K1600GT test ride

[Bluesticky1]

Okay, so just spent an hour on one of these.

I own an RT, and I wasn't impressed by the wind protection on the GT - I was really surprised by my hands being out in the air flow, and the screen was a little odd - I couldn't quite get it in the right position. That said it was only an hour, so I've no doubt if I owned one I'd figure out.

That engine though, is amazing. The noise it makes above 6000rpm is like heroin - I couldn't get enough of it. It was as comfy as my RT, and I could see the attraction as a summer tourer. Riding all year round though I think my RT pips for keeping the weather off. And I need a week with it to figure out all the gadgets. It handled really well for its size and weight - I reckon the emergency services should give these a try!

BMW have made an incredible bike - I keep coming back to that engine though! Incredible.

 

[Yellow Peril]

You have a fun afternoon testing BMW's ?

 

[ymfb]

I test rode the 1600 twice and feel it will eventually replace my K1300s

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

That engine though, is amazing.

Sounds good too. Could prove to be tempting not to use to its full potential

 

[Bluesticky1]

You have a fun afternoon testing BMW's ?

Yup! It's a12 month selection process for the replacement for th RT lol

 

[stainy]

hello all
i went into rainbow to buy a new waist coat and came out with a new k1600 gt the graphite one , but its nearly black, it came with everything except the radio which i did`nt need and i collected it yesterday, never test rode one before and owned an 1150 adv for the last 8 years, so i think you`ll all appreciate what i was feeling like, i had`nt even sat on it,lol, .so i shook his hand when he`d handed it over and away we went. i had selected rain mode as i did`nt know what to expect regarding power so it was quite manageable and felt a little flat but thats rain mode , trundled home 18 miles playing with the gadgets a bit and had a cup a tea, i then messed about wi the computer an set it to road mode and went down some of me favourite local roads ,outstanding, a bit heavy at slow speeds but i`ll get used to it, but once its going its not like anything i`ve ridden before, it wines like a turbine and i can only say acceleration is like being on a piece a lastic, you open the throttle and it does`nt lurch forward or anything you just are catapulted onwards , its early days yet , its got the transmission lash etc but i,m over that already just a positive throttle at low speeds and its not bad and when you put the screen up full it feels like your being pushed forward which i found quite amusing, a handsome machine with plenty on tap, i`m well pleased, i`ll keep you informed as we get to know each other , it`ll be interesting if nowt else

 

[Bluesticky1]

hello all
i went into rainbow to buy a new waist coat and came out with a new k1600 gt the graphite one , but its nearly black, it came with everything except the radio which i did`nt need and i collected it yesterday, never test rode one before and owned an 1150 adv for the last 8 years, so i think you`ll all appreciate what i was feeling like, i had`nt even sat on it,lol, .so i shook his hand when he`d handed it over and away we went. i had selected rain mode as i did`nt know what to expect regarding power so it was quite manageable and felt a little flat but thats rain mode , trundled home 18 miles playing with the gadgets a bit and had a cup a tea, i then messed about wi the computer an set it to road mode and went down some of me favourite local roads ,outstanding, a bit heavy at slow speeds but i`ll get used to it, but once its going its not like anything i`ve ridden before, it wines like a turbine and i can only say acceleration is like being on a piece a lastic, you open the throttle and it does`nt lurch forward or anything you just are catapulted onwards , its early days yet , its got the transmission lash etc but i,m over that already just a positive throttle at low speeds and its not bad and when you put the screen up full it feels like your being pushed forward which i found quite amusing, a handsome machine with plenty on tap, i`m well pleased, i`ll keep you informed as we get to know each other , it`ll be interesting if nowt else

Agree with all of that, although I experienced no transmission lash. A truly remarkable bike at speed - the overtaking opportunities are so many with that amazing engine. It's the lack of rumble (my last few bikes have all been twins of one configuration or another) that puts me off - but that's just my personal preference.

I'll be interested to hear how you get on when the temperature drops with your hands - I spent the whole winter on my RT in BMW's waterproof summer gloves. I think the K16GT will need thicker gloves or something.

 

[Trevtuck]

Now 2 months on the 16gt from a GSA. The longer I spend on it the more divorced I become from the GSA. Never go back to a GSA? I think they have to do something pretty radical for me to return.
Its the most fun I have had with my cloths on. Just a thought I could try it nude and see what thats like.

 

[Shipwreck]

Okay, so just spent an hour on one of these.

I own an RT, and I wasn't impressed by the wind protection on the GT - I was really surprised by my hands being out in the air flow, and the screen was a little odd - I couldn't quite get it in the right position. That said it was only an hour, so I've no doubt if I owned one I'd figure out.

That engine though, is amazing. The noise it makes above 6000rpm is like heroin - I couldn't get enough of it. It was as comfy as my RT, and I could see the attraction as a summer tourer. Riding all year round though I think my RT pips for keeping the weather off. And I need a week with it to figure out all the gadgets. It handled really well for its size and weight - I reckon the emergency services should give these a try!

BMW have made an incredible bike - I keep coming back to that engine though! Incredible.

