K1600GTL E buying tips

basingstokesteve

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K1600 GTL E buying tips
I am sure there has been much discussion on here previously on the subject of the K1600?? But a colleague at work is considering buying a 61 plate K1600 GTL E with 18,000 on the clock, full BMW service history and wants to know if there any buying tips i.e. specific things to look out for he recalls reading something about drive shafts?
Being an RT owner myself I have told him to test ride an RT as they are much lighter and very capable of two up touring but if anyone can offer any other tips it would be appreciated.
 
All I know from a friend who just got rid of his was that the fly by wire controls are expensive if giving trouble. His was a young bike but suffered some issue with the throttle and it was 500 for a new control.
 
If getting from a BMW dealer get the warranty extended after 12 months. Way too complex electrically with potential for big bills out of warranty. Had a late K1200GTSE that had a few issues but sorted by dealer under warranty saved me a good few thousand £...
 
I've had a K16Gt and definitely would not have one without a warranty.
 
If it's an Approved Used BMW it should come with A TWO YEAR warranty, I think.

I picked mine up a couple of weeks ago, only six months old, and a week later it was in a recovery truck back to the dealer... All sorted, and very quickly and capably too, but if I'd had to pay for a new rear light unit I'd be £500 down. I probably would have lived with a slightly sticky menu button and wheel on the left handlebar, but got a new one of those too. I think was was another £700!

I love the bike already but based on my experience so far, I wouldn't have one without a warranty.

I haven't heard about any final drive issues that don't apply to other BMWs.

18,000 miles is a big service - valve clearance checks, I think, and the dealer told me it would be around £650... So check it's had it done.

I test rode an R1200RT before the K1600 and really didn't like it. I don't think the LC engine suits a touring bike - just didn't feel relaxed enough for me. Bizarre, because when I had a LC 1200R as a loan bike a while ago I loved it! But each to his own.
 
On the big K's the newer the better post 14 bikes have had the majority of issues sorted. Wicked bike again kick others wouldn't like to own out of warranty.
 
I have a 2015 GT. Cruise control switch packed in, fixed under warranty , it's the same switches as a GS....
Other than that no problems in 10,000 miles. No overheating except when a stone got stuck in the fan blade. PR4 tyres last longer than expected. I can do about 225 miles before the fuel light comes on then I have about 45 miles to find a petrol station.
I put some wind deflectors down the fairing I think it makes a difference.
They handle well two up and you know all about the engine...
 
I'm selling my 62 plate GT with 29000 miles and no issues (yet) but do have the extended warranty.
 
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Called at Chester at the weekend and have been toying with either an R1200RT LE (new) or an ex-demo K1600GT.

Either bike would come with two-years warranty.

I tried out the RT and really quite liked it. The GT looked really nice too.

What are they like for everyday use?
 
I'm going to test ride a K1600 tomorrow, I have heard about all the faults and a mates mate had an early one from new it broke down so many times and he could not sell it, he could only chop it to a BM dealer to get rid and he lost a fortune to the point he wont talk about it :eek: but he did end up on a GS :thumb2
I am told all 2nd hand BM's come with a 2 year warranty as of April 16 :nenau that's some confidence in the product and is good enough for me :thumb
 
I don't own one so my advice is rubbish, but..

I just got back from a trip where my gs911 was used on several bikes including 2 x GT1600. Both had fault codes for out of sequence firing. When I showed them they said that might explain some occasional odd 'things'. Looks expensive given the fairings and number of cylinders, so my advice ( rubbish ) would be to run a gs911 on potential bike to reveal any issues that may be intermittent and expensive.
 
On the subject of this or that Beemer , I would suggest FJR.
I'll get my coat.
 
Done 30k miles on my K16 GT

I seem to have racked up a ridiculous mileage on my 61 plate K16, which reflects what a competent machine it is.
There have been a few warranty issues that are well documented, left hand switch cluster, thumb wheel. The Ipod connector took a few visits to get sorted out. The gearbox was replaced due to it bouncing out of first into neutral and I did have a fairly major issue with the drive shaft failing. (I left the bike with A certain dealer in North Essex with the instruction to locate and sort out a vibration ahead of a big trip. They changed the front wheel bearing that was 6 months old, missing the fact that the driveshaft was about the disintegrate due to water ingress despite replacing the rear tyre. 150 miles later I stopped on the hard shoulder with the rear wheel about to lock solid. Full credit to Vines who stripped the parts from a new bike and replaced the complete driveshaft within 3 hours of my arriving on a recovery van. All free of charge.)

Yes there have been a few issues with the bike. Only one of these has been serious and none of them have cost me anything at all. I haven't had an extended warranty so full credit to BMW. I have always had it serviced through the main dealer network but think a move away from the "North Essex Dealer" would be good for my general health.

Fantastic bike and don't be put off by the milage. A 1650cc engine can more than take it.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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