- BMW is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year
- Marking the occasion with a special edition R18
- 100 Years edition gets special paint and accessories
BMW Motorrad India is celebrating its 100-year anniversary by launching a new special edition model of its cruiser, the R18, in India. This is the fourth variant of the bike which mainly gets cosmetic changes while remaining unchanged on the hardware front.
BMW R18 100 Years edition
While the bodywork of the 100 Years edition remains the same as other variants, it is adorned with what BMW calls the Classic Chrome paint scheme. This is accompanied by black paintwork in some areas, high-gloss paint for a few spots, and a white double lining on the fuel tank. Further accentuating its visual appeal is the 100 Years badge and the Option 719 seat which sports dual-tone upholstery along with diamond embossing. Moreover, on the function side of things, the add-ons include the Akrapovic exhaust, headlight Pro with adaptive turning light, reversing aid, electronic cruise control, and heated grips all of which come as standard in this edition.
BMW R18 variants and prices
The new 100 Years edition of the R18 cruiser is priced at Rs 25.90 lakh which makes it the most expensive version of the motorcycle. The other trims, meanwhile, include standard, First Edition, and Classic which are pegged at Rs 19.90 lakh, Rs 22.55 lakh, and Rs 24 lakh, respectively (all prices are ex-showroom). The difference between the variants is mainly in terms of colour options and accessories.
BMW R18 design and features
The design of the R18 is the highlight of the motorcycle. It beautifully harks back to the BMWs of yore with clean and seductive lines running across the bike with body panels almost none. While the raked-out front, extremely long wheelbase, and low-slung profile are typical of a cruiser, elements that make the R18 alluring are the wide boxer-twin engine, a swooping rear fender with a scooped-out seat, fish tail-like twin exhausts, and front forks with chunky covers.
Contrary to its retro styling, the R18 comes equipped with contemporary features like full-LED lighting, cornering lights, a reverse gear, hill-start assist, switchable automatic stability control, engine drag torque control, and three riding modes – Rain, Rock, and Roll.
BMW R18 engine and hardware
Powering the R18 is the largest displacement boxer-twin motor ever built by BMW. This 1,802cc, air/oil-cooled engine churns out 89.84bhp at 4,750rpm and meaty 158Nm of torque coming in as low as 3,000rpm. Transmission duties are handled by a six-speed gearbox. As for the hardware, the R18 is based on a double-cradle frame that rides on a 19-16-inch spoke wheel combination. For shock absorption, there are telescopic forks and a steel swinging fork while stopping power comes from a 300cc disc at both ends.
