The touring bike that challenges the Honda Gold Wing for less money

Touring bikes are a breed of their own, especially the full-size bikes. You sit in a cocoon of comfort, the windscreen, heated seats and heated grips are adjusted to the right angle and amount, you can set the stereo to play your favorite songs and the cruise control takes you to the horizon while you enjoy the scenery. Within this genre, the Honda Gold Wing is a legend, offering a rare combination of luxury, value and reliability that any other touring motorcycle will find difficult to match. Of course there are more expensive and powerful ones, but none can deliver what the Gold Wing does. Still, there are one or two that can offer a similar experience, and even more value. We are here to talk about one such touring bike that offers a unique take on the premium touring bike segment.

To give you the most current and accurate information, the data used to compile this article comes from authoritative sources such as BMW Motorrad.

The BMW K 1600 B challenges the Honda Gold Wing for less money

Price: $23,395

The Gold Wing has many great things to offer, but does everything in its own Japanese way. This is both a good and a bad thing, as it is difficult to imitate, but it also causes competitors to come up with alternative ways to achieve the same thing they are. The BMW K-series motorcycles are like that. While the Gold Wing started with a flat-four engine all those decades ago, the K-series started with an inline-four engine. That engine was then tilted forward to lower the center of gravity.

At some point, both the Gold Wing and K series added two more cylinders for a total of six cylinders, but they continued to follow their own paths. The Gold Wing remains a relaxed touring car that puts you in a cruiser-style driver’s triangle, while the K 1600 series leans on its sportiness and is more of a sports tourer. Despite very high horsepower, a silky smooth inline six-cylinder engine and all the technology you would expect from a premium European touring motorcycle, the K 1600 B undercuts the Gold Wing by a whopping $5,000. Therefore, it is the touring bike that challenges the Honda Gold Wing for less money.

BMW K 1600 B engine

BMW’s K-series tourers originally started with an inline four engine, but were upgraded to a six-cylinder due to increasing power and performance demands. BMW opted for a six-cylinder in-line configuration. This presents unique challenges, none of which are easy to overcome, which is why you won’t see this size anywhere else on production motorcycles. The biggest problem is the width of an I6 engine, but BMW has worked around that by reducing the space between the cylinders and making them almost as narrow as an inline four. It is tilted forward by 55 degrees, giving the K 1600 B a low center of gravity.

The Tourer has mighty horsepower and torque figures

This engine has been on sale for 14 years now and remains the highest power in its segment with 160 hp. It drives the rear wheel via a cardan shaft, meaning no maintenance is required while driving. It’s only offered with a six-speed manual transmission, but a two-way quickshifter is an option. Since this is a premium BMW, a six-axis IMU and all the benefits it offers are also included. A reverse gear is provided to assist this very heavy motorcycle in reverse – a necessity in a parking lot!

BMW K 1600 B chassis

Surprisingly agile for a full size tourer

The K 1600 B shares its chassis with the rest of the K series, and yes, it’s basically the same chassis that debuted the powertrain in 2011. However, as the powertrain continued to receive updates, the chassis was also improved over the years. Some of the notable additions include ABS Pro in 2016 and Dynamic ESA in 2018.

The chassis is an aluminum frame with double cross members, which uses the engine as a stressed member to reduce weight. Another weight-saving measure is the magnesium panel carrier at the front. The suspension is BMW’s signature Paralever and Duolever setup, but now with dynamic ESA (electronic suspension) as standard. This automatically levels the K 1600 B as soon as a load is applied to it. The brakes consist of three 320mm discs, two at the front and one at the rear. The six-axis IMU also offers a helping hand here, as ABS Pro is standard.

BMW K 1600 B Chassis specifications and dimensions

BMW K 1600 B features

The K 1600 B was one of the first motorcycles to be equipped with a 10+ inch TFT color display. In the case of this BMW that is 10.25 inches. It has a clean, efficient layout as you’d expect from the Bavarian manufacturer, but that doesn’t mean it lacks the features you’d expect. ABS Pro, Dynamic ESA, reverse gear, tire pressure monitoring system, reverse gear and Hill Hold are all standard equipment. Of course, you’ll need to add BMW’s ‘packages’ like the Comfort or Tour packages to add optional extras.

BMW K 1600 B features

• 10.25-inch TFT screen

• Bluetooth connectivity with turn-by-turn navigation

• Dynamic ESA

• ABS Pro

• Hold hill

• Reverse gear

• TPMS

• Headlights when cornering

• Keyless ignition

BMW K 1600 B Competition

Worthy opponents from Japan and America

The Gold Wing is the obvious first choice here, as that is the starting point of this feature. It does things with typical Honda efficiency and has quite a few features, such as an engine airbag and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, that you won’t find on any other production motorcycle. The Indian Challenger PowerPlus has a modern liquid-cooled engine and the same combination of digital and analogue as the Gold Wing that will appeal to traditional motorcycle enthusiasts.

You can also get the air-cooled version if you prefer the old-fashioned torquey feel at low revs. The Harley-Davidson Road Glide continues tradition very well, but with a twist. The engine has pushrods, but also has variable valve timing. It is air cooled, but with water cooled heads. Oh, and it has the largest TFT screen of them all.

BMW K 1600 B vs rivals