Continental drift
When it comes to motorcycling in general, there are those that enjoy riding solo and those who enjoy sharing the ride. Certain motorcycles lend themselves well to pillion riders and others not so much. The R10 series from BMW does well on both fronts, with the Classic model we reviewed earlier being well suited to solo riders.
Related: BMW R18 Classic (2022) Review
The R18 Transcontinental does both really well but if you are the type of rider that wishes to share their ride with a picky passenger, the Transcontinental is almost perfect. We spent a week riding on our own and then a full weekend of riding with a passenger and this is what we found.
Style
Let's call a spade a spade and say that it is very obvious where BMW cribbed their styling from. The Transcontinental looks extremely American with all its high gloss black paint with silver trim and dripping in chrome. The wide fairing, high windshield, and low front fender block wind like nobody's business allowing riders to munch miles in extreme comfort. The seat is wide and comfortable and heated to boot while the stylish gauge cluster gives you all the essential readings you can blast your favorite music through the Marshall audio system. Overall this is an American-styled luxury long-distance cruiser that will appeal to, lets' say, a more mature audience.
Tech
BMW hasn't skimped on the tech either, in addition to the array of analogue-styled gauges in the fairing, you also get the wide TFT screen that can be found on the GSA and R1250 RT. The Transcontinental is equipped with 3 rider modes, Rock, Roll, and Rain which keep this behemoth in check as well as the aforementioned Marshall audio system. The system is Bluetooth equipped, and you can use the "My BMW" app to check various systems and keep your device charged with the built-in wireless charger hidden inside the fuel tank.
Engine and Drivetrain
The Machine is of course equipped with the massive 1800cc two-cylinder horizontally opposed boxer engine that pumps out 67kW and an earth-moving 158Nm, power is delivered via a 6-speed sequential transmission and shaft drive to the rear tyre, interestingly, the Transcontinental has a reverse gear that can be activated by a small level near the foot shifter that will enable you to back this monster up.
Let's ride
I have a pillion rider that is rather picky about comfort and convenience and for them to dismount after 350km in the cold Highveld air and declare that they could go another 400 says something. The Transcontinental is big and heavy and will easily exceed the national speed limit, but it really isn't built for speed and handling but rather freeway cruising.We easily and comfortably covered 500km in one day, only stopping for bathroom breaks and food and after a day of touring remarked that it was the most comfortable ride that we had in a long time.This most likely due to the plush suspension, heated seating arrangements, rider and passenger positions and the neat little air pocket formed by the fairings and screen.
Pros and Cons
- Comfortable
- Well-equipped tech
- Deep storage in panniers and top box
- Heated everything
- Heavy and cumbersome to maneuver at standstill
Model and Price
BMW R18 Transcontinental Heritage. - R 433 209*
*Base model no options - Price correct at time of publication subject to change without notice
Verdict
As we said earlier, some motorcycles lend themselves to certain types of riding and the Transcontinental, as great as it is to ride solo, really needs to be shared with someone. This machine is made to cover long distances with that special someone who will enjoy all the creature comforts and tech with you and enjoy the sunset at the end of a day of luxury riding.
