Duel BMW K1600GTL Vs Honda GoldWing 2018: Cruising Face Off…
Forget Commander Stubing and his Love Boat. Rather, embark with Site for a cruise that is sometimes fun, sometimes bloody, on the only two grand touring motorcycles with six-cylinder engines: the BMW K1600GTL and the 2018 Honda GoldWing Touring. On board !
K1600GTL Vs GoldWing – page 1: Two liners in a pond
Six-cylinder. Whether in V, in line or flat, this engine evokes pleasure, power, torque … In a motorcycle even more than in a car, it enjoys an extremely rewarding image, even luxurious, since very rare in the two-wheeler market: only three production motorcycles currently have six-piston engines…
Let’s set aside from the outset, this extraordinary machine which tries against all odds to sail solo on the vast segment of roadsters. Let us retain on the other hand and again the two "admirable" vessels of the BMW and Honda ranges: the and the, which navigate on the small pond of the "Ultra-GT".
Site readers – who, as everyone knows, are a little more fortunate than the others – have already come across these two "motorbikes". It was already seven years ago, and for the record, had fired in favor of the Japanese flat-six.
- Duel MNC K1600GTL Vs Goldwing : 6-cylinder in line or flat ?
- BMW K1600GTL 2017 : First information on MNC
- Test MNC Honda Goldwing 2018 : More watts, less wadding
This year, MNC is organizing a new confrontation between these same two adversaries. Finally, between their last two versions! However, curiously enough, it is not the "challenger" which has been copiously revised in order to steal the "defender" from the America the best ultra-road bike…
The BMW has only moderately evolved since its release in 2011: last year, German engineers were content to improve its – already excellent – protection via new fairings sides and larger deflectors. Mirrors and storage spaces have also increased in size.
The centerpiece of the K 1600 GTL – and its "little" sisters GT and Bagger -, the 1649 cc, 160 hp and 175 Nm inline six-cylinder engine has received a new injection map, a carbon filter as well as a ” a redesigned exhaust and catalyst system in order to comply with the new antipollution standards in force (Euro4).
BMW’s commercial policy, on the other hand, remains unchanged: as in the car, the Bavarian brand communicates on a floor price, the dreaded "from" invariably followed by an asterisk referring to a very different price … and often astronomical !
Offered from 25,650 euros therefore, the K 1600 GTL entrusted to us by BMW Motorrad France is equipped with the Comfort pack at 1,510 euros (alarm, additional LED lights, Keyless Ride, Shifter Pro and central locking) and the Safety pack at 1,020 euros (daytime running light, hill start, adaptive cornering lights and tire pressure sensor).
"Our" BMW also has the option of the invoiced 315 € and the reverse gear that the customer has to pay – backwards ?! – 990 euros. In all, the "K-sixteen" that the Motorcycle Journal of the Net compares to the new GoldWing Touring includes no less than … 18 options !
Also, the "painful" finally reached 29,845 euros, not far from 4,200 euros more than the advertised price. And again, our "top" model is painted white: count 160 euros extra if you prefer "Thunder" gray, 700 euros for the Elegance Ebony edition, or even 1735 euros for the two Special "Blue" or "Sparkling" versions !
In its original equipment all the same, the K 1600 GTL receives suitcases and a top-case (removable!), Traction control and ABS informed by an angle sensor, electronic suspensions independent of the three engine modes, a always electric windshield, heated saddles and grips, audio system and cruise control.
"Think big", invite the Germans on the official BMW Motorrad website in the introduction of a dithyrambic sales pitch, "naturlich": "always straight ahead. Without stopping. Glide towards the horizon in style and elegance on this motorcycle Luxurious, high-performance touring. The BMW K 1600 GTL road bike represents the pinnacle of high quality and comfort, with its legendary six-cylinder engine "…
Legend, myth and realities…
Opposite, the Japanese do not hesitate to raise their GoldWing to the rank of myth: "in addition to a significant reduction in weight, Honda’s legendary model is characterized by four driving modes, DCT technology (or manual gearbox, Editor’s note), the electronically controlled accelerator and a whole range of innovative and connected functions, which confirm its domination in terms of comfort and pleasure in all environments ".
So who to believe? Site, of course! For Le Journal moto du Net, the GoldWing until today held the Palme d’Or in the "ultra-GT" category. But the game has to be replayed due to the release – much anticipated! – of this new version of the GL1800…
Tested at the very beginning of the year by MNC, the GoldWing 2018 marks a sudden change of direction in the dynasty started in 1975 by the GL1000 with a flat 4-cylinder, passed in 1988 to the noble six-cylinder via the GL1500, and sanctified in 2001 thanks to the monumental GL1800 (updated in 2012).
The craziest rumors have circulated about the successor to the good but old Gold: 4-cylinder and electric hybrid powertrain, adoption of a third wheel – we find it among some preparers! -, installation of a seat belt in addition to the airbag, gold plating and retractable wings to take off (nah, we’re kidding) ?
Finally, Honda kept the flat-six but completely reconfigured it in order to jointly gain compactness and punch. The winged coat of arms has logically added a choice of a six-speed manual gearbox – against five previously – or its exclusive DCT dual-clutch transmission. Another big novelty: the conventional fork is replaced by a pair of wishbones topped with a shock absorber. Like on the BMW !
As standard, the new GoldWing also receives electronically controlled suspensions depending on the driving mode selected, hill start assistance, automatic engine shutdown when stationary, cruise control, keyless starting, central locking , finally an electric windshield, a tire pressure indicator, a seven-inch color screen, GPS navigation and Bluetooth connection…
Like the "K16", the "GL18" is offered in three versions: the "short" GoldWing which corresponds to a bagger is displayed at 25,999 euros, the GoldWing Touring and its top-case ("top -box "at Honda) the price of which climbs to 32,999 euros and the GoldWing Touring equipped with the DCT transmission (and the airbag, automatically in France) which peaks at 35,999 euros.
This is the intermediate model that Honda Moto France has kindly entrusted to Site, and that’s good: the performance of our two motorcycles are very similar and the price difference is ultimately relatively limited …. even if the German is 3154 euros cheaper than the Japanese.
From the outset and against all expectations, the BMW therefore scores a first point against the Honda! But Site and its dear readers are only at the beginning of their journey … and their surprises? The beautiful days are finally back, the Journal moto du Net is heading for Normandy. Follow us on page 2 !
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