Forget the BMW R 1250 RT or Honda Gold Wing: this is the touring bike you need

Think of touring, and only a few brands will pop up in the conversation. There are the obvious ones, like Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle, but if you plan on putting in some serious miles and prefer something a little different, then you should go European or Japanese. There is so much choice here too. Do you want to be sporty, or do you prefer a more relaxed style? Two models fit perfectly with both touring styles. If you prefer to blur the landscape as you tour, the BMW R 1250 RT will do very well. However, if you prefer to wander in a cocoon of luxury, the Gold Wing is the gold standard, no doubt about it.

But what if you want to do both? You need a motorcycle with a Jekyll and Hyde personality. One that can sense your mood and lean on it. And that motorcycle is the BMW K 1600 B. It may not be as well known as the other two, but dig deeper and you’ll see why it’s at least worth a look.

Why the R 1250 RT and Gold Wing may be the wrong choice

One word: flexibility

Let’s start by saying that we’re not saying the Gold Wing or the R 1250 RT are a bad motorcycle; they are actually quite the opposite. The only negative we can think of is the fact that they have evolved into the kind of motorcycles they are, and that makes them a bit unsuitable for demands outside their specialization. Sure, you can steer a Gold Wing around the bend and relax on an R 1250 RT, but they won’t really feel like they’re the right bike for it.

The reasons for this are not complicated. BMW has other models in its range such as the R 18 series that occupy the cruiser-type touring space, so the R 1250 RT should be a sports tourer, with the emphasis on ‘sport’. Honda hasn’t occupied the sport-touring market since it discontinued the VFR1200F in 2015, although it seems likely it will re-enter with the upcoming CB1000GT. They’ve also managed to cultivate a loyal following because they’re that good, so there’s no need for them to reinvent themselves.

What the BMW K 1600 B is actually all about

BMW’s do-it-all tourer

The K 1600 B is a bagger based on BMW’s six-cylinder inline engine platform. This is a mature platform; it’s been around for over a decade and was supposed to be a very German version of a grand sports tourer, along the lines of older grand sports tourers like the Yamaha FJR1300 and Kawasaki Concours. However, it is designed to be a true long-distance touring car with its features and comfort. This is the only range with an inline six-cylinder engine in the two-wheeler world, and it seems highly unlikely that we’ll see another one in the future.

Where it stands in the current touring motorcycle market

‘Somewhere between the R 1250 RT and Gold Wing’ would be the easy, short answer. But as always, it’s a little more complicated than that. The 1,649 cc engine generates a whopping 160 hp, which is a very high figure for a full-size touring bike even today. The K 1600 B has no direct competition, despite the names in the headline. It appeals to those who want a single touring bike that does what the rider wants, whether that’s cruising lazily down an open road or attacking corners with the delight of a terrier.

Performance that belies its appearance

The K 1600 B has a chassis that BMW calls a ‘bridge-type’ frame made of aluminum – this is a type of perimeter frame that we would otherwise see on a sports bike. The engine is a stressed component and despite its inline configuration, it is tilted 55 degrees from vertical to lower the center of gravity. Because the K 1600 B is such a large motorcycle, the extra length due to the tilting engine is not a problem.

BMW has also given it a bolt-on rear subframe and a magnesium front fork to save weight. At the rear, there is a double wishbone front suspension and a single-sided swingarm that houses the driveshaft. The result is a curb weight of 758 pounds, but it’s all placed low to the ground.

The six-cylinder engine is unique

The K 1600 B is available with a 1,643 cc engine that produces 160 hp and 132.7 Nm of torque. This is a transverse engine and uses a driveshaft, meaning there will be some power loss, but despite its weight and size it remains a lively motorcycle. The six-speed gearbox is a manual transmission and a two-way quickshifter is optional. For what it is, it’s an enjoyable motorcycle, with the long legs needed for highway cruising, combined with the soulful howl of the engine at high revs to get you through bends on a winding road.

The K 1600 B can be an everyday motorcycle

The K 1600 B is a large, heavy motorcycle and with the saddlebags on it is also a wide motorcycle. The instrument panel consists of a really large 10.25-inch TFT screen, on which you see all the necessary information, from speed to map. There is also a storage space above for your phone. If you’re driving at night, the adaptive cornering headlights will be a boon. Furthermore, the TPMS, reverse assist, dynamic electronic suspension and optional quickshifter will make it one of the most usable full-size touring cars in everyday life.

Ride quality and handling

You probably wouldn’t want to use it for commuting when it’s busy, but once on the road the K 1600 B is a very well-balanced bike. The electronic suspension automatically adapts to the situation and the setup is BMW’s acclaimed Duolever and Paralever setup. This is a comfortable yet responsive motorcycle.

Why the K 1600 B is the touring bike you need

The K 1600 B is a strange but wonderful product that bridges the gap between truly sporty touring motorcycles and relaxed motorcycles. With the prices of touring bikes being as high as they are now, it’s not practical to own more than one, especially if you’re an occasional touring biker. So it makes sense to hedge your bets and buy one bike that can do it all, and the K 1600 B is hardly a compromise.

Emotional quotient

With emissions regulations getting stricter every year, it’s only a matter of time before high-output, multi-cylinder motorcycle engines ride themselves off into the sunset. The K 1600 B is one of the last remaining touring motorcycles to pack a huge engine into a capable chassis. Forced induction seems to be the way forward, and the high-revving scream of many cylinders will be a thing of the past. With this in mind, purchasing a K 1600 B could be a decision you look back on fondly when surrounded by the hiss and hum of forced induction motorcycles.

You won’t see anything like the K 1600 B anymore

There is a right time for everything. The 1970s were a decade of experimentation, while the 1990s saw the world push the boundaries of what we thought was possible, with only a cursory glance at health and safety. The K 1600 B dates from a time when bigger was better and more cylinders and engine capacity solved many problems.

We have no doubt that the future will offer many exciting sports tourers that will be faster and more efficient than this BMW. But the joy of hearing the mournful howl of a high-revving inline six-cylinder engine as you pull the line just right through the bend – that’s something no future motorcycle will be able to match.

Sources: BMW USA, Honda Powersports