BMW 1600 test ride

[oldryder]

tried the bike out last weekend.

the good:

smoooooottthh

nice clutch action

3000 rpm @ 70 mph

locomotive torque

good, intuitive design on controls. like the thumbwheel (some concern abour long term reliability and replacement cost)

didn't feel heavy

the bad

no passenger armrest provision (major oversight for BMW IMHO, deal breaker for the wife)

tranny was notchy

scary estimates for annual maintenance (this is probably a deal breaker for me. I put 15,000 miles a year on my touring bike and I'm NOT going to spend $1000+ per year on dealer maint which doesn't even include rubber)

 

[SkooterG]

Where's 'the ugly'?

 

[FJRMGM]

its a Beemer - the trans will only seem notchy for the first 30k miles or so and then you will get used to it.

And I agree you better have a healthy maintenance budget to own this bike.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Is dealer maintenance required to maintain warranty?

Can you maintain your own bike...or are special Deutschlandische tools required?

I don't see any surprises on your negative side...BMWs are more expensive, always have been, no surprise there. Some people like that BMW experience...except for FDs I guess.

Growing up I had lusted for a BMW R90/6 tourer, having read about it in Cycle magazine. I didn't have quite enough $$jack$$ when I was 20, so I "settled" for an XS11 Special. My friend with the R100/7 or 6?? took it out for a test ride and came back smiling after twisting that Yamaha throttle. He let me test ride his BMW and it didn't measure up to my expectations built up from years of reading Cycle magazine.

I no longer lust after the BMW marque, I love my FJR....but to each his own.

 

[beemerdons]

Where's 'the ugly'?

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=139376&pid=879378&st=0entry879378 El Feo would be tu Papa Chuy Viejo, ese! Thanks for the Ride Report oldryder! SkooterG and his Cousin Enrique "Henry" Garza are riding with Papa Chuy tomorrow to Prescott, Arizona to check out a used La Roja BMW K1600GT.

SkootyG's El Primo Enrique owns the exact same identical bike to the one we will be examining tomorrow, right down to the GPS option. BMW means "Bring More Wallet"! I'm in, like Flynn! This old BMW Kool-Aid addict has K1600GT fever muy Malo!

 

[HotRodZilla]

If I had an extra $25k just laying around burning a hole in my pocket, I'd be all over one of these. Honestly I don't know what I'd even do with it, but it'd fun to have.

 

[road runner]

+1

 

[Greb]

I rode the GTL today. Very impressive engine, terrible transmission. I would like to ride the GT, the GTL was too upright and windshield caused some buffeting in lowest position but raising it any I was looking through it and burning up in the heat.

This engine is smooooooooooooth. I took it up to 90 on the interstate with zero vibes in the bars and rock solid stability. The ESA was awesome and very noticeable between modes. The handling is hard to judge around town but it feels very balanced and planted through the few turns I had on the test ride.

20 minutes of riding is hard to formulate a great review, go ride it yourself if you can. Dealer told me none would be for sale until this time next year. The only 1600s you'll see on the road are demos or people who pre-ordered them.

I personally wouldn't pay the extra coin for this bike and if I was looking at BMW the RT would be a better option IMO, but YMMV.

 

[beemerdons]

So far, I am absolutely loving my new BMW K1600GT! 1st service is for $280, same as my RT and my GS. Will do my own intermediate services and will pay for the 12K services with the valve adjustment, which will be costly and I will keep the Forum informed of just how much. I do have to admit that all of the bells and whistles on this bike have this Old Reprobate overwhelmed. I am up at 0400 reading all of my manuals, trying to figure out what everything does. A little bit of a culture shock for a Certified Old Fart like me, who started riding the streets in 1963 on a 1959 Triumph Speed Twin 500. I am even going to make myself learn how to operate the built in GPS, even though I swore to everybody and his dog that I would never ever use a GPS!

