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2021 BMW R 18 Transcontinental And R 18 B Lands In Malaysia – From RM186k

In less than six months after its global launch, BMW Motorrad Malaysia has officially unveil the R 18 Transcontinental and R 18 B cruiser motorcycle for the Malaysian market.

The R 18 Transcontinental and R 18 B (Bagger) takes the R 18 range to new heights as a Grand American Tourer motorcycle.

Built based on the R 18 First Edition and Classic, the Transcontinental and Bagger are ideal for the long-distance ride thanks to the large batwing front fairing and taller windshield.

According to BMW Motorrad, while the Transcontinental offers the classic American motorcycle elements, the R 18 B, on the other hand, is designed as a “rider’s machine” delivering emotional riding pleasure and is ideal for cool touring and cruising.

Nonetheless, the R 18 Transcontinental and R 18 B continue to be powered by the Big Boxer 1,802 cc engine capable of producing 91hp @ 4,750rpm and 158Nm @ 3,000rpm.

Meanwhile, a double-loop tube steel frame sits at the heart of the chassis, designed to continue the legacy of the iconic R 5.

Other interesting features available on the R 18 Transcontinental and R 18 B includes:

49mm telescopic fork with fork sleeves
cantilever suspension strut (damping and preload-adjustable)
light alloy cast wheels
BMW Motorrad Full Integral ABS
twin disc at the front
single disc at the rear
48L top case (Transcontinental)
24L tank

While the R 18 First Edition and Classic missed out on the cruise control feature, the two new variants come equipped with Dynamic Cruise Control (DCC) as standard.

However, customers can opt for the Active Cruise Control (ACC) as an ex-works option.

The ACC allows relaxed gliding with distance control – without the rider having to adjust the speed to the vehicle in front.

To increase comfort, the R 18 Transcontinental feature a ‘mid-mounted footpeg’ and a comfortable seat with seat heating functions as standard, while the R 18 B comes with a slimmer seat bench.

The cockpit features classically designed round instruments and a 10.25″ TFT colour display with map navigation for convenient route planning and extensive connectivity as standard.

Other electronic features include:

three riding modes: Rain/Roll/Rock
Automatic Stability Control
engine drag torque control (MSR)
Hill Start Control
Marshall 2-way speaker
Marshall Gold Series Stage 1 & 2 (optional)

The R 18 Transcontinental and R 18 B is priced at RM198, 500 and RM186,500 respectively.

BMW To Enter Middleweight Sportsbike Segment?

Yamaha and Aprilia have rewritten the middleweight sports bike segment ever since the introduction of the YZF-R7 and RS660.

Despite coming with a host of electronics and aggressive riding ergonomics, both the RS660 and R7 offers accessibility and affordability.

This triggers digital designer Oberdan Bezzi to envision other entries in the class, including a digital rendering of the Honda CBR656RR and Suzuki GSX-R660R.

This time around, Bezzi envisioned another middleweight sports bike from the Bavarian factory which he named as BMW F 702 RR.

Despite portraying the F 702 RR as a mid-size machine, the overall layout of the motorcycle is heavily inspired by the BMW S 1000 RR.

However, Bezzi redesigned certain aspects of the bike including the fairing and trellis subframe.

The design concept also includes a light alloy frame, high-spec suspension and top-shelf braking components.

While the design itself is exciting, we couldn’t really see BMW working on such a platform in the near future. However, considering the middleweight segment is growing, the opportunity for BMW Motorrad to produce their version of a mid-size bike is always relevant.

BMW Motorrad Latest ConnectedRide Cradle Phone Mount Could Damage Apple’s iPhone Cameras

BMW Motorrad recently introduced the latest motorcycle accessory called the ConnectedRide Cradle that allows riders to mount their smartphones while riding.

However, the mount (meant to fit most of the iPhone range, including the latest iPhone 13) could damage its camera as it is susceptible to strong vibrations.

Apple has already warned customers and manufacturers about the danger of a phone mount on motorcycles.

However, BMW still went ahead with the idea by introducing the ConnectedRide Cradle, a universal phone mount that allows smartphones to display controls and rea-time information about the bike via the Multi-Controller function.

The accessory is compatible with BMW’s R 1200 GS and R 1250 GS range.

