BMW K 1600 GT 2019 — Specifications

Fifteen years after establishing a category of its own, the BMW K 1600 GT continues to dictate terms in the high-end grand-touring segment. As Honda aligns its Gold Wing with a six-cylinder engine and Kawasaki pushes its 1400 GTR, Munich responds with a 1649 cc inline six-cylinder engine housed transversally in an aluminum perimeter frame, an architecture that no one else dares to attempt. The 2019 version introduces no revolutions; BMW prefers to refine what already works very well rather than completely redesigning it. The addition of Hill Start Control Pro as standard equipment that year is in line with this logic of progressive enrichment, step by step, without fanfare but without missteps either.

This engine is the heart of the matter and the reason why the BMW K 1600 GT specification remains a benchmark. 160 horsepower at 7750 rpm, 175 Nm of torque at 5520 rpm, and above all, an availability of power at very low revs that transforms every highway acceleration into a display of style. The power is not there to impress on paper; it is there to devour the miles with a disconcerting serenity, whether you are alone or accompanied with the saddlebags full. The 26.5-liter tank allows for comfortable range, and the announced consumption of 5.7 liters per hundred kilometers, realistic in mixed use, allows for long stages without watching the gas stations. The BMW K 1600 GT motorcycle footrests, well positioned for highway use, confirm that the machine was designed for long distances.

The chassis deserves attention, because this is where BMW has done the most serious work. The Duolever at the front and the Paralever at the rear form a tried-and-tested assembly for years, and the adoption as standard of electronically controlled ESA Dynamic suspension further raises the level. Road mode and Dynamic mode allow you to adapt the behavior in seconds, without stopping, which proves useful when the road surface changes in the middle of a pass. At 334 kg fully fueled, the BMW K 1600 GT is not a mount for hesitant hands, but its very low center of gravity quickly rewards the rider who gains confidence. It is a weight that is accepted because the motorcycle manages it better than its driver anticipates.

The standard equipment is complete without being ostentatious, which contrasts with some Japanese competitors who multiply superfluous gadgets. Electrically adjustable windscreen, heated grips and seat, TFT screen, cruise control, ABS Pro, traction control DTC, xenon headlight, the essential BMW K 1600 GT accessories are included in the equipment. Reverse gear, long requested by users, finally arrives, but as an option. On a machine of this size, leaving it as a supplementary charge remains a questionable commercial choice. The Pro shifter, borrowed from the S 1000 RR, is also optional, which is more understandable given the touring profile of the machine.

At 24,100 euros for this 2019 version, the BMW K 1600 GT new price positions the machine in a niche where the buyer knows very well what he is looking for. It is not a motorcycle for beginners or for busy urban riders; it is a tool designed for the demanding globetrotter who travels 30,000 kilometers per year and does not compromise on comfort or finish quality. Those looking for a BMW K 1600 GT used will find well-equipped examples on the secondary market, often with the original BMW K 1600 GT luggage included. For those who want even more luxury, the GTL remains available, but with a more subdued temperament. The GT, on the other hand, retains a more dynamic character, a tension in the behavior that fully justifies its positioning in the range.