The most important change needed is for all bmw bikes to keep the paint on the engines & final drive unit. Corrosion on the engine & FD unit after just 1 winter is quite ridiculous Even when god bold us hosed down & dried begins it’s put into a heated garage. Sure you can blame the British weather, but Honda & Yamaha’s seem to cope ok!!
That's very kind indeed, thank you! We hope you enjoy our others, too. Since then, our latest thought is that they are taking so long to do a major refresh of this bike because...the next one will be their first mainstream bike with a carbon-fibre frame!
I own this 1600 bike , an s1000rr, and a gs 1200 and I hate the GS. I can't stand the gs. "Hate" is too gentle a word for the feelings of contempt and nausea I have for the gs. In fact, I'm not certain there's a word that could describe how much disgust I have for the gs bikes
Is this the k1600GSA? Nice ride through the ferns. Loving my 12. The back pressure is easily remedied by adjusting the shield. 6' 3" and never had an issue with it.
Thanks Doogie. It's a GTLE. That pressure never backed off for us, whoever was riding, and with all sorts of helmets, above 60mph. You do see screens with holes/vents in them, which apparently resolve the problem (for those who suffer from it).
Surprisingly enough, I eliminated the back pressure on my GTLE by having the seat redone, raising the rider seating position by about 1.5 inches. I also keep the wind deflectors closed at speeds above about 50 mph as they tend to create some buffeting when open above 50. I now mostly ride with the windshield in the lower position and only raise it if I want to lower helmet wind noise to better hear my helmet speakers.
We all find our solutions! There are also after-market screens available with 'holes' placed in them to pre-empt the back-pressure. We always feel if there are commercial solutions available, someone has seen widespread enough demand for them. Let's hope BMW gets rid of the problem (even if it's only for some) in the future.
I have a 2016 Harley road glide ultra, I've loved the k1600 since it came out. what is your opinion on passenger comfort on the BMW? We are both tall, I'm 6'2 and she is 5'10. Thanks for any help. Chris
Hi Chris. We've just finished reviewing a Harley Street-Glide, so we understand the comparison... we think the BMW is actually more comfortable for the passenger (we tested with a 5'9" woman who loved it). The Harley has more leg-room but in virtually every other way, the BMW is easier to be on for long rides. Hope that helps!
Chris Tate , i donno the harley but Experienced at k1600gtl for 2 years. You cant ride long Trip for thinking of engine down problem. Never suggest the k1600 to anyone.
This is the first time I've ever heard the "back pressure" issue mentioned. How does one lane split with a 1m-wide bike, it must be nerve wrecking in traffic?
haha - it's not the simplest of tasks, but as with most things, you get used it easily enough. It's more making sure you don't let the weight fall over when you stop while turning! The back pressure comes up quite a lot in talking to other K16 riders - but it's clearly a combination of rider height and screen and everyone finds a solution to it. Have you watched our other episodes?
I had one of these and I lower the screen in such away to find a good balance between the little wind exposure from the front and the back pressure. It was nice so dont lift the screen max height lower it slightly. One draw back is the weight only in town areas
Hard to find fault with this bike.. my only regret is not waiting for the 2017 for the reverse gear... other than that, the rest is minor cosmetic stuff.
It's certainly true that the announced 2017 changes don't constitute a significant change in the bike. We think our predictions still largely stand, and we wait to see what is announced next year. It HAS to be next year! :)
Just as an aside .... I'm curious about your Shoei lid , may I ask; Did you try the C4? Integrated comms? (I'm trying to choose between the two) If anyone has any advice I'd be delighted ! PS I quite agree about the weird back pressure ... Its very odd ! PPS Great video
Hey Max. Thanks for commenting. I haven't tried the C4, no, but we used Sena comms on our helmets, which work well, though a bit patchy with the BMW bluetooth. So, you either have great comms, or great integration - we haven't found a solution for both!
That model of BMW, BIKE starts $ 29.000 dollars , or 26.000 euros , here in Dublin Ireland, what price is it in the USA? the mark up on it over this side of the pond is nuts, cant see why as its made over this way,
Yeah, we understand the frustration. But we've also noticed that most things are now pretty well at parity, in USD, GBP and Euro, wherever you buy them...
