A warm welcome back to Total Motorcycle 2023 and our 24th year online as we pass 400 million readers thanks to your much appreciated support! As TMW hits our 24th year, BMW is celebrating their 100th year with their new 2023 BMW R18 & RnineT 100 Years: 1923 Limited Editions globally. In September 1923, the first BMW motorcycle, a 2023 R32 494cc with just 8.5 horsepower was unveiled at the German Motor Show. Can you imagine 8.5hp from a 494cc engine? My lawn mower has more hp today! Anyways, those humble beginnings started an unprecedented BMW story for the next 100 years and the 2023 BMW Motorcycle Model Guide we see today on Total Motorcycle.
As we get closer to our 1/4 century online (wow, 25 years coming up in September 2023) I want to really thank you all for being here and along with me on this great ride. I, like many, are expecting a recession in early 2023 and I know it’s not going to be great for everyone who is trying to get through it but also for TMW and my ad rates. As I don’t charge for anything (no fees, no paywalls, no memberships) I 100% depend on ad revenue so please consider NOT using an ad blocker and DO consider clicking on a few ads here and there that interest you. It does go directly to me running Total Motorcycle and helping all the millions of riders (and want to be riders) as well as returning riders worldwide. If you want to throw me a donation (hugely appreciated) please contact me.
Read all about it and more right here. Start at our early 1975 BMW Model Guides and move on up, it’s quite the ride.
BMW Motorrad USA proudly presents the 2023 BMW R 18 100 Years Edition and the BMW R nineT 100 Years Edition to commemorate 100 Years of BMW Motorrad. In keeping with the year in which BMW Motorrad was founded, each model will be limited to 1,923 units globally.
In December 1922, BMW chief designer Max Friz put the first full-scale BMW motorcycle on the drawing board. At its heart was a 494 cc, 8.5 hp, air-cooled two-cylinder, four-stroke boxer engine. The first BMW motorcycle, the R 32, was unveiled in September 1923 at the German Motor Show in Berlin. Production began that same month in an area of the BMW engine works on the edge of the Munich’s Oberwiesenfeld airfield. Just 56 motorcycles were built that first year. Those humble beginnings of BMW motorcycle production launched an unprecedented success story that would span a century.
BMW R nineT 100 Years Edition
The design of the R nineT is shaped by 100 years of motorcycle production and by BMW Motorrad’s unwavering passion for the boxer engine. The classic roadster design recipe begins with a compact tank and an upright seating position and extends to premium materials and stylish design elements. The new R nineT 100 Years becomes an exclusive anniversary edition thanks to numerous special features. The heart is still the air/oil-cooled, 1,170 cc, 109 hp two-cylinder boxer engine. In the anniversary edition, the legendary engine is accompanied by chrome and Option 719 parts, including paint-on-chrome surfaces and exquisitely milled parts and wheels.
Paint finishes in combination with chrome surfaces also have an almost 100-year tradition in motorcycle production. Chrome surfaces, usually consisting of a copper, nickel and final chrome layer are known for their hardness and resulting high durability, very good protection against corrosion, but above all by their radiant, mirror-like shine. This made chrome a common stylistic device for designers, from the late 1920s onwards. The BMW R 75/5 with its chrome-plated tank sides and side covers, for example, is legendary within BMW Motorrad enthusiast circles. With the new BMW R nineT 100 Years and
R 18 100 Years and the Classic Chrome surface finish, BMW Motorrad is reviving this incomparably beautiful and sophisticated interplay of paint and chrome.
50 years ago, the “paint on chrome” technology did not pose much of a problem for motorcycle manufacturers. At that time, the solvent-based paints combined well with chromium — significantly better than the solvent-free paints of today. Today, the 100 Year Edition models use only REACH compliant Chromium III. The chrome plating process and the preparatory work are extremely complex: In preparation, the metal tank for example, is first polished to a high gloss. The surface must be completely free of dust and scratches for further treatment. After this step, the part is immersed in various electroplating baths. Layers of copper, nickel and ultimately chromium are applied. The finished chrome-plated part is then painted in several layers; a final coat of clear coat covers the entire tank.
The metal tanks on both anniversary models feature this paint on chrome process, called Classic Chrome. On the R nineT, the tank finish combines black paint with chrome and white double-pinstriping, knee pads and a 100 Years badge. Classic Chrome is also found on the seat’s rear cover. The front wheel fender is painted in black and features white double-pinstriping. A two-tone seat in black/oxblood red rounds off the design.
