Barber, BMW, and the R 18 Roctane

Admin · November 16, 2023

A BMW R 18 Roctane and R 18 100 Years edition watch over the BMW Motorrad Days Fun Zone at Barber Motorsports Park. (Anders T. Carlson/)

Every once in a while, corporate Kool-Aid and vintage wine are one and the same. The list of motorcycle manufacturers with 100 contiguous years of production under their belt is a short one. BMW Motorrad’s 100 year anniversary is a big deal. To reflect this, BMW Motorrad Days landed on American shores for the first time, appropriately enough at the Barber Vintage Festival in Leeds, Alabama.

Barber is basically Disney World, the Louvre, and the Masters rolled into one for the moto-obsessed. Certain memes suggest Barber is the hoity-toity version of AMA’s Vintage Motorcycle Days at Mid-Ohio. Maybe. While mud burnouts are discouraged at Mr. Barber’s facilities, there’s a museum that doubles as the last thing motorcycle enthusiasts dream of before they die. Filled with more than 1,600 examples (over 900 on display) of nearly every production motorcycle ever built, it might be the best motorcycle museum on earth. If you worship at the altar of Castrol and Eggshell helmets, it’s a pilgrimage you should make.

Similarly, BMW Motorrad Days is a pilgrimage of sorts for Beemer lovers. Their centenary means looking back as much as looking ahead. The 1923 BMW R 32 was an expression of Max Friz’ engineering prowess and forward thinking. Exactly 100 years later, two new models sum up BMW’s future. One represents 43 years of engineering and marketing success. The other represents year three of an unsettled bet. The unveiling of the brand-new R 1300 GS was the main draw, the hotly anticipated next-gen expression of BMW’s Gelände Sport super adventure bike. The second was the reveal of BMW’s newest R 18 cruiser variant, the Roctane. One model sums up everything BMW has done right for almost half its existence. The other is still fighting for market share and loyal owners.

Related: BMW Shows 100th Anniversary R nineT and R 18 Models for 2023

When you’re the official presenter of Barber Vintage Festival, you get the biggest spot in the Fun Zone (Anders T. Carlson/)

Sure, the R 1300 GS is big news, but 2024 R 18 Roctane might be the more interesting story. While the GS is master of its own game, the Roctane is the acolyte in someone else’s; American Cruiser 101. After three years, BMW is doubling down. Forsaking conspicuous tech and unrelenting practicality, the Roctane is all cruiser. True, the 1997–2004 R1200C was BMW’s first foray into cruisers. But German funkiness, Telelever front suspensions, and fold-up backrests brought lukewarm results. The Roctane is all in on the American cruiser ideal, nomenclature and everything. What do you run in that? “Roctane,” indeed.

BMW made the R 18 the belle of the ball, despite the hotly anticipated R 1300 GS unveiling. Custom R 18 B with twin Garrett turbos on display. (Anders T. Carlson/)
Several builders bought Der Funke to the R 18, like “Sugar Mama,” by Motorcycles of Miami. (Anders T. Carlson/)

The BMW Motorrad Days Fun Zone (official title, by the way) featured a large stage and sound system for the unveiling of the R 1300 GS, drop cloth and everything. Occupying the biggest space in the Henderson Auctions Fan Zone (another official title), adventure scenery and bike stands stood empty before the reveal, adding to the anticipation. While BMW’s hospitality is top-notch and befitting the importance of the GS, it’s largely unnecessary. The GS is already a slam dunk, touchdown, and home run all rolled into one. If the main stage had a dunk tank, Randy Johnson would be warming up his left arm.

Then there’s the R 18. The new R 18 Roctane is BMW’s latest iteration of its cruiser concept. It made sure we noticed. A total of thirteen R 18 models were on display, including two positioned high atop a structure next to the main stage. Three custom R 18 design exercises graced the main entrance, with about six serving as showroom models. Saturday’s bike show brought out a few more. There might have been more than thirteen, actually.

