Every now and then, a simply special motorcycle comes along. A bike that makes every ride feel like an event, even if it’s only a short trip to fill up the gas tank before a ride with friends the next day. These bikes can have charm, character, and just a sense of pure class to them. The don’t come along all that often, and you could even say only once every hundred years. The 2023 BMW R 18 100 Years is that very bike.
Based on the standard R 18, it’s a chrome-dipped homage to BMW’s motorcycle history. It’s a decadent and very limited-edition bike, with production capped at 1,923 examples worldwide — of which only five are coming to Canada. It’s a genuine unicorn within our borders, aimed only at the most nostalgic BMW Motorrad aficionados.
BMW has adorned the R 18 100 Years with all sorts of stylistic touches that make it stand out world’s more than the regular R 18, at least to my eyes. It’s got a chromed-out gas tank, headers, exhaust, front engine cover, rear fender, pegs, driveshaft — you name it. There’s also a lovely, unique seat that adds a much needed touch of color to its otherwise black-and-chrome palette. It looks great, and it’s been a long time since I rode a motorcycle that so consistently gets genuine stares of adoration. In fact, after taking it to the last Motosocial meet of this year, I can confidently say pretty much everyone loves to look at the R 18 100 Years. Over the course of two hours, it constantly stopped onlookers in their tracks.
There’s just something about the way the R 18 blends its elegant lines with the sheer massiveness of its boxer engine. It garners a lot of attention from pretty much every type of biker; the form is just so unique and foreign in its category. Not many bikes out there look like they’ve got an airplane engine slapped into the frame, and even fewer are bona-fide cruisers. The R 18 100 Years is also brimming with more subtle details, from the riveted logos and roundel-stamped exhaust pipes, to the “Berlin Built” reminders tucked away in the cluster and reservoirs. The combination of the major and minor design notes work cohesively to create a thing of beauty.
On the road, the R 18 100 Years grabs both your attention and affection. I adored the 1,800-cc opposing-twin engine in the R 18 Bagger, and once stripped of all that extra weight, it shines here. The bike feels like it’s got diesel-like torque available constantly and just pulls you along whenever you hammer the throttle. The driveshaft adds a nice sense of connection to the bike as well, giving you plenty of responsiveness and feel. For me, what really stood out was the combination of the heavy clutch with the solidity of the gear shifter. There was real satisfaction working my way up and down the gears thanks to the crispness provided.
Even at low speeds the R 18 manages its weight and footprint well. Weighing in at 760 pounds and with its wheelbase of 173 cm, it doesn’t sound nearly as manageable as it felt. But I didn’t have any concerns manoeuvring it around city streets to park, or shuffling through tight spaces. In fact, I didn’t even find myself needing to use its reverse gear — the low seat allows for plenty of leverage to push the bike around. Just make sure to keep the width of that engine in mind when you’re parking next to friends — the heads may not extend past the bars, but they can make for a crowded dismount for those nearby. It’s a small price to pay for the look.
The R 18 100 Years is a charismatic blend of modern technology hidden under a retro facade, like a historic building fitted with a Google Home system. Okay, maybe not that modern — it has keyless ride, ABS, and various ride modes, but the R 18 100 Years is still limited to a single gauge cluster with a calculator display that cycles through RPMs, clock, and trip computers. There’s simplicity and charm in exactly that. Many manufactuers have pushed to modernize the heritage motorcycle segment in the last decade-or-so, and BMW Motorrad has absolutely their attempts thus far.
What it boils down to is this: BMW has created a motorcycle that makes every ride feel special. From the sound of the opposing twin, to the dance it does every time you pop the throttle while waiting at a light; from the affirmative clutch throws as you chunk through the gears, to the look of the bike itself, the R 18 gives you the style and grace of a bygone era, without subjecting you to the mechanical drawbacks of a true vintage motorcycle. Even better is the price — the 2023 BMW R 18 100 Years starts at $25,285, and I reckon you don’t need to put a penny into modifying this factory-perfect bike, either.
