BMW has always been the best Bike in the touring end of it for many years. This K1600 is their ultimate riding sport tourer out there. Adding the quick shifter pro and the reverse has put it waay ahead of other manufacturers. They've done their best and as close to a "perfect" Bike as it can get. Amazing Bike! Thank You for such a positive review!
It may handle close to sport tourer, but it’s not. It sits low & somewhat laid back & does handle very good. I own the 2019 model & so far, I’m impressed. It’s my 4th BMW & it follows my CVO Ultra Classic in the garage. I’m back to BMW after trying other styles & brands since 06.
They have something incredible with that clutchless shifting. I was absolutely blown away at how well it worked as well as how easy it was to adapt to it. I thought about trying that one but someone else took on my last ride of the day.
I would have the love hate relation with it. At the beginning of the day I would be like, pssh, I will clutch it! After a solid 8 hours I would be using it every moment I can get.
This bike was a test ride dream. It gives a lot of baggers a run for their money, but it's just cost prohibitive for me at this point. That quick shifter and blipper are hard to go without once you tried it, very addictive. More bikes are coming with it though. I don't remember having to get off the throttle to use it.
I believe I tried to correct it as I was getting off the throttle as my muscle memory was telling me I had to for shifting when I then recalled and was like they said steady throttle. I will say this, it starts less than any Harley touring platform that has the same options (the Road King being the only one that starts lower but it is basic without any radio). Similar on the other side of the tracks it is less than the Indian touring bikes as well, but it is still 20K. I would love it for sure though if they keep the prices the same and I can work my way towards it as well.
The shifter can be adjusted. Turn signals do self cancel, time delay. 6 gear from 30mph on, no problem. Put the Remus exhaust without the silencers and it sounds like F1 car. The clutches shifting eliminates the turtle fucking helmet banging. 10,000+ miles on mine, headed for Billings, MT from Louisville, KY next week.
Over 300,000 niles on Harleys, 100,000 on other BMWs, Ducatis, Hondas, Suzukis, Triumphs, nothing bar nothing matches the K1600B. 70 years old with arthritis, I actually get off this bike after a 500 - 800 mile feeling better than when I started. With the linked ABS 95% of the time all you need is the front brake lever for total control, rear brake used for aggressive riding.
Those floorboards make it my favorite of the new tourers. Didn't care for the throttle lag. Didn't notice it during normal riding. I must have been blipping it or something. I'd want the one with the trunk and the taller windscreen. The upgrade mags look sweet for it too, but they need to bring the bike out in some color besides black or gold.
I agree they need to extend the colors out. I did not get a chance to try out the GT variant, but they had one there and I agree I would have preferred the taller screen as the one on this one did not really do much for the wind on the helmet.
Rabid Hedgehog , I believe there are aftermarket windscreens available for this particular bike to circomvent the wind problem. It sure is a very nice bike otherwise.
saddlebag your wishes have come through. BMW just announced new colors for 2019. Gold and black combination is out. I have a full black storm metallic bagger and love the color.
I just bought the k1600 grand america. Gold and black scheme. It's amazing. Power when you want and it rips faster than my dads and brothers r 1200 gs. Blocks wind great and rides almost like a sport bikes. It just flips one side to the other effortlessly. The only downside is the speed limiter at 105 but really it's a cruiser so why would you need to be going that fast anyways.
I’ve heard it was not without reason. From the rumors I heard it was due to aerodynamics over the bags at high speed pushing the tail down and unloading the front wheel.
Recently purchased the 2018 BMW GTL K1600 with mostly the same characteristics and features including engine protective bars yet without the speed limiter. Most satisfied with same; like having a touring motorcycle with quasi sports bike capabilities !
Sport bike capability... unbelievable to say that of an 800 bike, but absolutely true. What's more, the Duolever front end and phenomenal electronic aids make it EASY to look good riding sport. I have an '18 GTL also. The bike is sublime.
considering trading in my F800GT for either one of these (k1600B, Grand America, or GT) or a GoldWIng. or maybe i will go with a Can Am Spyder RT. hmmm
Hello friend, all right, I speak of Brazil? Congratulations on the bike, I recently bought the same K1600 bagger, mine has already taken 12000 km rounds, made the tire changes putting the pirelli GT angel tires, and went to road test them, but when I reach a high speed the bike starts to float the ahead, at this speed stop you made, did you feel it? Sorry for the english, but i'm using google tadutor. Thanks Cleber
I ride from toes to ball to heel due to the size and depending on the control area. A bike the size of that Guzzi V7 I used my heels, this one was a bit small no matter where they landed.
