Few motorcycles possess the on-road presence of the formidable BMW R 18. It’s a cruiser designed for purists, featuring discreet, no-frills technology and the most extensive displacement boxer engine ever installed in a production BMW motorcycle.
The R 18 is also a distinct homage to BMW Motorrad’s heritage, drawing inspiration from renowned models like the 1936 R 5, designed by Rudolf Schleicher. That model introduced innovations such as a double-cradle frame and hydraulically damped telescopic front forks.
The R 5 elevated riding pleasure and curb appeal to new levels, and the Berlin-built R 18 100 Years continues the theme decades later.
It’s also eminently collectible, since production is limited to only 1,923 units worldwide—reflecting the year the very first BMW motorcycle rolled out of the factory.…