Moge BMW R18 Pope Leo XIV Edition Sold For IDR 2.21 Billion

JAKARTA A special variant unit of the BMW R18 Transcontinental which was signed directly by Pope Leo XIV on September 3, 2025 in St. Peter's Square, Vatican, has finally found its new owner through a charity auction.

The motorbike touring is the result of a collaboration between BMW Motorrad Deutschland and the custom workshop Witzel Motorrad. This unit appears with an exclusive touch in the form of white pearl paint, Vatican emblem, and the Pope's signature which is a symbol of blessing and peace.

In the auction process, this unique motorbike was sold for 130,000 euros, or around IDR 2.21 billion. All auction results were donated to support humanitarian projects for children in Madagascar through the Missio Austria institution.

BMW Motorrad's President Director, Markus Flasch, said that this project stemmed from a simple idea but developed into a large charity movement that had a real impact.

What initially sounded like a crazy idea turned out to be an extraordinary charity campaign. We at BMW Motorrad feel proud to be able to support aid projects for children in Madagascar through this R18 Transcontinental," he said, as quoted by Visordown, Monday, October 27.

Before being auctioned, the motorbike had made a trip titled Peace Ride, which began on August 31, 2025 from Seinfeld, Germany, across a number of cities such as Schopfheim, Alt"otting, and Verona. Before finally arriving in Rome for the signing by the Pope.

After that, this bike was exhibited at BMW Welt, Munich, from September 15 to October 7, 2025. The BMW R18 Transcontinental itself is a tour variant of the crudeer R18 family, which is designed for long-distance travel.

This motorbike is equipped with a batwing-style fairing, advanced infotainment systems, hard saddlebags, and large top cases. All of these features make it one of the premium models in the segment.

Regarding the specifications of the machine, this R18 Transcontinental is equipped with a runway of 1,802 cc. On paper it produces 91 hp power at 4,750 rpm. Thanks to the characteristics of the typical boxer engine, motorists rely on a minimum torque of 110 lb-ft(149.16 Nm) between 2,000 to 4,000 rpm.