BMW K 1600 GTL 2016 — Specifications

Imagine crossing the Austrian Alps at dawn, 348 kilograms beneath you that seem to melt into the curves, a six-cylinder engine singing at 7,750 rpm. Not a brutal roar, but rather the poised voice of a tenor who has nothing to prove. This is what the BMW K 1600 GTL offers, a machine that refuses to choose between the grandeur of travel and the pleasure of driving.

When Munich decided to kill off the K 1200 GT to replace it with this GTL, the industry held its breath. The bet was risky: how to position a motorcycle between the Honda Pan-European and the Gold Wing without falling into the trap of a soft compromise? The Bavarian answer lies in one number: six. A six-cylinder engine, an architecture that the motorcycle world had rarely seen since the Kawasaki Z 1300 or the Honda CBX 1000. BMW Motorrad here steps out of line with a 1,649 cm³ engine delivering 160 horsepower and 175 Nm from 5,250 rpm. What strikes you is the availability: 70% of the torque is accessible above idle. You ride in sixth gear in a village at 50 km/h, you pull out, and the machine responds without protest. Compared to the Gold Wing, the GTL is 50 kilograms lighter on the scale, and you can feel it in every curve.

The chassis doesn't lag behind. The Duolever at the front and the Paralever at the rear, with included cardan drive, are BMW signatures that enthusiasts of the brand know well. The perimeter aluminum frame recesses at the level of the gearbox to straddle the cylinder head, the engine inclined at 55 degrees forward being an integral part of the structure. The dual-disc brakes with four-piston calipers and ABS Pro adjust the clamping pressure according to the angle of the motorcycle, a welcome precision when piloting 348 kilograms in full lean. The Control Brake Light system, for its part, makes the brake light flash at a variable frequency according to the intensity of emergency braking, and turns on the warning lights at the end of deceleration. Simple, effective, potentially life-saving for the truck that’s tailgating you.

Inside, the BMW K 1600 GTL clearly plays the sedan card. The low 750 mm seat, the advanced footrests, the 5.7-inch TFT screen manipulated by an iDrive wheel borrowed from the automotive Series 7, the electric bubble, the standard side cases, the top case with its integrated backrest, the heated grips and seats: the traveler has a complete equipment without spending an extra penny. The in-house GPS is housed between the dials and the bubble, transforming the cockpit into a pilot station. Adaptive xenon lighting, which pivots in the direction of the turn and illuminates the road rather than the embankment, adds a layer of coherence to the whole. The 2015 updates brought traction control DTC as standard, Keyless Ride as an option, and Hill Start Control for starts on slopes with a full load.

The new BMW K 1600 GTL price is around €24,305, which clearly positions this machine for a mature audience, accustomed to long distances, who refuse to sacrifice dynamics for comfort. The novice rider will pass their way: the GTL demands respect and practice. But the great touring rider who is looking for a mount worthy of their ambitions will find here something rare, an inline six-cylinder engine whose sound alone justifies the journey. For those exploring the BMW K 1600 GTL used market, examples from the 2017 to 2020 model years offer a solid price-quality ratio, the mechanics having proven their robustness over time. The GTL doesn't just transport its rider from point A to point B. It gives them a reason to look for point C.