All Tests – BMW K1600GTL Test: an exceptional K! – Contact: comfort … and sport!

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BMW K1600GTL test: an exceptional K !

All Tests - BMW K1600GTL Test: an exceptional K! - Contact: comfort ... and sport!

With the new K1600GTL, BMW is shaking up the standards of the luxury road motorcycle category: powered by an incredible in-line six-cylinder, the new German GT also offers surprisingly efficient handling.. First try.

Contact: comfort … and sport !

Finally comes the long-awaited moment to activate the starter and listen to the soundtrack of the six-cylinder in-line: the sound is hoarse, deep and metallic and sticks banana at the slightest request of the right wrist..

Triumph enthusiasts will immediately notice the similarity with the sound delivered by the English three-cylinder: logical, since the BMW unit is equivalent to two coupled Triumph engines! On the other hand, GTL buyers would certainly have done without the annoying transmission hiss common to most Tromphs….

Almost too discreet at idle, the melody of the "six-legged" gains in intensity from 2500 rpm (90 km / h counter in sixth), before clearly changing tone at 5000 rpm: the muffled melody then turns to a particularly enjoyable metallic growl up to 8500 rpm of the breaker !

At this speed, the German block propelled the three and a half quintals of the K1600GTL with unsuspected speed to 140 km / h (!) In second and 180 km / h (!!) in third. Against all expectations, the 160.5 hp are the standard type between 6000 and 8000 rpm, where we expected rather the behavior "quiet force" of a Percheron !

On the other hand, if the engine engineers announce that the six-cylinder develops 75% of its maximum torque from 1500 rpm (i.e. 500 rpm more than idle!), The K1600GTL is however less impressive than expected at low diets.

Let’s get on well: the block offers monumental smoothness and availability since it allows you to walk in sixth at slow speed at 30 km / h or to negotiate a hairpin in fourth (!) Without complaining and come out with vigor..

But the times are linear below 4000 rev / min and especially devoid of this "Kolossal" surge of power felt thereafter. Nevertheless, the latter is so impressive that it tends to distort the sensations, because the speeds indicated by the meter (very readable) remind us that in Bavaria, we know how to manufacture engines that breathe. !

Against all expectations, the K1600GTL also reveals an unexpected sporty face over the hundreds of kilometers traveled on the superb roads of South Africa. It begins with the discovery of an incredibly lively and playful engine in the towers and is verified with a less "senatorial" driving position than the Honda GL 1800 Goldwing, the obvious target of the BMW..

No motorcycle-taxi K1600GTL, nor LT

BMW claims that it is absolutely not interested in the motorcycle taxi sector with its K1600GTL, a market which nevertheless does the business of Honda and its Goldwing.

"It’s all about branding", assures Patrick Lucas of BMW France who specifies that the German manufacturer does not already grant any preferential treatment to the taxi companies which would wish to work with BMW cars. Finally, the leaders of BMW assure that the K1600GTL will not be declined in a even more luxurious and comfortable version, like a K1600LT

The footrests of the GTL thus cause a slight – but surprisingly on this type of "two-wheeled limousine" – folding of the stems. However, if they both share a fantastical engine architecture, bloated equipment and elitist prices (six-cylinder flat and € 28,990 for the Honda), the similarities end there between the German and the Japanese..

The position is neither unpleasant nor restrictive, especially as the protection of the legs is perfect and the saddle comfort is pleasant. But it betrays a search for a "comfort-performance" compromise (all things considered, naturlich!) Totally absent from the specifications of the Honda.

The observation is reinforced as soon as the first curves appear: enjoying a surprisingly easy handling, the K1600GTL benefits from a relevant weight distribution, while its chassis offers unparalleled handling and agility (read all the details on the following chassis).

Thanks to a convincing turning radius, the U-turns – even in duet – are besides a formality … on the flat and using the clutch however, because the weight and the speed a tad too high at idle on the first report clearly complicates the exercise !

A simple press on the superb aluminum handlebars is enough to make the front end plunge to the rope with astonishing precision and speed. In addition, thanks to the action of the Duolever, the forces exerted by the braking are dissociated from the directional power of the GTL, which allows it to enter curves on the brakes that some real "Sport-GT" could envy. !

Especially in terms of braking, the K1600GTL has something to show: a single finger is enough to stop the creature launched at full load! The power, bite and endurance of the 320 mm discs are such that when braking hard, tightening the thighs around the 26.5-liter tank via its wide notches is recommended. !

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