Apple previously warned bike users that constant vibrations from motorcycles could damage the iPhone camera while mounted on any phone mount.

While some aftermarket phone mounts, such as the Quadlock, offers vibration dampener, it is unclear whether the latest accessory from BMW Motorrad has the same feature.

BMW Motorrad Unveils Bespoke BMW R 18 By Shinya Kimura

BMW Motorrad has reached out to Shinya Kimura to bring his distinctive “Zero-style” to the new R 18.

Interestingly, Kimura took the stock R 18 for a ride to understand the character of the big-bore cruiser.

As a result, the custom R 18, dubbed as “The Wal”, gets a bigger fuel tank that was extended rearward and a new subframe that raises the seat height.

The bike also features a bucket-style seat by Japan’s Backdrop Leathers and a newly designed tail section.

Kimura also installed a metal bubble fairing with two asymmetrical headlights at the front, including a teeth-like design that mimics The Wal (German for whale) concept.

To further enhance the esthetics, Kimura also adds a bronze powder coat finish.

Fast facts about the custom R 18:

Handlebars: 8 inches narrower, 6 inches lower.
Fuel tank: Made longer to move the seating position rearward and gain additional fuel capacity of about 1 gallon for longer trips.
Seat pad designed by Kimura himself, handmade by BACKDROP Leathers in Japan in bucket style for more bottom support.
Seat is designed so that it creates a natural flow from the seat cushion and leads to the round rear light.
Semi-shell fairing for comfortable handling at high speed.
The side covers have been designed in such a way that they do not destroy the look of the original frame.
Special paint finish in the form of a bronze powder coating after the components have previously been hammered to give the surface texture.
After Kimura had completed all the bodywork, he decided to keep the classic symbolic shape of the standard exhaust system, but paint it black.

BMW K 1600 2022 Dilancarkan – 160HP, 180Nm

BMW Motorrad telah pun melancarkan empat varian K 1600 menerusi K 1600 GT, K 1600 GTL, K 1600 B dan K 1600 Grand America.

Dijadualkan untuk pelancaran Mac 2022, K 1600 ini telah menjalani beberapa kemas kini besar antaranya bahagian enjin 6-inline yang kini patuh Euro 5.

Bagaimanapun, enjin tersebut kekal menawarkan 160hp namun pada rpm yang lebih rendah berbanding model sebelumnya manakal tork kekal pada 180Nm pada 5,250rpm.

Model 2022 ini juga serba lengkap dengan mod tunggangan pelbagai yang merangkumi Road, Dynamic dan Rain manakala sistem Dynamic Traction Control menjaminkan tunggangan yang lebih lancar dalam apa jua keadaan.

BMW turut melengkapkan K 1600 ini dengan suspensi elektronik Dynamic ESA dengan fungsi ‘auto-load compensation’ yang akan melaraskan suspensi jentera sewaktu menunggang.

Model ini juga didatangkan dengan paparan TFT 10.25″ yang boleh diakses menerusi aplikasi telefon pintar BMW Motorrad Connected.

Selain daripada penggunaan lampu LED penuh dengan fungsi lampu ‘adaptive’ seperti yang terdapat pada model R 1250 GS dan R 1250 RT, K 1600 ini juga didatangkan dengan tangki berkapasiti 26.5L.

Sementara itu, varian K 1600 GTL dan K 1600 Grand America disertakan dengan sistem audio BMW 2.0 secara standard.

BMW Motorrad Rolls Out 2022 K 1600 Model Range – 160HP, 180Nm

Scheduled for March 2022, BMW Motorrad unveiled the new K 1600 GT, K 1600 GTL, K 1600 B and K 1600 Grand America.

The introduction of the brand new K 1600 range coincidentally coincides as borders and interstate travels are beginning to open up worldwide.

The major upgrade includes updating the in-line six engine to comply with Euro 5 emission; however, it still delivers the same 160hp but at a lower rpm. Moreover, the revised engine also saw an increase of torque to 180Nm @ 5,250rpm.

The 2022 range is also equipped with multiple riding modes consisting of Road, Dynamic and Rain, and the Dynamic Traction Control ensures smooth sailing in every road condition.

BMW also introduces next-gen Dynamic ESA electronic suspension with auto-load compensation, which will adjust on the fly based on riding scenarios.

