The definition of long-distance riding in the United States is different from long-distance riding in most other developed markets of the world. It depends on how big this great country is, as it can take you a few days to cross one state line. As such, this requires a very unique kind of motorcycle that can comfortably undertake interstate journeys. You need the comfort of a car with the environmental involvement of a motorcycle without the wind blowing in your face after sitting all day in the saddle at 80 MPH.
BMW touring bikes break the American blueprint
For a long time, the long-haul travel segment has been dominated by American brands. Both Harley-Davidson and Indian offer products that cater to this audience with their traditional V-twin engines that deliver massive torque from large displacements. Of course, being American means they’re great at highway driving, but when it comes to a corner, American brands can still struggle to find the top.
This is where BMW’s strength comes to the fore. It always marches to its own drummer, and its touring bikes are no exception. It’s chosen engine layouts that no one else uses, so they feel quite different from standard full-size touring bikes, but in a good way. The solutions it has come up with to create long-legged bikes are almost science fiction, but in the real world they work very well. The unconventional way of solving problems means that they have a very different flavour, which is special. A prime example of this is the major GTL.
BMW’s 1600 GTL ruins long distance rides like anything
The K 1600 GTL sits at the top of the K series range, with some models offering the best value in their segment. It is a full-dress tourer that offers as much comfort to the pillion as the rider with its backrest and armrests. The power it offers is more than enough for anything that comes up on the road. The combination of superhuman power (for a tourer), exceptionally smooth engine layout, supreme comfort-providing features, and a surprising penchant for racing through turns, all combine to make this the BMW tourer that ruins long-distance journeys more than anything.
Top-dog American tourers underperform by healthy margin
The K 1600 GTL is priced at $30,095. Yes, it is quite a premium. But you get what you pay for. The base price of the K 1600 GTL is reasonable, as BMW has fitted all possible kit with the base version itself. Plus, the base price compares favorably with other full-dress tourers, which buyers will undoubtedly cross-shop with. Some options are notably missing, like the two-way quickshifter and center stand, but they’re available with a relatively minor bump in price.
Six-cylinder engine delivers sports bike-level power
BMW loves inline-six engines; We know this from its cars. However, it has also managed to establish one of its K-series tourers. It’s a transverse engine, and it’s only 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 is 1,649 cc and the compression ratio is 12.2:1.
Power and torque figures are 160 horsepower at 6,750 rpm and 132.7 pound-feet of torque at 5,250 rpm. That’s an incredible amount of power for a tourer, and you don’t need to modify it much to achieve that figure, giving you the trifecta of comfort, stability and power. The inline-six layout also means it’s one of the best engines you’ll ever experience. Power is fed to the wheels through a manual six-speed gearbox and a driveshaft.
Unique chassis and suspension components provide excellent 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 a 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 large 320 mm discs at the front with radial four-piston fixed calipers and another single 320 mm disc with a two-piston floating caliper at the rear. These are mounted on 17-inch alloy wheels shod with tubeless radial tyres. Despite its heaviness, this motorcycle is happy to go through a corner with gusto, which is an interesting feeling – in a good way.
This is a full size motorcycle
To wreak long-distance travel against the competition, you have to be extremely comfortable for two people and luggage. The K 1600 GTL makes long rides feel short by providing plenty of space to the occupants with its 98-inch length and 39.4-inch width. The wheelbase is quite long at 63.7 inches. BMW still managed to keep the seat low at 29.5 inches, though you have to take the engine width into account. It weighs about 800 pounds and can hold seven gallons of fuel, but its weight remains quite low because the engine is tilted almost horizontally, which helps keep the center of gravity low.
This BMW has some key features from the factory
BMW’s approach to pricing is the opposite of Harley-Davidson’s. There’s no real base model for the K 1600 GTL as the Bavarian manufacturer has loaded it with all the options you’d consider necessary, making it the most luxurious BMW ever. 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 the 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, it’s a complete mess, starting with the by-wire throttle and six-axis IMU that make Gold Wing owners question their decisions. It has 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 brake, but operating only the front brake lever will also activate the rear brake; This helps in low-speed maneuvers. It also has electronic suspension with automatic load leveling, hill start control, tire pressure monitoring and a reverse assist that uses the starter motor to help the bike back up.
Not that you need them, but there are optional bits. The optional Premium Package costs $1,880 and adds a two-way quickshifter and center stand as well as central locking, LED fog lamps, engine protection, puddle lamps, and an anti-theft alarm. You can also opt for the Option 719 wheels which appear as a no-cost option on the website, but when you add them, nearly $4,000 worth of the Edition II package is added to the price. It adds Imperial Blue metallic paint and option 719 wheels to the bike. However, you can take individual pieces of luggage as an option.
The smorgasbord of capable options makes life difficult for the K 1600 GTL
There is no shortage of competition for the K 1600 GTL. You can start domestically with the R18 Transcontinental; However, due to the kind of performance and features it offers, it has been placed in a section below. But if you like old-school motorcycles and lots of valuable motorcycles, this is a hidden gem.
Again, the Honda Gold Wing Tour is the leader in this segment for very good reasons. It combines features, performance, reliability and comfort in a way that can outperform even luxury cars on road trips. The automatic gearbox is another area where it stands a cut above the rest, and it has some world-first features like the world’s only motorcycle rider airbag.
The Harley-Davidson Road Glide Limited quietly does everything right. Harley-Davidson’s competitive base price means it is quite attractive to those looking for an option in this segment. Harley-Davidson has put a lot of technology into it. It has a bi-wire throttle and six-axis IMU, but balances it out with the same conventional Milwaukee-Eight engine with air cooling and push rods (although the cylinder heads are water-cooled). If a traditional tourer is your thing, there’s probably nothing better than it.
Finally, if you like a combination of a traditional American full-dress tourer and a modern motorcycle, the Indian Pursuit fits the bill perfectly. With the largest liquid-cooled V-twin engine in production today, it looks like it was built for America’s greatest roads. It also has some great connected features that give you updates like bike location, bike health, and live traffic updates, which you will have to subscribe for after the first year of ownership. It’s a natural bridge between modern BMW and Honda options and traditional Harley-Davidson.
Source: BMW USA