Numerous black components such as fork tubes, air intake snorkels and some Option 719 components complement the look. The R nineT 100 Years includes Option 719 Classic wheels with black anodized rims, the Option 719 Billet Pack Shadow with milled cylinder head covers, front engine cover, seat holders, oil filler plug and the Option 719 Billet Pack Shadow II, consisting of adjustable hand levers and foot pegs, passenger foot pegs as well as expansion tank covers and handlebar end mirrors. The 100 Years Edition also includes an adaptive turning headlight, heated grips, cruise control and Riding Modes Pro. An anti-theft alarm system can be fitted as a dealer installed accessory.
The 2023 BMW R nineT 100 Years and R 18 100 Years Editions
BMW R 18 100 Years Edition
The unmistakable center piece of the R 18 100 Years is the 1,802 cc, 91 hp boxer motor, the largest displacement engine ever installed in a BMW motorcycle. Both technically and visually, the BMW R 18 borrows from famous BMW models such as the 1936 BMW R 5 and puts the focus back on the essentials of motorcycling: Purist and no-frills, with the boxer engine as the epicenter of the riding experience. The big boxer is complemented by numerous special features and details. The paint finish of the R 18 100 Years, like that of the anniversary model of the R nineT, is in Classic Chrome and thus combines black paintwork and high-gloss chrome surfaces as well as white double-pinstriping and a 100 Years badge. The paint-on-chrome Classic Chrome finish is also found on the rear fender in combination with white double-pinstriping. The front fender and the side covers are painted in black, complemented by white double-pinstriping on the front fender. The Option 719 seat is upholstered in the two-tone combination black/oxblood red and features diamond embossing.
Black is a symbolic and traditional BMW Motorrad color and also adorns the engine, transmission housing and rear axle drive. The exact designation of the color is Avus Black – a nod to the legendary 12.1-mile-long high-speed racetrack running through the Grunewald Forest, West of Berlin, where BMW Motorrad once celebrated great racing successes and where the AVUS monument with BMW Motorrad factory rider Ernst Henne still stands today. Berlin is also home to the BMW Motorrad production plant. The plant, located in Berlin-Spandau, is the lead plant for BMW Motorrad’s international motorcycle production.
The R 18 100 Years Edition is complemented by numerous Chrome design parts. The durable galvanic surface coating can be found on: The handlebar fittings, gear shift and foot brake levers, handlebar clamps, handlebar weights, mirrors, brake master cylinders, brake calipers, engine cover, cylinder head covers and intake manifold covers.
The 2023 BMW R nineT 100 Years and R 18 100 Years Editions
Other features of the BMW R 18 100 Years also include a chromed Akrapovič rear muffler with perforated tailpipe trim in the shape of the BMW logo. Safety and comfort are ensured by ASC Automatic Stability Control, Headlight Pro, cruise control and heated grips.
With the Heritage line R nineT and R 18 models, BMW Motorrad is paying tribute to its 100-year history and tradition, which is inextricably linked with the legendary boxer engine. Tradition and history can also be found at the BMW Motorrad production plant in Berlin – the birthplace of almost every BMW motorcycle for over 50 years. The iconic design and the unmistakable boxer engine illustrate that it’s about the roots of BMW Motorrad, about historically inspired shapes and details, about an authentic riding experience and about reducing motorbikes to the essentials. In short: The Heritage line experience is all about a unique attitude to life, shaped by the legendary boxer engine.
100 YEARS OF “MAKE LIFE A RIDE” YOUR STORY MAKES OURS COMPLETE
BMW Motorrad’s history is characterised by an urge to succeed. Succeed in challenges and celebrate success. However, there have also been setbacks and it’s taken quite some perseverance. Giving up was never an option. The company’s history is mainly about people sharing a passion: adventurers, dreamers, inventors, athletes, visionaries – men and women aiming to revolutionise the streets with great ideas on two wheels. 100 years of the “Make Life a Ride” spirit. In this spirit, we take the time to simultaneously look at our past and our future: at events and highlights in the anniversary year 2023. And lots of ideas are still to come.
