BMW K 1600 Grand America 2019 — Specifications

Imagine crossing Nevada one June morning, Route 66 stretching before you like a ribbon of scorching asphalt, and beneath your thighs, 1649 cubic centimeters of Bavarian mechanics purring with the assurance of a yacht engine. That’s exactly why BMW designed the K 1600 Grand America. Not for the curves of the Alps, not for congested urban roads, but to devour the great American highways with a serenity few manufacturers can offer.

The inline six-cylinder engine that propels this machine remains one of the most refined mechanical jewels on the market for large touring bikes. Its 160 horsepower developed at 7750 rpm and its 175 Nm of torque at 5520 rpm are not here to fight at traffic lights. BMW has even limited the maximum speed to 162 km/h, a choice consistent with the bagger philosophy: this is not a sportbike, it’s about traveling. This torque available early in the rev range, combined with the six-speed shaft transmission, provides this smooth and continuous progression that characterizes luxury grand touring. The announced consumption of 5.7 liters per hundred kilometers, with a 26.5-liter tank, allows for respectable stages without range anxiety.

The real debate, for those hesitating between the BMW K 1600 Grand America and a Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited or an Indian Roadmaster, is played on the field of technical sophistication. Munich asserts its arguments here with the semi-active ESA Dynamic suspension, riding modes, ABS Pro curve, traction control DTC, and hill start control Hill Start Control Pro, now standard for 19. The electrically adjustable windscreen, heated grips and seat, integrated audio system, motorized reverse gear: all these features partly justify the price of 28,350 euros. The price is high, even for this segment, and enthusiasts of the BMW K 1600 Grand America used will find a well-supplied secondary market, notably 2020 or 2021 models often loaded with BMW K 1600 Grand America accessories that further increase their perceived value.

The silhouette has evolved compared to the base Bagger with the addition of an integrated top case that closes the rear line and transforms the machine into a real rolling trunk. It’s no longer a streamlined bagger playing the card of stripped-down style, it’s an autonomous convoy capable of carrying two travelers with their luggage for a week. The brake light integrated into the top case and the lighting of the side cases testify to careful work on visual integration. The 364 kilograms full remain the physical reality to be tamed, especially with a seat height reduced to 750 mm for this 2019 model, BMW having eliminated the low seat option in favor of a standardized ground clearance that is more accessible.

What the BMW K 1600 Grand America 2019 does better than its American rivals is this alliance between bagger temperament and European precision. We don’t talk about the same machine whether you read a BMW K 1600 Grand America test oriented towards performance or comfort, but in both cases, the verdict converges: this motorcycle is aimed at the mature globetrotter who wants everything, now, without compromise. Its audience is not the recent young license holder looking for their marks, nor the track rider counting the seconds. It is the traveler who has already ridden a lot, who knows the value of comfort over 800 kilometers, and who is willing to pay the price to never suffer in the saddle again.