BMW R18 To Go The Bagger Way

Published December 2, 2020
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The German brand has filed a trademark for the name ‘Transcontinental’

Earlier this year, BMW Motorrad launched the R18 cruiser in India, and a few months later, the global debut of the R18 Classic followed. Now, the German brand is all set to spawn another motorcycle from the platform in 2021, which is likely to be called the R18 Transcontinental.

According to sources, BMW has applied for European trademark rights for the name Transcontinental, specifically for motorcycle and motorcycle parts. As the name suggests, the bike will be built with the intent of long-distance touring.

A few detailed patent images show the Transcontinental is more than just a regular R18 with a bagger fairing. Look closely and you’ll notice the bike is likely to have a bigger fuel tank, a comfier saddle, and exhausts borrowed from the R18 Classic. But that’s not all. BMW seems to have altered the steering angle on the Transcontinental to suit its highway-touring intentions.

The massive front fairing will also allow BMW to have a more sophisticated console than its siblings. The images show two large dials, flanked by two smaller ones, and a big screen (from the R 1250 RT perhaps?) for maps and infotainment. BMW Motorrad won the race to roll out adaptive cruise control with the R 1250 RT and we cannot rule out the possibility of the tech making its way into the Transcontinental.

The BMW R18 Transcontinental is likely to use the same 1802cc boxer twin producing 91PS and 158Nm. Electronic aids such as traction control, engine drag torque control, and hill start control could be carried over.

The R18 Transcontinental will be the German brand’s second bagger after the K 1600 B to take on the American rivals. The bike can be expected to make its global debut by mid-2021 and launch in India by late-2021.