage. The R 18 B, on the other hand, is designed as a “rider’s machine” delivering emotional driving pleasure and ideal for cool touring and cruising.

Special features of the new R 18 Transcontinental include a Front fairing with high wind shield, wind deflector and flaps. Cockpit with four analogue round instruments and 10.25 inch TFT colour display, additional headlamp, Marshall sound system, engine protection bars, cases, top case, seat heating, chrome trim and an engine in Silver metallic.

In contrast, the new R 18 B does without a top case and, in the style of a “bagger”, offers a low windshield, a slimmer seat and a matt black metallic engine among other things.

The heart of the new R 18 Transcontinental and R 18 B is a 2-cylinder boxer engine, the “Big Boxer”, which is a completely newly development for the R 18 models. Not only its impressive appearance, but also its technical specifications show its ties to the traditional air-cooled boxer engines. This most powerful 2-cylinder flat twin engine ever built in motorbike series production boasts an engine capacity of 1,802 cc. It generates an output of 67 kW (91 hp) at 4,750 rpm. In the 2,000 to 4,000 rpm range, it delivers more than 150 Nm of torque at all times as well as elemental pulling power and sonorous sound.

The heart of the chassis of the new R 18 Transcontinental and R 18 B is a double-loop tube steel frame made of steel with a backbone of sheet metal formed parts. Its design perpetuates the longstanding BMW Motorrad tradition of this frame type. The particularly high manufacturing quality and attention to detail are also evident in barely perceptible details such as the welded joints between steel tubes and cast or forged parts. Like the legendary BMW R 5, the rear swinging arm, which is manufactured in a similar design, encloses the rear axle drive in the same style using bolted connections.

The front sections gets a Telescopic fork with fork sleeves, cantilever suspension strut, light alloy cast wheels and disc brakes in combination with BMW Motorrad Full Integral ABS. Features such as the Dynamic Cruise Control (DCC) come as standard, while the Active Cruise Control (ACC) – cruise control with integrated distance control for relaxed touring as an ex works option.

The Cockpit features a classically designed round instruments and 10.25” TFT colour screen with map navigation for convenient route planning and extensive connectivity as standard. From here you can also control the Three riding modes as well as ASC and MSR as standard for a high degree of riding fun and safety. Reversing aid and Hill Start Control as an ex works option. A highlight worthy feature is the Audio system from Marshall sound system which is of course an additional extra.

The new BMW R 18 Transcontinental and R 18 B key features

• Handlebar-mounted fairing for excellent wind and weather protection.
• High wind shield (R 18 Transcontinental).
• Low wind shield (R 18 B).
• Cases in body colour paint finish (27 litres, with audio 26.5 litres).
• Vibration-decoupled top case in body colour paint finish
  (48 litres, with audio 47 litres, R 18 Transcontinental only).
• Wind deflectors in body colour finish (R 18 Transcontinental only).
• 24 litre fuel tank.
• Cockpit with four analogue round instruments and 10.25 inch TFT colour display.
• Biggest ever BMW boxer engine with a capacity of 1 802 cc.
• Output 67 kW (91 hp) at 4 750 rpm, maximum torque 158 Nm at 3 000 rpm.
• More than 150 Nm available at all times from 2 000 to 4 000 rpm
• Open-running, gloss nickel-plated universal-shaft drive based on
  the classic role model.
• Elaborately manufactured double-loop tube steel frame with backbone of sheet metal formed parts provide the optimal package.
• Rear swinging arm with enclosed axle drive in rigid-frame design.
• Telescopic fork with fork sleeves and cantilever spring strut with travel-dependent damping as well as automatic load compensation ensure optimum riding under all conditions.
• Comfortable ergonomics for relaxed cruising and touring with the best possible motorcycle control.
• Disc brakes at the front and rear and cast light alloy wheels.
• BMW Motorrad Full Integral ABS.
• Dynamic Cruise Control (DCC) as standard.
• Active Cruise Control (ACC) – cruise control with integrated distance control for relaxed touring as an ex works option.
• State-of-the-art LED lighting technology, classically interpreted.
• Adaptive turning light with swivel module for even better illumination of the road when cornering as an ex works option.
• Engine guard (R18 Transcontinental only)
• Seat heating as standard (R 18 Transcontinental only).
• Heated grips as standard.
• Continuously adjustable rocker switch (in connection with running boards;
  standard for R 18 Transcontinental).
• Keyless Ride for convenient activation of functions.
• Three riding modes as well as ASC and MSR as standard.
• Reverse assist for convenient manoeuvring and Hill Start Control for easy hill starts as ex works option.
• Three attractive colours: In addition to black and the 719 Galaxy Dust metallic option, the new R 18 B and R 18 Trancontinental are also available in
  Manhattan metallic matt.
• The R 18 Transcontinental “First Edition” and R 18 B “First Edition”: Exclusive look in paint and chrome.
• Extensive range of optional extras and Original BMW Motorrad Accessories as well as a cool Ride & Style Collection.
• “Option 719” equipment available as particularly high-quality and exclusive optional equipment and Original BMW Motorrad Accessories.

BMW R 18 Transcontinental & R 18 B image gallery