2021 BMW R 18 First Edition. Images courtesy BMW Motorrad.
It’s here, and for the most part it looks exactly how we hoped it would: like a classic BMW. The 2021 BMW R 18 “Big Boxer” cruiser has finally been unveiled in complete production form, with a look reminiscent of the R 5 model of the 1930s.
Powered by a massive 1,802cc OHV air/oil-cooled 4-valve opposed twin, the largest “boxer” engine BMW has ever produced for a motorcycle, that generates a claimed 91 horsepower at 4,750 rpm and 116 lb-ft of torque at 3,000, the new R 18 certainly seems to talk the talk, ready to go toe to toe with the established cruiser brands. It sports modern rider aids like partially integrated braking (the hand lever activates both front and rear brakes, the foot pedal only the rear) with ABS, a six-speed transmission with anti-hop (slipper) dry clutch, standard ASC (stability control) and MSR (engine drag torque control), and three ride modes: Rain, Roll (for regular riding) and Rock (for sportier riding). Hill Hold Control and Reverse Assist are optional.
The 2021 R 18 with its styling inspiration, the classic R 5.
The R 18’s classic lines come courtesy of a double loop tubular steel frame with easily removable rear subframe for easy customization, a double-sided swingarm with exposed driveshaft on the right side, a telescopic 49mm fork with 4.7 inches of travel and a hidden, preload-adjustable cantilever rear shock with 3.5 inches of travel for a hardtail look. Three brake discs, two up front and one in the rear, are 300mm in diameter and are squeezed by 4-piston calipers.
Spoked wheels are 19 inches up front, 16 at the rear, and appear to be tube-type, although that is not specified in the information we’ve received. Lighting is all-LED, and the R 18 can be fitted with an optional Adaptive Headlight (lean-angle sensitive cornering lights). Keyless Ride is standard.
The 2021 R 18 will be available worldwide in a special First Edition model, which includes the signature black paint with white pin striping, chrome details, “First Edition” badging and more. A base model will also be available in the U.S. and other select markets. Pricing starts at $17,495 for the base model and $19,870 for the First Edition.
This is, after all, a cruiser, and so BMW will also be offering two customization packages from Roland Sands Design, the “Machined” and the “Two-Tone Black.” BMW will also offer an extensive list of customization parts and accessories so buyers can make their R 18 uniquely their own.
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Exposed driveshaft on the right side of the double-sided swingarm.Mid-mount controls are behind the huge cylinders. We’re not sure how forward controls would work on this design, but we do know that floorboards are a BMW option.Classic round display includes a gear indicator. “Berlin built” refers to the fact that this model is built in BMW’s Berlin-Spandau factory.2021 BMW R 18 First Edition.2021 BMW R 18 First Edition.LED headlight includes an optional Adaptive Headlight (cornering lights).2021 BMW R 18 base model.2021 BMW R 18 First Edition.
2020 BMW R18 “Big Boxer.” Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad.
In only a couple of hours, BMW Motorrad will be live streaming the worldwide unveiling of the highly-anticipated R18 cruiser. At 2:00 p.m. EDT (11:00 a.m. PDT), viewers can tune into BMW Motorrad’s Facebook page or YouTube channel to get a first, live look at the new “Big Boxer” R18 cruiser.
Teaser shots have been trickling in for months, after a series of concept bikes built around a new 1,800cc boxer twin were unveiled at motorcycle shows worldwide.
BMW has upgraded its middleweight parallel twin-cylinder line with a larger version of the engine from the F 850 GS, which brings more character and smoothness to the new F 900 R (shown) and F 900 XR.
Since the launch of the BMW F 800 model family with the F 800 S and F 800 ST in 2006, these middleweight, parallel twin-powered motorcycles have been offered in a wide variety of models as lower-priced alternatives to BMW’s larger bikes. As with the R 1200 boxer twins, the most popular parallel twins have been the F 800 GS and GSA adventure bikes, with the more street-oriented F 650 GS/F 700 GS close behind. No surprise, really, since adventure and ADV-styled bikes have done well for some time now.
Conversely the F 800 ST and later GT sport-touring versions were short-lived, leaving the F 800 R streetfighter introduced in 2009 as the sole non-GS model in the lineup as of 2019. No doubt the bike’s entry-level price and the showmanship of four-time world-champion freestyle rider Christian Pfeiffer — who helped develop the naked bike he spun, slid and nose wheelied to victory — extended the F 800 R’s longevity.