As the official “presenter” of the 2024 Barber Vintage Motorcycle Festival, BMW made sure the Fun Zone was the biggest party around. And unlike Triumph, who were exiled to the hard-to-find “Isle of Triumph” by turns 13 and 14, the Fun Zone saw heavy foot traffic, situated between two “Walls of Death,” gear vendors, and food trucks.

All fifteen R 18 Roctanes made available to the press. Fun fact: BMW meticulously straightened and arranged our bikes thusly every time we parked them. (BMW/)

BMW’s charm offensive involved a fleet of 15 identical Gray Metallic Matte R 18 Roctanes provided for the motley crew of journalists, influencers, and other industry notables. We get not one, but two photo shoots as we ride the Roctane though bucolic Birmingham neighborhoods. And when we park, a BMW minder perfectly straightens and aligns the bikes. This makes sense. Sportbike and ADV-minded journalists don’t ride well in formation, but the fleet looks nicely menacing when lined up. As a day cruiser, it’s not meant for multistate travel or prolonged two-up travel. Half its job is just looking great at low speeds or when parked in notable locales. It’s nailing this part of the assignment. What about the other part?

How’s the R 18 doing and how does the Roctane fit in? Here’s Oleg Satanovsky, communications manager at BMW North America.

“After two years, the R 18 family is maturing quite well, and sales have been steadily increasing. Continued feedback from buyers (and non-buyers) ensures the bikes are being developed based on riders’ desires, as seen in the 2024 R 18 Roctane.”

Spoken like a true communications manager. Conversely, there’s BMW Motorcycle Owners of America magazine editor Wes Fleming’s take. Like Satanovsky, Fleming’s allegiance is clear. But his job is critiquing what he loves. How does he think it’s going with the R 18?

“(From what I’ve heard) sales are not what the dealers hoped they would be. But Corporate is overjoyed at how widely the bike has been accepted by, for lack of a better term, influencers.”

Who does he think the R 18 and Roctane are aimed at?

“They’re going after folks who haven’t developed a rabid brand loyalty. Most of the R 18 owners I know are first-time BMW owners.”

Despite their differing takes, both might agree there’s some runway as far as an untapped market for the R 18. It’s about getting new butts in BMW seats and letting riders experience it themselves.

The R 18 Roctane’s blacked-out 1,802cc air-and-oil-cooled boxer engine wears a badge in place of a heart on its ample sleeve. (Anders T. Carlson/)
Twin pushrods bring both BMW heritage and classic American cruiser chops to the BMW R 18. (BMW/)

The Beauty of Barber

The perpetual traffic jam that is Barber ensures Roctanes get parked at the museum. Seems a perfect opportunity to trot out the electric BMW CE 04 or CE 02, just saying. Barber veterans usually bring their finest pitbikes for maximum convenience and fun. But shuttles are everywhere, which works nicely for those enjoying adult beverages and not manning handlebars. And with the right combination of wristbands and lanyards, pit lane is required viewing to see hundreds of vintage motorcycles ready to race within the confines of the AHRMA rule book and Barber’s 16 turns.

Saturday’s parade lap featured Reg Pridmore’s 1976 AMA Superbike championship-winning BMW R90S, piloted by Eric Giestl, son of Butler & Smith engineer Udo Giestl, who built it. Fred Jacobs, BMW’s in-house historian, mentioned the R90S almost didn’t make it out, owing to rear wheel and transmission issues. If you’re going to have issues with a vintage unobtanium bike, best to happen at Barber. It just ain’t a vintage race weekend without last-minute engineering heroics.

All this fun gets bookended by 25-mile sprints to the track and back at the end of each day on the Roctane. What’s it like? To start, the Roctane starts up like a dog after a bath, sitting on a tractor which is also being started. The 1,802cc, air-and-oil-cooled opposed-twin mill has the character of classic boxer engines—and then some. It’s not the R 1250 RT or K 1600 B. You’ll get plenty of smooth, torquey power once you’re underway. But for now, enjoy Teutonic thunder warming up.