Apart from getting the new BMW adaptive LED light setup, the K 1600 also features a new 10.25″ TFT instrument cluster, which can be fully accessed via BMW Motorrad Connected app and a 26.5L tank.

Meanwhile, the GTL and Grand America get BMW’s audio system 2.0 as standard.

FIM EWC: BMW Motorrad Claims Maiden Win At 2021 Finale

BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team finally made it to the top of the podium by claiming its maiden victory at the FIM Endurance World Championship.

The team came out on top during the season’s final round in Most with the BMW M 1000 RR with riders Ilya Mikhalchik and Markus Reiterberger, while Kenny Foray was on standby as the third rider.

Mickhalchik was elated after the win and deemed the victory as an extra motivation to continue pushing forward.

“I am so happy. We got our first win, and it’sit’s really an amazing feeling, especially after the bad luck we had at the Bol d’Ord’Or. Now we are also second in the world championship, and this gives us extra motivation.

“The race was almost perfect because, in the last two hours, I was nearly 30 minutes behind the safety car and afterwards, I was struggling a bit with the tyres, and it was not easy to get back to a fast pace.

“In the last 50 minutes Markus did a great job. He rode a really fast pace. We won the race, even if it was with a very small gap. It is an amazing feeling and I want to say thank you to the entire team,, to my family, everyone – I am just happy,” he said.

It was a sweet win for the German marquee as the win helped them secured second place in the championship standings.

It has been a great week for BMW Motorrad, as the success in the FIM EWC came just a week after the first victory in the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK).

After a six hours race, the team took the chequered flag with a lead of just 0.070 seconds on board the all-new BMW M 1000 RR.

BMW Motorrad Unveil Concept CE 02 – Electric Mini-Bike With 90km Range

BMW has unveiled its latest electric two-wheeler concept that aims to attract today’s youth.

Unlike the CE 04, which has a wider body panel and runs on a bigger and more powerful electric motor, the Concept CE 02 is designed for individuals aged 16 years familiar with intelligent technology.

While it may look more of a typical motorcycle than CE 04, Edgar Heinrich, the Head of Design at BMW Motorrad, stresses that it is an entirely new motorcycle.

“At first glance, there is little about the BMW Motorrad Concept CE 02 that is typically BMW Motorrad – it’s something completely new.

“We want to strive for something novel and be pioneers – which is what we’ve proven ourselves capable of with various projects in the past.

“The Concept CE 02 features new proportions and modern forms of single-track mobility in an urban environment. In addition, we wanted to achieve a level of design innovation that we have not had before at this level.

“Straightforward use was important, but above all, the emotional component was crucial, as well as riding fun,” he said.

The overall design is minimal, which is something that attracts the youth these days.

It is so minimal; the CE 02 does not come fitted with a footrest. Instead, as you can see based on these quirky photos, the rider is resting his feet on a skateboard attach sideways at the bottom of the motorcycle.

Why, you ask? Well, that question itself meant that Concept CE 02 is not built for you (or me). The idea is to offer practicality and allows riders to customize the e-bike accordingly to fit their taste.

Meanwhile, at heart sits an electric motor with a claimed output of 11kW capable of maxing out at 90km/h and a 90km range.

The suspension system consists of a front fork and a single rear shock mounted to the single-sided swingarm, while braking is done by a 2-piston front calliper and a single-piston rear calliper paired to 15″ wheels.

Other features include:

LED lights
small TFT colour screen
730mm seat height
120kg weight

BMW C 400 X Reimagine As An Adventure Scooter

The Honda X-ADV 750 has no other competitors, making it one of the unique adventure scooters ever built.

The Japanese marquee then went ahead and introduced the smaller ADV 150, which was then followed by Kymco’s DT X360 and Yamaha’s BWS 125.

While the market remains small but it is definitely growing.

However, just to spice things up, one of the renowned concept designers, Oberdan Bezzi, decided to create his interpretation of an adventure scooter by using the C 400 X as the platform to create what he referred to as the C 400 GS.

The C 400 X is a city scooter compared to the C 400 GT, which appears in a bigger body panel and a wider front end, making it not the right candidate to receive the GS treatment.

Based on the design concept by Oberdan, the C 400 GS received taller suspension travel combined with a long beak mudguard.

Meanwhile, the rear frame now features a slender and more rugged look paired to a single shock absorber replacing the dual-shock absorber on the C 400 X.