The BMW-designed, DOHC, 4-valve-per-cylinder twin is made by Loncin in China, and bikes are assembled in Berlin, Germany. In addition to an unbalanced 270/450-degree firing order for a better sound and feel, it has new dual counterbalancers ffor smoothness.
We applauded BMW’s move toward a simpler, less expensive entry-level twin with the F 800s, which had telescopic forks in place of pricier Telelever or Duolever front ends and belt or chain final drive versus a shaft. But their BMW-designed, Austrian Rotax-built engine, even with its innovative counterbalancer, never really earned our admiration. It was buzzy and raspy sounding and just didn’t deliver the satisfying, torquey throb we expect from a twin.
The F 800s performed well, but it wasn’t until BMW redesigned the engine for the 2019 F 850 GS and F 750 GS (and engine production moved to Loncin in China) that the 853cc engine they share finally came to life. The larger displacement helped, but it was mostly the switch from a balanced 360-degree firing interval with 0-degree crankpin offset to an imbalanced 270/450-degree interval and 90-degree offset that woke the powerplant up, giving it an almost boxer-like twin-cylinder growl and feel. Swapping the central connecting rod-style balancer for dual balancer shafts also tamed the vibes.
Fast-forward one year and the new parallel twin has been enlarged once again and slapped into a pair of dynamic new middleweights, the F 900 R and F 900 XR, roadster and sport-adventure bikes again priced as alternatives to BMW’s larger machines. Updates to the shared DOHC, 4-valve per cylinder engine for more performance and torque from F 850 status include a bump to 895cc, a new cylinder head, forged pistons instead of cast and a higher 13.1:1 compression ratio.
On the Jett Tuning dyno our F 900 R test bike churned out 88.2 horsepower at 8,400 rpm and 58.1 lb-ft of torque at 6,400 rpm, an improvement of about 3 horsepower and 3 lb-ft of torque over our 2019 F 850 GS test bike. Compared curve to curve, more torque is available across more of the F 900’s powerband, too, especially between 4,000-7,000 rpm (redline is at 9,300). All of this grunt reaches the rear wheel via chain final drive through a slick-shifting 6-speed gearbox with a cable-actuated slipper clutch that has a light pull and broad engagement band (an up/down quickshifter is available as an option).
Our F 900 test bike made about 3 more horsepower and 3 more lb-ft of torque at the rear wheel than the F 850 GS.
In addition to their engines, both bikes share an aluminum bridge-type frame, aluminum double-sided cast swingarm and bolt-on steel subframe (presumably to provide enough strength for the optional soft side cases and a luggage rack/top trunk). There’s a 43mm USD fork with no adjustments up front, and a single shock with rebound damping and spring preload adjustment in back — I do wish the remote knob for the latter was easier to access.
Single rear shock on both bikes has adjustable rebound damping and spring preload, the latter with a remote knob that is hard to use.
Cast wheels are shod with high-performance sport- or sport-touring tires in the same sizes, and both shed velocity with triple disc brakes that include radial-mount opposed 4-piston calipers up front and ABS. LED headlights and taillights are standard, and front and center is a large, bright 6.5-inch TFT display with a wealth of ride and vehicle information accessible via the Multi-Controller wheel and menu button on the left bar.
Bright 6.5-inch TFT display offers a ton of vehicle and ride info, all controlled with the Multi-Wheel Controller and a menu button the left bar.
In typical BMW fashion, though the whole idea of the F 900s is a ton of fun at a lower cost, you can boost their prices considerably with a slew of nifty accessories like multiple seat options, Keyless Ride, heated grips, cruise control, a centerstand and more, as well as advanced optional electronic enhancements. These include Dynamic Electronic Suspension Adjustment (D-ESA) with Dynamic and softer Road modes and electronic preload; Ride Modes Pro, which adds Dynamic and Dynamic Pro modes to the standard Rain and Road engine modes, and enables cornering ABS, MSR and Dynamic Brake Control (DBC), which detects emergency braking and reduces torque output to counter unintentional opening of the throttle. The Ride Modes Pro plug-in dongle also upgrades the standard traction control to Dynamic, and of course all of this stuff is infinitely adjustable six ways from Sunday.
Decent wind protection (especially with the larger accessory windscreen we tried later) contributes to the XR’s sport-touring competence.
