BMW’s 2025 R 18 Classic is an interesting proposition. There’s a lot to love about the big Bavarian cruiser, along with some key elements that leave you wanting a little finer execution to truly elevate the cruising experience.
Making its debut in Australia back in late 2021, the BMW R 18 range has grown in the number of bikes on offer (with five choices, including the Roctane), providing a quality alternative to brands like Harley-Davidson and Indian.
Offered in Black Storm Metallic, Mineral Grey Metallic (matte), the Brooklyn Grey Metallic (in Blacked Out trim only) of our test bike, and Option 719 Oriental Blue Metallic, it’s clear BMW has produced a very good looking bike.
Detail, fit and finish are to a high standard, ensuring it was impossible to fault its appearance. Long, sleek lines remain paramount to the design traits of the R 18, with huge amounts of boxer engine protruding like biceps from each side of the bike.
The mirror chrome exhausts and engine highlights add a touch of sophistication and pure beauty to the cruising package. The LED lighting package is a classy touch and gets a big functional tick from us.
They look mint, contrasting against the classic leather saddlebags and windshield. Climb aboard the R 18 Classic, kick the side stand up and engage the ignition and the big powerplant fires up with plenty of character.
Pulling the big BMW away from a standing start is not an overly hard task for such a large bike, but it does take a little to get it moving. The low 730mm seat height helps manage its 369kg girth, making it a simpler job than what the numbers suggest it should be.
From our base, we hit some of the great cruising roads of the NSW Central Coast and made our way towards the outskirts of the Hunter Valley, not only to feed our bellies, but to get a good gauge of exactly how the R 18 Classic performs in its natural habitat.
The ergonomics are good and provide a comfy place to park your butt. The handlebars are within easy reach and the windshield provides reasonable protection. All of the hand controls are uncluttered and easy to engage on the fly.
There’s a good smattering of technology, blending old and new seamlessly. Keyless ride, riding modes and cruise control elevates the riding experience. The simplicity of the speedo provides a classic look while housing an array of information.
That includes selected ride mode (which includes Rain, Rock and Roll), trip information and the settings for the heated grips, although there’s no fuel gauge, which is a massive oversight for us. It’s all controlled via a menu button on the left side handlebar.
Rock mode is the pick of the bunch, offering full access to all 1800cc of goodness. Rain and Roll modes restrict power delivery (for those wondering). But it’s as you punt the bike through sweeping bends and tight corners that its strengths and weaknesses show.
On the positive side of the ledger, the boxer powerplant produces 67kW of power and 163Nm of torque from its two-cylinder engine. It’s the real gem of the R 18 package. Effortless almost under describes its ability and performance once you’re up and going.
Now for the negatives. You will notice when revving the engine and downshifting, especially on corner entry, that the boxer powerplant does like to noticeably pull the bike to the left, hinting that the motor is working a little harder than its soundtrack would suggest.
Our biggest gripe though is the fact that shifting gears is still a task that needs to be thought out thanks to the shifter being hidden under the left side of the engine. It was this way in 2021, and still hasn’t been rectified.
In real terms, it means changing gears during enthusiastic riding is almost impossible. This could have been easily overcome by adding a spacer or an extra inch of peg to create a much more user friendly position.
That issue aside, the 6-speed gearbox is silky smooth and there’s none of that traditional thump when changing gears either. Pulling the German cruiser up is a braking package that features twin 300mm disc brakes and a four piston fixed caliper up front.
They have good feel and bite, and combine with a single 300mm setup on the rear, alongside fully integrated ABS, to deliver a package that works well. The suspension offers a nice plush ride, even on less than ideal road surfaces.
BMW’s R 18 Classic feels at home through mid-range corners, at speeds between 60 and 120km/h. It sticks nicely to the ground across multiple road surfaces. The tighter and slower stuff isn’t horrible, but you will notice that you’re working with a larger motorcycle.
A telescopic fork on the front offers 120mm of travel and is matched to a double-cradle tubular steel frame with a steel rear swingarm. A central shock strut creates a solid backbone that offers 90mm of suspension travel on the back end.
Pricing starts from $27,915 ride away and includes a 5-year unlimited kilometre, with a range of service packages available. You can find out more about the 2025 R 18 Classic by visiting the BMW Motorrad Australia website, or by talking to your local dealership.
Our test bike was provided by BMW Motorrad Australia for independent review purposes. Exhaust Notes Australia has not been paid to review this bike. Images courtesy of Cubstars Photography.
