Driving over the enormous vastness of the American continent is a dream for many of our motorcyclists. The enormous desert extends, lush forests, winding mountain roads, what cannot be explored here? For such a trip, the natural choice is one of the Harley-Davidson tourers, especially the street glide, the “cheapest” Grand Tourer with saddlebags and a tub. It has everything you need from your tourer, but for almost $ 28,000 it is an expensive piece of kit.
Although the street glide has the essence, it still misses a few petties, such as a top box with a backrest for the Pilion, adaptive headlights or even heated handles. It may seem like we are nitpicking at the moment, what we are. But why not, especially if you consider the BMW R 18 Transcontinental, which is in a segment above the street glide, it undermines more than $ 3,000! This is why the R 18 transcontinental overladers compared to the Harley Street Glide.
Harley-Davidson Street Glide highlights
Starts at $ 27,749
Liquid cooled Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-twin-Motor produces 130 LB-FT torque
Hand-adjustable rear shock for a smooth ride
A huge TFT display of 12.3 inch with an audio system
Iconic Batwing Kuip with LED lights
Nine paint options with three factory -bound paint
A BMW full-dresser that undermines the Harley dredger with more than $ 3,000
Start price: $ 24,395
The BMW R 18 Transcontinental is the Grand American Tourer, as BMW describes, and the flagship motorcycle of the R 18 Line -up. And for almost $ 25,000 it delivers on all fronts. To begin with, it brings a range of creature comfort and functions that promise to make your ride comfortable, entertaining and safe. It combines the starters with a side of comfortable ergonomics, wind protection and storage for multi -day adventures. For the main course, BMW serves the largest boxer Twin Engine, which delivers torque in the low-end. The dessert tasks are handled by a beautiful design inspired by older BMW cruisers, in particular the R5.
A case can be made that, while BMW Motorrad calls this a Grand American Tourer, it is anything but that. And you would be right. This Tourer, built by Berlin, has the design of Euro-style, a boxing engine and a BMW badge, while the street glide is American metal, complete with the shield and the bar, and a beating V-twin engine. If an authentic American experience is non-negotiable, hardly anything else will satisfy you. If that is not the case, it is easy to see why the BMW R 18 Transcontinental, a full-dresser, is more logical than an entry-level dragger!
BMW Motorrad’s most powerful boxer Engine and R5-inspired traditional frame
Couple exit: 120 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm
One glance at the BMW R 18 transcontinental, and the first thing that stands out is the posture, followed by his massive cylinders that exercise on either side of the frame. That there is the big boxer, BMW’s most powerful boxer engine of all time, which was completely new for the R 18 -family. It delivers 110 pound-foot torque between 2,000 and 4,000 rpm, which translates into excellent responsiveness that feels relaxed and not monotonous. Yes, the M8 117 of the Street Glide has more power and torque, but that will hardly matter on the highway. These two -wheeled giants are not made for top speed, but cruising comfort, and that is where the big boxer also delivers.
The engine is not the only piece of hardware inspired by older Beemers; The frame is too. True to the long-term frame tradition of BMW, the transcontinental has a steel frame with a double loop with a plate metal backbone and enclosed ash station in a rigid frame design. The frame is hung on fleshy fork and a rear cantileverstrut with travel -dependent damping and automatic tax compensation. And the fork tubes are encapsulated in fork sleeves, similar to those found on the legendary R5.
The result is a motorcycle that offers comfortable handling without feeling slow, making the bike easy to maneuver. The low center of gravity, especially considering the big boxer, should make it even more agile. BMW also says that it is deliberately divided with adjustability in the suspension, so that the ride is kept comfortable and simple. However, feels like a missed opportunity.
