A BMW R 18 Transcontinental has been presented to Pope Leo XIV to be blessed and signed, and then auctioned to raise money for a good cause. The motorcycle in question is an R 18 Transcontinental with a few modifications that make it a one-of-one. The paint chosen is a mother-of-pearl white, the Vatican’s coat of arms is affixed to it, and it now has the blessing and signature of Pope Leo XIV as well. The idea to customize it and auction it for charity is that of Thomas Draxler, founder of Jesus-Biker. The R 18 Transcontinental was donated by BMW Motorrad Deutschland and customized by BMW Motorrad dealer Witzel.
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The One-Of-One Customized BMW R 18 Transcontinental
Pope Leo XIV Has Blessed And Signed It
The BMW R 18 Transcontinental was ridden from the dealership in Sennfeld, Germany, to the Vatican to be presented to the Pope. This ‘Peace Ride’ began on August 31, and made a few stops along the way for church services. Representatives from Jesus-Biker, BMW Motorrad, and BMW Witzel joined the ride, riding mostly variants of the R 18 provided by BMW Germany specially for the ride.
The R 18 Transcontinental was presented to Pope Leo XIV on September 3 by Markus Flash, CEO of BMW Motorrad, and Michael Sommer, head of BMW Motorrad Germany. It will be auctioned by Missio Austria via Sotheby’s on October 7, and the proceeds will be used for children’s aid projects in Madagascar. Until the auction, this R 18 will be on display at BMW Welt in Munich.
What’s Under The Skin?
Mechanically, this BMW bike is the same as any other R 18 Transcontinental, with a 1,802 cc air/oil cooled boxer twin that generates 91 horsepower and 120 pound-feet. The base price of an ordinary R 18 Transcontinental is $24,395, but expect this special example to fetch a little more than that – it is unique, and it is for a good cause!
Not The First Time Pope Has Blessed A Motorcycle
This isn’t the first time that a two-wheeler blessed and signed by a Pope has been put up for auction. In 2021, a Pinarello Dogma F12 road bicycle was gifted to Pope Francis by Egan Bernal, and was auctioned for charity. Earlier, in 2019, the very same Jesus Bikers group had commissioned a custom Harley-Davidson built in Wurzburg, Germany, and it was then donated to the Pontifical Mission Societies. His Holiness Pope Francis signed the ‘Holy Davidson’ as well. This bike, called ‘White Unique’ and with gold plating, had a winning bid of the equivalent of just under $57,000. Bonhams was chosen to conduct the auction. The proceeds went toward building an orphanage and school in Uganda.
The Transcontinental Is The Full-Dress Tourer In The Lineup
The R 18 is BMW’s full-size cruiser in the lineup, and it has different variants like the cruiser itself, a bagger, and this, the full-dress tourer. The R 18 Transcontinental offers the kind of laid-back comfortable touring experience for both rider and pillion that you’d otherwise get with models like the Harley-Davidson Street Glide Ultra, Indian Roadmaster, and Honda Gold Wing Tour.
BMW R 18 Transcontinental Engine Specs
|
Engine Type |
Longitudinal boxer twin, air-cooled, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder, two spark plugs per cylinder |
|
Displacement |
1,802 cc |
|
Bore |
107.1 mm |
|
Stroke |
100 mm |
|
Compression Ratio |
9.6:1 |
|
Power |
91 HP @ 4,750 RPM |
|
Torque |
120 LB-FT @ 3,000 RPM |
|
Transmission |
6 speed |
|
Final Drive |
Exposed Cardan shaft drive |
|
Top Speed |
>111 MPH |
|
Claimed Fuel Economy |
50 MPG |
The R 18 Transcontinental distinguishes itself by following the BMW way, utilizing a horizontally opposed twin, or ‘boxer’ engine that is air and oil cooled. This is BMW’s largest boxer engine in history, and it is unique in many different ways. It is styled to reflect BMW’s aircraft manufacturing looks, and the R 18 itself is a physically imposing motorcycle because of its size, and that feeling is added to with the fairing, wind deflectors, hard luggage, and trunk that doubles up as the pillion backrest. There are elements like the exposed Cardan shaft drive that make the R 18 Transcontinental stand out.
Old-School Looks, Modern Features
The R 18 Transcontinental isn’t short on features, either; it might look old school, but it is packed with current-day tech. A massive 10.25 inch TFT color screen sits front and center on the dashboard, and it is equipped with Bluetooth connectivity and navigation. Above it sit four analog dials that display the fuel level, speed, engine revs, and a very Rolls-Royce-like ‘power reserve’. Marshall supplies the audio system for the R 18 Transcontinental, and this can be upgraded to a Gold Series Stage 1 or Stage 2, depending on how much you love your music. Dynamic cruise control is standard, as are cornering headlamps, keyless ignition, stability control, and ride modes named ‘Rock’ and ‘Roll’. On the options list are features like active cruise control, which uses radar to keep a preprogrammed distance to the vehicle in front. The active cruise control also automatically reduces speed in corners.