2022 BMW R 18 Transcontinental Review: Look Out Harley

The BMW R 18 is one of the most beautiful engines to ever roll out of a BMW factory. This stylish and simple engine takes pieces of BMW’s horizontally opposed heritage and helps push it forward with 1.8-liters of grunt. With an engine this large, it only makes sense to strap it into an equally big bike and set your eyes on the highway. That’s exactly what BMW did, and more so with its grand touring R 18 Transcontinental. Setting its sights on the best from Harley-Davidson, Indian and Honda, the BMW R 18 Transcontinental is a hefty grand tourer that has no shortage of comfort. The 1.8-liter gasoline-burning boxer twin makes 91 hp at 4750 rpm and 116 lb-ft of torque at 3000 rpm. This power moves through a six-speed transmission before making it to the rear wheel. On this episode of Quick Spin, Mark Vaughn climbs onto the 2022 BMW R 18 Transcontinental and puts it through its paces. Vaughn walks around the 2022 BMW R 18 and highlights some of its features and designs before taking you along on a live-recorded ride review. Between those segments, Vaughn talks with host Wesley Wren about this big BMW. The two talk about the crowded touring motorcycle market, where BMW fits with this R 18 and how it stacks up against its competitive set. Closing the show, the two discuss what makes this 2022 BMW R 18 Transcontinental special.