In conjunction with their 100th-anniversary celebration, BMW Motorrad is introducing the brand-new R 18 Roctane.
The Roctane, who will join the R 18 family as its fifth member, reinterprets "iconic styling of past eras in custom bagger style." The motorcycle's double-loop tube frame, pear-drop fuel tank and open propeller shaft drive, according to BMW, are evocative of the R 5 from 1936.
Other features include covered wheels, LED lights, and an R-5-inspired rear swingarm. Alloy wheels that are 21 inches in the front and 18 inches in the back connect them.
The bike has a tapered two-level seat and a "mid-mounted footpeg" riding posture that is centred on comfort. Additionally, the model includes a plain instrument dial with vintage "Berlin Built" writing. They are connected by body-coloured cases that can accommodate one cubic foot (27 litres) of goods, and other features include heated grips, a windscreen, and auxiliary lighting units.
The R 18 Roctane's suspension "deliberately" lacks electronic adjustability, adding to its retro-inspired look. Riders will instead discover telescopic forks and a "directly linked central sprint strut with travel-dependent damping and adjustable spring preload."
The bike is still quite contemporary, though, since it boasts three riding modes—Rain, Rock, and Roll—as well as Automatic Stability Control and Engine Drag Control. Hill Start Control and Reverse Assist are additional options available to customers.
A 1.8-liter (1,802 cc) two-cylinder flat twin engine with 90 horsepower (67 kW / 91 PS) and 116 lb-ft (158 Nm) of torque powers the vehicle. It has a dark chrome exhaust system and high-gloss black covers in addition to being painted Avus black.
The six-speed gearbox coupled to the engine allows the bike to go from 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 km/h) in 5.46 seconds. It will ultimately reach its peak speed of 111 mph (179 km/h) when pushed aggressively.
Before accounting for the $895 destination charge, the starting price of the 2024 R 18 Roctane is $18,695. This makes the final price of $19,590. This indicates that it is somewhat more expensive than the R 18 Classic but less expensive than the R 18 B.