It is 26.000 here , thats without the full spec, thats its starting price. and thats not any color you like, , its a pity about the price here in Ireland, as i think the traders over here. who are just two main dealers, that can sell or get in new onesfrom,, are doing themselves out of a sale, its a nice bike but when the price comes up to nearly 29.000. forget it, ill stick with the goldwing, Nice video..
@@rangerdd It's a shame when a great bike is priced out of reach, or value, really. We rode one for two years and loved it - amazingly agile for something so big. In any case, thanks for the compliment, and enjoy the Goldwing!
I just bought a dealer hold over (2018) with 1.1 mile on it for under 22k USD. (New Schuberth C3 Pro and Garmin nav system and title fees pushed it to 24k)
They're obviously both big, luxurious bikes capable of carrying a great deal in comfort and for long hours. The K1600 is by far the more nimble and sporty, and its 'tech' seems to make the bike more dynamic. There are times you can push it as if it's a sports bike, which you'd never do with the Goldwing. If you want sheer breadth and comfort of seat, and the smoothest ride ever, the Goldwing's the one. Hope that helps!
Ha! One thing about bikers is that generally we are a bit more individualistic. We never yet met a butcher who wanted our sausage but perhaps the day will come. Enjoy making your own choices and Merry Christmas to you!
Just bought one, I also have a GSA 1250 and an S1000 XR. I absolutely cannot deal with the wind turbulence. Horrible. I used to ride goldwings and never felt wind, this bike just cost me £25,000 and is a joke
We're sorry to hear you're suffering this problem. We had back-pressure, rather than buffeting. Talking to other K16 riders, it does seem that a combination of height and helmet design affects the situation - some have problems, others none at all. But in any case, it's weird that a top of the range bike has any problems like this at all. btw, we're riding an S1000XR at the moment and it's fabulous! :)
@@BossBikesClub I'm absolutely delighted to report that I visited the dealer who put on an after market screen from a trade in and the problem vanished instantly. It's now the amazing bike I hoped it would be. So I'm thoroughly spoilt, 3 amazing bmw bikes, I'm sure you're loving the XR it really is smile inducing
@@BossBikesClub it is wasn't branded but I'm pretty certain it's this model www.motorcycleparts-hornig.com/BMW-K-1600-GT/Windscreens/Windscreen-VStream.html
You're missing something on your wishlist : electric motor... of course, with a range of some 400km or so. If we give BMW engineers a challenge, let's be serious, shall we ? I'm sure tey'll like it...
Well, you don't know me "personally" @BibtheBoulder... :-), but hold your judgment until you've actually driven an electric motorbike... it certainly has it's charms !!! I'm waiting for the long-range sportive tourers (on BMW K1600GT now... and loving it, btw), they are not there yet in electric version. And, by the way, give-or-take a year, in 10 years or so, we will not have a "wish"-list anymore on this subject. It will be that or nothing... by law.
@@chrisdurie3651 If I knew you personally then I would not have said "I personally do not know...blah blah blah..." In ten years time (give or take a year or 5) there will still be millions of ICE vehicles on the roads. The government may well ban new sales of ICE vehicles, but they will not be able to ban those already on the road from being used. This drive towards EV's will soon be shown for the utter con it is. Swallowed hook line and sinker by folks like you.
I have one, but it has down with timing chain jump. It didn't start up after i turned engine off for motor heat up. I never suggest to any of interested potantial buyer. I bought it with big dream and future plan. Motor was full serviced by local official bmw dealer. Germany motorrad head management refuse to cover problem also. Never buy it.
Hi there. It's great to get this feedback, as we almost never hear of problems with these bikes - thanks for bringing it to our attention! Sorry you've been frustrated and we wish you the best of luck getting the bike that really works for you!
Boss Bikes Club i took the bike from official dealer service to local workshop to fix it. Donno how much i m going to save. If cost still high i will burn the bike in front of bmw head office of istanbul
Thanks for being in touch, William. I guess you are referring to the GTL Exclusive, which you correctly describe. Perhaps confusingly, both these models exist: The GTLE and the GTL Exclusive. This is correctly labelled as the GTLE.
