BMW Motorrad Concept R 18 /2 Cruiser—A Second Look

When the BMW Group unveiled the Concept R18 build last summer at the Concorso d’Eleganza on Lake Como, you could almost hear the collective gasp from the crowd. Here was an elegantly muscular, historically inspired concept that could have passed for a ready-to-roll custom, yet one that served as a clear testament to the BMW R5’s timeless lines and paint scheme. The art deco bob-job felt much closer to a production version than the two previous builds using the massive R 18 powerplant, Custom Works Zon’s Departed and the Revival Cycles Birdcage bike, and with its huge displacement, lazy rake, and long, low silhouette, the Concept R 18 didn’t necessarily challenge cruiser orthodoxy but rather expanded upon it. The build looked fully formed, with tight finishes, well-chosen materials, and many components looking close to being final versions. The buzz on the street afterward was that there might be an update or even a production date given at EICMA 2019; after all, this big boxer has been teased for going on two years now.

Sure enough, there was an update of the R 18 at EICMA, but it was also something of a sidestep. BMW Motorrad pulled the wraps off its second concept bike based on the big boxer engine, the Concept R 18 /2 (or “Slash Two,” as BMW would like you to call it), and it was not an evolution but nearly the stylistic opposite of what came before: a more modern, dynamic custom that was less tied to the ancient past, rolling with a performance-leaning attitude that somehow also felt rougher round the edges. The throwback, steampunk lines of what we saw at Como are gone, with the giant air-cooled, pushrod-powered boxer twin now surrounded by more bodywork with a more dynamic feel. To quote the press release, “With the “Concept R 18 /2 Custom Cruiser, Motorrad has added a new facet to its Heritage concept.”

As Edgar Heinrich, head of design at BMW Motorrad, explained, “In contrast to the classic BMW Motorrad Concept R 18, the Concept R 18 /2 draws on its large boxer engine and frame to create a modern custom concept. The Concept R 18 /2 is uniquely extrovert. Elements from the past and future of BMW Motorrad merge here to create a captivating cruiser, making a powerful statement.”

In more basic terms, what that means is that the Slash Two embraces some current cruiser norms, but puts a distinctly Teutonic spin on its sportiness and modernity. Proportions are elongated, with the streamlined fairing and shield, teardrop fuel tank and low-profile stepped saddle combining in a flowing line that emphasizes movement, all culminating in a bobbed rear fender hovering over the 16-inch tire. All those body parts (save for the side covers) are finished in a brilliant Candy Apple Red metallic paint, a luminous one-off tone that, even in photos, shows a richness and depth normally only seen on the highest-end customs. Our editor-in-chief half-jokingly called it “concept paint,” which sounds like a pretty spot-on description. The fuel tank also bears dynamic graphic lines that are mimicked in the seat cover, and those side panels are painted black with a subtle “18” graphic.

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The Slash Two’s foundation is still that boxer engine, with a loop frame, teardrop tank, and exposed universal shaft all maintaining a classic theme. Taking things in a new direction are the striking contrast cast wheels (BMW calls them “cast iron” in the release, but we’re pretty sure it means aluminum) with a 19-incher at the front and 16-incher out back all adding up to an almost dragster look, with hints of Pro Street. Up-spec Brembo brake calipers control your speed, while a 2-into-2 Hattech stainless steel exhaust system with megaphone-style mufflers takes care of spent gases.

But it’s all about the 1.8-liter engine, right? BMW claims the focus and nucleus of the Concept R 18 /2 remains the massive 1,800cc boxer mill (still air-/oil-cooled), but its presentation on the Slash Two is definitely less in your face than on the previous concept, which took a fully exposed, full-chrome approach. By contrast, the Slash Two engine cases are bathed primarily in a warmer, matte gray tone with the jugs, valve covers, and frame all done in a high-gloss black finish.

The integrated breastplate cover carries the blue-and-white BMW roundel, while an engine badge above the cylinders confirms the name of this concept bike.

Although the appearance—and arguably the existence—of the new Concept Slash Two is unexpected it still demonstrates the versatility of the “big boxer” platform, even if it’s a dip into the world of performance cruisers (an arena BMW hasn’t traditionally played in).

“After the BMW Motorrad Concept R 18, our aim with the Concept R 18 /2 is to demonstrate how flexible the basic engine and suspension are as a starting point for customization, and how easy it is to realize different styles. And I have to admit: We were impressed at how it was possible to bring this boxer concept forward from the ’30s via the ’80s into the 2020s,” says Bart Janssen Groesbeek, BMW Motorrad vehicle designer for the Big Boxer Concepts.

BMW itself prefaced the reveal with the tagline: “One engine, two characters—a multitude of possibilities.” But, really, as it’s preceded by Custom Works Zon “Departed” build from Japan, “The Revival Birdcage” by Revival Cycles in Texas, and BMW Motorrad’s own Concept R 18, the BMW Motorrad Concept R 18 /2 is now the fourth interpretation of the large-volume BMW Motorrad boxer engine. Will there be yet another iteration, or will we finally get a hard production date? BMW says mid-2020, so we’ll have to wait and see.

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