Just kidding; nobody warms bikes up anymore. But take a sec to look around and see if anyone’s impressed by your Roctane. With an approximately 38-inch-wide engine weighing 242 pounds and driving 825 pounds of curb weight, they should be. It develops 91 hp at 4,750 rpm, putting 116 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm to the ground. Specifically, about 110 lb.-ft. of torque is available from 2,000–4,000 rpm.

Riding two-up on the Roctane was more pleasant than expected. Despite the small passenger seat, it held up over two days of light touring. (BMW/)

Life Aboard the Roctane

Numbers tell half the story. A low (but wide) center of gravity means it’s a handful to get off the sidestand. But once underway, the wide bar and mid-controls give a confident feel and control over the bike’s heft. A signature rock to the left follows every blip of the throttle. It’s a nice change from V-twin vibration, which can travel in every direction known to physics. Counterbalancers appeared on boxer engines in 2004, but the R 18 does without.

Spirited flogging of the Roctane above 4,000 rpm was a bit underwhelming, despite Rock mode. Automatic Stability Control, Integrated ABS, Torque Control Assist, and Dynamic Brake Control are your constant guardian angels, regardless of ride mode. You’ll likely leave it in Rock mode for months at a time, though.

Regardless, vibration lessens as the 67.7-inch wheelbase builds momentum. A previous Cycle World review found unpleasant vibrations from 2,800 to 3,500 rpm on the R 18 B. To this reviewer, the Roctane seemed smooth enough, with the prerequisite light buzz of a cruiser. Did a higher bar and/or weights tame things? Or maybe the seat? The Roctane’s seat is slightly narrower with more padding than the R 18 B’s. The Roctane’s slightly longer wheelbase (67.7 inches versus 66.6 inches) and longer rake and trail (34.7 degrees, 7.3 inches versus 27.3 degrees, 7.2 inches) likely make no difference. BMW tweaking or just different rider notes? Schedule a test ride and decide for yourself.

A tall first gear means stoplight holeshots take practice. But otherwise the constant-mesh six-speed gearbox is nicely spaced, with a higher and flatter powerband pulling nicely into the 4K rpm range. The heel-toe shifter isn’t there for looks. It’s impossible to upshift using the toe, making the heel end mandatory for upshifting. Like forward controls? You’re out of luck. But crashbar leg rests are an official BMW Motorrad option, allowing you to recline as you ride. In this category, that stuff matters.

The exposed driveshaft of the R 18, along with basic accommodations for passenger feet. (Anders T. Carlson/)

Handling the Heaviness

Riding two-up is pleasant, believe it or not. Passengers were surprised by how comfortable the small pillion seat was, even on extended rides. But no grab rail or backrest meant there are limits. Conveniently, the exhaust note allows passenger complaints to be clearly heard above 90 mph. But overall, the seat overachieves. With that low center of gravity, passenger weight is felt more when stopped or at low speeds. Mid-controls and the boxer engine mean passenger legs and feet aren’t far from each other at times.

The headlight-mounted instrument cluster is spartan, with an analog speedometer and about 3 square inches of LCD screen showing ride modes, gear indicator, and trip computer details. Fiddle with the mode button and the engine rpm shows up in place of trip details. There’s little to distract you from the sights and sounds of riding. How does the Roctane sound? There’s a pleasant twin pitter-patter well into the rpm range.

Like the R nineT, the R 18 is meant to be customized. Vance & Hines pipes along with seat options on display at the BMW Motorrad Days Fun Zone. (BMW/)
A 2023 BMW R 18 with Option 719 Metallic White Metallic paint, starting at $17,285 MSRP. (Anders T. Carlson/)

The 49mm front fork can’t be adjusted, while the rear single shock is preload-adjustable. Past complaints about stiffness have been addressed. The Roctane still has just 3.5 inches of rear suspension travel, but the damping is superb. It’s taut, but soaks up bumps much better by all accounts. A 21-inch front wheel (with the same 18-inch rear) means slower handling at low speeds, but the greater unsprung weight gives good stability as the speedometer climbs. Speaking of which, the Roctane is more flickable at speed than any bike its size has a right to be. It defies expectations, but not physics. The massive cylinders do most of the work, just glance left or right and tip the bar ever so slightly. It’s slightly addictive.

