BMW K 1600 B 2020 — Specifications

Imagine a bagger propelled by the traction of an inline six-cylinder. Most Americanophiles only know the V-twin as a mechanical religion, and here comes Munich with a radically different proposition. The BMW K 1600 B was not born of a stylistic whim; it responds to a clear commercial logic. On the North American market, the bagger is king, and the Harley-Davidson Street Glide is living proof. BMW Motorrad needed a ticket of entry into this segment, and rather than mimicking the competition with a twin-cylinder, the Bavarian brand played its usual trump card: technical escalation.

This 1649 cc six-cylinder develops 160 horsepower at 7750 rpm and 175 Nm of torque at 5520 rpm. Faced with American baggers hovering around 90 to 100 horsepower, the gap is brutal. Only the Honda Gold Wing can claim comparable mechanical nobility, with its flat-six cast in the same mold of discreet vibration. For the rest of the segment, the BMW K 1600 B 2020 plays in another category. The new price displayed at 26,850 euros places the motorcycle well above the Japanese references, and clearly within the territory of Harley-Davidson premium models. This is assumed, and consistent with the BMW positioning.

The "streamline" style of this BMW K 1600 B touring machine deserves attention. The rear end plunges downwards with rare fluidity, the fixed side cases integrate the rear lights in the American style, and the chrome silencers run parallel to the road as if the motorcycle refused any visual roughness. The seat height at 750 mm, lowered by 30 mm compared to previous versions, facilitates handling despite the 336 kg when fully fueled. On this last point, no stories should be told: the BMW K 1600 B demands respect when stationary and during maneuvers. The reverse assist, activatable from the left handlebar control, is not a superfluous gadget. It is essential.

In the saddle, the dynamic ESA suspension with electronic pilot control does its job seriously. The "Road" mode manages damping automatically and absorbs irregularities without the rider having to intervene. The "Cruise" mode, more supple, is suitable for long straight lines where one seeks above all to be carried along. The aluminum "bridge-type" frame with engine as a stressed member, the Duolever at the front and the Paralever at the rear with shaft drive: this is the classic BMW recipe, proven for years on the brand's grand tourers. The BMW K 1600 B 2020 inherits it entirely, and that is felt in the directional stability at high speed, limited to 200 km/h.

The target audience is clearly the experienced long-distance rider, rather between two ages, who wants American style without sacrificing European sophistication. The one who consults the BMW K 1600 B forum before buying, who compares the used BMW K 1600 B with the new one, and who finally cracks for the BMW K 1600 B Grand America with the well-stocked BMW K 1600 B accessory pack. The announced consumption of 5.7 liters per 100 km and the 26.5-liter tank offer a theoretical range of more than 460 km, which is serious for an engine of this size. The main drawback remains the weight: at the slightest maneuver in a parking lot, the 336 kg remind you of your muscular memory. This is not a motorcycle for hesitating; it is a motorcycle for people who know exactly where they are going.