As the owner of a K1600 GTL exclusive, I drive in Europe. I am accompanied by a 360° camera. You can find documentation of my trips on my channel. Enjoy the views of the Alps, Chianti and Ardeche. How are the roads in Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia - here you will find out. ua-cam.com/users/reilei60featured. Thanks for your support - get in contact.
The most important change needed is for all bmw bikes to keep the paint on the engines & final drive unit. Corrosion on the engine & FD unit after just 1 winter is quite ridiculous Even when god bold us hosed down & dried begins it’s put into a heated garage. Sure you can blame the British weather, but Honda & Yamaha’s seem to cope ok!!
Interesting to hear your comments - thanks for taking the time to watch our review!
Excellent review, very addictive way of talking and great perspective about possible evolutions, really enjoy to watch...
That's very kind indeed, thank you! We hope you enjoy our others, too. Since then, our latest thought is that they are taking so long to do a major refresh of this bike because...the next one will be their first mainstream bike with a carbon-fibre frame!
I'm 29 and I really want one. Ive got a GS and have had numerous bikes. But just kicking back and cruising in comfort is so appealing
I own this 1600 bike , an s1000rr, and a gs 1200 and I hate the GS. I can't stand the gs. "Hate" is too gentle a word for the feelings of contempt and nausea I have for the gs. In fact, I'm not certain there's a word that could describe how much disgust I have for the gs bikes
Off roading a gtl... amazing 🥲
How on eart with a bike coast mor than 30000, and does not have a full leds headlights 🤔
Is this the k1600GSA? Nice ride through the ferns. Loving my 12. The back pressure is easily remedied by adjusting the shield. 6' 3" and never had an issue with it.
Thanks Doogie. It's a GTLE. That pressure never backed off for us, whoever was riding, and with all sorts of helmets, above 60mph. You do see screens with holes/vents in them, which apparently resolve the problem (for those who suffer from it).
Surprisingly enough, I eliminated the back pressure on my GTLE by having the seat redone, raising the rider seating position by about 1.5 inches. I also keep the wind deflectors closed at speeds above about 50 mph as they tend to create some buffeting when open above 50. I now mostly ride with the windshield in the lower position and only raise it if I want to lower helmet wind noise to better hear my helmet speakers.
We all find our solutions! There are also after-market screens available with 'holes' placed in them to pre-empt the back-pressure. We always feel if there are commercial solutions available, someone has seen widespread enough demand for them. Let's hope BMW gets rid of the problem (even if it's only for some) in the future.
I have a 2016 Harley road glide ultra, I've loved the k1600 since it came out. what is your opinion on passenger comfort on the BMW? We are both tall, I'm 6'2 and she is 5'10. Thanks for any help. Chris
Hi Chris. We've just finished reviewing a Harley Street-Glide, so we understand the comparison... we think the BMW is actually more comfortable for the passenger (we tested with a 5'9" woman who loved it). The Harley has more leg-room but in virtually every other way, the BMW is easier to be on for long rides. Hope that helps!
Boss Bikes Club Thanks so much for replying, that does help tremendously!!
Chris Tate , i donno the harley but Experienced at k1600gtl for 2 years. You cant ride long Trip for thinking of engine down problem. Never suggest the k1600 to anyone.
Nice bike,but too much go and weight for me.I think the RT is the perfect compromise.Nice review,.thank you.👍
dont be fooled, the RT is no slouch either...
This is the first time I've ever heard the "back pressure" issue mentioned. How does one lane split with a 1m-wide bike, it must be nerve wrecking in traffic?
haha - it's not the simplest of tasks, but as with most things, you get used it easily enough. It's more making sure you don't let the weight fall over when you stop while turning! The back pressure comes up quite a lot in talking to other K16 riders - but it's clearly a combination of rider height and screen and everyone finds a solution to it. Have you watched our other episodes?
Not yet, but I will.
I had one of these and I lower the screen in such away to find a good balance between the little wind exposure from the front and the back pressure. It was nice so dont lift the screen max height lower it slightly. One draw back is the weight only in town areas
Good to hear from you, Davile - thanks. We did exactly the same to escape the force on our heads.
