Comments on: BMW K 1600 GT and GTL: MD first ride (Bike Reports) (News)

By: Barry Allen

Barry Allen — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:09:40 +0000

First ride was not very telling of the machine. Just like any first date. They did not have much time (miles) for a good ride.

If I had the money I would sell my K1200RS and get a K1600GT (after a long test ride by ME)

After 35 years of ridding the only other riders I will ride with in a group are other race bike riders or BMW riders. (and not all BMW riders are the best)

As for the Goldwing, HD and other bikers, I hope they have fun and move to the right when I come up from behind.

As for BMW building this bike the way they did, that’s why they are BMW and not HD.
BMW, Always moving forward. If you think the in-line six is an over kill maybe you need to ride a Honda dream.
The in-line six has the most torque of any model engine. That’s way all big diesel trucks in-line 6 are not 4 cylinders.

Did BMW get every thing right? Of course not. Will there be a lot of after market parts to hang on a BMW like a GW or HD? I do not think so. If it does not help the K1600 go faster or handle better most BMW riders do not want it.

Can most people afford it? NO. Too bad for me.

Did any other motorcyle manufacture biuld a self aiming headlight? I had been bugging them for years to make a bike with this light.

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By: Cyclemotorist

Cyclemotorist — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 20:52:30 +0000

Too much unnecessary complication. Too many valves to adjust. To many throttle bodies to sync. Too much weight. Just too too much.

Simplicity. When someone builds a simple transverse OHV four cylinder with hydraulic lifters and belt drive I will buy one. The only reason I ever want to return to the dealer is to have tires put on.

By: Janice

Janice — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 02:41:31 +0000

BMW has done its purpose. He wants to be the leader in all segments of the automotive industry. And the pace and quality of new launches, the dream could soon be reached. First, it introduced a new superbike.

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By: Montana

Montana — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 15:06:24 +0000

“When the elemental joy of motorcycling is sacrificed to SUV-like comfort and encumbrance, riding loses it’s luster.”
Feb. 2011 AIRMAIL

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By: Scooter

Scooter — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:07:31 +0000

It is just too bad that Harley Davidson does not follow BMW’s example and build something new. HD has been building the same crap for years. HD is more interested in selling t shirts and belt buckles than building a new motorcycle.

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By: don Marco

don Marco — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 21:14:52 +0000

I ordered one. The GT. Could not pass it up.
Been riding for 40 years and still have my 1970 Bonneville. Restored twice over. Artwork.
I view this new K, regardless of which one, as a major advance for two wheel long distance travels. I currently ride about 15k miles a year; 95% long distance. Canada, the US and Mexico. I hold a handful of Iron Butt certificates for varying times and distances. My long rides have been on RT’s and GT’s, although my favorite K was an 02 RS, useless for long trips, but headers/Two Brother and a chip change turned it into lightning.
My next voyage is already in the making, starting in June. All Cal coastline to Port Angeles, then Victoria, Vancouver, Whistler, Banff and then the Prairie with a long loop to New Orleans.
I’ve a wonderful 08 K12gt for sale, if anyone’s interested.
Ride safe. Ride fast. Keep the rubber side down.

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By: timbo813

timbo813 — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 18:21:56 +0000

I was thinking specifically of the goldwing. You are right, I don’t have one and haven’t ridden one. But, the passenger accomodations look much nicer. Also, I read another review of the BMW that said the passenger accomodations were not anywhere close to the goldwing. That seems like a major issue if BMW wants to attract former wing riders. Not many wives are going to want to go to a less comfy bike.

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By: Dirck Edge

Dirck Edge — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:17:00 +0000

Tom –

First of all, I want to compliment you on the quality of your posts. You are obviously a bright guy, and you have the time and inclination to provide interesting detail to back up your opinions. I’m not going to challenge your engineering or scientific analysis in this post, and I am certainly not going to question the accuracy of the conclusions reached by your “advanced HP calculator”. Of course, there is always GIGO, but I am assuming here that you performed your analysis correctly, and I am also assuming that your conclusions are correct from a scientific/engineering perspective.

There is one fundamental problem with your post, however. You missed the point of the post you are responding to (mine). I was talking about driver/rider experience. Human feel. Are the thousands of the BMW in-line six enthusiasts who feel something special from their automobile engine wrong? In the motorcycle world, are the owners of the Honda CBX wrong when they say there is nothing like the feel they get from their engine (even those who own both a CBX and a CBR 1100XX)? Are their conclusions and emotions invalid?

These delusional owners of BMWs and CBXs are apparently in good company, because BMW engineers and designers are just as delusional according to your analysis. I understand your point that dual counter-rotating balancers can make an in-line four extremely smooth, but it is not “the equal of any in-line six” as you conclude. Certainly not from the perspective of human feel (unless those BMW and CBX owners are delusional, or part of some conspiracy), nor from an engineering perspective.

From an engineering perspective, I am sure you will agree with me that the vibration is different. It is not of the same frequency or duration. A test bench might even judge the in-line four with dual counter-rotating balancers superior, in some respects, in terms of vibration, but not “equal”.

I hope you continue to post here at MD. I have to make one last comment, however, which may trouble you. One problem with discussion boards like this is dealing with egos. You say that my post annoyed you. I think you referred to my post as “bogus” (although I can’t find that reference now) when you didn’t need to do so. You could have made your point a bit more diplomatically, and I suspect you would do so if we were standing face-to-face. You are entitled to think that your opinion is superior to that of my own, BMW engineers/designers and CBX owners, but try to keep your ego out of it. Try to be a bit more scientific, and a bit less emotional.

Finally, since I do respect your intellectual prowess and training, I have a sincere question for you. Isn’t an in-line six superior to a four with dual balancers from the standpoint of efficiency? Don’t the balancers create parasitic loss and, perhaps, this is partly why the new BMW touring machines get such good gas mileage?

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By: Tom Barber

Tom Barber — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 13:51:15 +0000

The best sort of reply to comments such as the one that Old Rider 47 wrote is to simply say that it is undeserving of any reply. Or, I suppose that you could ask to borrow the Doo Rag because you have a severe case of nasal congestion and need to blow your nose and promise to give the rag right back as soon as you are done using it.

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By: Tom Barber

Tom Barber — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 13:38:19 +0000

Excellent point, that I did not mention because I wanted to focus on other factors. The question/challenge that Dirck posed is bogus at face value, for the reason that you gave.