I'd try it with pegs as well. But the way the boards are placed and such it does make for a good placement of the feet when on a longer ride. Now if they could make some adjustments to the fairing down there and it'd be set.
Is this bike boring???? I mean is it a bike that has that type of character that makes you WANT to ride it? I know smooth and refined can sometimes translate to boring after awhile. Thx
I like this bike and this engine. I just wish they made one without all the electronic crap for about $12,000. Hate to pay for something I will never use. I love that it has mid controls. Forward controls would ruin this bike.
I can understand the pricing. But with the way it is designed I believe they were aiming for Harley's coveted position in the touring world. The price is less than Harley in most cases but the equipment that is received is considerably more and the performance is unmatched.
you got a good point there my friend maybe one day im gonna have enough money to buy one a used k1600b thx for the quick respond continue your great video ride safe my friend
BMWs really aren't priced more than other makes on a feature equivalent basis. The issue is that on BMW all of the performance features are standard. Add ABS, equivalent suspension, etc., and the prices are similar. If you really don't want the features, then buying a different brand that comes without them is a better deal.
Hope you got to straddle the saddle of the K1600 as well. I would like to hear someone who has never ridden either of them describe the differences. No "The B team is always shorter." jokes please :) Thanks for the video
Looks fantastic. Now..Harley Road Glide Special, Honda GoldWing Bagger or the BMW k1600b for your money? The REMUS quad exhaust makes this bike other worldly. Check the their UA-cam on this bike.
I need to ride the new Goldwing to compare because it would be between the Wing and the 1600B for sure. The Road Glide special does not have the suspension, the power, or the fun factor and it is slightly more expensive for really no reason.
Love it BUT. It has the ugliest dash, ugliest handlebars. Garmin screen is stupid small. Antenna needs to disappear. The rear bags need some shaping because they are flat on bottom giving a weird look at certain angles. They should also be removable like the GTLE. Too small. Top bag needs to have a lower bottom to fit a full size helmet. Also the top bag needs to be removable. A crime against riders everywhere. More freaking colors BMW, come on!
50% of the K1600's pull to the left,. Make sure if you want one that you get in writing from your dealer you want one of the half that don't pull left. Seriously, you have a 50-50 chance of getting one that tracks straight or pulls to the left, so why take on that doesn't track straight? How do I know? I proved it in Court and BMW had to write a large check.
@@RabidHedgehog The issue is fully documented on the K1600Forum. Shame that BMW was not willing to do the right thing without a court order. Have owned many many BMWs over decades and paid cash for the bike. It was not buyer's remorse as BMW's legal team tried to assert at trial. I was actually shocked when BMW not only blew me off but chastised the dealership for supporting me. Despite the burden of proof being on me, was able to convince a judge that the bike was not usable for its intended purpose.
Wow. I looked up everything too and it's been going on for years too. This did not have that issue but simply wow. I wish they would have just admitted a mistake and bought the bikes bike and engineered a proper fix as that's not a safe thing at all for a rider to have to contend with.
Had one of the first K1600's delivered back in 2011 as a 2012 model; it pulled to the left HARD. Myself and a few others worked on a fix based on the theory that there was something wrong with the tire contact patch alignment. One of the early adopters was able to shim the upper A-arm to achieve relatively straight tracking. For me the point became moot when my K1600 was totaled. The replacement 2012 K1600 tracked straight as an arrow. Purchased a 2018 K1600B with the express understanding that the problem had been fixed (why would I think otherwise) and discovered the bike also pulled to the left. BMW blew me off, claiming it was 'within specifications'. Ok, then send me a copy of said specifications. During trial BMW admitted no such specifications existed. Took the K1600B to Computrack Boston to have the frame and wheel alignment measured. What we discovered was the tire contact patches were actually somewhat aligned. Did some calculations and review of UA-cam assembly videos at the BMW factory. My educated guess is that the entire engine/transmission/final drive & wheel assembly center of gravity is 0.6 inches to the left of the line between the tire contact patches. All this weight off the centerline causes the bike to want to dive to the left, requiring constant input into the handlebars. The sad part is that this should be a very easy engineering fix at the factory. I did speak with the NHTSA about this and they in turn called BMW North America. BMW admitted on the call they knew about this but didn't consider it an issue. Seriously.
