BMW Motorrad Park Lane is making its debut at this year’s Concours on Savile Row (May 22-23, 2024), with two motorcycles that demonstrate the breadth of the company’s bike range: the R 18 Transcontinental tourer and the CE 02 city machine.
For those who fancy escaping the big city for adventures, the aptly named BMW R 18 Transcontinental is ideal for long-distance rides in American riding style – both for travelling solo and when carrying a pillion and luggage. The Transcontinental’s special features include a front fairing with high windscreen, wind deflector and flaps. The cockpit features four round analogue instruments and a 10.25-inch TFT colour display, plus there’s an additional headlamp, Marshall sound system, engine-protection bars, side cases, top case, seat heating, chrome trim and an engine in silver metallic.
The heart of the new R 18 Transcontinental is a two-cylinder boxer engine, the mighty Big Boxer. Its technical specifications hark back to the traditional air-cooled boxer engines that have underpinned BMW Motorrad machines since the company began manufacturing motorcycles in 1923. The most powerful mainstream production two-cylinder flat-twin bike engine ever built, it has a capacity of 1802cc and generates 91bhp at 4750rpm. In the 2000-4000 rpm range, it delivers more than 150Nm of torque at all times.
Its engine is encased in a double-loop tube frame made of steel, with a backbone of sheet metal-formed parts, while the rear swing arm encloses the axle drive using bolted connections. For the suspension, a telescopic fork and a directly swing-arm-mounted cantilever suspension strut, with travel-dependent damping and automatically adjustable spring preload, ensure superior control of the light-alloy cast wheels and responsive suspension comfort. For the best possible ride response, even when carrying a pillion and fully loaded, the rear suspension features travel-dependent damping and automatic load compensation.
DCC electronic cruise control (Dynamic Cruise Control) is part of the R 18 Transcontinental’s package. DCC automatically regulates the riding speed set by the rider. Dynamic means that the pre-selected speed is kept constant, even when riding downhill. Active Cruise Control (ACC) allows relaxed gliding with distance control – without the rider having to adjust the speed to the vehicle in front. With the aid of radar sensors integrated in the front fairing, the motorcycle is either accelerated automatically to adjust the speed, or the new, standard, fully integral braking system is applied for deceleration purposes, depending on the situation on the road. ACC also ensures particularly safe cornering. Where necessary, the cornering control system automatically reduces the speed, allowing suitable pace for a comfortable and safe banking angle.
The R 18 Transcontinental features three riding modes: Rain, Roll and Rock. Its standard equipment also includes ASC (Automatic Stability Control), plus engine drag torque control (MSR). In addition to other options, a reversing aid makes manoeuvring a comfortable affair, while the Hill Start Control function makes starting off uphill easy.
The R 18 Transcontinental is equipped with an especially comfortable seat and seat heating as standard, to ensure long-distance riding comfort even in two-person operation. The specially designed cockpit’s four instruments and TFT colour display are complemented by a sound system developed in collaboration with the British manufacturer Marshall, featuring two-way speakers integrated into the front of the fairing. The optional Marshall Gold Series Stage 1 and Stage 2 systems provide up to four loudspeakers and two subwoofers with a 280-watt total output.
The original BMW Motorrad accessories range offers a maximum of individualisation options for tailoring the R 18 Transcontinental, such as Option 719 Galaxy Dust metallic paint finish (pictured above).
However, if you’re looking for the perfect all-electric two-wheeled machine to zip you around the capital, then BMW Motorrad has you covered there, too.
Created for the city and the urban environment, the CE 02 ‘eParkourer’ is nimble, practical, robust and reduced to the essentials in terms of design. Large wheels meet the demand for robustness, and at the same time ensure riding fun on many terrains. Riders aged 16 and above can ride the new CE 02 thanks to its maximum power output of 15bhp. With a top speed of 95km/h, progress is speedy on quick roads, and a range of more than 90km allows for extended urban adventures. Thanks to its low weight of only 132kg, and the low seat height of just 750mm, the CE 02 has playful handling characteristics.
The CE 02 comes with the Flow and Surf riding modes as standard. Flow offers the optimal set-up for cruising along in urban traffic, while Surf provides a dynamic riding experience beyond the bustling city traffic. The Flash driving mode is also available, as a sporty and dynamic addition as part of the optional Highline equipment package. The CE 02 comes with an 0.9kW external charger, which means it can be charged via standard household sockets. It’s even faster with the 1.5kW quick charger, available in the Highline optional equipment package.
The chassis is constructed from a torsionally rigid double-loop frame made of tubular steel. Hydraulically damped telescopic forks operate at the front, while a single-sided swingarm and a directly pivoted shock absorber are used at the rear. Wide tyres are mounted on cast light alloy wheels in disc-wheel design, and disc brakes ensure safe braking, with ABS fitted as standard at the front.
BMW Motorrad Park Lane staff will be on hand to discuss the CE 02 and R 18 Transcontinental at Concours on Savile Row, which takes place on May 22-23, 2024. More details on BMW Motorrad Park Lane can be found here.