Harley-Davidson Slim Challenged by BMW R18
By Bruce Montcombroux

An emotional factor was a key consideration in comparison.

 

The pipe on the BMW is even more hideous than the stock exhaust that came on the V-rod.

 

Um, its not... thanks.

 

Everyone always chases the leader. BMW produced a nice bike in the R18, but it’s still falls short of meeting the status of “icon”.

 

My local BMW dealer doesn't have an R-18 on the floor, and has no plans for one. As he told me, the bikes are stacked up in crates in warehouses after they unload them off the boat. No dealers are ordering them, because there aren't any customers even asking about them.

The best review I've read recently, which is the comparison between the R-18 and the Softail Slim, ripped the R-18 as basically just a terrible motorcycle.

 

Have *you* riden one? I have and it has a lot going for it even compared to the M8 softails. The engine is more characterful than the M8, and has more torque lower down without having to resort to Harley's stage x bullshit. The bike is well made with nice details. It has presence and is a nice relaxing bike to ride. It also rides better than softails. I own a 2019 Fatbob.

Cheers,

M

 

IMO that's an exaggeration; there's a lot they liked but it does have some serious flaws, making it functionally inferior to the Slim.

 

That hideous exhaust is a deal killer for me, What were the BMW engineers thinking?

 

Yeah, it's baffling to me that they use the same tech as cheap 1960's Hondas, stamped muffler halves and ugly folded over seams, on such an important visual part.

Maybe because they know the first thing most will do is replace them with something with a bit more rumble

As it is the sound is reminiscent of the Honda 160's of my youth, which had 360 deg cranks and the same even firing order.

 

Revzilla had a good comparison on Slim vs R18 and PanAm Versus GS 1250. Each brand going into the others niche.