The BMW Tourer That Ruins Long-Distance Riding On Anything Else
Long-distance riding in the USA has a different definition than long-distance riding in most other developed markets in the world. It is a function of how big this great country is, because it can take you a few days to cross a single state line. As such, it requires a very unique kind of motorcycle that can do interstate trips in comfort. You need the comfort of a car with the environmental involvement of a motorcycle without the wind in your face getting tiring after a whole day in the saddle at 80 MPH.
BMW Touring Bikes Break The American Blueprint
For the longest time, the long-distance touring segment has been understandably dominated by American brands. Both Harley-Davidson and Indian offer products that cater to this audience with their traditional V-twin engines that offer massive torque from large displacement. Of course, being American means that they are pretty good at cruising down the highway, but when it comes to a corner, the American brands can still struggle to find the apex.
That’s where BMW’s prowess comes in. It has always marched to its own drummer, and its touring bikes are no exception. It has chosen engine layouts that nobody else uses, so they feel quite different from the standard full-size touring bikes, but in a good way. The solutions it has come up with to make a long-legged bike are almost science fiction, but they work very well in the real world. The unconventional way of solving problems means that they have a very distinct flavor to them, one that is special. A prime example of that is the flagship GTL.
The BMW K 1600 GTL Ruins Long-Distance Riding On Anything Else
The K 1600 GTL sits at the top of the K series range, some models of which might just deliver the best value in their segment. It is the full-dress tourer that offers the pillion just as much comfort as the rider, with its backrest and armrests. The power it offers is also more than enough for anything the road throws at it. The combination of otherworldly power (for a tourer), the uniquely smooth engine layout, features that offer supreme comfort, and a surprising penchant for hustling through curves all come together to make it the BMW tourer that ruins long-distance touring on anything else.
Undercuts The Top-Dog American Tourers By A Healthy Margin
The K 1600 GTL is priced at $30,095. Yes, that’s quite premium. But you get what you pay for. The K 1600 GTL’s base price is warranted, since BMW has put in all the kit possible with the base variant itself. Plus, the base price compares favorably with the other full-dress tourers that buyers will no doubt cross-shop with. There are a couple of options notably missing, such as the two-way quickshifter and center stand, but they are available for a relatively modest bump in price.
The Six-Cylinder Engine Delivers Sports Bike-Level Power
BMW loves the inline-six engine; we know this from its cars. However, it has also managed to install one in its K-series of tourers. This is a transverse engine, and it is just 2.6 inches wider than the inline-four engine it replaced. So the extra width is barely noticeable. With a short-stroke design, the displacement lies at 1,649 cc and the compression ratio at 12.2:1.
The power and torque figures are 160 horsepower at 6,750 RPM and 132.7 pound-feet of torque at 5,250 RPM. This is an incredible amount of power for a tourer, and you don’t have to rev it much to achieve that figure, giving the trifecta of comfort, stability, and power. The inline-six layout also means that this is one of the smoothest engines you’ll ever experience. The power is put through a manual six-speed gearbox and a driveshaft to the wheel.
Unique Chassis And Suspension Components Offer Great Handling
The chassis is a bridge-type frame made of aluminum with the engine used as a stressed member, and it balances luxury and highway performance very well. The suspension is BMW’s patented Duolever wishbone setup at the front and the Paralever single-sided swingarm at the rear. Electronic damping is standard with 4.5 inches of travel at the front and 5.3 inches at the rear.
The brakes are large, with big 320 mm discs at the front coupled with radial four-piston fixed calipers and another single 320 mm disc at the rear with a two-piston floating caliper. These are mounted on 17-inch alloy wheels shod with tubeless radial tires. Despite its bulk, this motorcycle is happy to go through a corner with enthusiasm, which is an interesting feeling — in a good way.
This Is An Unabashedly Full-Size Motorcycle
To ruin long-distance touring over the competition, you need to be supremely comfortable for two people plus luggage. The K 1600 GTL makes long rides feel short by offering a lot of space to the occupants with its 98-inch length and 39.4-inch width. The wheelbase is a fairly long 63.7 inches. BMW has still managed to keep the seat decently low at 29.5 inches, although you do need to account for the width of the engine. It weighs nearly 800 pounds and can hold seven gallons of fuel, but it holds a lot of its weight low because the engine is canted over to nearly horizontal, which helps keep the center of gravity low.
This BMW Has Some Flagship Features From The Factory
BMW has the opposite approach to pricing as, say, Harley-Davidson. There is no true base model for the K 1600 GTL because the Bavarian manufacturer has loaded it up with whatever options you would deem necessary, making it the most luxurious BMW ever made. It starts with a 10.25-inch TFT display, Bluetooth connectivity and navigation. There is also a storage space for your mobile phone where you can charge it via a USB-C port as standard. You also get heated grips and seats, an audio system, keyless ignition, intelligent emergency calling, and a configurable switch cube.
As far as electronics are concerned, this has the full shebang, starting with the by-wire throttle and a six-axis IMU that leaves Gold Wing owners questioning their decisions. It gets three ride modes, dynamic traction control, engine brake control, cornering ABS, and linked brakes. BMW has kept the rear brake lever independent of the front brakes, but operating only the front brake lever will actuate the rear brake as well; this helps with lower-speed maneuvers. There is also electronic suspension with automatic load leveling, hill start control, tire pressure monitoring, and a reverse assist that uses the starter motor to help back the bike up.
Not that you need them, but there are optional bits, too. The optional Premium Package costs $1,880 and includes the two-way quickshifter and the center stand, along with central locking, LED fog lamps, engine protection, puddle lamps, and an anti-theft alarm. You can also opt for the Option 719 wheels that show up as a no-cost option on the website, but when you add them, the addition of the Edition II package worth nearly $4,000 gets added to the price. It adds the Imperial Blue Metallic paint and Option 719 wheels to the bike. You can pick up individual pieces of luggage as options, though.
A Smorgasbord Of Capable Options Make The K 1600 GTL’s Life Hard
There is no shortage of competition for the K 1600 GTL. You could start off in-house with the R18 Transcontinental; however, it is positioned a segment below because of the kind of performance and features it offers. But if you like old-school motorcycles and lots of value, this is a hidden gem.
Then, the Honda Gold Wing Tour is a leader in the segment for very good reasons. It combines features, performance, reliability, and comfort in a way that can even beat luxury cars on road trips. The automatic gearbox is another area where it is a cut above the rest, and it has some world-firsts like the world’s only motorcycle rider airbag.
The Harley-Davidson Road Glide Limited quietly gets everything right. Harley-Davidson’s competitive base price means that it is quite attractive to someone looking at options in the segment. Harley-Davidson has thrown quite a lot of tech at it. There is a by-wire throttle and six-axis IMU, but it balances it out with the same traditional Milwaukee-Eight engine with air cooling and push rods (although the cylinder heads are water-cooled). If a traditional tourer is what you like, there is probably nothing better.
Finally, if you prefer a combination of a traditional American full-dress tourer and a modern motorcycle, the Indian Pursuit fits the bill perfectly. It feels built for America’s greatest roads, with the largest liquid-cooled V-twin engine in production today. It also has some excellent connected features that give you updates like the bike’s location, bike health, and live traffic updates that need to be subscribed to after the first year of ownership. This is a natural bridge between the modern BMW and Honda options and the traditional Harley-Davidson.
Source: BMW USA
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