BMW K 1600 GTL Elegance 2017 — Specifications

Who, in the motorcycle world, can boast of offering an inline six-cylinder engine beneath the tank? BMW, and no one else. The 2017 K 1600 GTL Elegance embodies this Bavarian excess with a quiet confidence, that of a machine which simply has no direct rival in its segment. Against it, the Honda Gold Wing plays a different tune, more comfortable but less sharp, while the Yamaha FJR 1300 operates in a significantly lower displacement and price category. The 2018 BMW K 1600 GTL Elegance carries on this momentum with an unchanged positioning.

This 1649 cc engine develops 160 horsepower at 7750 rpm and, more importantly, 174.6 Nm of torque available from just 5250 rpm. Numbers that speak for themselves. The six-cylinder delivers its power with a smoothness that only this architecture allows, free of parasitic vibration, in a deep growl that builds in intensity as the needle climbs. The six-speed gearbox and shaft drive ensure clean, jolt-free power delivery. On the motorway, the engine turns at low revs, almost silent. When overtaking, a twist of the throttle is all it takes to feel the 348 kg wet weight vanish under the surge of acceleration. Because that is precisely the feat of this GTL: making its mass disappear once in motion, thanks to a low centre of gravity and a well-designed aluminium perimeter frame geometry.

The 2017 model year brought its share of targeted improvements. The semi-active ESA suspension adjusts damping in real time according to load and road surface, a genuine benefit for comfort on long journeys. The wind protection was revised, storage was supplemented with practical glove boxes. As an option, an electric reverse gear makes parking manoeuvres easier, a welcome addition when handling a machine of this stature. The emergency call system rounds out the technological arsenal. The seat height, kept to 750 mm, allows average-sized riders to plant their feet on the ground with confidence, a detail that matters on a motorcycle of this weight. The 26.5-litre tank allows for substantial legs between fuel stops.

The Elegance trim sets itself apart with its Ebony metallic and Black storm metallic livery, enhanced by chrome inserts on the deflectors and front mudguard. It is understated, it is refined, and it is enough to add a touch of visual character without verging on the flashy. The braking system, entrusted to two 320 mm discs clamped by four-piston calipers at the front and a 320 mm disc at the rear, proves equal to the task of slowing this mass, with reassuring power and precise modulation. The 120/70-17 and 190/55-17 tyres offer a grip-to-longevity compromise suited to intensive road use.

The real issue remains the price. At a base price of 25,005 euros, the GTL Elegance demands a substantial budget. And the bill climbs quickly once you start ticking options, nearly all of which are hard to refuse once you have tried them. That is BMW's strategy, devastatingly effective. This machine is aimed at long-distance tourers who devour kilometres by the thousand, most often riding two-up, and who want to do so in uncompromising comfort and refinement. For them, the K 1600 GTL Elegance is not a purchase — it is an investment in the pleasure of riding far, for long, without fatigue.