While this might be just another concept, the design looks promising and considering that BMW already offers the G 310 GS, who knows that there might be a GS version from the BMW scooter range.

2021 BMW M 1000 RR Now Available In Malaysia – RM249,500

Less than a year after its global reveal, the 2021 BMW M 1000 RR finally arrived in Malaysia as announced by BMW Motorrad Malaysia.

Based on what we gathered previously on a limited run of the M 1000 RR will be made available for the local market with an official price of RM249,500 making it the most expensive BMW Motorrad 2021 range.

Build based on the success of the BMW S 1000 RR, BMW Motorrad decided it is time to inject the “M” into the German automaker two-wheel segment.

This road-legal BMW M 1000 RR carries an upgraded version of the S 1000 RR’s 999cc inline-four engine with new lighter forged pistons, intake ports, titanium valves, longer titanium conrods optimized intake system, and a brand-new Akrapovic titanium full-system race exhaust.

This resulted in an overall power increase to a whopping 212hp at 14,500rpm and 113Nm torque at 11,000rpm. With a kerb weight of only 192kg, you can expect some serious performance especially paired with updated suspension, electronics and braking systems designed to conquer the world of Superbikes.

Perhaps the most visible change to the BMW M 1000 RR or M RR is M Winglets and high windscreen that offers significant improvements to the aerodynamics department without compromising top speed.

Other specs include:

Launch Control with Pitlane Limiter
M Carbon Wheels
M GPS data logger & lap trigger
Lightweight M battery
Adjustable characteristic throttle curves
Shift Assistant Pro
New selectable riding modes + more

Arriving in a combination of Light White, Racing Blue Metallic and Racing (M Package) the M 1000 R will be available from 27 August onwards.

2021 BMW C 400 X & C 400 GT Now In Malaysia – From RM44,500

BMW Motorrad Malaysia has just launched the new C 400 X and C 400 GT priced at RM44,500 and RM48,500 respectively.

The 2nd-gen scooter arrives with the revised brake system, Euro 5 single-cylinder engine with new E-gas feature, better engine management and centrifugal clutch.

Both the C 400 X and C 400 GT now gets an optimized Automatic Stability Control (ASC), including a now illuminated under-seat storage and USB port.

The C 400 X retains its practicality as an urban scooter with upright proportions, a front mudguard, and the clear, graphic separation of the painted trim components.

On the other hand, the C 400 GT offers comfortable riding ergonomics and a high windshield for touring purposes.

Nonetheless, both models continue to be powered by the Loncin built 350cc engine capable of producing 34hp @ 7,500rpm and 35Nm @ 5,750rpm.

BMW claimed that the ASC system is optimized for a more sensitive response, especially on wet and slippery surfaces.

The C 400 GT is available in Black Storm, Callisto Grey and Alpine White, while the C 400 X is only available in the Black Storm colour scheme.

Price Announced For 2021 BMW R 1250 GS Range – From RM119,500

BMW Motorrad Malaysia has officially unveiled the pricing range for the 2021 BMW R 1250 GS and R 1250 GS Adventure for the Malaysian market.

Starting off the range is the new BMW R 1250 GS Style Rallye, priced at RM119,500, followed by R 1250 GS Style Triple Black at RM120,500 and R 1250 GS ’40 Years GS Edition at RM122,500.

Meanwhile, the pricing for the higher-spec R 1250 GS Adventure are as follows:

BMW R 1250 GS Adventure Style Rallye – RM132,500
BMW R 1250 GS Adventure Style Triple Black – RM133,500
BMW R 1250 GS Adventure ’40 Years GS’ Edition – RM135,500

Powering the new BMW R 1250 GS and the R 1250 GS Adventure is the iconic two-cylinder boxer 1,245cc engine capable of churning 136hp @ 7,750rpm and 143Nm @ 6,250rpm.

The new engine continues to feature BMW’s new ShiftCam Technology that allows variable valve control timing to ensure power delivery remains at an efficient rate during high and low rpm.

Interestingly, the 2021 range also comes fitted with electronic cruise control and Eco Riding Mode as standard.

Customers can now enjoy a three-year warranty and three-year roadside assistance with every purchase of the 2021 BMW R 1250 GS and GS Adventure range.