BMW R 18 Roctane

BMW's R 18 Roctane.

BMW Motorrad has had massive success with its R 18 models and keeps producing new versions of the outstanding cruiser. Joining the original R 18 and R 18 Classic, R 18 B and R 18, Transcontinental is the new Roctane. Jeremy Webb looks at the powerful machine available from July 2023.

The BMW R 18 Roctane has the familiar 2‑cylinder flat twin engine, the "big boxer" at the heart of it. It is 1800cc perfect for eating up mile after mile of tarmac. 

Not only thanks to its impressive looks but also its technical specifications, the engine of the new R 18 Roctane, finished in Avus black metallic matt and with black high‑gloss covers, harks back to the traditional air‑cooled boxer engines that have provided an exhilarating riding experience for more than seven decades since BMW Motorrad began manufacturing motorcycles in 1923.

The new R 18 Roctane has the option of Reverse Assist and Hill Start Control, and it comes with a keyless start. It has the same three ride modes R 18 riders are familiar with: Rain, Roll, and Rock, with throttle maps and settings for Automatic Stability Control and Engine Drag Control in each mode. 

The R 18 Roctane is set apart from its siblings with a blacked-out engine, drivetrain, and a Dark Chrome exhaust system. The larger 21-inch front and 18-inch rear alloy wheels, combined with the mid-rise, black-coated handlebar, give what BMW calls a more purposeful look to the R18 Roctane. 

The 3.5-inch wide front wheel has a 120/70 B21 tyre, while a 180/55 B18 wraps around the 5.5-inch rear wheel. The 21-inch front wheel extends the trail to 7.3 inches on the R 18 Roctane (vs 5.9 inches on the standard R 18) for better straight-line stability. The R 18 Roctane has a 49mm telescopic fork and a central rear shock with travel-dependent damping and adjustable spring preload, providing the same 4.7-inch/3.5-inch front/rear travel as the R 18. 

Inspired by the 1936 BMW R 5 – and almost all BMW motorcycles until the early 1970s, the R 18 Roctane has a round instrument cluster. It is integrated into the metal LED headlight housing and includes information such as gear indicator, engine rpm, status inquiry, and trip computer details. An option is the adaptive headlight that works by activating separate LED elements in the main headlight depending on the lean angle. 

A slim two-level seat that tapers towards the rear, with rear passenger straps features on the R18 Roctane, also has comfortable footboards that are superb on long trips. The bike has a heel-toe shifter for changing up and down the gears and suits the riding style. 

The seat height is low at 28 inches, but the R 18 Roctane is an inch higher than the standard R 18 but right about on par with the R 18 B.  

The R 18 Roctane has body-colour painted saddlebags with integrated LED taillights providing 27 litres storage capacity on each side. The bike has a 4.2-gal fuel tank allowing long rides in the comfortable saddle.

The 2024 BMW R 18 Roctane will come in Black Storm Metallic, Mineral Grey Metallic Matte, and Manhattan Metallic Matte 

Rivals come from most manufacturers, such as the

Triumph Rocket 3 GT https://www.triumph-motorcycles.ca/

Honda Rebel. https://motorcycle.honda.ca/model/cruiser/rebel_1100_touring

Harley-Davidson Soft-tail https://www.harley-davidson.com/gb/en/motorcycles/softail-standard.html

The R 18 Roctane will be available for you to test ride from July

£18000

https://www.bmw-motorrad.ca/en/home.html#/filter-all