BMW R 18 Transcontinental vs. Harley-Davidson Street Glide Specs
Specifications | BMW R 18 Transcontinental | Harley-Davidson Street Glide |
|---|---|---|
Engine type | Boxer twin, air/oil cooled | Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-twin |
Capacity | 1,802cc | 1,917,29cc |
Maximum torque | 120 LB-FT @ 3,000 rpm | 130 LB-FT @ 3,250 rpm |
Max Power | 91 hp @ 4,750 rpm | 105 hp @ 4,600 rpm |
Top speed | 111 MPH | N / A |
Ready to take you far in lush comfort
Storage capacity: 3.6 Cu. ft. (Combined)
The R 18 Transcontinental also has a comfortable riding position. In accordance with the philosophy of BMW, for example, the footboards are mounted in the middle, so that your leg keeps your leg free of the boxer’s cylinders, while a relaxed and active riding position is also possible. The seats ensure that you do not lose the feeling in your ass during highway tints, and the upper housing adds the much needed back support for your pilion. Finally, standard heated handles and chairs you and your Pilion passenger warm during cool morning rides.
This is where the street glide falls short; A fair backrest is missing, and the foot-forward position is not the most comfortable for the back of many motorcyclists. Another touring that is essential that the Transcontinental is right is wind protection. In comparison with the R 18 B, this dredger has a larger windshield, combined with a few windful flectors on the bonnet protection bars, which promise to keep the wind of your body with minimal turbulence. Finally, the bike has a huge fuel tank of 6.3 gallon, which ensures long distance, as well as large saddlebags and a top, with a combined storage space of 3.6 cubic base, compared to the 2.42 cubic base of the street glide.
Dimensions specifications
Frame type | Double loop steel frame with fixed beams |
|---|---|
Anterior suspension | Telescopic fork |
Rear -wheel suspension | Steel twin-sided swingern bridge, central feather strut |
Wheelbase | 66.5 in. |
Seat height | 29.1 In. |
Unwanted weight, ready for the road | 954.6 LBS |
Fuel consumption | 40.55 MPG (US) |
Lush Suite of Creature Comfort and Functions for days on the road
BMW is known for packaging motorcycles on the edge with electronic characteristics, and with the transcontinental they have not left no rock uncleaned. The flagship Beemer offers everything you would expect from a modern touring engine bike, starting with a fully guided light setup, including a powerful headlight flanked by a few auxiliary fog lamps. The setup also has an adaptive turning light with a turning module that illuminates the road during the bends.
On the other side of De Kuip is four analogue round instruments, combined with a 10.25-inch TFT display. A wide range of information is at a glance, including a fuel level -indicator, navigation, music control and more. The TFT display is linked to a Marshall sound system with a 2-way speaker integrated in the front. BMW also offers an optional Marshall Gold Series series Stage 1 and phase 2 audio system, which adds more speakers for an even richer audio experience.
Dynamic Cruise Control (DCC) is standard, which automatically regulates the driving speeds you set; It even maintains a constant speed on slopes. The Premium package unlocks Active Cruise Control (ACC), which uses a radar sensor to automatically keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front while retaining a pre -set highway speed. The ACC also ensures safe turns by automatically lowering the speeds in corners, so that you do not control your expensive Tourer in a ditch. The Tech Suite is completed by three driving modes, stability control, keyless inflammation and more.
Puristic design formed by iconic BMW Motorrad -classics
The BMW R 18 Transcontinental is a beautiful motorcycle, and in the Land of Beefy V-Twin Tourers this German miles-fader will certainly stand out and turn heads. It is a modern interpretation of classic BMW engine bikes, and as such it has puristic design elements, an impressive attitude and a striking design. Traditional design instructions are clear about the bike, including the fuel tank with the pear drop, open universal shaft drive, double lines lines (available as an EXWorks option) and large mudguards. Everything about the motorcycle radiates refinement and style, while prioritizing comfort and performance.
But wait, Harley-Davidson offers factory-bound paint. You are right and BMW offers something similar, if not anymore. Together with the three amazing color options, BMW offers the option 719 package, design option chrome, design package black, hand-drawn chalk stripes and powertrain black, which can also give the R 18 Transcontinental a modified look. So, pay a little more and even with BMW you can wrap your tourer in a range of color options, surface finishes and designadd-us.
Design Highlights:
Purist design elements remain faithful to BMW Motorrad’s Heritage of Cruisers and Tourers
Powerful two LED -AUX LIGHTS remain faithful to the original style and integrate perfectly into its lines
Optional Pinstripes elevate the traditional appearance of the motorcycle
Option 719 adds Orient Blue Metallic Matte Paint, a sofa chair with diamond stitching, iconies and a ticket package
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