K1600 GTL ....an opinion...

[CrashOverride]

My 5 cents

Interesting write up and good to see someone giving it a balanced review. I'm 37 and I've had my 1600GT since Christmas (no it wasn't under the tree ) and I wouldn't swap mine for any other bike. I do ride 2 up 90% of the time but not just on long trips or sweeping roads, we use it for trips into Exeter, just popping out for the fun of it and just about every other trip we can do on it. I find it easy to filter on as its so smooth and the seat is lower than my old GSA, on the subject of seats I tried the gt and the gtl and the seating position varies greatly, the gt is slightly higher and pitches you forward slightly which for me is perfect, the gtl gave me back ache after 1/2 an hour
I also think the GT screen is much better than the GTL version, in fact it seems to be a common "upgrade" for a lot of GTL riders and cures a lot of the buffeting.

The stereo works better with a USB stick to be honest, I've got a 32gb one which takes up less room in the cubby hole and never errors like the iPod seemed to on mine. Personally I couldn't ride without it now, I love it that much and can hear mine up to 80mph and that's wearing custom moulded plugs too. I can understand its a personal thing though and not for everyone, it's certainly not ideal if you're indecisive and spend 5 minutes at 70mph trying to choose an album

The luggage is great, looks good on the bike, the topbox is huge, the panniers slip off easily if the need arises and the central locking is awesome. The only thing I miss from my GSA is the ability to strap stuff on the top (ideal when the wife finds a cow skin tug in Amsterdam the day you're due to ride home )

The centre stand isn't as easy as the GS but you can make it easier by popping the ESA into sport mode and Rider and pillion setting, it is a very heavy bike and you do notice this physically pushing the bike in and out of the garage.

It's not a bike for everyone, it isn't perfect (what bike is?) it's a lot of money for a "toy" but personally, for me it's a guided missile with a comfy seat on the back, I love every minute and ride everywhere with a huge smile on my face and that's what's important....

 

[Hoseman]

I love my GT and certainly have no regrets with regard to part ex-ing my TC GS for it. My only Reservation is how BMW managed to engineer such an sweet silky powerplant and then couple it with such a clunky unsmooth transmission, it will probably get sorted in future iterations & when it does it will be sublime. I reassure myself by thinking its Teutonic over-engineering & will never let me down. Having said that ive accepted "that's how they Are" philosophy & it doesn't stop me enjoying the bike.

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

I can also imagine that two up it is in it's element, and I can imagine you'd hardly know they were there. You're right about the GSA...a pillion on there is definitely noticeable, as they are much higher, and set further back......it's also a nightmare getting on the pillion seat on a GSA too, I can't imagine that's the same on the K1600?

The centre of balance is a big difference. Two up on the GSA you have to make sure your get all the weight in the panniers and not the top box. I made this mistake on the first leg of our first tour heading to the ferry. We nearly wheelied up the ramp

On the centrestand you can pick up the front wheel of the GSA. Not so easy with the GTL. I guess it's something to do with and extra 4 cylinders

 

[Dainese Brave]

I took my GSA in for a service and an mot today.....and while I was there I thought I'd be cheeky and see if I could have a demo of a 1200RT as a comparison test

First impressions were that it was a lot lighter, and more compact to get off the centre stand.

Then I fired it up, and it strikes you straight away that this is a traditional BMW compared to the K1600. It sounds agricultural by comparison...well to be honest it does actually sound like a tractor!!!

Getting on the move, the riding position is much more upright, but still comfortable. I found the gearbox to be much more laboured, with a definite 'clunk' into each gear.

The bike is good, but in a way it made me appreciate that K1600 engine.

The screen though is much better. It is still distorted if you look through it, but if you have it so the screen is just below eye level, there is a bit of wind noise, but no turbulence.
Somebody mentioned that some owners change the GTL screen for the GT one, and I was surprised looking at the two types in the dealership how different they were. The GT one does look like it would perform much better.

I also didn't like the mirrors on the RT, the view was terrible. But it was a lot easier to put on the centre stand ...although it was manual too

Overall, I think the RT is a more compact tourer, but the K1600 has such a sweet motor. If the RT had a similar motor there'd be no question that's the one I'd have. I think it will be interesting to see the motor on the new RT that's due out!

However....when I got back on the GSA!.....what a motor, what a bike!! It's by far the more balanced of the three! Great motor, with a great sound (it's the DOHC version), and it handles like a dream....seems I'm still not quite ready to go back to touring bikes just yet!!!