Like it or loath it, I for one am simply glad they make it.

I love my thunderbird but if i had the money i would trade it for this R18 classic in a flash. It just screams continental road trip! What a machine 😎

Mark is in love…. That engine and paint is amazing

Great honest accurate review Thank you Mark and yes the R18 puts an instant smile on your face which just gets bigger and bigger . So much fun and so easy to ride 😎

I own the Classic version. Love it! One significant flaw. The windscreen is abhorrent. Horrific wind buffeting. Shame on the design engineer. Abysmal failure. However, there is a fix, at a very reasonable price. Clearview Shields (Fort Collins, Colorado). Multiple heights, widths, and curvature to redirect wind. Impressive design and material, at a great price, and they ship worldwide. 36 years of windscreen manufacturing experience. I’ve rode mine from Houston to Atlanta. 800 miles (1287 km). I’m a minimalist and carried everything in the saddlebags. The stock seat is not comfortable. I just upgraded to the retro Day Rider seat.

With so much power, torque and weight I was expecting you to find some shaft-drive torque reaction in corners. Impressive bike and thorough review as always Mark.

Absolutely Spectacular bike!!, No doubt at all The Amazing BMW R18 it's one of my favorite Motorcycles!!, Great video and explanation as well!!, Thanks for sharing!!!

Our local BMW shop (Sturgis) just got a nice truckload of these, and other models. The latest edition of the bike you reviewed here has an incredible "flip flop" paint that turns from metallic purple to blue in the sun. It has footboards instead of pegs, also. Otherwise, I believe it is just like the bike you tested. I was hoping that you'd take it out on a proper highway and see how the buffeting was at speed. We ride above 70 mph out here all of the time. I'll demo one during the upcoming motorcycle rally and find out. Build quality is amazing.

This review must have gone under my radar! I've only just seen it! I have a 2020 1250RT but you've made me want to try one of these!! What a cracking machine, so characterful, great review as always Mark, recorded in a stunning part of the UK too, you're so lucky to have that on your doorstep!

MATE just bought mine 3 days ago! upgraded from my 1200 GSA. which I thought was the best but now I've changed my mind. this is an awesome bike, typical of German engineering. They are defiantly going to give HD a run for their money

Not into cruisers but that looks like an engineering masterpiece.

The most beautiful bike on the road today.

That "reverse" system was first used on the Honda Gold Wing back in 2000 if i'm not mistaken , using the starter button and a lever . Great review mate , i always look forward to them 👍

Quite the machine there Mark.It’s not in my pocketbook budget but you have to admire the engineering that went into it.enjoyed your as always honest review.thanks,

I think the amount of times you said "wow" in thar review says it all ! . I love it to look at . Very fair review.

Great review Mark, as usual! Thank you for amazing job you are doing!

Excellent review, thinking about getting one. I think now I am sold!

Very good! The best review I've seen so far. First part with the unhurried bike details and then driving impressions.

Very good video, I was impressed by the reviewers passion for riding.....

Well I bought one a few days after listening to your review, the Classic too, have to say I’m not at all disappointed , reading some of the reviews here on KZfaq, I have to say left me uncertain, just pleased I read your review and ignored most of the others , thanks. GL

Great review, I was thinking who would buy this instead of a Harley, (if your a Harley person) but seeing how smooth it was compaied to a Harley it makes sense. Also love how each video you use a piece of music that suits the bike you`re reviewing. ;)

I saw two examples of the base model with the fishtail exhausts yesterday in Chiang Rai. They were heading south towards the city centre on the superhighway, the road that comes down from the Burma border. They looked superb. I can understand exactly why someone would buy one. I really like the fishtail exhausts, as well. As for the Classic, I'd save money and get the standard one and fit a sissy bar on to put your luggage around. Having said all this, I'd rather have a Goldwing Bagger DCT. Not that I'll be getting one. Haha! I'll have to stick to my 1670 cc MT-01 when I get back to Portugal. 110 ft/lb at 3750 rpm/81 mph at 3000 rpm, and it weighs a 100 kg less than this BMW. Excellent review.

