All Duels – BMW K1600GTL Vs Honda Goldwing: 6-cylinder in-line or flat? – Arsouilles in superlatives

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BMW K1600GTL Vs Honda Goldwing: 6-cylinder in-line or flat ?

All Duels - BMW K1600GTL Vs Honda Goldwing: 6-cylinder in-line or flat? - Arsouilles in superlatives

In the clan of opulent road cars, the Honda GL1800 Goldwing is sovereign, at the same time very comfortable, soft and pleasant … But this year arrives a second 6-cylinder motorcycle: the BMW K1600GTL… Face to face full options !

Arsouilles in superlatives

It is high time to go and scrape the footrests a bit on the pretty roads of the Côtes d’Armor. At lower speeds than on the motorway, we can finally take full advantage of the sound system of our two monsters, but also of their truck torque and their bewitching sound..

Quite discreet, the flat 6-cylinder of the Gold distills a magnificent hoarse sound that evokes some American or European automotive monuments. On the BMW side, the score is not exactly the same: much more present, the in-line six-cylinder growls at idle and does not miss an opportunity to howl its rage in the towers !

Very typical "motorcycle", the German engine delivers a sound which is reminiscent of a three-cylinder Triumph (the unpleasant characteristic "whistle" included), in much more muffled and "deeper".

On the road, the front axle of the K1600 GTL demonstrates formidable efficiency: it combines a bluffing ease of tilting from one angle to another with an almost confusing stability as it seems so difficult to fault..

The gentrified sportswoman…

As we can also count on electronics that are as secure as they are not intrusive (anti-skating derived from the S1000RR and combined ABS), the pace can be really sustained, especially for a machine of this weight..

The very correct ground clearance already allows a lot of fun. On the braking side, it can be traced to many more sporty than it! This makes it possible to make the most of this nasty and frankly push-to-crime mechanism, because whatever the gear engaged, the "6-legged" offers vigorous revivals.

The bourgeois … sassy !

For his part, the pilot of the Goldwing is not really jettisoned, but suffers from a less playful part-cycle, less biting braking and a noticeable overweight when entering a curve..

In addition, its ground clearance is too low to hope to keep pace with the astonishing Bavarian. Like tires and brake pads, Honda rider footrests can quickly turn into "consumables" in the winding. !

Obvious and never tricky, the Goldwing does not however balk at the job and even surprises with its ability to tease virolo. But it inspires a more coiled conduct, which highlights its general smoothness and its immediately available torque.

2 motorcycles, 12 cylinders

Due to their different engine architectures (6 in line versus 6 flat), there are really two opposing philosophies. The Goldwing combines all the advantages expected from a large 1832 cc 6-cylinder engine: roundness, smoothness but also incredible strength from low revs.

The K 1600 GTL advances a torquey and efficient 6-cylinder in-line, but its playful side – almost angry – in the towers logically suffers from the Franco (n)-French restraint: the German thus leaves more than 50 horsepower on the other side of the Rhine (160.5 hp against 118 hp for the Honda in Full).

Where the Honda crosses a village in fifth gear at less than 500 rpm and comes out with astonishing vigor, the BMW is less demonstrative despite its torque value certainly superior, but higher perched: 175 Nm at 5250 rpm against 167 Nm at 4000 rpm for the Gold. Clearly, the K1600 GTL prefers sports tourism with all of its 160 thoroughbreds warm under its fairing !

Similarly, in the flanged version, its three injection maps selectable on the handlebars – Rain, Road and Dynamic – are of limited and hardly noticeable interest..

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