I went from a 18 ultra to a 21 Grand America. The ultra will not be missed
These bikes are the business.
BMW has always been the best Bike in the touring end of it for many years. This K1600 is their ultimate riding sport tourer out there. Adding the quick shifter pro and the reverse has put it waay ahead of other manufacturers. They've done their best and as close to a "perfect" Bike as it can get. Amazing Bike! Thank You for such a positive review!
it is pretty darn close to perfection for sure. I loved it and look forward to seeing them more and riding them more as well.
Couldn’t agree with you more ! NOTHING ☝️ comes close
It may handle close to sport tourer, but it’s not. It sits low & somewhat laid back & does handle very good. I own the 2019 model & so far, I’m impressed. It’s my 4th BMW & it follows my CVO Ultra Classic in the garage. I’m back to BMW after trying other styles & brands since 06.
I went from a 18 ultra to a 21 Grand America. I will not be missing the ultra
They have something incredible with that clutchless shifting. I was absolutely blown away at how well it worked as well as how easy it was to adapt to it. I thought about trying that one but someone else took on my last ride of the day.
I would have the love hate relation with it. At the beginning of the day I would be like, pssh, I will clutch it! After a solid 8 hours I would be using it every moment I can get.
Thank you for getting back to me. I’ll look at something different then.
ADV style motorcycles are the way to go as they are generally taller and have more space for the taller folks.
This bike was a test ride dream. It gives a lot of baggers a run for their money, but it's just cost prohibitive for me at this point. That quick shifter and blipper are hard to go without once you tried it, very addictive. More bikes are coming with it though. I don't remember having to get off the throttle to use it.
I believe I tried to correct it as I was getting off the throttle as my muscle memory was telling me I had to for shifting when I then recalled and was like they said steady throttle. I will say this, it starts less than any Harley touring platform that has the same options (the Road King being the only one that starts lower but it is basic without any radio). Similar on the other side of the tracks it is less than the Indian touring bikes as well, but it is still 20K. I would love it for sure though if they keep the prices the same and I can work my way towards it as well.
Used prices are very affordable. Get one. Seriously. You'll thank me later. Seriously again.
Very nice review that is a great looking bike with awesome features. Thanks for info!
Thanks for the support! and you're welcome!
If it had forward controls... it would have been in my garage last year.. great great bike... NEEDS forward controls! !
The shifter can be adjusted. Turn signals do self cancel, time delay. 6 gear from 30mph on, no problem. Put the Remus exhaust without the silencers and it sounds like F1 car. The clutches shifting eliminates the turtle fucking helmet banging. 10,000+ miles on mine, headed for Billings, MT from Louisville, KY next week.
Still think it is a great bike, just did not have the time with it as you did good sir.
Over 300,000 niles on Harleys, 100,000 on other BMWs, Ducatis, Hondas, Suzukis, Triumphs, nothing bar nothing matches the K1600B. 70 years old with arthritis, I actually get off this bike after a 500 - 800 mile feeling better than when I started. With the linked ABS 95% of the time all you need is the front brake lever for total control, rear brake used for aggressive riding.
Those floorboards make it my favorite of the new tourers. Didn't care for the throttle lag. Didn't notice it during normal riding. I must have been blipping it or something. I'd want the one with the trunk and the taller windscreen. The upgrade mags look sweet for it too, but they need to bring the bike out in some color besides black or gold.
I agree they need to extend the colors out. I did not get a chance to try out the GT variant, but they had one there and I agree I would have preferred the taller screen as the one on this one did not really do much for the wind on the helmet.
Rabid Hedgehog , I believe there are aftermarket windscreens available for this particular bike to circomvent the wind problem. It sure is a very nice bike otherwise.
saddlebag your wishes have come through. BMW just announced new colors for 2019. Gold and black combination is out. I have a full black storm metallic bagger and love the color.
Vinyl wrap and it can be any color you want and change whenever you please.
Throttle lag?? Put the engine management setting to Dynamic and try it again!
That is so luxurious.
Indeed it is. It is a bit much for me still as I prefer simple motorcycles, but I see the appeal of all the fun stuffs.