One history, countless stories
The people substantially shaping the history of BMW motorcycles go beyond the norm. It all began with Chief Designer Max Friz, who designed the first BMW motorcycle that was showcased at the German Motor Show on 28 September 1923. He was followed by designers, racers and pioneers who also challenged the status quo. In 1924, Rudolf Schleicher played a leading role in the development of the BMW R 37’s engine, the first BMW Motorrad sports model. In 1937, Ernst Jakob Henne broke the land speed record on a BMW 500 Kompressor fitted with full trim panel, reaching 279.503 km/h. In 1939, Georg “Schorsch” Meier won the Senior TT on the Isle of Man as the first non-British person on a BMW Kompressor. Even today, people at BMW Motorrad are still thinking ahead, developing new vehicle concepts based on new drives, for example.
Standard Equipment
BMW R nineT 100 Years Edition
- 1,170 cc air/oil-cooled two-cylinder, four-stroke boxer engine.
- 109 hp @ 7,250 rpm and 85.5 lb-ft torque @ 6,000 rpm.
- Constant mesh six-speed transmission with shaft drive.
- ASC Automatic Stability Control.
- BMW Motorrad ABS Pro
- DBC Dynamic Brake Control
- DTC Dynamic Traction Control
- MSR Dynamic Engine Brake Control
- Full LED lighting with Adaptive turning headlight.
- Heated Grips
- Ride Modes Pro (adds DYNAMIC mode to existing ROAD and RAIN modes)
- USB port.
Special Edition Features
- Avus Black paint and Classic Chrome highlights.
- 100 Years “1 of 1923” BMW Motorrad tank badge.
- Classic Chrome / Avus Black 4.5-gallon fuel tank with white double-pinstriping.
- Avus Black front fender with white double-pinstriping.
- Black inverted 45 mm front fork, black frame, and air intake runners.
- Black / oxblood red seat with solo seat back rest.
- Classic Chrome / Avus Black rear seat cover with white double-pinstriping.
- Option 719 Classic spoked wheels with black anodized rims.
- Chrome plated exhaust manifold.
- Option 719 Billet Pack Shadow
- Milled aluminum front engine cover, cylinder head covers, seat brackets, and oil filler plug.
- Option 719 Billet Pack Shadow II
- Milled aluminum adjustable hand control levers and foot controls, foot pegs, expansion tank covers and bar end mirrors.
BMW R 18 100 Years Edition
- 1,802 cc air/oil-cooled, two-cylinder, four-stroke boxer engine.
- 91 hp @ 4,750 rpm and 116 lb-ft of torque @ 3,000 rpm.
- Constant-mesh 6-speed transmission with nickel-plated drive shaft.
- ASC Automatic Stability Control.
- MSR Dynamic Engine Brake Control.
- DBC Dynamic Brake Control.
- BMW Motorrad Integral ABS
- Full LED lighting.
- Keyless Ride.
- Heated Grips.
- Cruise Control.
- Reverse Assist.
Special Edition Features
- Avus Black paint and Classic Chrome highlights.
- 100 Years “1 of 1923” BMW Motorrad tank badge.
- Classic Chrome / Avus Black 4.2-gallon fuel tank with white double-pinstriping.
- Classic Chrome / Avus Black rear fender with white double-pinstriping.
- Avus Black front fender with white double-pinstriping.
- Black engine and front fork covers.
- Option 719 black / oxblood red diamond-embossed solo seat.
- Chrome Akrapovič rear muffler with perforated BMW logo tailpipe trim.
- Design Option Chrome
- Chrome plated front engine cover, cylinder covers, exhaust manifold, handlebar fittings, gear shift and foot brake levers, handlebar clamps, handlebar weights, mirrors, brake master cylinders, brake calipers, and intake covers.
Optional Equipment
BMW R nineT 100 Years Edition
- Anti-Theft Alarm – Dealer installed accessory.
BMW R 18 100 Years Edition
- Floorboards – Dealer installed accessory.
- Anti-Theft Alarm – Dealer installed accessory.
2023 BMW R18 100 Years Guide
2023 BMW R18 100 Years: 100 YEARS OF SOUL IN ONE MOTORCYCLE.
Introducing the 2023 BMW R18 100 Years…
OUR LIMITED EDITION MODEL FOR THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY
One hundred years ago, the R 32 kick-started a unique success story. Today we are celebrating our eventful history with a new icon: the BMW R 18 100 Years. Limited to 1,923 units, it is a model for absolute aficionados that conveys a feeling of nostalgia.