Ultimately, BMW’s gamble comes down to what it considers “success.” Ending up a collectible oddity in 20 years’ time isn’t good enough. But selling over 20,000 R 18s in two and a half years might be a good enough opening gambit. But skeptics abound. Predictions are just sport. Eventually we’ll find out, one way or the other.

An actual night at the museum, with food and everything. Dinner hosted by BMW Motorrad Days at the Barber Motorsports Museum. (BMW/)

Barber and What It All Means

The weekend is like drinking through a firehose. All five senses are constantly bombarded by things both pleasant and challenging. Unburned hydrocarbons bark through gleaming chrome that vibrates and hums. What involved the sense of taste? The Castrol sputtering from hundreds of two-strokes. Sometimes it’s Klotz, which seems slightly sweeter. You could plaster California cancer warnings everywhere and it would still be marvelous.

Speaking of “taste,” Barber’s also an orgy of marketing dollars and sponsor money. BMW’s multi-thousand-dollar custom-made displays sat yards away from vinyl banners, shoestring budgets, and small-business hopefuls. Swap meet stalls get funded by pass-the-jar gas donations, plus occasional sales. Food and drink are expensive, not surprising. Entrepreneurial hustling is the order of the day. But crass it isn’t. More money brings more people, which grows the thing we love, whether sport or hobby. Our passions may be the spark, but only cash money buys fuel.

While visitors drank beer and enjoyed food, a team of hardworking staff stayed true to the Motorrad Days’ mission: touching hearts, minds, and pocketbooks. (BMW/)

BMW Motorrad’s largesse is an investment. And bringing Motorrad Days to the US clearly aligns with its R 18 hopes and ambitions. The American cruiser market is the next beachhead. Capture hearts and minds, and American wallets will follow. Of course R 18s and Roctanes were everywhere and on everything. Not much point in being subtle about these things.

The 80,000 plus spectators continued the trend of growth for Barber. Every year brings expansion and improvements. I only just noticed them. I’m usually the one nervous-sweating and sleep-deprived in the pits next to a vintage “racebike.” One year I didn’t leave the pits at all, thanks to a magneto issue. It’s fun but grueling and costly. Unless someone rich starts handing out prize money, vintage motorcycle racing will always be a money pit. Best to forget the thousands of dollars spent in search of amateur race glory. So, congrats to BMW and anyone who reaps an eventual reward from their investment at Barber.

An aerial view of important motorcycle people doing important motorcycle people things. BMW Motorrad Days dinner at the Barber Motorsports Museum. (BMW/)
Despite having only eight BMW badges or BMW nameplates on it, the R 18 Roctane belongs in the American cruiser convo. (BMW/)
The unveiling of the BMW R 1300 GS, shown here before the unveiling. (Nicole Everhart/)
One of the hardest-working men in motorcycle journalism, Adam Waheed shoots content for sister publication <i>Motorcyclist</i>. (Anders T. Carlson/)
BMW in-house historian and archivist Fred Jacobs gives a tour of Barber Motorsports Museum. (Nicole Everhart/)
1974 BMW F-1 AMA racebike designed by famed builder Rob North. Fun fact, it’s one of two in existence and features a single rear shock. (Anders T. Carlson/)
Just 25 inches separate hellacious amounts of air getting sucked in from howling exhaust. 1974 BMW F-1 AMA racebike designed by famed builder Rob North. (Anders T. Carlson/)
Early inspo for the R 18? Likely not. R 75/5 chopper takes center stage at the BMW Motorrad Days Fun Zone bike show. (Anders T. Carlson/)
A BMW R90S gets an afternoon glamor shot in the Barber Motorsports Museum. (BMW/)
Little ones grow up to be big ones. BMW makes sure kids get in on the fun with e-bikes and cones. (BMW/)