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The basic data of the K 1600 series are all voluminous: over 200 km/h fast, at least 343 kg weight, consumption around 6 l/100 km, CO2 emissions 137 g/km.
Photo: Markus Jahn / BMW Motorcycles
The first impression:
it weighs 348 kilograms, two voluminous cases, a huge top case and a stem with a stereo system and a huge windscreen.
The latter could pass as a conservatory elsewhere.
The K 1600 GTL takes up quite a lot of space.
That's what the manufacturer says:
BMW advertises the two-wheelers of the K 1600 series as "touring masterpieces".
The motorcycle world actually thought such machines had finally died out in the 1980s with the Honda CBX and Kawasaki Z 1300.
Completely overdesigned machines with transversely installed six-cylinder in-line engines – the days of flying kites seemed over.
Until BMW Motorrad presented the K-1600 series in 2010: another six-cylinder, unrivaled in terms of power and equipment, amazingly easy to ride, but also with a massive fighting weight - with two people on board, the Munich premium tourer was unchallenged in 2011 new class, but also weighs more than half a ton.
In any case, the concept has been successful: Since 2011, BMW has sold almost 70,000 vehicles with the abbreviation K 1600 in various versions and minor modifications;
Roughly speaking, that was around 1.7 billion euros in sales for the group, with a high proportion of profits per unit.
For the 2022 model year, BMW has now completely overhauled the series.
Project manager is Toni Decker, he is responsible for the basic model GT and the slightly more comfortable GTL version with top case.
A K 1600 B is also available, in the American excavator style, and the all-in variant Grand America, fully fluffed up and spruced up for the North American market.
We noticed that
the model update was conspicuously inconspicuous.
The actual motorcycle body, the design elements and panels, engine, frame, cardan and brake system have survived the facelift almost undamaged eleven years after the start of construction.
The innovations are in the details: in the electronics that control the engine, in the lighting system and in the cockpit.
The changes behind the fairing are immediately visible.
Where previously two round instruments, the loudspeaker boxes and a 5.7-inch display together with several switches exuded visual nervousness, the 10.25-inch TFT color display with 1920 × 720 pixels now reigns supreme.
The display unit, which is controlled via a hand wheel, can do everything that is currently state of the art: music, telephony, playback of all relevant driving data, either partial or full map navigation in conjunction with the connectivity app on the smartphone.
This has a lockable compartment with USB-C connector, protected against splashing water and always cooled.
The light won too.
The previous xenon light has been removed.
It is replaced by LEDs.
The additional cornering light for dark corners now illuminates 35 degrees instead of 24.
In addition, the entire headlight unit swivels up and down by 2 degrees depending on acceleration and braking force.
The Munich-based company has not fundamentally changed anything on the six-cylinder engine with a displacement of 1649 ccm, which powers all four model variants.
But with the new engine control, two knock sensors and two additional lambda probes, the powerhouse is now Euro 5 approved.
The chunk now has "considerably reduced emissions";
the CO₂ emissions are still 137 g/km.
According to the data, the unit has hardly gained from the update: the peak performance of 160 hp, which has remained the same, is now already achieved at 6750 revolutions, the torque at 5250 rpm increases from 175 to 180 Nm.
What really counts anyway is the driving experience: Despite the high weight, the GTL that we drove during the test pulls easily through the villages in fourth gear;
on the country road, the sixth is usually enough.
Even under 2000 revolutions, the colossus pushes with three quarters of its maximum thrust.
The K 1600 never seems ponderous;
Traction and liveliness are always present.
You can chase the engine into the electronic limiter at around 9000 revolutions, but whoever does that has not understood the vehicle: This massive hum is not on the road as a speedboat, but as a flagship.
The K 1600 swings casually far beyond speed orgies into considerable lean angles, steers precisely in even the tightest curve radii and is wide awake even under hard braking thanks to the semi-actively controlled chassis.
The sovereign behavior is supported by the finely tuned driving modes Dynamic, Road and Rain.
Depending on your choice, the driving characteristics are controlled by the ESA electronic suspension: while Road, for example, encourages you to gently glide like a spaceship, the vehicle tightens noticeably in dynamic mode and becomes sporty and agile with harder feedback from the road.
The K 1600 can also be fast if BMW Motorrad lets it: the GT can be driven up to 240 km/h, the GTL up to 220 km/h.
The Munich-based company has limited the B to 200 km/h, and the Grand America even has a limit of 162 km/h.
That's all you need, according to the idea, on the highway for "luxurious travel, touring and cruising".
BMW has only cut back on one point in the electronics package: the cruise control still has to do without radar-based, automatic distance control.
The effort for the necessary conversions, including the brake system, was ultimately too high - look at the profit margin.
You have to know that:
As usual with BMW, the basic equipment of the individual model variants is a bit confusing.
The ESA electronic chassis and the pointless welcome and farewell lights are on board everywhere, while the stereo system is only on the GTL and the Grand America.
The extras, on the other hand, include auxiliary headlights, central locking, remote control keys, running boards (for B and Grand America) and the shift assistant.
At the same time there are additional touring and comfort packages, "serving suggestions" put together by BMW and various color variants.
Among the optional extras, option 719 stands out: Midnight paintwork.
It is elaborately applied by hand with water transfer printing, each of these paint finishes is therefore a unique specimen of the night sky with starry nebula.
Of course, these subtleties have their price.
It starts at 25,950 euros (basic price K 1600 GT), is 28,670 euros for the GTL we drive and increases to 31,800 euros for the K 1600 Grand America Option 719 Midnight – always without accessories, of course.
We won't forget that:
the light update with LED and cornering illumination unfortunately lost a design element that made the K 1600 unmistakable from afar: the two light rings of the daytime running lights.
They were clear: "Attention, here comes the big BMW."
Many fans will also miss the two iconic circles because they are very reminiscent of the designer glasses by the Englishman David Robb, who designed the K 1600.
Jochen Vorderer is a freelance author and was supported in his research by BMW Motorrad. Reporting is independent of this.
