Bavarian Bagger Boogie
520 miles on a BMW R18
The pursuit for my first bike in 1999 led me down many paths, and the gatekeeper who recommended BMWs was former CityBike and VeloNews columnist Maynard Hershon. I chose a 1975 BMW R90/6, which was my steady internally-combusted companion for eight years. Since then I’ve owned several shaft-driven bikes, and my reliable 2003 BMW R1150RT just ticked over 101,000 miles since buying it with 42,000 in early January 2016.
Weeks before a pandemic sheltered the world, Jean and I were working the One Moto Show in Portland, Oregon. My employer FOX was debuting its Roland Sands Design performance bagger shocks, and the bike in our shared booth with RSD belonged to Red Hot Chili Peppers vocalist Anthony Kiedis. It was a custom RSD Harley that Kiedis put up for sale because his rock-and-roll ravaged body preferred a custom RSD BMW R1200RT.
The 2020 One Moto Show brought together all my favorite people, including Ola Stenegärd, head designer for Indian Motorcycle. His former BMW Motorrad cohort Roland Stocker was proudly debuting the production prototype R18 bagger that he and Ola conceived together prior to Ola’s departure for Indian in early 2018.
The dashing bearded duo provided some insight into the R18’s development, letting Jean and I swing a leg over the Bavarian-made beast and its ginormous 1,800cc engine. We were smitten.
Last autumn, my Pixar pal Jay Ward texted to ask if I’d like to receive an R18 for two weeks. He’s connected to vehicle placement agency Page One Automotive in San Francisco. Within days Page One Account Manager & Media Scheduler Jake Scussel offered the R18 B, which was delivered in early January.
At 890 pounds fueled, it’s not the heaviest bike I’ve ridden. Like most low-slung cruisers–especially shaft-driven bikes like this one–the lower center of gravity compensates for the heft, letting you relax your hands while steering with the hips.
Weather here in northern California (specifically the Santa Cruz Mountains where I typically ride to work and for pleasure) was a bit colder than normal (low to mid 30s in the morning) with a touch of rain, conditions I’m accustomed to. I appreciated the heated grips AND seat, plus the 91 horsepower for that extra grunt when the spirit for spirited riding moved me. Even with my 6’1” frame, the 28.35” seat height and 67” inner leg curve aligned nicely with the footboards and my size 13s. I never felt overwhelmed with the ergos or heft.
Some of the extras that I dabbled with but didn’t use include the Reverse Assist and Hill Start Control, handy options for hilly regions like the Bay Area.
The big infotainment screen was more of a distraction for this pseudo Luddite, and the bitchin Marshall speakers weren’t as enjoyable due to the medium-height fairing blowing too much air into my face. In hindsight I would’ve enjoyed the simplicity of the R18 Classic, which more closely mimics my 2011 Moto Guzzi California Black Eagle.
Did I enjoy the R18 B? I racked up 520 miles in two weeks; it’s a tremendous machine, one that Roland and Ola have plenty to be proud of. The aesthetics are above and beyond the competition, turning heads and soliciting thumbs-up wherever I rode.
