Limitless #Soulfuel
Experience the passion of yesteryear with today's technology on the road and show who you are - that is what #Soulfuel stands for. Our new Heritage models are the result of a long history in which we keep reinventing ourselves. What began in 1923 with the legendary BMW R 32 and its boxer engine is now being continued with the technically revised R nineT family and the new members of the R 18 family, the BMW R 18 B and the BMW R 18 Transcontinental.
The R 18 family
Modern classics that will take you far: The R 18 models combine concentrated power with BMW Motorrad Touring history and the emotionality of the R 18 family. They are made for customising, so turn them into your exact bike and bring #Soulfuel to light.
Inspired by icons
History that you can feel and see: Our four R 18 models are characterised by iconic design elements, such as the white double lining and the teardrop-shaped tank. With their reduced overall concept, they offer maximum freedom of design.
The hour of birth of the R 5
The hour of birth of the R 5
The foundation of the R 18 is the BMW R 5 presented in 1936. With a displacement of 494 cc and 18 kW (24 hp), the machine was very sporty. Their top speed of a good 140 km / h made them the fastest production motorcycles of their time. For our 80th birthday in 2016, we continued the story of the successful classic with a current edition of the R 5.
From the R 5 to the Concept R 18
From the R 5 to the Concept R 18
With the desire for an emotional, hand-made custom bike, we created the Concept R 18. The inspiration for this was the R 5, but instead of the original 500 cc displacement, it got the largest boxer engine of all time. In the next step, the Concept R 18/2 was created in our Munich design studio - refined by the Swedish manufacturer UCC. This was much more sporty than its predecessor, while retaining its elegant proportions.
The R NineT Family
Our R nineT models embody passion and innovation from over 90 years of motorcycle history - down to the last detail. They have one thing in common with our very first machine: the iconic boxer engine that takes you powerfully across the asphalt. Its design is reduced to the essentials - and gives you plenty of freedom to individualise your bike according to your taste. The models also come up trumps when it comes to technology: Equipped with modern LED technology, ABS Pro including Dynamic Brake Control (DBC), the new manually adjustable shock absorber and the USB charging socket, you are now even more comfortable on the road.
Back to the roots
Classic design meets modern technology: with the R nineT family, we have reinterpreted our first models. The focus is on high-quality materials and an unmistakable character - as well as the modular concept with as much scope for individualisation as possible. Our option 719 offers you many options for this.
The origin of the R nineT
The origin of the R nineT
The history of the R nineT family began in the 1970s - above all the R 90 S, which revolutionised the brand in terms of optics and technology in 1973. Its successor, the Concept 90, was created in collaboration with the Californian customiser Roland Sands. Here we have for the first time built modern LED technology into the classic headlight design. In 2013 we celebrated our 90th birthday with the R nineT. A purist bike that, like the legendary R 32 from 1923, has the iconic boxer engine and combines classic design with modern technology.
From the R nineT to the Scrambler
From the R nineT to the Scrambler
Based on the R nineT, we have developed our first scrambler: the Concept Path 22. According to Edgar Heinrich, Head of BMW Motorrad Design, a scrambler is "the epitome of a motorcycle that goes beyond established standards and conventions". Performance data are secondary, style and originality count all the more. In 2015 the BMW R nineT Scrambler comes onto the market, which, in contrast to its model, offers a more relaxed, almost upright seating position. This is achieved by placing the handlebar higher and closer to the handlebars and lower and further back footrests.
A scrambler is the epitome of a motorcycle beyond established standards and conventions
"Edgar Heinrich
Head of BMW Motorrad Design
From the Scrambler to the Urban G/S
From the Scrambler to the Urban G/S
The first cross between the R nineT and G/S was called the BMW R nineT Lac Rose and made its debut at the French Wheels and Waves Festival. The name of the machine is reminiscent of the last stage of the earlier Paris Dakar Rally and describes a salt lake near Dakar with a characteristic pink colour. There we celebrated several victories on the podium in the eighties. In 2016 we presented the BMW R nineT Urban G/S at the EICMA in Milan. It is largely based on the R nineT Scrambler and, with its look that is undisguised except for the lamp mask, clearly speaks the language of the first G/S models.