Fortunately both bikes work just fine without spending a moment playing with settings or one might never leave the garage. The F 900 R is the sportier of the two, with a light wet weight of 471 pounds, shorter suspension travel and steering geometry that make it quite a ripper in the corners. It also has a lower seat, higher footpegs and flatter bar for sport riding and to help it accommodate shorter riders, yet the seating position is still quite comfortable, and while the suspension is set firm for sport riding it still soaks up the bumps quite well. Overall it should appeal to a broad range of riders looking for great handling and some techy stuff at a lower price.
To justify its higher cost, the F 900 XR adds a substantial fairing and small adjustable windscreen that together provides a fair amount of wind protection (I do recommend the optional taller windscreen) and contributes to its higher wet weight of 486 pounds. It also has a taller handlebar, significantly more suspension travel, lower pegs and slightly higher seat in keeping with its adventure-influenced design, yet I could still support it adequately at stops with my 29-inch inseam. Add a pair of side cases and it would make a very nice light tourer with a good balance of handling and power.
The F 900 R has shorter suspension travel, a lower seat, flatter bar and higher pegs to give it a sportier feel and stance.
Although the light, plastic-welded fuel tanks on the R and XR have capacities of just 3.4 and 4.1 gallons respectively, I never saw fuel economy below 37 mpg from the required 91 octane, and that was after nearly 250 miles with a heavy throttle hand — they are capable of much better. Although the BMW R 1200 boxer engine makes more power and torque, in many ways the F 900 parallel twin’s character is equally satisfying, especially its growl and ripping-velvet feel that comes with a smooth rushing surge of torque in the midrange. Paired with either the R roadster or XR sport-adventure platforms, the combination creates a very fun and functional middleweight for whatever sort of ride you care to enjoy.
A nicely styled fairing and small adjustable windscreen, more suspension travel and upright seating are hallmarks of the F 900 XR.
2020 BMW F 800 R/XR Specs
Base Price: $8,995/$11,695 Warranty: 3 yrs., 36,000 miles Website:bmwmotorcycles.com
Engine
Type: Liquid-cooled, transverse parallel twin Displacement: 895cc Bore x Stroke: 86.0 x 77.0mm Compression Ratio: 13.1:1 Valve Train: DOHC, 4 valves per cyl. Valve Adj. Interval: 12,000 miles Fuel Delivery: BMS-M EFI Lubrication System: Dry sump, 3.2-qt. cap. Transmission: 6-spd, cable-actuated wet slipper clutch Final Drive: O-ring chain
2020 BMW S 1000 XR in Racing Red/White Aluminum. Images courtesy of BMW.
After BMW announced several changes to the potent in-line four powerplant in its S 1000 RR superbike earlier this year, we figured it was only a matter of time before the tech trickled down to its flagship adventure sport tourer. And sure enough, here comes the 2020 S 1000 XR, lighter, faster and more versatile than ever before.
The big news of course is the RR-derived engine, which pumps out a claimed 165 horsepower at 11,000 rpm and 84 lb-ft of torque at 9,250. Fourth, fifth and sixth gears have longer ratios to reduce noise, fuel consumption and engine speed (hopefully addressing some of the buzziness we’ve noted in our tests — read our review of the 2016 S 1000 XR here). It also now features what BMW calls engine drag torque control (MSR), which reduces rear wheel hopping under hard deceleration.
A 6.5-inch TFT display is standard on the 2020 S 1000 XR.
The suspension, frame and swingarm have all been tweaked to reduce weight, and coupled with the lighter engine the 2020 S 1000 XR is said to weigh just 498 pounds (our 2016 test bike weighed in at 531 pounds).
The list of standard features is long: Dynamic ESA (electronic suspension), four ride modes (Road, Rain, Dynamic and Dynamic Pro), Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) with wheelie control, ABS Pro (cornering ABS) with Dynamic Brake Control (DBC), 6.5-inch TFT display, LED lighting and Hill Start Control Pro. Options include Dynamic ESA Pro with two damping modes and automatic load compensation, HP Shift Assistant Pro (up and down quickshifter), Headlight Pro with DRL and cornering lights, and electronic cruise control.
The 2020 BMW S 1000 XR will be available in Ice Gray and Racing Red/White Aluminum. U.S. pricing and availability are TBA.
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2020 BMW S 1000 XR in Ice Gray.2020 BMW S 1000 XR in Ice Gray.
