BMW Motorrad recently revealed the new BMW R 18 Classic First Edition. It is no secret that the brand has been developing a BMW R 18 based bagger motorcycle for quite some time. The bagger motorcycle was also spotted testing with minimal camouflage revealing most details but the one thing left undiscovered was the name.
Now a media report suggests that the new bagger motorcycle could be christened – Transcontinental. Which is truly what the motorcycle looks like. The BMW Transcontinental features substantial difference when compared to the R 18 Classic. The Transcontinental features a large nose fairing to protect the rider from wind and weather as well as large hard panniers on the back similar to the ones on the R 18 Classic.
The bagger motorcycle is also likely to come with a slightly different fuel tank and seats but the rounded headlamps and the overall silhouette is expected to be retained. The new motorcycle is also likely to feature a large dashboard that can even put some cars to shame. The instruments cluster is likely to be a four-pot unit and a large screen for multiple information, GPS mapping and much more.
On the spied pictures which were taken in the pre-lockdown era, the front nose also integrated a squarish recessed area which is likely to house a Bosch radar unit that also features on the BMW R1250RT and supports Active Cruise Control (ACC) integrated active distance control. The radar-based technology can be used for obstacle detection & ranging and the distance between the vehicle in front can automatically be adjusted using the adaptive system.
The new BMW Transcontinental cruiser motorcycle is speculated to be powered by the same 1802cc air/oil-cooled horizontally-opposed twin-cylinder ‘Boxer’ engine that produces 91 hp of power and 150 Nm of torque matched to a 6-speed transmission, that is currently employed on the BMW R 18 Classic.
The BMW Motorrad Transcontinental, when launched, will compete with the likes of large American cruisers from Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycles.