I went from an R1200RT to a K1600GT and agree with all of the above with regards to the RT. My other half did not like the RT and as we do a lot of touring and ride mainly 2 up an alternative stead was required. We came from a Hayabusa to the RT and I think we both missed the power and engine noise. Took a GT for a test ride and never looked back. As you say the engine noise is intoxicating, it is not as fast as the Hayabusa and gets from 0 to 60 barely faster than the RT but the engine noise draws you in. The handling is great for a bike of this size and you soon get used to the lack of engine braking in comparison to the flat twin as the anchors are very good. The first big trip is due in June taking in the Austrian Alps around Salzburg. Can't wait.

 

[Packer]

Was talking to a friend last night who has one. A lot of issues with the electric screen, back & forward to the dealer like a yo-yo and it still broke again on a European trip. Also had electrical switch failure, an Italian dealer took the left handlebar assembly off a showroom bike to get him mobile and rescue his holiday.

Anyone else had electrical gremlins?

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

Anyone else had electrical gremlins?

Have a look in here:

http://www.k1600forum.com/forum/bmw-k1600-lighting-electrical/

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

A few likes here.

http://www.k1600forum.com/forum/bmw-k1600-off-topic-lounge/16345-one-bike-first-time.html

 

[Bluesticky1]

I'm still a twins man, Shipwreck - love the noise - prefer rumble to scream! I think the potential for that 6 cylinder engine though is huge. I'd love to see what a decent tuner could get out of it - plus imagine it in a Harris frame or something!!

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

plus imagine it in a Harris frame or something!!

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=329508

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Interested in this. My RT will possibly be due for renewal next September (2014).
I tried the GSA before changing my last RT to my current one but the lack of radio on the GSA & bigger top box on the RT were the defining differences for me.

I love the look of the K16 but do have concerns with the gearbox problem over 3,000 miles & the concerns raised above regarding better weather protection on the RT may well result in me keeping/updating the RT again (unless Honda drag the Pan into the 21st C).

I guess I'll just have to take a K16 for a spin sometime.

 

[Arsey]

I'd love to try one but afraid I would like it too much but don't think I could put up with changing the rear tyre every 2000 miles !!!

 

[Bluesticky1]

Interested in this. My RT will possibly be due for renewal next September (2014).
I tried the GSA before changing my last RT to my current one but the lack of radio on the GSA & bigger top box on the RT were the defining differences for me.

I love the look of the K16 but do have concerns with the gearbox problem over 3,000 miles & the concerns raised above regarding better weather protection on the RT may well result in me keeping/updating the RT again (unless Honda drag the Pan into the 21st C).

I guess I'll just have to take a K16 for a spin sometime.

I've never found a bike as warm in winter as the RT - I have seen some hand guards somewhere (Nippy's perhaps) for the GT in order to keep the weather off. As for the Pan - I heard rumour of either the v4 from the big VFR, or a bored out v4 at around 1400 cc. When I say rumour, I'll qualify that as from a mate in the HOC who reckons he's best mates with his dealer. Makes sense though, but pinch of salt required!

I for one am really looking forward to the water cooled RT.

 

[Swissdoc]

Same thing happened to me - I thought the RT was the perfect bike - I was on my 2nd (with a short break for a Harley last year - sorry about that) when they loaned me a 1600GT while the RT was in for a service. I wrote exactly the same thing to some friends of mine 'What an engine!'. Turns out one of them had done exactly the same as me with a 1200GSA.

Anyway - that engine is a drug. I just had to have one so did the swap a couple of months ago. It is quite simply an awesome bike. Not perfect - the fly by wire throttle is a bit too sensitive and the wind protection isn't as good as the RT but it made the latter feel like a dinky toy.

One word of warning - having had a clean licence for around 10 years, I picked up 3 points (and lucky it wasn't worse than this) within a fortnight of having the GT. I'm now learning to ride it around the speed limit (but that engine... good grief...)

 

[paddy]

I test rode the GT and loved the engine but found it really heavy when slow speed manoeuvring and pushing it. Throttle is a tad sensitive as well.
The engine is like an Aston Martin as the sounds goes.
Thought gearbox was okay.
But still felt the GSA was the bike for me, looking forward to seeing the new RT and GSA with the LC engine.

 

[stainy]

Same thing happened to me - I thought the RT was the perfect bike - I was on my 2nd (with a short break for a Harley last year - sorry about that) when they loaned me a 1600GT while the RT was in for a service. I wrote exactly the same thing to some friends of mine 'What an engine!'. Turns out one of them had done exactly the same as me with a 1200GSA.

Anyway - that engine is a drug. I just had to have one so did the swap a couple of months ago. It is quite simply an awesome bike. Not perfect - the fly by wire throttle is a bit too sensitive and the wind protection isn't as good as the RT but it made the latter feel like a dinky toy.

One word of warning - having had a clean licence for around 10 years, I picked up 3 points (and lucky it wasn't worse than this) within a fortnight of having the GT. I'm now learning to ride it around the speed limit (but that engine... good grief...)

like you say , i,ve really got to watch the speed as well, went out on sunday to get the milage on towards the first service and i took the girlfriend , she`s a good pillion rider anyway but at times i really did`nt feel like she was on the back ,not really finding it as heavy as i thought it would be and the slow speed handling is fine but one has to concentrate, but as i`m getting more relaxed and used to it ,the speed is intoxicating instant and in any gear, throttle is a bit sensitive and when slowing down in top you can feel the engine pulsing, strange, heated seats are good and also more heat settings on the grips and to be honest i do suffer with cold hands so wear heated gloves but i have`nt wired these in yet and i`ve been ok, just got to watch the speed though