Guess I'm an adventure bike type of guy, but this is superb!

Agree with you what a full exhaust system would do to that already beautifully sounding machine. Now with that engine, it’s absolutely fascinating and by all accounts it’s truly a torque beast. I must try one! Thank you for another well done review.

A beautiful stunning machine a very special motorcycle great video Mark

Hi, it,s a monster, what a battle cruiser , big enough to save a planet . Place the twins in the paniers and two roast racks over the pots , meals on wheels and a day out . Exquisite engineering , got to hand it to the design team . Thanks for the trip out and next time I,m going that way must drop in for a look see it in the flesh .

An amazing machine, yes please

Mark I'm lucky enough to own a Honda Valkyrie but that BMW as you mentioned, WOW!

What a beast of a machine trust the Germans 😜

9:39 - 'I need your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle.'

You are almost identical to the Missenden Flyer, but you have more hair.

Very nice road trip. I enjoyed that!

Stunning motorcycle!

A Piece of Art!

Great review, cool opening tune…”to Valhalla?” This is an engine with a bike built around it, and rightfully so. BMW is a motor company first and foremost, it’s right there in the name (Bavarian Motor Works)

A friend of mine bought one and I have been lucky enough to take it for a run although the weight is low down and manageable your very much aware its there defo a heavyweight that one 👍

Although this is not my kind of bike, however, very impressive but I'm afraid that will be a machine to take out for a ride on wonderful dry sunny days. I can only imagine what an effort this machine takes to keep it spic & span. That drive shaft is very exposed ! ! Grime can crawl into it all day long ! ! Great review as always mark 👍😉

Another one very late to party! Fallen for this bike lovely in all areas, sounds like u want one too Mark?

Yes I agree with previous comments excellent review, I’m taking one out in a few days time , really fancied one when it first came out, but now glad I waited for the custom , what were the glowing green lights on the dash. Seemed to be on all the time. Thanks a lot , G

You can get these for under £10k now, incredible

Nice bike

What a classic bike BMW 1800 cc very nice indeed fantastic. Review thanks mark ride Safe 👍

It is both very lovely and 'oh my golly gosh no' all at the same time.

The question is how does it compare to a touring Harley? You need to do a test run on a Road King mate

When I got my first boxer bike (an older BMW RS) I was always worried about the cylinders touching the ground in turns but on this thing at 0:47 I almost fell off the chair when I saw those monster cylinders sticking out. :O Looks like a comfortable ride though.

This is the best of the R 18s

Great review, Mark. It's a beautiful bike but I bet it's a bear to keep clean.

Great review Mark. Have to say if my name was Jay Leno I'd have one in my garage that's for sure.

A dream bike👍👍👍

Definitely one for my dream garage 👍

Intriguing motorbike and though I typically am not interested in bagger style bikes this one appealed to me - until I tried to move it around as part of a “garage” test. It failed miserably and would be quite the handful when not in motion. Excellent review!

I'll take this over a Harley

It looked enormous but when Mark sat on it it looked pretty small actually

Wouldn't fit through my shed door with those cylinders😁 Great revue as always!

I am wondering what it would be like for an old man to ride .... ? I better try to get a test ride someplace .

Wow! such an awesome bike.

I like it 👍🏽

Extraordinary machine. I choose my bikes based on minimum upkeep. Chorme everywhere and spokes would be a total no no. An exposed, chrome shaft drive? I would run for the hills.

Dang what a bike

Wish i had my midlifecrisis now!

greetings mark...this one looks like Harley Davidson cruisher bike..humongous engine. nice video mark 👍

It's so much better than the last time they tried with that hideous 90's model, it was in a Bond film

Master piece

Great review, very complete in it's coverage of the bike. i do have a question though, the exposed joint on the drive shaft seems vulnerable to picking up muck. Do you think it would be a premature wear point?