2020 BMW F 900 XR in Racing Red. Images courtesy BMW.2020 BMW F 900 R in Hockenheim Silver Metallic/Racing Red.
BMW surprised us with two new mid-range models, the 2020 F 900 R and the F 900 XR, both based around a slightly enlarged version of the parallel twin released last year that powers the F 850 GS. With an increase from 853cc to 895cc, BMW says the new engine is good for 105 horsepower and 68 lb-ft of torque, and its dual counterbalancers result in a smooth riding experience.
Apart from the engine, the 2020 F 900 R and the F 900 XR also share a steel frame and rear subframe and feature unique lightweight plastic-welded fuel tanks (3.4 gals. for the R, 4.0 gals. for the XR), a 6.5-inch TFT display, LED lighting, two ride modes (Rain and Road), ABS and ASC (Automatic Stability Control) as standard.
A 6.5-inch TFT display will come standard on both the F 900 R and F 900 XR.
Options include Riding Modes Pro, which adds Dynamic and Dynamic Pro ride modes, Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), cornering ABS (ABS Pro), Dynamic Brake Control (DBC) and engine drag torque control (MSR), which prevents rear wheel hop when decelerating. Dynamic ESA (electronic suspension, rear only) is also available as is Headlight Pro, which adds cornering lights, and Keyless Ride.
Both models feature an upside-down fork and rear monoshock, with 5.3 inches of travel at the front, 5.6 at the rear on the F 900 R, and 6.7 front, 6.8 rear on the F 900 XR.
The 2020 F 900 R will be available in Blackstorm Metallic, San Marino Blue Metallic and Hockenheim Silver Metallic/Racing Red. The 2020 F 900XR will be available in Light White, Galvanic Gold Metallic and Racing Red. U.S. pricing and availability are TBA.
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2020 BMW F 900 XR in Racing Red.2020 BMW F 900 XR in Galvanic Gold.2020 BMW F 900 XR in Light White.Plenty of touring accessories will be available for the F 900 XR, including the lights and saddlebags as seen on the bike to the left.2020 BMW F 900 R in Hockenheim Silver Metallic/Racing Red.2020 BMW F 900 R in Blackstorm Metallic.2020 BMW F 900 R.
BMW has announced its second “concept” bike based on the upcoming 1800cc Big Boxer engine, the R18 /2. Images courtesy BMW Motorrad.
BMW is marching steadily toward its promised cruiser, anticipated sometime in 2020, with the news of its latest concept bike based around the new 1,800cc “Big Boxer” opposed twin. Buried in a press release for a new Concept R18 /2 (pronounced “slash two”) were photos showing the design and production of the /2, including the most detailed shots to date of the new engine, clearly functional and roadworthy.
First, the bike. The Concept R18 /2 appears to be a classic cruiser in design, with modern flowing lines, a small headlight cowl and a slightly bobbed rear fender. Wheels are cast, 19 inches up front and 16 at the rear, with Brembo brakes and a gorgeous Candy Apple Red paint on the bodywork.
The Concept R18 /2 has a hidden rear mono shock for a classic hardtail look.
The 1,800cc air/oil-cooled boxer engine used in the /2 has a classic BMW 1960s aesthetic, finished in matte gray and black. The massive cylinders protrude past the ends of the handlebar, and dual air intakes funnel under the rider’s thighs to the airbox beneath the front of the seat. To the rear of that is a hidden single shock absorber to maintain the classic hardtail look.
We’re not quite sure why BMW wants to try breaking into the American cruiser market, given lackluster sales in the segment (and its own ill-fated R 1200 C attempt in the late ’90s/early oughts). Hopefully plans include a bagger as well…but in any case, we’re excited to see and hear more about this new R18 Big Boxer engine, clearly headed for production in the near future.
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BMW Concept R18 /2 cruiser, based around the 1800cc “Big Boxer” opposed twin.Massive cylinders with cooling fins protrude beyond the ends of the handlebar.We do love the Candy Apple Red paint used on the Concept R18 /2.Driveshaft is on the right side, brake disc with big Brembo caliper is on the left.Oil cooler is placed unobtrusively at the lower leading edge of the engine, between the frame downtubes.
This handy guide includes all new or significantly updated street-legal motorcycles for the 2020 model year. Organized in alphabetical order by manufacturer, it includes photos and links to details or, when available, first rides and road test reviews about each bike. This guide is updated regularly as more new/updated models are announced, and when we’ve had a chance to ride them and report our impressions.
