BMW K 1600 Grand America 2018 — Specifications

Imagine the Route 66 under your wheels, a flat horizon stretching all the way to the end of Nevada, and that deep, velvety sound of an inline six-cylinder pulsing at your feet. That’s exactly the mental territory the BMW K 1600 Grand America claims, and it’s no coincidence that Munich chose that name. Since 2018, this bagger version of the Bavarian flagship has pushed the logic of the grand American journey to its logical conclusion, adding a substantial top case to the side cases already present on the B. The result weighs 364 kilograms fully fueled. It’s robust, assertive, and perfectly consistent with the displayed ambition.

Under the fairing, the engine remains the same as on the other members of the K 1600 family, and that’s where the true nature of this machine lies. Sixteen hundred forty-nine cubic centimeters distributed in six cylinders in line, four valves per cylinder, a compression ratio of 12.2 to 1. We obtain 160 horsepower at 7,750 rpm and, above all, 175 Nm of torque at 5,520 rpm, delivered via a six-speed transmission and a driveshaft. This engine is one of the few production inline sixes in the two-wheeled world, and it alone justifies the interest it commands. BMW has, however, limited the maximum speed to 162 km/h, a deliberate choice that says everything about the desired positioning: here, we are not trying to break records, we are trying to devour the kilometers with princely serenity.

Facing a Harley-Davidson CVO Limited or an Indian Chieftain Elite, the Grand America plays a different card. It brings electronic sophistication that its American rivals have not yet fully digested. Semi-active ESA Dynamic suspension, riding modes, ABSPro, traction control DTC, cruise control, reverse gear, heated grips and seat, electrically adjustable windscreen, integrated audio system: the list is long and none of these functions are superfluous for those planning to cross a continent. The seat height at 750 mm remains reasonable for a machine of this size, and the 26.5-liter tank, combined with a consumption announced at 5.7 liters per hundred, guarantees a serious range before each stop.

Style is not left behind. The low silhouette, the chrome fuel tank badge, the carefully detailed optional pack, the two-tone livery that envelops the bodywork: BMW clearly wanted to create a machine visually consistent with the codes of the bagger, without falling into caricature. The target audience is not the young motorcyclist seeking pure sensations. It is the experienced grand traveler, the one who has already spent his years counting curves and who now wants to count kilometers, comfortably installed, without sacrificing mechanical pleasure.

Remains the question of price. At 27,985 euros in the catalog for the 2018 version, the BMW K 1600 Grand America is clearly positioned at the high end of the market. On the used market, 2019, 2020, 2021 and beyond models are negotiated according to the condition and BMW K 1600 Grand America accessories added by previous owners. Some 2022 announcements, fully equipped with CarPlay and PPF paint protection, are around 21,990 euros with warranty. The BMW K 1600 Grand America technical specifications speak for themselves to justify the investment. It’s not a motorcycle for everyone, but for those seeking exactly what it offers, it’s hard to do better.