There are not a lot of motorcycles on the planet that announce themselves with as much pomp and show as the R18. One from BMW Motorrad’s Heritage line and an ode to the olden-golden age of the Bavarian marque’s history, the R18 is a motorcycle that impressed me a lot when I got to ride it for the first time. Ever since then, I have been looking forward to taking it for a spin again. But that was a long time ago, and since then, BMW has launched a fair few iterations of the R18. The one in question here is called the R18 Roctane… and I got to ride it in Germany recently. 

Now, the name is quite straightforward. If you remember my account of the first time I rode an R18, I mentioned that it had riding modes called… Rain, Roll, and Rock. If they are not self-explanatory, Rain is mild, Roll is for a nice run down a highway, and Rock, well, it is meant for ballers! Based on that, Roctane combines Rock and Octane. So it is a Rock-ier variant of the R18. If that is not self-explanatory, let us get to what you’re all here for. 

The R18 is all about the old days of motorcycling. Cruisers were badass lumps of metal that could move at frightening speeds. The R18 is a modern take on that. But the R18 Roctane takes its heritage more seriously. 

First of all, there is metal wherever a rider lays their hands on. It is a far cry from the plastic-laden motorcycles of today. Another difference is in the console. While some R18s are complete with an infotainment screen, the Roctane makes do with a little analogue dash. Moreover, it is mounted on the headlight bucket, which is a detail I really liked. 

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Another notable difference is in the wheels. It gets a 21” cast wheel on the front, paired with an 18” rear wheel. The handlebar is also a little different. It is not quite an ape hanger, but they are still well-raised. Other than that, it continues with the R18’s long and low silhouette with that Boxer poking out on each side. There are other bits common with the other R18s, and my favourite is that it continues the tradition of having a ‘Berlin Built’ insignia in the dial. 

The build quality is absolutely impeccable, and I had zero qualms in that department. So overall, the R18 Roctane looks like a suave cruiser that exudes elegance. I am also a fan of the blacked-out colour that they have got going here. It is a motorcycle that is a statement of one’s arrival. Ride to any hotel in a tux (with CE armours, of course), and it will get you all the attention and respect you can ask for. 

How does it feel when you get on the motorcycle? Well, the seat is very low, which not only aids comfort but also helps in other, more important matters. The motorcycle weighs over 370 kilos. It is light compared to some other R18s, but over 370 is a lot of heft. So a low seat gives the rider more leverage to handle this mammoth. And thank God for the reverse assist on this one because, well, good luck trying to drag this mass of metal without it. 

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Now, the reverse feature is quite interesting on the R18 Roctane. While riding around in Germany, a back road of sorts had my attention, and I just ventured in. The road was gravelly, and it got narrow as well. So, obviously, I needed assistance in turning it around. 

Here’s how one goes about it: you put the motorcycle in neutral, then pull a little lever on the left side, and then you press the power button to engage the reverse mechanism. It took me a bit to get used to, but it is a nifty and almost imperative feature on the Roctane unless you are a bodybuilder. 

I have talked a lot about the Roctane without mentioning the engine. Remember how I mentioned a motorcycle announcing its arrival in the beginning? Well, the Roctane does that in style. 

As soon as you thumb the starter, it rocks to the side, thanks to that massive boxer engine. As you can tell from the name R18, it is 1,800cc… 1,802cc if you are precise like that. It makes 91 bhp, which is modest. But that is not what the R18 is all about. It is about torque, and that… it has got in spades. 163 Nm. 

In addition to the torque that gets you going even without releasing the clutch fully, the sound, even at idle, stirs your heart like few motorcycles can. The torque is massive, and most of it is available right from the get-go. So the motorcycle that felt like a tank at a standstill feels like a feather as soon as you get going. 

Rev it, and the soundtrack deepens, and the R18 Roctane surges forward with urgency. Not overwhelming urgency, but still, the engine wastes no time in reminding you that each of the cylinders in there is displacing 901cc. The story of Rain, Roll, and Rock riding modes continues on the R18 Roctane as well, but then, it has become sort of a hallmark of the R18. 

This is a motorcycle that belongs on the highway. It can cruise effortlessly for days on end, and neither the engine nor the rider experiences any signs of fatigue. I was quite surprised when my neck did not scream at me for rest despite the motorcycle not having a windshield. In terms of dynamics and geometry, it is a very solid motorcycle. Thanks to the 21” front wheel and the massive wheelbase, it feels planted regardless of the speed. In that regard, the weight helps as well. 

A department where the weight should have been a hindrance is handling. But it is not. Even on winding roads, the R18 Roctane simply flows. The suspension offers comfort for days, and yet, it is not squishy and gives the rider enough confidence to keep pushing. The R18 Roctane could have cornered even harder if it had the cornering clearance. But with the floorboards and the Boxer sticking out, you’d better not tip it too far. 

Compared to other R18s like the Transcontinental and some other big cruisers, the R18 Roctane encourages spirited riding. Now, on the matter of floorboards, the R18 Roctane has mid-mounted controls. What you have to take care of is where your foot is. Since the heads of the engine are right in front of your boot. And this is an air-oil cooled engine and a massive one at that… so it does get hot. So finding the right position for your foot takes a bit. But then, it has a heel-toe shifter, so you don’t have to move your foot around too much as you would have with a motorcycle with a toe-only shifter. 

There are panniers at the back, and while they had ample space for my drone, camera, and some other stuff, they are not the most spacious units out there. But then again, if you want that, you are better off with the Transcontinental. 

So… what is the R18 Roctane all about? It is a sportier take on the fantastic R18 platform. And what is the R18 all about? It is about a cruiser built with German engineering. It is BMW’s idea of a modern retro machine that is made to be as retro as possible without making it impossible to ride. I am someone who likes sportbikes more than any other class of motorcycles. And yet, I could not help but be impressed by the R18 Roctane. 

It has tons of character. It has presence in dollops. It is a cruiser, so hundreds of miles on the highway are a breeze. The engine is a gem. Despite its size, it can be ridden with a lot of gusto, and it just goes with it. So what’s the catch? Nothing really. 

I am not a big fan of reviews. I have to call my experience a review because that is what the norm asks me to. In my opinion, reviews are personal. One may like a motorcycle and another may not. If you ask me, I really like this motorcycle. And if the million+ miles (possibly) that I have ridden so far mean anything to you… I guess you can take my word for it when I say that the R18 Roctane is simply fantastic.