Receiving updates similar to those that other models in the
R family received for 2019, the BMW R 1250 R roadster gets a larger 1,254cc
boxer twin with ShiftCam variable valve timing and valve stroke and updates to
its electronics package. It also gets a mild style refresh with a TFT display,
a DRL option for the halogen headlight and new color options. Although originally
announced as a 2019 model, the R 1250 R didn’t make it to the U.S. in time. BMW
says it will be available as a 2020 model with an MSRP starting at $14,995.
Receiving updates similar to those that other models in the
R family received for 2019, the BMW R 1250 R roadster gets a larger 1,254cc
boxer twin with ShiftCam variable valve timing and valve stroke and updates to
its electronics package. The RS also gets a style refresh that drops the
asymmetrical, winking look of the S 1000 RR in favor of a sporty twin-LED
headlight assembly, and an LED DRL (daytime running light) is an option.
Although announced as a 2019 model, the R 1250 RS didn’t make it to the U.S. in
time. BMW says it will be available as a 2020 model with an MSRP starting at
$15,695.
More power (205 hp), less weight (434 lbs), updated
technology and a new up-spec Motorsport version. The 2020 BMW S 1000 RR is at
the pointy end of the sportbike spear. Pricing starts at $16,995 and bikes will
be in dealerships in summer 2019.
Harley-Davidson’s new LiveWire electric motorcycle is seriously sporty, shockingly fast and whisper-quiet–everything a typical Harley isn’t. And that’s just the way Milwaukee wants it. It’s propelled by a liquid-cooled electric motor that makes a claimed 105 horsepower and 86 lb-ft of torque, drawing power from a 15.5 kWh battery that offers, according to H-D, a range of 146 miles in the city and 95 miles of combined stop-and-go and highway riding. Single-speed transmission offers twist-and-go convenience, and styling, ergonomics and components are the sportiest offered on any Harley-Davidson. MSRP starts at $29,799.
The 2020 Suzuki Katana features styling cues that pay direct homage to the 1981 original, and it’s built around the potent GSX-S1000 999cc inline-four. It features ABS, traction control, Easy Start and Low RPM Assist, as well as a twin-spar aluminum frame, braced superbike-style swingarm, KYB suspension, dual front Brembo monoblock four-piston calipers, 310mm floating rotors and a model-specific LCD panel. We got a chance to ride the new Katana in Japan last March, but pricing and availability are TBD.
Announced in the fall of 2018, we’re still waiting to see the
new Ténéré 700 (T7, for short) in the flesh–Yamaha says it will be coming to
the U.S. in the second half of 2020 as a 2021 model. We know it will be
powered by the 689cc CP2 parallel twin used in the MT-07, housed in a new
tubular steel double-cradle frame. Other details include a 62.6-inch wheelbase,
9.5 inches of ground clearance, a fully adjustable USD 43mm fork with 8.3
inches of travel and a remote preload-adjustable rear shock with 7.9 inches of
travel.
Yamaha has updated its flagship sportbikes, the YZF-R1 and the track-ready YZF-R1M, for 2020, with both featuring refinements to their CP4 crossplane crankshaft engines, an augmented electronic rider aids package, enhanced suspension and redesigned bodywork. MSRP is $17,300 for the YZF-R1 and $26,099 for the YZF-R1M (the latter is available in limited quantities through Yamaha’s online reservation system).
The first new model from Zero Motorcycles since 2016, the 2020 SR/F’s streetfighter look and steel trellis frame blur the styling lines between gas and electric motorcycles. Powered by a new ZF75-10 IPM (Interior Permanent Magnet) motor and ZF14.4 lithium-ion battery, it delivers a claimed 140 lb-ft of torque and 110 horsepower. It also features Bosch’s Motorcycle Stability Control System and Zero’s new Cypher III operating system. Pricing starts at $18,995.
BMW has announced a new R nineT /5 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its iconic /5 (“slash five”) series. Images courtesy BMW Motorrad.
Fifty years ago, in 1969, the first BMW motorcycle rolled off the assembly line at BMW’s factory in Berlin Spandau. The new /5 series (pronounced “slash five”) included the R 50/5, R 60/5 and R 75/5, and sported a new chassis and engine and a fresh, modern design with a wide range of bold color options.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the classic /5 series, BMW has announced a special R nineT /5 that evokes the look and spirit of the originals.
