There is no doubt that Harley-Davidson is the leader when it comes to cruisers, and full-dress tourers. It is also the brand people want when they want baggers, and some of history’s most famous touring motorcycles are baggers with the Bar And Shield on the tank. It is no wonder then that they command a premium. However, if you aren’t brand loyal and simply want a good bagger or tourer at a great price, then you’re in for a fun time because of the options available.
Beating Harley-Davidson On Affordability Isn’t Easy Any More
We’ve seen The Motor Co. go through different phases, but in its current phase, it seems to be consolidating. The component sharing is increasing, the reliability is getting better, and happily, the pricing is becoming pleasing as well!
Harley-Davidson is doing this by deleting some features from base models – it is okay for the most part, because its customers go to the aftermarket more often than not – and in other cases, simply dropping the price until it becomes attractive enough for a new audience. The base Nightster and Street Bob are great examples of how you can be a premium brand AND have value pricing all at the same time. But can there be an alternative to the Street Glide?
The BMW R 18 B Is The Unexpected Affordable Alternative To A Harley Street Glide
BMW’s R 18 series doesn’t get enough love by half. This is partly BMW’s poor decisions at the launch – it had styling that was a little too far out, and a price that was a little too high for what it was offering. Unlike in the other segments, the cruiser and tourer segments have a very loyal and traditional fan base and BMW didn’t account for that.
As a result, BMW has kept correcting the price of the R 18 series until it has come to a point that is acceptable to the public. However, the damage was done, so it needs to be a value proposition as well now. And that is why the BMW R 18 B is the unexpected affordable alternative to a Harley Street Glide.
An Unexpectedly Low Price For A Premium Product
The reason the R 18 B is here because of the price that BMW has set for it. The base model retails for $21,770, which is significantly lower than a Harley-Davidson Street Glide that starts at $24,999. It also must be noted that the BMW has a pillion seat and footpegs as standard, while the Harley asks for a minimum of $2,000 more to add the seating for a second occupant, thus widening the gulf between their prices.
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This Engine Is A Heavyweight Boxer
The R 18 series has BMW’s signature longitudinal boxer twin engine, but this is the largest-ever one the company has made. It is air and oil cooled, displaces 1,802 cc, and has a relaxed compression ratio of 9.6:1. The result is 91 horsepower at 4,750 RPM and 120 pound-feet at 3,000 RPM. This is fed through a six speed manual gearbox and shaft drive to the wheel. It is one of the few motorcycles engines today that doesn’t have a unit construction for the engine and gearbox, and it has a dry clutch that has a slipper function.
Of particular note is the fact that more than 110 pound-feet are available at any point between 2,000 and 4,000 RPM. Also, it needs valve adjustment every 6,000 miles (that’s every other service), and the spark plugs need to be replaced every 12,000 miles—but there are two per cylinder.
The Traditional Frame Serves The Purpose Well
The R 18 B has a traditional double downtube cradle frame, which is by design. BMW wanted the R 18 to be a customization platform. Suspension consists of 49 mm telescopic forks and a hidden rear single shock for a hardtail look. The rear shock has preload adjustment. The suspension travel on offer is 4.7 inches in the front and 3.5 at the rear.
The brakes consist of 300 mm discs – there are two at the front and one at the rear. A four piston fixed caliper is assigned to each of these discs. The R 18 B opts for a 19/18 inch wheel size combination with alloy wheels, unlike some of the other variants of the R 18 series. There are tubeless tires but in an interesting twist, the front is a radial while the rear is a bias ply one.
This Is One Of The Longest Motorcycles You’ll Encounter
There’s no other way to describe an R 18, but as a huge motorcycle. The R 18 B is 103 inches long, nearly 39 inches wide, and has a wheelbase of just over 68 inches. The seat is fairly low, at 28.3 inches, and ground clearance is okay for the segment at 4.7 inches. The fuel tank can hold 6.3 gallons, which should give it really good tank range. It weighs 877 pounds ready to ride with a full tank of gas.
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It Has A Really Good Feature Set
The R 18 B is a tourer, and it gets off to a great start with the 10.25 inch TFT touchscreen display. It has analog meters above it to show ride-related information like speed, revs, and fuel level, but the big screen is where you’ll get your navigation, music, and phone-related information. This is the same layout as the BMW R 18 Transcontinental, but with the R 18 B, the windscreen isn’t adjustable. You do get nearly two cubic feet of luggage space in the color-matched hard saddlebags.
BMW pushes the customization of the R 18 B quite hard, wanting its customers to personalize it and make unique examples. It has a list of things it offers from the factory, like blacked out footpegs, engine guards and handlebars, and aluminum cylinder head covers.
There is a lot of electronic help that the R 18 B has. This will make life easier on those long rides. It has a by wire throttle, and ride modes with names like ‘Rock’ and ‘Roll’. There is also dynamic cruise control, automatic stability control, drag torque control, hill start assist, and ABS as standard. The reverse gear is an optional extra—it really should be standard when your product weighs 877 pounds!
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Big Names, Big Prices In The Competitor List
The R 18 B has some incredibly tough competition to deal with. If you want to keep going with the twin-cylinder power, there is the Indian Chieftain. You can have it either with a liquid cooled PowerPlus engine for $27,999 or the traditional air-cooled Thunderstroke for $29,749. The Thunderstroke engine offers a by-wire throttle and rear cylinder deactivation as well, so it isn’t low tech.
There is the Street Glide, of course. It has a new base price of $24,999, which is very nice, but expect to pony up at least $30,000 if you specify a few accessories. Oh, and a reverse assist isn’t one of them.
BMW’s own K 1600 B doesn’t have a bad price at all, at $24,975. You get a silky smooth six cylinder engine with 160 horsepower, and a sportiness that belies its bulk. It is very well equipped in base form as well.
The Honda Gold Wing has ruled the roost for a very long time, and it continues to do so. It remains the only motorcycle in the world with a flat six engine, and the option of a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox (which has a reverse gear). For $25,500, you won’t have to add a single thing to it, and its reliability is extremely well known—so it delivers value in a different way.
Source: BMW USA