BMW K 1600 GTL 2017 — Specifications

Imagine crossing the Austrian Alps at dawn, your back straight, your forearms resting, while six inline cylinders hum under the fairing with the regularity of a Swiss metronome. That's exactly what the BMW K 1600 GTL offers, a luxury version of the already remarkable K 1600 GT, and which distinguishes itself with a philosophy radically oriented towards uncompromising travel. Where its cousin plays the dynamism card, the GTL fully embraces its role as a mobile palace. High handlebars, a lowered seat at 750 mm to facilitate ground reach, and forward-mounted footrests: the riding position is designed to absorb kilometers, not to flirt with lap times.

The inline six-cylinder engine of 1649 cc remains the centerpiece of the structure, and it's easy to understand why BMW has retained it for years without seeking to replace it. For 2017, the Munich engineers revised the injection mapping and integrated an activated carbon filter to meet Euro 4 standards, without compromising performance. The 160 horsepower at 7750 rpm and 175 Nm of torque are still present, figures that would make many sportbikes blush, delivered with a smoothness that neither the Honda Gold Wing nor the Kawasaki 1400 GTR can quite reproduce. The engine’s rise in RPM is progressive, velvety, almost silent. With 4.6 liters per hundred kilometers on the road, the 26.5-liter tank allows covering long distances without worrying about gas stations.

The 2017 update integrates the semi-active ESA Dynamic suspension as standard equipment, previously optional. The system reads in real time the phases of acceleration and braking to adjust the damping in milliseconds. Two modes are available, Road and Dynamic, and it is possible to switch from one to the other without stopping. On a machine that weighs 348 kg fully fueled, this is a valuable aid. This weight, indeed, is the subject that always comes up in discussions about the BMW K 1600 GTL. It is real, undeniable, but BMW has worked on lowering the center of gravity with sufficient rigor so that the motorcycle proves surprisingly agile once in motion. The reverse gear, available as an option, responds to a concrete need in underground parking garages and tight maneuvers. It would have been preferred to see it as standard on a machine priced at 24,800 euros, but Munich decided otherwise.

On the list of new options, we also note the pro shifter from the S 1000 RR, which allows gear changes both up and down without engaging the clutch. A gadget? Not really. Over 800 kilometers of road, the left hand will appreciate the rest. The standard equipment is also very complete: ABS Pro with lean-sensitive, traction control DTC, electric screen with memory, xenon headlights, color TFT screen, heated grips and seat, cruise control, Bluetooth audio system. The top case with backrest, for its part, transforms the passenger comfort in a significant way. For those looking for a used BMW K 1600 GTL on the classifieds or elsewhere, earlier versions offer a very solid equipment level, but the 2017 update remains clearly the most accomplished of the decade.

The question of price remains. At 24,800 euros, the GTL is 2,250 euros above the GT and is aimed at a specific public: the seasoned, fifty-something long-distance rider, accustomed to long journeys, who wants to take their passenger in conditions worthy of first class. For this profile, the BMW K 1600 GTL is difficult to contradict. It is nevertheless regrettable that the reverse gear and adaptive directional lighting remain options charged as supplements on an already high-end machine. This is the only real criticism that can be formulated against this Bavarian touring machine, which, at heart, perfectly masters its subject.