Hard to find fault with this bike.. my only regret is not waiting for the 2017 for the reverse gear... other than that, the rest is minor cosmetic stuff.
It's certainly true that the announced 2017 changes don't constitute a significant change in the bike. We think our predictions still largely stand, and we wait to see what is announced next year. It HAS to be next year! :)
S.J., I'm sure you could add it. It is part of the starter motor.you just need to figure out where to put the button that operates it.
Yes reverse gear 😃
Just as an aside .... I'm curious about your Shoei lid , may I ask; Did you try the C4? Integrated comms? (I'm trying to choose between the two) If anyone has any advice I'd be delighted !
PS I quite agree about the weird back pressure ... Its very odd !
PPS Great video
Hey Max. Thanks for commenting. I haven't tried the C4, no, but we used Sena comms on our helmets, which work well, though a bit patchy with the BMW bluetooth. So, you either have great comms, or great integration - we haven't found a solution for both!
That model of BMW, BIKE starts $ 29.000 dollars , or 26.000 euros , here in Dublin Ireland, what price is it in the USA? the mark up on it over this side of the pond is nuts, cant see why as its made over this way,
Yeah, we understand the frustration. But we've also noticed that most things are now pretty well at parity, in USD, GBP and Euro, wherever you buy them...
It is 26.000 here , thats without the full spec, thats its starting price. and thats not any color you like, , its a pity about the price here in Ireland, as i think the traders over here. who are just two main dealers, that can sell or get in new onesfrom,, are doing themselves out of a sale, its a nice bike but when the price comes up to nearly 29.000. forget it, ill stick with the goldwing, Nice video..
@@rangerdd It's a shame when a great bike is priced out of reach, or value, really. We rode one for two years and loved it - amazingly agile for something so big. In any case, thanks for the compliment, and enjoy the Goldwing!
I just bought a dealer hold over (2018) with 1.1 mile on it for under 22k USD. (New Schuberth C3 Pro and Garmin nav system and title fees pushed it to 24k)
how does it compare to the goldwing?
They're obviously both big, luxurious bikes capable of carrying a great deal in comfort and for long hours. The K1600 is by far the more nimble and sporty, and its 'tech' seems to make the bike more dynamic. There are times you can push it as if it's a sports bike, which you'd never do with the Goldwing. If you want sheer breadth and comfort of seat, and the smoothest ride ever, the Goldwing's the one. Hope that helps!
Ah! good review, solid video, subscribed!
Thanks WarDog: much appreciated! Take a look around the rest of our videos - more on the way too...
why do you put on helmet and glove? IF ou have short sleeves? Do you go to the butcher?
Ha! One thing about bikers is that generally we are a bit more individualistic. We never yet met a butcher who wanted our sausage but perhaps the day will come. Enjoy making your own choices and Merry Christmas to you!
Wonderful Bike!
An extraordinary blend of things, and we're sure the next generation will be 'state of the art' in so many areas.
Nice video !
Thank you very much for watching! Do please subscribe - there are loads more :)
thought ESA is standard now in 2017 models.
Hi Roger. Yes, it is - that was one of our predictions!
Boss Bikes Club cheers mate
You're welcome, and thanks for subscribing! :)
Boss Bikes Club my pleasure. looking forward to more vids. happy riding.
Just bought one, I also have a GSA 1250 and an S1000 XR. I absolutely cannot deal with the wind turbulence. Horrible. I used to ride goldwings and never felt wind, this bike just cost me £25,000 and is a joke
We're sorry to hear you're suffering this problem. We had back-pressure, rather than buffeting. Talking to other K16 riders, it does seem that a combination of height and helmet design affects the situation - some have problems, others none at all. But in any case, it's weird that a top of the range bike has any problems like this at all. btw, we're riding an S1000XR at the moment and it's fabulous! :)
@@BossBikesClub I'm absolutely delighted to report that I visited the dealer who put on an after market screen from a trade in and the problem vanished instantly. It's now the amazing bike I hoped it would be. So I'm thoroughly spoilt, 3 amazing bmw bikes, I'm sure you're loving the XR it really is smile inducing
@@adrianbuckley8922 Very happy to hear that! Do share which screen it is, as I know many other K16ers would love to solve their problems, too...
