Two hundred kilos make for a heavy bike. Cross the 300 mark and also you’re speaking about an actual behemoth. But 427? That ends in the heaviest manufacturing motorbike that cash can presently purchase in India, which is precisely what you’re taking a look at right here. The BMW R 18 Transcontinental is an impressive machine of monstrous proportions, however how does all this luxury extra match into our chaotic mess?

BMW R18 Transcontinental: engine & efficiency

Beneath these expanses of bodywork lies a platform that’s really fairly endearing. The authentic R18 supplied a pared-back huge cruiser expertise that was refreshingly completely different to the standard American V-twin heavyweight. Its 1,802cc boxer twin was the star of the present, bursting with character and inherently nicer to make use of in our staccato driving circumstances than an enormous V-Twin. That motor transfers over to the R18 Transcontinental unchanged.

The Transcontinental is an entire 82 kilos heavier than the bare R18, however this hasn’t appeared to have considerably dulled its punch. Power stands at an unremarkable 91hp, nevertheless it’s the 158Nm of peak torque that basically hits residence, particularly since 95 % of that’s obtainable from 2,000rpm onwards. It received’t win any races, however whack the throttle open and the unnatural sensation of one thing this huge being hurtled down the highway with such urgency will widen your eyes.

But there’s a lot extra to it than simply the velocity. Consider the unbelievable affect of that clear, gigantic engine block when considered from the aspect. It offers the bike some much-needed sense of id, as a result of the spherical headlamp and huge fairing seems to be fairly customary for a motorbike like this. Then there’s the nice huge judder and shake as that vast longitudinally put in crankshaft spins to life on engine begin up. It rocks the whole motorbike to the left, which might be alarming if you happen to aren’t anticipating it. Weirdly sufficient, it’s a kind of issues that’s disagreeable and but additionally one thing you begin wanting ahead to. Like the wasabi peas of the motorcycling world. 

Neat tank-mounted storage on your smartphone.

I additionally love the deep, guttural and raspy growl this bike produces and the amount out of these pipes is excellent – loud, however not too loud. The occasional bang and burble below deceleration is one other aural indulgence, however what makes this motor nicer than a V-twin is its flexibility. While these engines will get fairly cranky beneath 2,000rpm, the boxer lets you dip below 1,500rpm with out protest and  that makes life lots simpler in heavy site visitors.

BMW R18 Transcontinental: dealing with, manageability

Still, simple is just not a phrase you’d use to explain the Transcontinental. It’s all nicely and good when you’re on the transfer, however you’ve acquired to have your wits about you when setting off, or coming to a halt. Confidence and planning is vital in these conditions as a result of that is when the tsunami of all that prime heaviness comes bearing down on you. It can get notably furry when attempting to cease on a free, gravelly floor particularly whenever you’re evenly on the brakes and might really feel the whole front-end feeling skittish over small pebbles.    

Jumble of wires beneath headlamp the one eye sore.

As you’d think about, tight U-turns are not any enjoyable both, however this BMW has a trick up its sleeve if you end up working towards gravity in a parking zone. Pushing a small metallic lever close to the engine down (watch out, it could actually get actually scorching!) engages a reverse mode. With the engine on and the transmission in impartial, you may then push the starter button to have interaction an electrical drive that reverses the bike for you. It’s a bit of too jerky for consolation on such a gargantuan bike, however with small, repeated stabs of the starter button the R18 will extricate itself from a good parking spot, even when there’s an incline concerned. And that’s an enormous assist.

Big cylinders make the foot management space really feel tight.

Let’s assume that you just’ve damaged free from town and located some large and flowing roads. As with the enormous Harleys and Indian cruisers, that is the place all of it begins to make sense. The R18 flows down the freeway in a superbly serene method at 80-100kph, however it could actually additionally blast previous 180kph if the necessity arises.

Because of the 2 big cylinders protruding in entrance of you, a full-on ft ahead driving place is just not doable, and on our horrible roads, that is excellent news on your decrease again. The driving triangle is upright, extremely comfy and with a pure attain to the handlebar. The solely grievance is that with its massive floorboards, the ft space is a bit of cramped with it nearly feeling just like the gear shifter and brake pedal lie below the engine (they don’t). You quickly get used to it although.

