BMW celebrates 100 years of making bikes

BMW is gearing up to introduce the second-gen M2 (G87) in India, with a price announcement to happen in May

Considering how prolific its cars are, it is easy to overlook the fact that BMW is a pioneer when it comes to motorcycles. In fact, the German company has been churning out two-wheelers for a century now, and to celebrate that, it recently rolled out the R 18 and R nineT 100 Years editions. The two limited-run special edition bikes have now been launched in India at ₹25.90 lakh and ₹24 lakh (ex-showroom, India), respectively.

At the aforementioned prices, the 100 Years Editions of both motorcycles are ₹5 to 6 lakh more expensive than their respective base versions — the standard R 18 costs ₹19.90 lakh, while the base R nineT comes in at ₹19 lakh. This is because the special editions come loaded with a number of optional extras, including parts from the Option 719 catalogue. There is a widespread use of chrome on both machines as this was the aesthetic of the motorcycle industry when BMW first started building bikes back in the 1920s. 

On the R NineT, the chrome parts such as the fork tubes, air intakes and Option 719 Classic black anodized rims are paired with black components. The milled cylinder head covers, front engine cover, seat holder and oil filler plug are from the Option 719 Billet Pack Shadow collection, while the adjustable hand levers, pegs, expansion tank covers and bar-end mirrors are from the Billet Pack Shadow II collection. Also standard are an adaptive cornering headlight, heated grips, cruise control, and Riding Modes Pro. 

The R 18 100 Years edition sports a similar chrome and black appearance, and one of its more distinctive elements is the two-tone black and oxblood red, embossed with a diamond pattern. It also comes with a chrome Akrapovič exhaust system with perforated tailpipe covers shaped like the BMW logo.

Both special editions are limited to just 1,923 units each, globally (to signify the year that BMW began making motorcycles).

BMW is gearing up to introduce the second-gen M2 (G87) in India, with a price announcement to happen in May. Bookings for the new BMW M2 may also commence soon.

As far as dimensions go, the new M2 is 219mm shorter than the M4 — at 4,575mm bumper to bumper — but 114mm longer than the previous-generation M2. The new BMW M2 gets an aggressive body kit, which includes a stylish and functional rear spoiler, a low-slung GT-style rear diffuser, quad-exit exhausts and a unique front end with frameless horizontal kidney grilles and wide-set headlights. On the inside, the new BMW M2 gets a curved display for infotainment and instrumentation with M specific graphics.