BMW K1600
Encyclopedia
The BMW K1600GTL and K1600GT are motorcycle
s announced by BMW Motorrad
in July 2010,
and unveiled at the Intermot
motorcycle show in Cologne
in October 2010.
The bikes went on sale in March 2011.
The K1600GTL is a full dress luxury tourer
, which replaces the K1200LT, and is intended to compete with the Honda Gold Wing. The K1600GT is more of a sport tourer similar to the existing K1300GT and previous K1200GT
models.
across the chassis. The engine is angled forward by 50°.
The engine was originally used on the Concept 6, a concept bike
that was shown at the 2009 EICMA Milan Motor Show
.
BMW claims that the engine, which at 560 mm (22 in) wide is just 67 mm (2.6 in) wider than the K1300 engine,
is the narrowest six-cylinder engine ever produced. Cylinder bore is 72 mm (2.8 in) and the distance between cylinder centres 77 mm (3 in).
The camshaft
is hollow, with cam lobes pressed on, which saves around 2 lb (0.90718474 kg).
The engine has electronic throttle control
and multiple drive modes which can be set according to road conditions.
New technology for BMW on these models include adaptive headlights. As standard the headlights shine onto a mirror which keeps the beam level according to how the bike is pitched. The optional adaptive headlights include a servo motor that directs the headlight beam according to how the bike is leaning in a turn, effectively pointing the beam around the bend.
named the K1600GT as its best sport touring motorcycle, and the K1600GTL as the best touring motorcycle for 2011.
Motorcyclist
named the K1600GT as Best Touring Bike in its 2011 Motorcycle of the Year awards.
UK weekly newspaper Motor Cycle News named the K1600GT as Best Tourer at its MCN Awards 2011.
Motorcyclist road tested the K1600GTL against the Honda Gold Wing and preferred the Honda. They did note that the additions on the K1600GTL over the K1600GT worked against it, and concluded that the latter was the better bike.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
s announced by BMW Motorrad
BMW Motorrad
BMW Motorrad is the motorcycle brand of the German company BMW, part of its Corporate and Brand Development division. The current General Director of the unit is Hendrik von Kuenheim....
in July 2010,
and unveiled at the Intermot
Intermot
INTERMOT Cologne is a biennial trade show for motorcycle manufacturers. The trade show began in Munich in 1998, though originally founded in Cologne. Since 2004 it has moved to koelnmesse in Cologne. The Intermot 2006 had over 1.000 exhibitors and some 187.000 visitors....
motorcycle show in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
in October 2010.
The bikes went on sale in March 2011.
The K1600GTL is a full dress luxury tourer
Touring motorcycle
A touring motorcycle is a type of motorcycle designed for touring. Although any motorcycle can be used to tour with, manufacturers have brought specific models designed to address the particular needs of these riders...
, which replaces the K1200LT, and is intended to compete with the Honda Gold Wing. The K1600GT is more of a sport tourer similar to the existing K1300GT and previous K1200GT
BMW K1200GT
The BMW K1200GT is a sport-touring motorcycle made by BMW. The second generation K1200GT, introduced in 2006, uses essentially the same inline-4 engine as the BMW K1200S sportbike, which held the world speed record in 2005 for its class at 173.57 mph ,and the K1200R...
models.
Technology
The bikes feature a new 1649 cc straight-six engine which is mounted transverselyTransverse engine
A transverse engine is an engine mounted in a vehicle so that the engine's crankshaft axis is perpendicular to the long axis of the vehicle. Many modern front wheel drive vehicles use this engine mounting configuration...
across the chassis. The engine is angled forward by 50°.
The engine was originally used on the Concept 6, a concept bike
Concept car
A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced....
that was shown at the 2009 EICMA Milan Motor Show
EICMA
EICMA , or the Milan Motorcycle Show is an annual trade show in Milan, Italy featuring motorcycles. The 2008 show drew over half a million visitors. The show is frequently used by manufacturers to debut new models....
.
BMW claims that the engine, which at 560 mm (22 in) wide is just 67 mm (2.6 in) wider than the K1300 engine,
is the narrowest six-cylinder engine ever produced. Cylinder bore is 72 mm (2.8 in) and the distance between cylinder centres 77 mm (3 in).
The camshaft
Camshaft
A camshaft is a shaft to which a cam is fastened or of which a cam forms an integral part.-History:An early cam was built into Hellenistic water-driven automata from the 3rd century BC. The camshaft was later described in Iraq by Al-Jazari in 1206. He employed it as part of his automata,...
is hollow, with cam lobes pressed on, which saves around 2 lb (0.90718474 kg).
The engine has electronic throttle control
Electronic throttle control
Electronic throttle control is an automobile technology which severs the mechanical link between the accelerator pedal and the throttle. Most automobiles already use a throttle position sensor to provide input to traction control, antilock brakes, fuel injection, and other systems, but use a...
and multiple drive modes which can be set according to road conditions.
New technology for BMW on these models include adaptive headlights. As standard the headlights shine onto a mirror which keeps the beam level according to how the bike is pitched. The optional adaptive headlights include a servo motor that directs the headlight beam according to how the bike is leaning in a turn, effectively pointing the beam around the bend.
Reception
In July 2011, US magazine Cycle WorldCycle World
Cycle World is a motorcycling magazine in the United States. It was founded in 1962 by Joe Parkhurst, who was inducted to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame as "the person responsible for bringing a new era of objective journalism" to the U.S. and is now the largest motorcycling magazine in the world...
named the K1600GT as its best sport touring motorcycle, and the K1600GTL as the best touring motorcycle for 2011.
Motorcyclist
Motorcyclist (magazine)
Motorcyclist is a motorcycling magazine in the United States. The magazine is headquartered in Los Angeles, and is published by Source Interlink Media. The current Editor in Chief, Brian Catterson, was formerly Executive Editor at rival Cycle World....
named the K1600GT as Best Touring Bike in its 2011 Motorcycle of the Year awards.
UK weekly newspaper Motor Cycle News named the K1600GT as Best Tourer at its MCN Awards 2011.
Motorcyclist road tested the K1600GTL against the Honda Gold Wing and preferred the Honda. They did note that the additions on the K1600GTL over the K1600GT worked against it, and concluded that the latter was the better bike.