 

[stevec677]

Last friday one of the guys I ride with traded in his 2010 BMW K1300GT along with $12,000 and drove away with a brand new K1600GT. Interesting to me was that they would not let him test drive it. He could test drive a GTL, but not the GT. On Tuesday night I swapped my FJR with him and gave it a try. It is a nice bike that definitely rides "smaller" then it looks. As stated before, plenty of power, smooth as glass and lots of gadgets. It is a nice bike, but I actually like the K1300GT better. When we switched back, my buddy said "you know, this FJR is a really nice bike". I just smiled and thought of all the money I didn't have to spend on a BMW to get the same enjoyment.

 

[beemerdons]

...I just smiled and thought of all the money I didn't have to spend on a BMW to get the same enjoyment.

Being an Irishman, if I didn't spend my money on Motorcycles, I'd be spending my money on alcohol and loose women; usually in that order.

Buying bikes is really much cheaper in the long run!

 

[lnewlf]

Being mostly Italian from Brooklyn I think you got the last two backwards!

 

[ndivita]

...I just smiled and thought of all the money I didn't have to spend on a BMW to get the same enjoyment.

Being an Irishman, if I didn't spend my money on Motorcycles, I'd be spending my money on alcohol and loose women; usually in that order.

Buying bikes is really much cheaper in the long run!

A wise man....

 

[beemerdons]

Being mostly Italian from Brooklyn I think you got the last two backwards!

lnewlf, that is exactly what my Paisano Goombah buddy johnny80s here on our FJR Forum always says; Welcome to San Diego!

I used to have them in your order though, now after two ex-wives and paying through the nose in divorces, it's the booze 1st!

 

[Warpdrv]

Looks like this thing is a fun bike to ride, but all those extra's they threw on it perhaps not really ready for prime time just yet...

https://www.k1600forum.com/forum/bmw-k1600-general-discussions/1411-heres-list-my-problems-k1600gtl-list-yours-here-too.html

Lots of issues listed in that thread....

Guess the 05 FJR stays around for a few more years...

 

[MCRIDER007]

Looks like this thing is a fun bike to ride, but all those extra's they threw on it perhaps not really ready for prime time just yet...

https://www.k1600forum.com/forum/bmw-k1600-general-discussions/1411-heres-list-my-problems-k1600gtl-list-yours-here-too.html

Lots of issues listed in that thread....

I read the first 6 pages of that thread and quit because there really wasn't anything there that would stop me from buying a K1600GT...routine maintenance costs might be deal breaker but no one is talking about those costs.

 

[carlson_mn]

Stopped into a dealership in Burnsville today and I noticed about 100 boot marks on a GTL's side cases so I knew it was a demo. They were more than eager to let me take it out for a spin. Nice ride. Wish it was the GT model as I don't like sitting in so deep into the GTL's chassis and the bars are too high for me. The windshield in the down position is about the same as the FJR all the way up. You get no wind in your chest. I'm tall and it still hits me at the top of my helmet. A ton of turbulence and noise below 55mph. At higher speeds, in the down position the air flow is pretty nice. The windshield can extend up an incredible degree - probably 18" above my eyeline (I'm 6'2). Insane back pressure pushing me forward, felt like I was in the pushup position. Much more than the FJR with any of the 3 windscreens I have tried.

Not any faster than the FJR but probably close. Engine feels best from 2-5k rpm. Kinda flat up top but still strong. Extremely smooth, love the 6sp, super low rpms on highway but plenty of torque. Makes the FJR feel like an old 5.0 Mustang. Handling was smooth but limited communication from the front end - this thing is definitely more in the Gold Wing territory - handles well but not as connected to the road. This is a bike that you cannot see the front wheel nor tire at all from the drivers seat, even if you try. It's big.

Brakes felt amazing, linear and smooth, ultra-powerful.

A real nice bike though that's for sure. If that engine was in the FJR's chassis .... WOW. It'd be incredible. I'd be a fan now of the next FJR being a 1500 with a 6 speed, 100+ftlbs is really nice in the lower rpms.