I just bought the k1600 grand america. Gold and black scheme. It's amazing. Power when you want and it rips faster than my dads and brothers r 1200 gs. Blocks wind great and rides almost like a sport bikes. It just flips one side to the other effortlessly. The only downside is the speed limiter at 105 but really it's a cruiser so why would you need to be going that fast anyways.
travis siegenthaler Just bought the 2018 BMW GTL K1600 which has the same characteristics and features yet without speed limiter!
@@bertadelaudebri7179 The GTL has a speed limiter. 124 or 130.. can't find the actual number right now but it's lower than the GT.
Speed limiter sucks.
105 speed limitation on the Grand America is a crime against humanity.
Similar to the 112 limiter on the CB1100EX.
Nothing an ECU flash cant fix.
I’ve heard it was not without reason. From the rumors I heard it was due to aerodynamics over the bags at high speed pushing the tail down and unloading the front wheel.
Recently purchased the 2018 BMW GTL K1600 with mostly the same characteristics and features including engine protective bars yet without the speed limiter. Most satisfied with same; like having a touring motorcycle with quasi sports bike capabilities !
Good to hear! Ride safe!
Sport bike capability... unbelievable to say that of an 800 bike, but absolutely true. What's more, the Duolever front end and phenomenal electronic aids make it EASY to look good riding sport. I have an '18 GTL also. The bike is sublime.
Rabid hedgehog? Hmm. I remember that code phrase from my army days.
Having the left side air vent open might have caused some uneven air flow 😎
considering trading in my F800GT for either one of these (k1600B, Grand America, or GT) or a GoldWIng. or maybe i will go with a Can Am Spyder RT. hmmm
Hello friend, all right, I speak of Brazil?
Congratulations on the bike, I recently bought the same K1600 bagger, mine has already taken 12000 km rounds, made the tire changes putting the pirelli GT angel tires, and went to road test them, but when I reach a high speed the bike starts to float the ahead, at this speed stop you made, did you feel it?
Sorry for the english, but i'm using google tadutor.
Thanks
Cleber
Superlatives are the norm when people review the K1600, any version of it. Rightly so.
Indeed.
I'm curious to know the location where you are riding? It seems like a really great price to ride and almost no traffic.
We are riding around Will Rogers World Airport in OKC. Literally just tracing the airport with the roads around.
been saving for this dream bike of mine
problem is im a short rider 5'6ft tall hoping elevated boots can help me
Might check on lowering options as well.
@@RabidHedgehog will that affect the bike performance???
Question about the "big feet" problem. Are you riding with your heels on the pegs or balls of your feet? That can make a difference.
I ride from toes to ball to heel due to the size and depending on the control area. A bike the size of that Guzzi V7 I used my heels, this one was a bit small no matter where they landed.
@@RabidHedgehog I have a shoe size of 17. Not a problem for me.
i do believe i'd prefer highway pegs over the floor boards.
I'd try it with pegs as well. But the way the boards are placed and such it does make for a good placement of the feet when on a longer ride. Now if they could make some adjustments to the fairing down there and it'd be set.
!0,000+ plus miles and it is just the greatest bike ever.
Is this bike boring???? I mean is it a bike that has that type of character that makes you WANT to ride it? I know smooth and refined can sometimes translate to boring after awhile. Thx
TheHonarable1 on a twisty road no not boring it has abilities, long range over the road, will get boring.
Thx for the quick reply!
How tall are you? I’m 6’7” so I’ll be worried about legroom. 36 inseam.
It might be a bit on the cramped side for you unless you stretch out to the floor boards. I am 6'0" with 32.5 inseam.
I think they make kits to relocate the foot pegs by 2 inchs.
I like your camera and microphone setup, what is it?
GoPro Hero 4 Silver with Sena Bluetooth backpack running through the 20S Sena.
Rabid Hedgehog
How long does the battery in the SENA Bluetooth backpack last on one charge?
I like this bike and this engine. I just wish they made one without all the electronic crap for about $12,000. Hate to pay for something I will never use. I love that it has mid controls. Forward controls would ruin this bike.
It's kind of amazing that it has an inline six while it is difficult to get a six cyl in a passenger car these days. Thanks government...
That is the truth.
kmg501 What's the government have to do with it?
Lol where are ya from we have 840 hp v8s and more here. I’m a liberal hater so all is good
The turn signals will self-cancel...eventually.
I guess I did not want to test that out.
What boaring peaces of road, no bends at all.
Looks like you had one air deflector deployed (left) and one stowed. Was that intentional?
