2024 BMW R 18 Transcontinental Cruisers Review Specs

The 2024 BMW R 18 Transcontinental Cruisers offers a premium and luxurious touring experience. As part of the R 18 family, it proudly carries BMW Motorrad’s heritage while being thoroughly modern. Its distinctive front end, tall windscreen, and powerful Big Boxer engine promise smooth, confident miles on the open road.

The automatic load compensation system intelligently adjusts the chassis to match the motorcycle’s load, enhancing comfort. Built with customization in mind, this machine is a canvas for personal expression—every journey is a chance to discover more about yourself, in a word: classic #SoulFuel.

The 2024 BMW R 18 Transcontinental Cruisers, powered by the Big Boxer engine, is engineered for effortless long-distance cruising.

2024 BMW R 18 Transcontinental Cruisers – Features and Specs

Colors

• Black Storm Metallic is the standard color option and remains unchanged for this model year.
• Manhattan Metallic Matte is also available as an optional color and is carried over without changes.
• Racing Blue Metallic replaces the previous Gravity Blue Metallic as a new optional paint choice.

Best of the Best

When picking up the 2024 BMW R 18 Transcontinental Cruisers from BMW Motorrad’s new HQ at Continental Cars in Auckland, the experience was far more detailed than with most bikes. Instead of a simple key handover, this motorcycle comes with a substantial key fob that matches the bike’s bold silhouette—BMW assumed that fans of big bikes appreciate big accessories to go with them.

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Pressing the central button on the dashboard brings the bike to life, lighting up the impressive 10.25-inch TFT screen that welcomes you before showing an image of the motorcycle itself. The fob also includes a button for central locking—a surprisingly luxurious touch, enabling the luggage to be locked or unlocked remotely. The top box features gas struts that raise it smoothly when opened, ensuring your passenger’s helmet, which you’ve likely placed on the seat, doesn’t get knocked off.

Inside, an optional interior light plugs into the power port, although 2024 BMW R 18 Transcontinental Cruisers uses larger power sockets, so an adapter is often needed to convert it to USB. This setup, however, is more accessible than the secondary charging port beneath the seat. The tank flap between your legs reveals wireless phone charging and a USB port—a clever and stylish solution.

The menu system on the TFT display will feel familiar to anyone who has used other BMW Motorrad models. The intuitive scroll wheel on the left handlebar allows you to navigate easily, with simple button presses to select options. No instructions were needed—unlike figuring out how to engage reverse on this sizeable machine. For such a large bike, parking without considering your exit can be challenging, but thankfully, BMW has addressed this.

A small lever beneath the left knee selects reverse when the bike is neutral. Press the starter button, and the bike begins to roll backward—a clever and much-appreciated feature when you’ve parked carelessly and need a quick way out.

Although the bike wears a classic cruiser look, it is packed with advanced technology, including a top-tier adaptive cruise control system. With a windscreen large enough to shield a bus, speeds can sneak up on you, making cruise control more than just a convenience—it becomes essential. Adjusting the system is simple: press the activation button to display the green icon, then use the handlebar controls to set your following distance and speed. It’s efficient and easy, particularly useful on long rides, and sure to be appreciated by riders in North America.

As is standard, you can connect your smartphone via an app to the bike, then pair it to your helmet’s headset. But even without a headset, the onboard Marshall speaker system is loud enough to hear clearly at highway speeds. It’s loud enough to rival the sound systems of young drivers cruising at night.

The audio is no joke. The bike was parked one morning with the phone still at full volume. When it started, the sound was so loud that it startled me and the neighborhood dogs. Thankfully, the bike was on its sidestand, or I might have jumped clean off.

Cali Cruising

The engine’s sound is truly satisfying, and the three riding modes—Rain, Rock, and Roll—each offer a different throttle response and power delivery. I couldn’t decide between Rock and Roll. Rain mode didn’t seem necessary in fair weather. Roll mode offered smooth throttle control, making it ideal for city traffic and early familiarity with the bike. Switching to Rock mode unleashed a more urgent and throaty performance when the road cleared.

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And what a performance it is! BMW, typically known for engineering restraint, has created something wild—yet in a very German way. The nearly 1-liter pistons produce smooth power delivery, never feeling rough or harsh. From 2,000 to 4,000 rpm, the engine offers a surge of torque that feels like an invisible force pushing you forward. Producing 150 Nm of torque from just 2,000 rpm, the 2024 BMW R 18 Transcontinental Cruisers is a masterclass in what torque means.

Above 4,000 rpm, the power plateaus, and by 4,750 rpm, the engine tops out at 91 horsepower. But this bike isn’t about revving to redline—shifting up early and riding the wave of torque is where the fun lies. Passing slower traffic becomes thrilling as the bike surges forward.

However, those big boxer cylinders create a minor ergonomic compromise. Their placement forces the footboards and controls slightly rearward, initially feeling unnatural. I found it awkward to engage the heel/toe shifter, often needing to lift my foot to reposition. Over time, it became more manageable, but it does take some adjustment.

More Than Soul

Given its American-inspired styling and name, the Transcontinental seems like a bike built for straight highways, not agile handling. That was my initial assumption, especially after riding the standard 2024 BMW R 18 Transcontinental Cruisers, which felt powerful but reluctant in corners.

Surprisingly, the 2024 BMW R 18 Transcontinental Cruisers exceeded expectations. It handled tight turns with much more confidence than expected, leading me to skip the main highway in favor of a twistier route on the way back to Auckland. Its road manners in the corners transformed my perception entirely—this cruiser isn’t just for the long haul, it’s also a capable dance partner on winding roads.

2024 BMW R 18 Transcontinental Cruisers – Price

The new 2024 BMW R 18 Transcontinental Cruisers is available at $23,995 only.

2024 BMW R 18 Transcontinental Cruisers – Technical Specifications

Engine

Mileage/consumption

Electrical system

Power transmission

Suspension/brakes

Dimensions/weights