Great bike. Not remotely tempted. Great review 👍

Beautiful machine. Bit bizarre it doesn’t have a fuel gauge.

What a beast!👍

Torque is crazy

A great review as always Mark even if it is a bike I absolutely detest. Everyone has an opinion but in my opinion of this bike. Ithas no place on UK roads. I've not always been that complimentary about it but I respect your channel 👍

WOW! Beautiful bike and excellent review, but I wonder how badly your legs will get cooked in hot weather when your so close to the cylinder heads? I’d opt for the Honda Goldwing base model. In 2022 the base Goldwing in the States is only available with the DCT gearbox and reverse. What’s so great about motorcycling today is the massive amount of choice we have in every category of bike. This would be fun to take out for a Sunday blast. All the best!

Kevin Turvey dose bike reviews😆😆

I haven’t ever owned this style of bike but I always thought the big advantage was stretching the legs out on the forward pegs. Assume you can’t do it with this bike because the engine sticks out so far. Is it a compromise?

I'm 5'8, same height. Some reviewers have said the riding position is rather cramped? How did you find it? I've owned two Boxers in the past. Pegs scrape easy.

Definitely eye-catching & I for one don't like Cruisers at all.

Great review, Mark. One question: I didn't hear you speak to the wind management of the windshield. It sounded like you were getting some turbulent wind in your microphone. I have noticed that before on motorcycles with that type of windshield. How was the buffeting and noise?

What is the name/model of those saddlebags?

Is there much vibration? Good review. From Prescott AZ.

Holy moly 😁

Beautifully built but really just a bit too much of everything. I think a 900cc version would be a winner, harking back properly to the R90S of the 1970s. That one had a wet weight of just 215kg with 24 litres of fuel!

Built for the US market, they should have done a 800cc version of the bike they meant to copy.

Beautiful bike, but how does it handle poor roads? My back isn't what it was!

Love the bike, hate the keyless. !!!

Hi Mark, great review as always. Our local dealer has a classic with a pretty good deal regarding price however it hasn't got the reverse option installed. Do you think it's still manageable to move around? I've got a 30inch inseam if that helps. Also this is one of the earlier models, did you hear of any issues it might have? Haven't managed to find much online unfortunately

Thanks but no thanks Mark, the stress of ownership would spoil it for me - unless lottery ..........!

How was the wind protection? Does it make a lot of buffeting? Thx

you need a big cup of Bovril before tacking that thing out Mark..

too heavy for slow speed maneuvering. ..BMW tried this with the R12,

A machine made to last forever.....note you didn't film on any faster roads how does it handle at motorway speed..

Just because you can, should you?

Unfortunately I think I'd just have to have some ugly engine bars over those beautiful chrome cylinder heads!

Nice review but bit of a tarts handbag with all that tacky chrome. I'd much rather the Harley Heritage or if something more modern the Triumph Rocket 3. And Arnie preferred the FatBoy.

is this automatic gear ?

💖💖👏🏼👏🏼 I've never gotten the point of this bike. It doesn't do anything better then the alternatives. In fact, it's mostly worse then anything else like it... The new version makes more sense, but still a "no" from me.

Not into cruisers but give me a Triumph Speedmaster over this any day. This Beemer is so obsolete. I guess the sort of person who is going to buy it maybe is very wealthy, buys it purely for it's aesthetics maybe won't ride it that much if at all, so a giant paperweight.

😁😁😁👌. 😎🇨🇦

One of the most unattractive bikes out there. Throw in BMW's unreliability and you have money well spent, I'd take a Harley over this thing any day.

G'day Mark, sorry mate the looks like a Ural motorcycle on steroids, what an ugly machine form B- big M- money W - waster, most who buy this will need training wheel to keep it upright, another great report, cheers mate, Neil 🤠.

Worse than a harley but somehow still more expensive, somehow the nazis have out harley'd the Davidson

what happens to the engine when the rider drops the bike then? with that massive engine sticking out can't even install and engine guard can you?