BMW unveils ‘Concept R18’

Continuing a tradition that dates back to 2013, BMW Motorrad has presented a new concept motorcycle at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy.

This year’s creation, titled ‘Concept R18’ follows on from last year’s ‘9cento,’ the futuristic ‘Concept Link’ scooter from 2017 and the supercharged ‘R5 Hommage’ from 2016.

Like the R5 Hommage, Concept R18 takes clear inspiration from BMW’s past, specifically the earliest BMW flat-twins from the 1920s and ‘30s for the overall look, while the 1960s inspired the engine. BMW Motorrad see the R18 as a “return to the brand’s core, but given a modern twist.”

Dr. Markus Schramm, head of BMW Motorrad, said: “With this dream bike, BMW Motorrad presents its own version of an emotional and authentic offer for the large cruiser segment.”

Edgar Heinrich, head of BMW Motorrad Design, added: “The Concept R18 embodies for me what motorcycling, at its core, is really about. It is all about feeling instead of thinking, and not using technology for self-staging, instead giving space for imagination.

“I observe an almost romantic yearning for real mechanical engineering. Our aim with this concept bike is to address this need and turn it into an analogue statement in a digital age.”

Function over Form, Bright over Black

The design brief behind the project was to present the “essence of motorcycling – leaving out what you don’t need and concentrating on what is left”.

BMW Motorrad’s Janssen Groesbeek, the actual designer of Concept R18, described the brief as a challenge as it meant every part had to have a purpose.

Based around a classic-look boxer twin, the concept takes this signature BMW engine and reimagines it in 1800cc form with modern air-oil cooling. This is the third concept to feature the ‘Big Boxer’ prototype engine. The other two were built by Japanese and American custom houses for BMW-sanctioned build-off events and while this creation was designed in-house by BMW, it was actually built by Unique Custom Cycles in Sweden.

There’s no spec info on the Big Boxer beyond its capacity and cooling, so the makeup of the internals and its output is a mystery.

The all-aluminium block was bead-blasted for a matte finish, with contrast provided by the hand-polished aluminium belt guard and valve covers.

While late ‘60s and ‘70s boxer twins usually featured Bing carbies placed at the rear of the barrels, Concept R18 uses Solex carbs usually found on BMW automobiles of the same period and tucks them under the tank.

Picking up on the polished engine details, the exhaust is also highly polished and tipped with modern interpretations of the classic fishtail exhaust, while the drive shaft is chrome plated.

Additional parts, like the lower fork caps, pedal and peg brackets, brake calipers and old-style reversed levers are also either chromed or polished, with all this brightwork enhanced by the black frame and tinware.

The most obvious ‘modern’ touch on Concept R18 are the disc brakes, but the perforated twin front discs (with what looks to be two-piston calipers) and perforated rear disc are probably needed to haul up the Big Boxer’s 1800cc capacity!

ME888 Marathon Ultra tyres from Metzeler are another modern touch, but BMW Motorrad says there is an historical connection here, as their earliest motorcycles were also fitted with Metzelers.

Sleeker, Softer

Concept R18’s bespoke frame continues the functionality mantra that drives this build, with a bolt-on bolt-off lower section for easier engine removal and effective incorporation of both the fuel tank and seat into the overall design.

Elements of the frame are similar to those presented on the R5 Hommage concept, but at the rear is the frame’s – and perhaps the whole bike’s – most interesting feature.

While you’d expect a creation honouring BMW’s earliest motorcycles to be a rigid, Concept R18 features a Softail-style rear suspension in the form of a cantilevered spring strut under the seat. Making a set-up like this harmonise with shaft drive is something BMW Motorrad perfected decades ago, so you know it works.

At the front, there’s telescopic forks, just like the early BMWs, but with modern USD configuration, masked under oversized fork shrouds.

At first glance, the rear suspension isn’t immediately apparent and the front forks look appropriately old-school, but with both these units in place, the ride on this concept is sure to be plush – or at least plusher than a rigid!

Classic Colours

As an homage to early BMW bikes, Concept R18 had to be finished in black with white coachlines, but a twist has been added here, too, with a yellow-gold varnish applied, while those hand-painted coachlines border panels finished in rich metalflake.

The gloss black finish on the tinware continues on the frame, rims (21-inch front, 18-inch rear) and headlight shell. On that headlight, the retro-look ‘U’ shape on the glass lens has been recreated using modern LEDs.

The solo saddle is also inspired by the past – specifically the 1950s, according to BMW Motorrad - and is said to be comfortable, despite its slim appearance. It also features the concept’s name embossed into the leather.

There are no gauges on the bike, so the handlebar area is super clean, with lines that are partially routed through the bars to enhance this effect. A finishing touch is the use of old-style BMW badges on the fuel tank and belt cover.

Unseen in these images, a riding jacket in horse leather was made to suit the concept and presented alongside it - and an original R5 from 1936 - at Villa d’Este.

The long-term future for Concept R18 is unknown, as is whether any of its features, especially that jumbo-sized boxer twin, will make production. But the Big Boxer has been rumoured to become a reality in a future cruiser-style bike that’ll take on Harley, Indian and Ducati’s Diavel.

In the short term, expect to see the bike doing the rounds of shows and other concours events in Europe, the UK and US.