@@BossBikesClub it is wasn't branded but I'm pretty certain it's this model www.motorcycleparts-hornig.com/BMW-K-1600-GT/Windscreens/Windscreen-VStream.html
I'm absolutely thrilled to now enjoy this amazing bike and look forward to long European tours with the Mrs comfy on the back
BMW .... BEST MOTORCYCLE IN THE WORLD !! ( Sorry England , Sorry Harley ) 😮😆😆😁😁🤣🤙🤙🏁🏁🏁
It is a very fine bike!
Super bike.
It certainly is - with an exceptional engine!
biggest problem with this bike is , the price..Come On,, look at the price of it in the usa, and the price in europe.???
Clearly, they're top of the line, and like most manufacturers, they really charge for them.
You're missing something on your wishlist : electric motor... of course, with a range of some 400km or so. If we give BMW engineers a challenge, let's be serious, shall we ? I'm sure tey'll like it...
Ha - absolutely! With Harley-Davidson announcing its ambitious new range, we suspect BMW will not bring its electric S1000RRE to market immediately!
I personally do not know of a single motorcyclist who has 'electric motor' on his/her wish list..
Well, you don't know me "personally" @BibtheBoulder... :-), but hold your judgment until you've actually driven an electric motorbike... it certainly has it's charms !!! I'm waiting for the long-range sportive tourers (on BMW K1600GT now... and loving it, btw), they are not there yet in electric version. And, by the way, give-or-take a year, in 10 years or so, we will not have a "wish"-list anymore on this subject. It will be that or nothing... by law.
@@chrisdurie3651 If I knew you personally then I would not have said "I personally do not know...blah blah blah..."
In ten years time (give or take a year or 5) there will still be millions of ICE vehicles on the roads. The government may well ban new sales of ICE vehicles, but they will not be able to ban those already on the road from being used. This drive towards EV's will soon be shown for the utter con it is. Swallowed hook line and sinker by folks like you.
I have one, but it has down with timing chain jump. It didn't start up after i turned engine off for motor heat up. I never suggest to any of interested potantial buyer. I bought it with big dream and future plan. Motor was full serviced by local official bmw dealer. Germany motorrad head management refuse to cover problem also. Never buy it.
Hi there. It's great to get this feedback, as we almost never hear of problems with these bikes - thanks for bringing it to our attention! Sorry you've been frustrated and we wish you the best of luck getting the bike that really works for you!
Boss Bikes Club i took the bike from official dealer service to local workshop to fix it. Donno how much i m going to save. If cost still high i will burn the bike in front of bmw head office of istanbul
The pillion handles are useless, as soon as the pillion sits on the seat!!
Hi there. Thanks for watching. Our pillion found them comfortable, actually, and wondered whether in future they would be heated!
Nice to meet you. I enjoyed the video.^^ Subscribe and like. I'll come visit often.
JUST TO SAY THIS IS A MODEL DOWN. NOT GTLE JUST GTL. SLIGHT DIFFERENCES LIKE ARM RESTS AND CHROMED ACCENTS AND MORE LUXURIOUS COLOUR SCEAM. BILL.
Thanks for being in touch, William. I guess you are referring to the GTL Exclusive, which you correctly describe. Perhaps confusingly, both these models exist: The GTLE and the GTL Exclusive. This is correctly labelled as the GTLE.
As the owner of a K1600 GTL exclusive, I drive in Europe. I am accompanied by a 360° camera. You can find documentation of my trips on my channel. Enjoy the views of the Alps, Chianti and Ardeche. How are the roads in Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia - here you will find out. ua-cam.com/users/reilei60featured. Thanks for your support - get in contact.
The weld is ugly
It's a strange one...
Owl bike
Owl bike ? Yes ! And very wise ! Does everything ! Simply ❤️ my Owl 🦉 Bike !
Hahaha 😁
Sorry can’t trust a guy in a T Shirt. Best ignore everything he says.
I dispute everything that you have say about the Bike; Please Buy English Bikes Make England Proud it does not fit you well.