The edition model boasts historic features with plenty of chrome. For example, the drop-shaped fuel tank with white lines, an element that made the R 5 unmistakable in as early as 1936. And of course the unique boxer engine. #SoulFuel in its most exclusive form.
One of 1,923
The glamour of ten decades can be this timeless and modern. This motorcycle was, is and remains a design icon. A statement. This limited edition is an icon thanks to its attention to historic details. And its willingness to be glamorous. A fair bit from being modest. The generous use of chrome lends it its radiance. A true masterpiece. The 100 Years badge makes it official: “1 of 1,923” says it all. This means that it’s not a bike for everyone, it’s one for genuine aficionados.
All things chrome
A dazzling appearance: the 100 Years model comes with a chrome design option involving many elegant chrome parts, such as hand and foot levers, handlebar clamps, front engine cover and mirrors.
Classic chrome
The Classic chrome paintwork sets exciting highlights. The paint-on-chrome method ensures a high-quality look. The white lines underscore its historic origin.
2023 BMW R nineT 100 Years Guide
2023 BMW R nineT 100 Years: UNWAVERING BMW BOXER PASSION.
Introducing the 2023 BMW R nineT 100 Years…
The design of the R nineT is shaped by 100 years of motorcycle production and by BMW Motorrad’s unwavering passion for the boxer engine. The classic roadster design recipe begins with a compact tank and an upright seating position and extends to premium materials and stylish design elements. The new R nineT 100 Years becomes an exclusive anniversary edition thanks to numerous special features. The heart is still the air/oil-cooled, 1,170 cc, 109 hp two-cylinder boxer engine. In the anniversary edition, the legendary engine is accompanied by chrome and Option 719 parts, including paint-on-chrome surfaces and exquisitely milled parts and wheels.
Paint finishes in combination with chrome surfaces also have an almost 100-year tradition in motorcycle production. Chrome surfaces, usually consisting of a copper, nickel and final chrome layer are known for their hardness and resulting high durability, very good protection against corrosion, but above all by their radiant, mirror-like shine. This made chrome a common stylistic device for designers, from the late 1920s onwards. The BMW R 75/5 with its chrome-plated tank sides and side covers, for example, is legendary within BMW Motorrad enthusiast circles. With the new BMW R nineT 100 Years and
R 18 100 Years and the Classic Chrome surface finish, BMW Motorrad is reviving this incomparably beautiful and sophisticated interplay of paint and chrome.
50 years ago, the “paint on chrome” technology did not pose much of a problem for motorcycle manufacturers. At that time, the solvent-based paints combined well with chromium — significantly better than the solvent-free paints of today. Today, the 100 Year Edition models use only REACH compliant Chromium III. The chrome plating process and the preparatory work are extremely complex: In preparation, the metal tank for example, is first polished to a high gloss. The surface must be completely free of dust and scratches for further treatment. After this step, the part is immersed in various electroplating baths. Layers of copper, nickel and ultimately chromium are applied. The finished chrome-plated part is then painted in several layers; a final coat of clear coat covers the entire tank.
The metal tanks on both anniversary models feature this paint on chrome process, called Classic Chrome. On the R nineT, the tank finish combines black paint with chrome and white double-pinstriping, knee pads and a 100 Years badge. Classic Chrome is also found on the seat’s rear cover. The front wheel fender is painted in black and features white double-pinstriping. A two-tone seat in black/oxblood red rounds off the design.
Numerous black components such as fork tubes, air intake snorkels and some Option 719 components complement the look. The R nineT 100 Years includes Option 719 Classic wheels with black anodized rims, the Option 719 Billet Pack Shadow with milled cylinder head covers, front engine cover, seat holders, oil filler plug and the Option 719 Billet Pack Shadow II, consisting of adjustable hand levers and foot pegs, passenger foot pegs as well as expansion tank covers and handlebar end mirrors. The 100 Years Edition also includes an adaptive turning headlight, heated grips, cruise control and Riding Modes Pro. An anti-theft alarm system can be fitted as a dealer installed accessory.
The classic from the Heritage family has, in addition to its iconic air/oil-cooled boxer engine, numerous highlights like the adjustable suspension strut, the analog dual round instruments, and the “Rain” and “Road” riding modes. Find out all about the technical data and extensive standard and special equipment here.
