BMW K1600GTL For Sale

What Is It?

Reviewed

The BMW K1600GTL is a premium touring bike and is powered by a Euro 4 compliant liquid cooled 1,649 cc inline six cylinder engine, producing 160.5 bhp at 7,750 rpm and maximum torque at 6,500 rpm.

Features include:

• Shaft drive
• Aluminium frame / subframe with Magnesium fairing frame
• Dual 320 mm discs up front with four piston calipers
• 320 mm disc at the rear with two piston caliper
• BMW cornering ABS system
• Duolever front suspension with 115 mm travel
• Adjustable rear shock with 135 mm travel
• Ride modes: Road / Rain / Dynamic
• Dynamic electronic suspension (ESA II)
• Banking-aware traction control (DTC)
• ABS Pro and dynamic brake light
• Audio system with GPS preparation
• 6->2 Stainless Steel exhaust system
• LED tail light and indicators
• Flip out side deflectors
• 6 speed gearbox with gear position indicator

The compact and super smooth 103 kg engine is angled forwards near the road for optimum weight distribution and a low centre of gravity.

Compared to the 2011-2016 model there's a new engine mapping to make the emissions Euro 4 compliant, ESA and DTC are now standard, reverse assist and hill start control are new options, the new side fairings offer better wind protection, there are new silencer ends and maximum torque is 1,250 rpm higher up the range. The side storage compartments have also been tweaked.

It's essentially the same bike as the £1,250 cheaper and 16 kg lighter K1600GT but with a few minor mods to make it more suitable to relaxed longer distance touring, especially two up.

There's a 49 litre top box with luxurious padding for the pillion, lower 750 mm single piece seat, larger comfort screen and more relaxed rider position with the pegs further forwards and bars sweeping further back. The 17" wheels take a 120/70 tyre at the front and 190/55 at the rear.

For storage there are helmet swallowing colour coded panniers and a waterproof lockable glove box in the right fairing for piping in music. When the satnav is fitted a shield pops down when parked to keep it safe.

There is also a 5.7" colour TFT dash in the centre of the clocks, which gives access to the wealth of options on the bike from the extensive multimedia capabilities to the electrically adjustable screen. The screen remembers the last position and even has an anti squash mechanism.

As standard you get a Xenon main beam in the centre, flanked by Halogen high beams and circular position lights but the optional adaptive headlight is one of the many technological marvels of the K1600 series. It fires up at a mirror which then directs the beam onto the road where it's most needed, even when banking.

You also now get the option of fitting BMW's Intelligent Emergency Call system, operated from the right handlebar. It activates automatically to send your coordinates to the emergency services, but can also be activated manually using the SOS button on the bar.

Accessories include reverse assist, hill start control, 780 mm / 810 mm high seats, heated grips, heated seat, side-mounted additional LED headlights (£340), see me home ground lights plus optional central locking (£380), computer, TPMS, engine bars, cruise control, quickshifter (£355), keyless start (£250) and Akrapovic silencers.

The £22,950 K1600GTL Exclusive gets you the shiny headlight, TPMS, hill start control, reverse assist, keyless start, additional LED lights, ground lighting, second brake light on the top box, engine guard and three layers of paint but it's 14 kg heavier.

• 2017: Black, white, grey, red
• 2018-2019: Green, white, blue/silver, brown/silver
• 2020: Black, green, blue/silver, brown/silver

2018: New design LED fog lights and a host of BMW Motorrad Special finish items including a luxury brown seat and special blue or brown colour schemes. Hill start control is now standard.

2020: Reverse gear now standard and switch gear from grey to black.

Review In A Few

What's Good?

• Smooth power, comfort, handling, suspension, perfect for two up touring, reverse gear

Any Downsides?

• Screen, seat, really large, really heavy

Read the full real world review

Specs

Capacity: 1,649 cc (very high)

Power: 160 bhp / 119 kW (very high)

Red Line: 8,500 rpm (average)

Top Speed: 160 mph / 257 km/h (very high)

Economy: 40 mpg / 7.1 L/100km (average)

Range: 230 miles / 370 km (high)

Fuel Capacity: 26.5 litres / 5.8 gallons (very high)

Seat Height: 750 mm / 29.5 inches (low)

Wet Weight: 350 kg / 772 pounds (very heavy)

Power to Weight Ratio: 0.457 bhp/kg / 0.341 kW/kg

Launch RRP: £18,450

Categories

• Touring
• Inline Six

More Info

Check out this video review from TheMissendenFlyer.