2026 Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST vs 2026 BMW R 18 Transcontinental - Spec Comparison
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2026 Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST
The 2026 Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST blends classic cruiser styling with modern touring capability, appealing to riders seeking comfortable long-distance travel without sacrificing iconic design. Powered by a 117 cubic inch Milwaukee-Eight engine delivering 114 horsepower, it features an inverted fork and relaxed geometry ideal for both highway cruising and spirited cornering on varied terrain.
2026 BMW R 18 Transcontinental
The BMW R 18 Transcontinental is a heavyweight cruiser-touring machine designed for riders seeking long-distance comfort and classic styling. Powered by an 1802cc boxer engine delivering 91 horsepower and strong low-end torque, it excels at relaxed highway cruising while maintaining the iconic BMW flat-twin character. Built for adventure-minded touring enthusiasts who prioritize comfort and presence over sportiness.
2026 Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST vs 2026 BMW R 18 Transcontinental: the key differences
Both are cruisers, so this is a like-for-like choice.
- The 2026 Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST makes 23 hp more (114 vs 91 hp).
- The 2026 Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST is 110 kg lighter (323 vs 433 kg).
- The 2026 Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST has a 53 mm lower seat (686 vs 739 mm), which helps shorter riders.
- The 2026 BMW R 18 Transcontinental carries 5 litres more fuel (18.9 vs 23.9 L).
2026 Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST: Designed for confident open-road cruising and light sport-touring, mixing big V-twin torque with a firmer, more capable suspension setup than a typical cruiser.
2026 BMW R 18 Transcontinental: Built for effortless, high-comfort long-distance touring with a passenger and full luggage rather than sport riding.
Verdict: Choose the 2026 Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST if you want more power, lighter weight and a lower seat. Choose the 2026 BMW R 18 Transcontinental if you want a bigger tank. Check the full table below for every figure, and the size comparison for fit.
| Specification | 2026 Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST | 2026 BMW R 18 Transcontinental |
|---|---|---|
| Other | ||
| Category | Cruiser | Cruiser |
| Fuel Tank Material | Metal | - |
| Rake | 28 | - |
| Color Options | - | Black Storm Metallic, Dragonfire Red Metallic, Option 719 Tanzanite |
| Carrying capacity | - | Hard saddle bags. Top case. |
| Brake fluid | - | DOT 4 |
| Engine | ||
| Capacity: | 1923.0 ccm (117.35 cubic inches) | 1802.0 ccm (109.96 cubic inches) |
| CO2 Emissions | 135 CO2 g/km | - |
| EPA Est. Fuel Consumption | 5.75 L/100km (40.9 US mpg) | - |
| EPA CO Emissions | 0.6 CO g/km | - |
| Engine Type | V-Twin, four-stroke | Boxer, four-stroke |
| Bore x Stroke | 103.5 x 114.3 mm (4.1 x 4.5 inches) | 107.1 x 100.0 mm (4.2 x 3.9 inches) |
| Compression | 10.3:1 | 9.6:1 |
| Cooling System | Air | Oil & air |
| Fuel System | Injection | Injection |
| Starting | Electric | Electric |
| Aspiration | Naturally aspirated | - |
| Valves Per Cylinder | 4 | 4 |
| Performance | ||
| Power | ✓114.0 HP (85.0 kW) @ 5000 RPM | 91.0 HP (66.4 kW) @ 4750 RPM |
| Torque | ✓173.6 Nm (17.7 kgf-m or 128.0 ft.lbs) @ 4000 RPM | 162.7 Nm (16.6 kgf-m or 120.0 ft.lbs) @ 3000 RPM |
| Power/Weight Ratio | 0.3621 HP/kg (dry) | 0.2102 HP/kg (wet) |
| Top Speed | - | 178.6 km/h (111.0 mph) |
| Transmission | ||
| Gearbox | 6-speed | 6-speed |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Final Drive | Belt | Shaft |
| Clutch | Multi-plate with diaphragm spring in oil bath | Single-disc dry |
| Brakes & wheels | ||
| Front Brakes | 4-piston fixed front and 2-piston floating rear | Double disc. 4 piston fixed calipers. ABS. |
| Rear Brakes | Single disc. ABS. 2-piston | Single disc. 4 piston fixed calipers. ABS. |
| ABS | Yes | Yes |
| Front Tyre | 110/90B19 62H | 120/70-R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 180/70B16 77H | 180/65-B18 |
| Front Brakes Diameter | - | 300 mm (11.8 inches) |
| Dimensions & weight | ||
| Wheelbase | 1615 mm (63.6 inches) | 1689 mm (66.5 inches) |
| Overall Length | 2360 mm (92.9 inches) | 2642 mm (104.0 inches) |
| Overall Width | 889 mm (35.0 inches) | 970 mm (38.2 inches) |
| Seat Height | ✓686 mm (27.0 inches) | 739 mm (29.1 inches) |
| Dry weight | 314.8 kg (694.0 pounds) | - |
| Wet Weight | ✓323.0 kg (712.1 pounds) | 433.0 kg (954.6 pounds) |
| Fuel Capacity | 18.90 litres (4.99 US gallons) | ✓23.90 litres (6.31 US gallons) |
| Oil capacity | 4.70 litres (4.97 US quarts) | - |
| Overall Height | - | 1501 mm (59.1 inches) |
| Reserve fuel capacity | - | 3.80 litres (1.00 US gallons) |
| Chassis & suspension | ||
| Front Suspension | Single cartridge 43 mm inverted with aluminum fork triple clamps; single rate spring | Telescopic fork |
| Rear Suspension | Hidden, free piston, coil-over monoshock; 56 mm stroke; hydraulic preload adjustment | Steel swingarm with central shock strut |
| Rake (fork angle) | 28.0° | 26.3° |
| Trail | 145 mm (5.7 inches) | 183 mm (7.2 inches) |
| Ground Clearance | 145 mm (5.7 inches) | - |
| Frame | - | Double-cradle tubular steel |
| Front Wheel Travel | - | 119 mm (4.7 inches) |
| Rear Wheel Travel | - | 119 mm (4.7 inches) |
"Best" (✓) reflects that single spec only, not overall suitability - a bike can win on paper and still be the wrong choice for you. Ties are all marked; specs with no clear better/worse direction (e.g. displacement, wheel size) are never marked, only tinted where bikes differ.
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About this comparison tool
This tool puts up to four motorcycles side by side across their full specification sheets, drawn from a database of 43,000+ models and 1.60M+ individual specifications. Wherever a spec has a clear "better" direction - more power, less weight - the strongest figure in that row is highlighted automatically.
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What gets compared
Specs are pulled from the same categories used throughout the site: engine and transmission (capacity, power, torque, gearbox), physical measures (weight, seat height, fuel and tank capacity), frame and dimensions, speed and acceleration, and brakes, suspension, frame and wheels (including tyres) - plus general information and maintenance data where it's on record for a bike.
How the highlighting works, and its limits
A highlighted cell means one bike has the clearly better raw number for that spec - more power, less weight, and so on. Fields where "better" genuinely depends on the rider - seat height above all - are deliberately never highlighted: a lower seat isn't automatically the right choice, it's a fit question only you can answer. Winning a row also isn't the same as winning the comparison - a bike can lead on paper in half the rows and still be the wrong bike for you.
Frequently asked questions
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