BMW R 18 Transcontinental: Top 5 Highlights

The BMW R 18 Transcontinental has been announced along with the BMW R 18 B, two new models in the BMW R 18 family. The BMW R 18 Transcontinental will be the top-of-the-line grand tourer in the R 18 range, focussed on pillion comfort as well as long distance touring comfort. The BMW R 18 Transcontinental is based on the 1,802 cc Big Boxer engine, and features a handlebar mounted fairing and hard case panniers, along with a top box. Like the R 18 B, the R 18 Transcontinental also features Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Dynamic Cruise Control as standard. The ACC is adaptive cruise control, powered by radar sensors mounted on the fairing. Here's a look at the top 5 highlights.

Also Read: BMW R 18 B, R 18 Transcontinental Unveiled

The BMW R 18 Transcontinental is the top-spec model in the BMW R 18 family, built for comfortable long distance touring

Design

The BMW R 18 Transcontinental is built for comfortable long distance touring, and features a fat front fender with standard auxiliary headlights, with floorboards for added comfort for long hours on the highway. The big heavyweight cruiser has some weight though, with 427 kg kerb weight.

Also Read: Top 5 Highlights Of BMW R 18 B

The 1,802 cc boxer twin engine remains unchanged and 91 bhp at 4,750 rpm and 150 Nm of peak torque is available between 2,000-4,000 rpm

Engine

The 1,802 cc, boxer-twin engine remains the same as the standard BMW R 18. The Big Boxer engine makes 90 bhp at 4,750 rpm and 150 Nm between 2,000 to 4,000 rpm, with maximum torque of 157 Nm at 3,000 rpm.

Also Read: BMW R 18 Review

The BMW R 18 Transcontinental, like the BMW R 18B, features a handlebar-mounted fairing with radar-powered adaptive cruise control, and a 10.25-inch TFT screen along with four analogue dials

Features

The most significant change is the handlebar-mounted fairing on the BMW R 18 Transcontinental, which has four analogue gauges along with a big 10.25-inch TFT panel. Also added is a Marshall co-branded audio system, with two standard 25W speakers on the fairing.

MW also offers two upgraded audio systems. The Marshall Gold Series Stage 1 adds a 90-watt subwoofer to each side case plus a 180 watt amplifier. The R18 Transcontinental can be fitted with a Stage 2 system which adds another pair of 25-watt speakers to the top case.

The BMW R 18 Transcontinental features three riding modes, standard Automatic Stability Control (ASC) and engine drag torque control (MSR)

Electronics & Safety Tech

The BMW R 18 Transcontinental comes with three riding modes, Rock, Roll and Rain, with varying throttle response, as well as standard Automatic Stability Control (ASC) and engine drag torque control (MSR). Reversing aid and Hills Start Control are available as optional extras.

The fairing also has radar sensors which power the adaptive cruise control, automatically adjusting speed with relation to traffic ahead of the bike

The Active Cruise Control (ACC) system is radar-powered adaptive cruise control, which uses radar-powered sensors mounted on the fairing. The sensors adjust the bike's speed automatically to maintain a safe distance from traffic in front.

The BMW R 18 Transcontinental is expected to be launched in India towards the end of the year, or early 2022, with prices expected around Rs. 25 lakh (Ex-showroom)

Price & Availability

The BMW R 18 Transcontinental, along with the BMW R 18 B, will be available in international markets from August 2021. For India, both models are expected to be launched sometime towards the end of the year, or in early 2022. The BMW R 18 Transcontinental is expected to be priced at around Rs. 25 lakh (Ex-showroom) in India.