No it was like that when I hopped on and I did not change it. It did not change the way the windscreen protected.
yep love this bike but the price the price deal breaker for me that why i bought the kawasaki concours money wise better deal for me
I can understand the pricing. But with the way it is designed I believe they were aiming for Harley's coveted position in the touring world. The price is less than Harley in most cases but the equipment that is received is considerably more and the performance is unmatched.
you got a good point there my friend maybe one day im gonna have enough money to buy one a used k1600b thx for the quick respond continue your great video ride safe my friend
BMWs really aren't priced more than other makes on a feature equivalent basis. The issue is that on BMW all of the performance features are standard. Add ABS, equivalent suspension, etc., and the prices are similar. If you really don't want the features, then buying a different brand that comes without them is a better deal.
Concours is a great bike but not in the same league. Sorry. Test ride a K1600. I dare ya. You'll get one quick. Used prices are very affordable.
Hope you got to straddle the saddle of the K1600 as well. I would like to hear someone who has never ridden either of them describe the differences. No "The B team is always shorter." jokes please :) Thanks for the video
I will try to get on one of those soon to try. And no I am not going to make that joke.
Looks fantastic. Now..Harley Road Glide Special, Honda GoldWing Bagger or the BMW k1600b for your money? The REMUS quad exhaust makes this bike other worldly. Check the their UA-cam on this bike.
I need to ride the new Goldwing to compare because it would be between the Wing and the 1600B for sure. The Road Glide special does not have the suspension, the power, or the fun factor and it is slightly more expensive for really no reason.
The Remus is great with or without the cones of silence installed.
105 limit is a joke.
Don Kramer Not on this model
I've always been pretty happy at 104mph.
Love it BUT. It has the ugliest dash, ugliest handlebars. Garmin screen is stupid small. Antenna needs to disappear. The rear bags need some shaping because they are flat on bottom giving a weird look at certain angles. They should also be removable like the GTLE. Too small. Top bag needs to have a lower bottom to fit a full size helmet. Also the top bag needs to be removable. A crime against riders everywhere. More freaking colors BMW, come on!
At least it rides well :)
50% of the K1600's pull to the left,. Make sure if you want one that you get in writing from your dealer you want one of the half that don't pull left. Seriously, you have a 50-50 chance of getting one that tracks straight or pulls to the left, so why take on that doesn't track straight?
How do I know? I proved it in Court and BMW had to write a large check.
That is interesting.
@@RabidHedgehog The issue is fully documented on the K1600Forum. Shame that BMW was not willing to do the right thing without a court order. Have owned many many BMWs over decades and paid cash for the bike. It was not buyer's remorse as BMW's legal team tried to assert at trial. I was actually shocked when BMW not only blew me off but chastised the dealership for supporting me. Despite the burden of proof being on me, was able to convince a judge that the bike was not usable for its intended purpose.
Wow. I looked up everything too and it's been going on for years too. This did not have that issue but simply wow. I wish they would have just admitted a mistake and bought the bikes bike and engineered a proper fix as that's not a safe thing at all for a rider to have to contend with.
Had one of the first K1600's delivered back in 2011 as a 2012 model; it pulled to the left HARD. Myself and a few others worked on a fix based on the theory that there was something wrong with the tire contact patch alignment. One of the early adopters was able to shim the upper A-arm to achieve relatively straight tracking. For me the point became moot when my K1600 was totaled. The replacement 2012 K1600 tracked straight as an arrow.
Purchased a 2018 K1600B with the express understanding that the problem had been fixed (why would I think otherwise) and discovered the bike also pulled to the left. BMW blew me off, claiming it was 'within specifications'. Ok, then send me a copy of said specifications. During trial BMW admitted no such specifications existed.
Took the K1600B to Computrack Boston to have the frame and wheel alignment measured. What we discovered was the tire contact patches were actually somewhat aligned. Did some calculations and review of UA-cam assembly videos at the BMW factory. My educated guess is that the entire engine/transmission/final drive & wheel assembly center of gravity is 0.6 inches to the left of the line between the tire contact patches. All this weight off the centerline causes the bike to want to dive to the left, requiring constant input into the handlebars.
The sad part is that this should be a very easy engineering fix at the factory.
I did speak with the NHTSA about this and they in turn called BMW North America. BMW admitted on the call they knew about this but didn't consider it an issue. Seriously.
Bullshit.