BMW previews R 18 'ROCTANE'

BMW Motorrad have announced a new variant in their R 18 heritage cruiser family, with the ‘Roctane’ revealed in May and due for Australian release later this year.

Adding larger wheels, special paint options, blackout detailing and hard panniers as standard, the R 18 Roctane is essentially a factory bagger, pitched against the likes of Harley-Davidson’s Road King Special. The fifth variant of BMW’s big cruiser family, the Roctane will join the R 18, R 18 Classic, R 18 B and R 18 Transcontinental.

Familiar Features

The R 18 Roctane is powered by the same 1,802cc “Big Boxer” flat twin as the other R 18 variants, with max power and torque unchanged at 67kW (91hp) and 158Nm (116lb/ft), respectively.

Those peaks are reached at the same points in the rev range, and while the standard panniers do add weight (wet weight is listed at 374kg, compared to the R 18’s 345kg), top speed is unchanged from the standard R 18 at 180+km/h.

The six-speed transmission with dry clutch and shaft drive is as per the existing R 18 variants, too. Same goes for the frame and suspension, with a tele fork front and single cantilever spring rear with adjustable preload. Suspension travel is still pretty meagre, at 120mm front and 90mm rear.

Brakes carry over, with dual 300mm discs up front and a 300mm rear disc, four-piston fixed calipers and integral ABS. Fuel capacity of 16 litres and rider-assist electronics, like the three riding modes, cruise control, stability control and engine drag torque control, are unchanged from the R 18, too.

New Features

Changes applied for the Roctane start with the wheels. Instead of the standard 19-inch front and 16-inch rear wheel set, the R 18 Roctane is fitted with a 21-inch front and 18-inch rear combination, both in cast alloy rather than spoked. To these, a 120/70 front and 108/55 rear tyre are fitted; the latter slightly narrower than what’s on the R 18.

This larger wheel combo reduces the wheelbase from 1731mm to 1720mm and has an impact on rake and trail, too, now at 55.3 degrees and 185mm, delivering what BMW Motorrad says is a superior riding experience. It also lifts the seat height from a super-low 690mm to 720mm.

The standard panniers hold 27 litres each, are lockable and incorporate tail/brake lights. As these are wired into the electrics, it can be assumed the panniers aren’t removable.

The headlight is another unique feature on the R 18 Roctane, with the deeper shell incorporating the speedometer gauge in an old-school touch that first appeared on the R5 from 1936 and was a feature of many BMW motorcycle models up to the 1970s.

Along with an analogue speedo, that gauge includes digital readouts for the revs, gear position, tripmeter, odometer, tripmeter, clock and other functions.

A two-up seat is standard, but a solo saddle is optional, while the handlebar is of the mid-rise (aka semi ape hanger) type, without the spread of the standard bars, but still incorporating the indicators as per the other R 18 variants.

Roctane Style

Wheels, panniers and handlebars aside, the R 18 Roctane’s main differences compared to other variants in the R 18 family are in its application of colours and finishes.

Compared to the regular R 18, chrome is virtually eliminated, with the engine finished in ‘Avus Black’ matte metallic. While it looks closer to gunmetal grey in some of the images shown here, it is black, offset by a high-gloss black finish for the engine cover and head covers.

The theme continues with a dark chrome finish for the exhaust system and ‘star counter’ fasteners, while the handlebars, levers and mirrors get the blackout treatment.

Available paint colours are black, which is standard, while Mineral Grey matte metallic and Manhattan matte metallic are extra cost options. Manhattan is a bronze-like finish with touches of green that’s been applied to other R 18 variants, as well as conventional BMW tourers, like the R 1250 RT and K 1600.

Colour is applied to the fuel tank, side covers, and front and rear mudguards, as well as the panniers, while the all-new headlight gets a black shell, regardless of the paint selected.

Roctane Specs

The R 18 will launch with a long list of standard features, including keyless starting/riding, dynamic engine braking control, automatic stability control, cruise control, ABS, three riding modes (Rain, Roll and Rock), a steering stabiliser, LED tail light, brake light and indicators, adjustable levers and a 12V socket.

Available extras for the R 18 Roctane will include hill start control, an electric reversing aid, touring windscreen and coachline accents for the paint, amongst others. The two tech features are also available as part of a ‘Highline Package’ that includes an adaptive headlight and DRL, footboards, tyre pressure control, an alarm system and locking fuel cap.

Christmas Gift

BMW Motorrad Australia says the R 18 Roctane is due for local release at the end of 2023, with a list price of $27,890 (+ ORCs). The optional paint finishes add $475, while the Highline Package is an additional $3,100.

For more details, see your BMW Motorrad dealer.