This Special BMW R 18 Transcontinental With Pope Leo XIV's Blessings Is Headed To Charity Auction

BMW R 18 Price in India: In an unprecedented move, BMW Motorrad presented a specially modified R 18 Transcontinental cruiser to Pope Leo XIV during a celebratory event held on September 3 at the Vatican. Thomas Draxler, founder of Jesus-Biker, was the brain behind this unique bike, which he thought could be auctioned for a good cause. While Witzel took care of the customisation process, BMW Motorrad Deutschland donated the R 18 Transcontinental bike.

One-Off Bike: Why is it Special?

Customised by BMW Motorrad dealer Witzel, the one-off BMW is special for three reasons: a mother-of-pearl white paint finish, the Vatican's coat of arms, and, most importantly, the Pope's signature.

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One-Off Bike: What was its Route to the Vatican?

Before reaching the Vatican to take the Pope's blessings, the one-off motorcycle set out on a journey on 31 August 2025 with a 'Peace Ride' from Motorrad Witzel in Sennfeld to Rome. The bike passed through Schaafheim, Altotting, and Verona while en route, accompanied by church services and representatives from Jesus-Biker, BMW Motorrad, and BMW Witzel.

One-Off Bike: What's Next? 

The unique BMW R 18 Transcontinental is headed to auction to raise proceeds for children's aid projects in Madagascar. It will be auctioned by Missio Austria via Sotheby's in October 2025. Before that, the bike will be put on display at BMW Welt in Munich from September 15 to October 7, 2025.

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BMW R 18 Transcontinental: Engine Specs

The bike features a Euro 5+ compliant 1802cc boxer twin engine, which is tuned to produce 90bhp at 4,750rpm and 163Nm of peak torque. The engine is paired with a 6-speed gearbox.