The worldwide Covid-19 lockdown moved the R18’s official launch date from April to September, leaving bikers keenly anticipating the local launch to see if the R18 has what it takes to let BMW compete among the heavy cruisers.

Local riders clearly like the R18’s specs and classic good looks, as Sales Executive Damien Kotze told Dealerfloor 24 of the R18 cruisers are available, of which 17 have already been pre-ordered.

BMW’s engineers got 67 kW (97 Pferdestärken, for those who still think in terms of horsepower) from the 110kg drivetrain, thanks to an over-square design with a 107.1mm bore and a 100mm stroke in the 1802 cc, two-cylinder boxer engine.

But kilo-Watts are not what cruisers want. They need Newton metres, and here the R18’s big Boxer engine delivers in shovel loads, making its maximum torque of 158 Nm at 3000 rpm and a level 150 Nm between 2000 and 4000 rpm.

Steve Bailey, General Manager at Supertech Motorrad Pinetown said prices start at R319,900, including a five-year unlimited mileage warranty and the list of options include everything a rider can possibly want to “make life a ride”, as the Motorrad slogan reads.