BMW K1600GT and GTL (2011-2017) - Review & Buying Guide

Released in 2011, the K1600GT and its more long-distance, touring-focused and luxurious sibling the GTL broke new ground for BMW Motorrad. While the car side of the firm had been building straight-six engines for over 70 years, the bike side of the business had never gone beyond four cylinders on a production motorcycle. So when they did decide to push the boat out and make the K1600 models, no expense was spared. Ground-up new machines, the K1600s represent a huge investment for both Motorrad and their owners alike. Packed with tech, they are staggering mile-munchers that devour long distances with ease and perfectly highlight the benefits of an inline-six motor. Although when new they tend not to sell in huge numbers due to their high price tags, in the used market the K1600s are popular as you are getting a heck of a lot of metal for your money. If you are serious about touring, especially if you plan on taking a pillion, these two straight-sixes make light work of any long distance excursion.

Pros & Cons

BMW K1600GT and GTL (2011-2017) - Price

In 2011 the K1600GT cost £15,900 while the GTL with its extra kit was £17,550, however this was just the start of the story and as you would expect, many were sold with a whole host of official BMW accessories boosting their price tags (usually in SE guise). Nowadays it is possible to find a K1600 for as little as £5000 but it will have around 50,000 miles on its clocks (K1600 owners use their bikes!) so ideally pay between £6000 and £7000 for one that hasn’t quite seen as much action. It’s not reliability that is a worry, more parts such as bearings wearing out or needing replacing. The GT is the more plentiful model in the used market, so expect to pay from £6000 upwards for a GTL as they are rarer and therefore can command a premium. As with all BMW models, you pay extra for official BMW accessories so always check the exact spec of any bike very carefully before you buy.

BMW K1600GT and GTL (2011-2017) - Engine & Performance

The K1600’s ride is dominated by its straight-six motor. A simply astounding engine that is effortlessly smooth and easy-going, it pulls from next to no revs (it will haul from 30mph in top gear) and drives without a hesitation all the way to its redline. Incredibly impressive and relaxed to use, owners adore its power and torque characteristics and it manages to shrug off anything weight-wise thrown at it. But it certainly isn’t totally infallible and you need to be a bit careful when buying used...

A lot of K1600s have covered fairly high mileages and that means a full service history from a BMW dealership is essential, especially on this first-generation of K1600 as early bikes suffered from a few electrical gremlins. Not an easy motor to work on, the K1600 has a few quirks that BMW technicians are used to but other mechanics might not be aware of – such as its cooling. The K1600’s cooling system is a bit of a pig to bleed so you need to keep an eye on the temperature gauge when on a test ride. If it starts to creep up or the fans cut in too regularly, be a bit wary. As well as the radiator becoming clogged up with dirt, the coolant system can also develop air pockets if not bled properly. Next up are the coils, which owners report are a bit hit and miss. If there is a miss-fire, look here first. The switchgear also comes in for criticism from owners (as does most BMW switchgear...) and is known to pack up, so check it is all functioning. As you would expect, the K1600 engine can be very expensive to service and the 18,000-mile valve clearance check will set you back in the region of £1000. Aside from these issues, you need to check the shaft drive for any oil leaks or grumbles and the bike’s fairing  for cracks or scrape marks caused by low speed spills.

BMW K1600GT and GTL (2011-2017) - Handling & Suspension (inc. Weight)

Weighing 319kg and 348kg respectively, the GT and GTL are far from lightweights and they do feel their weight, especially at low speed. Helpfully they both have low seat heights (810/830mm on the GT and a very low 750mm on the GTL), which is reassuring. Once moving, however, the weight is far less of an issue.

Stable and secure on the road, the K1600s corner with far more precision than you may assume and despite being physically very large can certainly be hustled down the road. They aren’t as agile as an RT but they certainly don’t shy away from bends and once you get used to how they respond, they are great fun.  Nearly every K1600 will have ESA II fitted, it’s just that kind of bike, and while not semi-active, it makes a noticeable difference when you alter the damping settings while on the go.

Due to its weight, the K1600 can be quite hard on its bearings. Owners report wheel bearings need to be changed fairly frequently and the Duolever front end can start to develop play at around 30,000 miles. Both are fairly easy faults to spot on a used bike, helped by the fact the K1600 has a centre stand (which can rust, so check it) as standard. As on all bikes with ESA, check the system is working in every mode and that the spring preload alters and also watch out for fault codes on the dash, especially ABS ones as they can be very costly to rectify.

BMW K1600GT and GTL (2011-2017) - Comfort & Economy

As you would imagine, the K1600s are extremely comfortable. As the GT is ‘sportier’ it isn’t quite as relaxed and its riding position is more ‘proactive’ than the easy-going GTL with its lower pegs and more pulled-back bars. Also, the GT lacks a top box, meaning pillions don’t have anything to lean up against. Interestingly, the GTL also boasts a bigger fuel tank at 26.5 litres compared to the GT’s 24 litres – which matters...

When it comes to economy, BMW claim the GT and GTL should record between 49mpg and 60mpg (oddly the GTL is quoted as the marginally more economical) but owners say this is pretty optimistic. It could be due to luggage and/or a pillion but figures in the mid to low 40s  is much more common. There again, that still gives you a tank range of over 200 miles!

When buying used, always check the electronic screen moves up and down smoothly as they can fail and are often costly to get fixed.

BMW K1600GT and GTL (2011-2017) - Equipment

The GT and GTL are fairly loaded with both tech and optional extras, which you would expect considering their price tags. As standard the bikes come with ABS and traction control as well as three power modes. Adding angle-sensitivity (DTC, not ABS) was an optional extra which most owners opted for. Another popular accessory is ESA II, which isn’t semi-active but alters the rebound damping at both ends as well as the shock’s preload. Next up is BMW’s adaptive headlight system, which was debuted on the K1600s, central locking, ground lights, tyre pressure monitors and even a stereo. As you would expect on a tourer, cruise control is standard fitment and so is an immobiliser. Understandably, one of the most popular accessories are the BMW engine protection bars! On both models, the SE is the top-spec version and has more bells and whistles than the standard bike.

BMW K1600GT and GTL (2011-2017) - Rivals

If you are considering a K1600, you are in the market for a full-dress tourer and that means some very well known, and highly regarded, rivals.

Honda GL1800 Gold Wing (2001-2017) | Approx Price: ££5000 - £15,000

Read more

Power/Torque

118bhp / 123lb-ft

Weight

406kg

Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Limited (2014 – 2016)| Approx Price: ££10,000-£17,000

Read more

Power/Torque

80bhp / 105lb-ft

Weight

414kg

BMW R1200RT (2006-2013) | Approx Price: £2500-£6000

Read more

Power/Torque

110bhp / 89lb-ft

Weight

259kg

BMW K1600GT and GTL (2011-2017) - Verdict

The K1600 models are undeniably big and heavy, however they are also superb at covering miles and once above walking pace their weight is far less of an issue. Astounding mile-munchers, the inline-six motor is incredibly impressive and easy-going and when it comes to creature comforts, they are hard to beat. Obviously the GTL is slightly more luxurious than the GT but you can still merrily smash out the miles on the sportier model without ever feeling any discomfort. While buying a K1600 still represents quite a financial investment, you are getting an incredible machine for your money and if touring is your thing, they are hard to beat. And as used prices tend to level off, it is unlikely you will lose much in depreciation when you buy one, which is always good news.

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BMW K1600GT and GTL (2011-2017) - Technical Specification