BMW R18 Roctane - The Statement Piece

If you are the kind of person who likes to make a statement, look no further. The BMW R18 Roctane is a retro cruiser that blends classic BMW heritage with a distinctive old-school, bagger style. It's part of the R18 family, a range of distinctive motorcycles known for their imposing presence and the largest boxer engine BMW has ever produced. 

The engine is the defining characteristic of the R18 series. It boasts a massive 1,802 cc and is an air/oil-cooled two-cylinder four-stroke boxer engine. 

Power is a trifling 91 hp (67 kW) at 4,750 rpm, which might not seem overwhelming for such a large capacity engine, but the focus is on torque.   

The R18 produces a substantial 163 Nm (120.2 lb-ft) of torque at just 3,000 rpm. Crucially, the torque is available from very low in the rev range, but it still likes to rev. It’s a tractable and potent engine that oozes character and charm.

This is no sportsbike, so there’s no quicksifter or lightweight stacked gearbox. The R18 has a claw-shifted 6-speed gearbox with a separate transmission housing. That means it has a kind of rocker pedal. You change up by pressing the back of the pedal with your heel and down by pressing the front of the pedal. Take your time, and it’s a lovely, smooth gearbox. I tried giving it a little blip between down changes, but there’s quite a pronounced torque reaction, so it was smoother to change down and just ease the clutch out.

Drive gets to the rear wheel from the gearbox by a visible, high-gloss, nickel-plated cardan shaft, a classic BMW design element. If you’re even slightly mechanically minded, this looks really cool. 

The Roctane has a sleek, elongated, low-slung bagger outline with hard-shell side cases integrated into the design. These cases offer 27 litres of storage space each and have a top-loader design for easy access. They are easy to use, practical and don’t intrude on pillion leg space.

A significant styling cue is the large 21-inch cast aluminium front wheel and 18-inch rear wheel,  as opposed to the 16-inch or 19-inch wheels on other R18 models.. BMW have merged the front frame section of the standard R18 with the rear module of the bagger to create the Roctane. 

What this means to us is a dramatic and distinctive stance and improved riding dynamics, particularly, better ride quality and more ground clearance, both of which are very welcome and make a big difference.

The result is a cool, unique sports cruiser. The 2-hour trip back to BMW HQ on the A roads was actually pretty fun.

It uses a double-loop steel frame, a design reminiscent of classic BMW motorcycles of old.

Suspension consists of non-adjustable, telescopic forks with 49 mm diameter tubes at the front and a steel twin-sided swing arm with a central spring strut and adjustable preload at the rear.

It’s a good setup that is comfortable, even two up, and gives a plush ride, smoothing out all but the worst of the bumps. This is a heavy bike at 374 kg, but despite this, it rides well and is actually fun on an A road.

BMW equipped the R18 with twin 300 mm front discs and four-piston fixed calipers up front, and a single 300 mm rear disc with a four-piston fixed caliper. They do an OK job of stopping the bike, but they lack feel, and you really feel the weight and momentum under braking.

The R18 Handlebars are a mini ape-hanger style and offer a relaxed, upright riding position, which contributes to the bike's cool aesthetic. Rider and pillion seats are comfortable, and no problem on longer rides. It has a low seat height of around 720 mm (28.3 inches), which makes stopping at lights and junctions easier. It’s a good job too, as the R18 is no featherweight.

The exhaust is dark chrome, straight-cut rear silencers that subtly enhance the distinctive boxer sound, and as a little treat, it pops on over run. 

A classic round LED headlight adorns the front of the R18 and integrated into its metal housing is an analogue speedometer. 

You can squeeze 16 litres into the tank, which gives a range of up to 186 miles.

Three riding Modes (Rock, Roll, Rain), allow the rider to adapt the bike's behaviour to different conditions and preferences. They all feel different, but of course, as usual, I lift my press bike in Rock.

The R18 isn’t exactly well-endowed when it comes to electronics. Standard features include: ABS, Automatic Stability Control (ASC), Dynamic Cruise Control and Keyless Ride. That’s pretty much your lot.

Optional Features include Hill Start Control (HSC), Tyre pressure control (TPC), Heated grips, Lockable fuel filler cap, and Reverser (electric reverse gear). My press bike had the reverser, but I couldn’t get it to work. There are a host of optional aesthetic items to customise your R18 Roctane, including windscreens, wheel sets, seat variants, luggage racks, engine protection bar and so on.

One feature it doesn’t have as standard or as an option is a fuel gauge. That’s the single most annoying feature of the bike, I don’t understand why it doesn’t have one.

The BMW R 18 Roctane is a motorcycle with a strong personality. It's designed for riders who appreciate classic cruiser styling with a touch of bagger attitude and the unique character of BMW's massive boxer engine. This engine is gutsy, characterful and is the centrepiece of the bike. It revs well and combined with the capable chassis, makes this a fun, sporty and cool cruiser. 

 Price - from £22,140.00

Power - 91 hp (67 kW) at 4,750 rpm  

Torque - 163 Nm at 3,000 rpm

Chassis / brakes;
Frame - Double loop steel frame with bolted beams
Front wheel location / suspension - Telescopic fork, diameter 49 mm
Rear wheel location / suspension - Steel twin-sided swing arm, central spring strut
Suspension travel, front / rear - 120 mm / 90 mm
Wheelbase - 1,720 mm
Castor - 185 mm
Steering head angle - 55.3°
Wheels - Aluminium cast wheels
Rim, front - 3.50 x 21"
Rim, rear - 5.00 x 18''
Tyre, front - 120/70 B21
Tyre, rear - 180/55 B18
Brake, front - Twin disc brake, diameter 300 mm, 4-piston fixed caliper
Brake, rear - Single disc brake, diameter 300 mm, 4-piston fixed caliper
ABS - BMW Motorrad Integral ABS (partial integral)

Dimensions / weights;
Seat height at unladen weight - 720 mm
Inner leg curve at unladen weight - 1,675 mm
Usable tank volume - approx. 16 l
Reserve - approx. 4 l
Length - 2,615 mm (over license plate holder)
Width - 982 mm (above mirror)
Unladen weight, road ready, fully fuelled - 374 kg 1)
Permitted total weight - 560 kg
Payload (with standard equipment) - 181 kg