The 2019 R nineT /5 features black kneepads on a gorgeous Lupine Blue metallic tank, with a smoke effect, double-line pin stripe, a special 50th anniversary badge and a double seat with white piping. Other /5 details include chrome mirrors, exhaust manifold and silencer, fork gaiters and brushed aluminum engine covers, gearbox, fork tubes and wheels.
Otherwise the R nineT /5 is familiar, with its air- and oil-cooled 1,170cc opposed-twin boxer engine, spoked tube-type rims, standard ABS, ASC (automatic stability control) and heated grips and 6-speed gearbox.
BMW’s Vision DC Roadster electric motorcycle concept, complete with Duolever fork, shaft drive and “boxer” power plant. Photos courtesy BMW Motorrad.
As most of the major motorcycle manufacturers in the U.S., Europe and Japan continue to pursue battery-powered electric propulsion, BMW found itself asking, “What would an electric BMW motorcycle look like? And how would it be immediately recognizable as a BMW?”
Given that the opposed-twin “boxer” engine has been at the heart of BMW motorcycles for more than 90 years, the answer seems to be something along the lines of the newly-unveiled BMW Vision DC Roadster concept bike.
This top view clearly shows the protruding cooling elements, a nod to BMW’s classic “boxer” engine.
While the Vision DC’s battery is oriented in a standard vertical/longitudinal position, it has two cooling elements with integrated fans that extend out to each side, a nod to the protruding cylinders of the boxer engine. Slung underneath the battery and connecting to the driveshaft (another BMW hallmark) is the cylindrical electric motor itself.
Clutching the battery from above is a split, milled aluminum frame with what appear to be carbon fiber reinforcing tubes that span the opening where the fuel tank would normally be. The subframe also appears to be of a tubular carbon fiber design.
Up front is a Duolever fork capped with an LED daytime running light (DRL) flanked by two LED lights, one for low and one for high beam.
BMW says the rider’s apparel represents the next generation of riding gear, with integrated lighting and a magnetic backpack.
Even the rider’s clothes might offer a preview of things to come, including integrated lighting and a backpack that attaches to the jacket via magnets rather than straps.
Electric motorcycles are coming, whether you like it or not, and we’re excited to see BMW striving to stick to its signature look, making a battery-powered bike that’s still unmistakably a BMW.
Keep scrolling for more images….
Subframe is tubular carbon fiber, with LED tail lights.Driveshaft is exposed. Metzeler tires incorporate postage stamp-sized LED lights to aid in visibility.The flat, milled aluminum frame is suspended over the battery, which attaches via carbon fiber tubes.LED daytime running light (DRL) turns its cooling fins into art.Side-mounted cooling elements extend out when the bike is turned on.
Revival Cycles unveiled The Revival Birdcage at the Handbuilt Show in Austin, Texas, last Thursday, April 11. The custom bike was built around a new prototype “Big Boxer” engine that will eventually power a production model in 2020. Photos courtesy BMW.
Custom builder Revival Cycles unveiled “The Revival Birdcage,” a custom motorcycle based around a new prototype engine BMW calls the “Big Boxer,” at the Handbuilt Show in Austin, Texas, last Thursday. The bike itself is a work of art, with a delicate-looking titanium trellis frame and wildly swooping handlebars reminiscent of a bird’s wings.
But tucked away in the press release like an afterthought was a big announcement from Motorrad: it will definitely be entering the cruiser market in the U.S., with a concept bike slated to be shown sometime in the first half of 2019 (getting pretty close to that deadline, guys) and a “series production motorcycle with the Big Boxer for the Cruiser segment in the course of 2020.”
Alan Stulberg, head of Revival Cycles, made note of the “pure physical size and aesthetic appeal” of the prototype engine. Other details noticeable in the photos are visible pushrods and cooling fins on the cylinders, with BMW confirming that the new engine will be air/oil-cooled.
Japanese builder Custom Works Zon built the first custom bike around the new engine, unveiling it last December 2018, in Yokohama, Japan.
The Revival Birdcage is the second custom bike to be built around the new engine. Japanese builder Custom Works Zon presented “The Departed” at the Hot Rod Custom Show in Yokohama, Japan, back in December 2018. This is the first time BMW has copped to a new cruiser production model, however.
What do you think? Will it be another R 1200 C disaster? Or is BMW getting ready to blow all of our minds with R nineT levels of success? We can’t wait to find out.
The new engine has visible pushrods and cooling fins.BMW hasn’t offered many details on the new engine, just that it’s “large displacement.”
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