BMW R18 Transcontinental: dealing with & options

The seats are simply as exquisitely comfy and supportive as they appear. All day consolation is superb due to the pleasantly plush suspension set-up that offers with common highway imperfections fairly nicely. The 280-watt, six-speaker Marshall sound system belts out tunes loud sufficient that each bystander will search for the supply of these ‘sick beats’ – if you happen to’re into that type of factor. More related although, is that it’s highly effective sufficient so that you can get pleasure from your music at speeds as much as 90-100kph with out the wind blast drowning all of it out.

Those seats and six-speaker Marshall audio – luxurious!

On that subject, the wind safety is unbelievable. There was an occasion when a sudden downpour caught us out, however I might see that the cloud would go in a couple of minutes so I made a decision to proceed. With an ever so slight duck, the bike saved me totally dry as long as I held the speeds above 80kph. This form of an enveloping cocoon is why these bikes have such expansive bodywork, however that may get manner too scorching in a local weather like ours. Where the BMW scores right here is in two openable flaps alongside the aspect that do an excellent job of directing some much-needed cooling air at your torso.

Openable deflectors direct loads of air to the rider.

It’s not all excellent although and tall riders might discover that the border of the windscreen slots proper in the midst of the road of sight. And if you happen to occur to be driving on considered one of our dirtier highways within the rain, the muddy spray off a automobile in entrance of you does an distinctive job of constructing the windscreen unattainable to see by means of. Since these bikes are already so car-like, perhaps a windscreen wiper isn’t such a foul thought? For now, conditions like this can demand some contorted Ace Ventura model driving positions in an effort to see across the windscreen. 

Things get spicy when 500 kilos slam into the tarmac.

Occasionally, you would possibly encounter a set of corners, at which level the Transcontinental will shock you, fairly actually. With the low-slung weight of that motor, the bike suggestions in quicker than you’d anticipate and this takes getting used to. Once you do, it takes little effort to scrape the floorboards, which units off a bathe of sparks that makes for some cool images. Through all this, the bike stays unshakably steady and assured. As for the brakes, the hand lever wants a powerful squeeze, however the precise efficiency is measured, reassuring and reliable.

Ground clearance is usable sufficient – with warning!

What you’ll certainly encounter extra steadily is a stretch of dangerous roads. Again, this wants a cautious but assured method the place you choose a line fastidiously and decide to it with some momentum. If you have to come to a cease, make sure you decide a degree the place you may securely plant a foot. Once you work this out, you’ll discover that the bike chugs alongside and there’s even simply sufficient floor clearance for bumps and velocity breakers of most styles and sizes.

BMW R18 Transcontinental: baggage & creature comforts

Luxury is the secret right here and just one absolutely loaded mannequin is out there in India. In addition to the magnificent sound system, this bike brings in issues just like the reverse perform, keyless ignition and central locking for each the panniers and the highest field, to not point out the standard bevy of rider aids. It even comes with radar-based cruise management, though that wasn’t on our take a look at bike, which was imported for show functions earlier than the launch.

About 100 litres of lockable space for storing in all.

What added to the sense of specialness was the virtually car-like rider’s perspective with 4 old style spherical gauges that sit atop a really modern-looking, 10.25-inch TFT show. In truth, the black backing materials behind the gauges even use a tender materials, identical to a pleasant car’s dashboard.

One of probably the most car-like POVs you’ll discover on a bike.

BMW R18 Transcontinental: verdict

Overall, the R18 Transcontinental is without doubt one of the extra memorable bikes I’ve ridden, however a hefty chunk of these reminiscences can be related to its sheer measurement and bulk. There’s a time and place the place these sorts of bikes are a singular pleasure, however discovering that blend in India isn’t simple. Still, you may’t low cost the truth that at Rs 31.5 lakh, the BMW is each frighteningly costly, but in addition vastly extra inexpensive (and higher outfitted) than the likes of the Rs 40.5 lakh Harley Road Glide Special. If it have been me although, I’d in all probability take a look at a extra manageably sized R18 – that Roctane does look cool.