BMW K1600 Launch

[Big Dave]

Well we're just counting down to the launch of the new K1600 BMW at Peppers Kingscliffe - Northern NSW. As usual the photos don't do the machine justice. We have a presentation on the bike this evening and a 400km ride planned for tomorrow. 13 bikes will be in the convoy. Part of the ride is at night so we can see how the active headlight system works. There are a few pics on our Flickr pages:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kiwirider/sets/72157626896177374/with/5802838083/
Phat daze!

[unstuck]

Looks nice.:yes:

[Big Dave]

Yeah -it looked a bit slab sided in the promo pics, but the ones sans-top box are quite nice looking.

[Kiwi Graham]

It will be interesting to get your opinion Dave, and how it compair's to the Concourse 1400, FJ and ST which I guess its pitted against in all but price, or is it trying to get into the Goldwing market?
Have they improved the drive train backlash?
And that weird whistling whining noise the multi cylinder ones make (except the 1000 RR)
How much will it be over here? I'm guessing in the high 40'sK?

The problem I found with BMW is they seem to be so much more money than anything else but don't seem to offer that difference in anything particular, even there re-sale values dive the same as anything else (except) if its on a showroom floor (generally gathering dust). Plus anything you want to 'add' in the form of branded accessories cost an arm and a leg.

[Big Dave]

Thanks KG - tomorrow will tell - 21c early cloud. My guess is it's in the GL1800 niche. Will know more in a few hours. The Aussie press corps are just arriving now.

I'm by the pool with a JD.

[MIXONE]

Thanks KG - tomorrow will tell - 21c early cloud. My guess is it's in the GL1800 niche. Will know more in a few hours. The Aussie press corps are just arriving now.

I'm by the pool with a JD.

And some people call it work.

[jaffaonajappa]

Do they have DVD players and built in chilly bins?

[Big Dave]

And some people call it work.

Criminal innnit.

Mind you the flight over was a bit of a mission. Virgin blue issued a boarding pass for a flight that doesn't exist and cancelled the flight that did exist.

A lot of the day was in Brissy airport limbo.

[Big Dave]

Do they have DVD players and built in chilly bins?

Not sure about DVD - it is the MP3 age.

Buttttt - You could fit 6 dozen in the luggage

[BMWST?]

so is the red one a gt and the silver a gtl?

[Big Dave]

so is the red one a gt and the silver a gtl?

Believe so. There is a navy blue gtl too

[shafty]

Have fun ya lucky Bustard;

My reading is that the BM is directly pointed at the GL market and priced within a hundred bucks in the US - I'll confirm that when I arrive there in 5 weeks for a Route 66 gig.(Couldn't resist)

Seems pretty aggressive for BM, but the big H has had the mega tourer market by default for...er...decades. When I bought my V4, the BM equiv was $10,000 more than Honda's - that's huge, - hence I moved from the R1150R to the Pan Euro versus a Boxer or Brick RT. So they may be ' meeting the market ' on this one, initially at least, altho, the US pricing may not reflect locally...

You have to admire the technlogy, and how slim they have made that SIX?

6 cylinders in a bike is kinda horny really! :yes:

ps Keep up the good work BD

[Devil]

Screw you buddy! mmm i could do with the GT.

From the discussions i've had with BMW, I believe the GT is around the $46k mark, and the GTL about $49k.

[Gremlin]

Mmmmm active headlights :drool:

You poor bastard... please, allow me to take this enormous burden off your hands, I can't bear to see you suffer.

[Conquiztador]

As a owner of a old K100 8 valve and a K1 I must say that the pics does not give me a hard-un. And where have I seen those mufflers before... something from the 60's or 70's I recon. It'll come to me...

[jaffaonajappa]

As a owner of a old K100 8 valve and a K1 I must say that the pics does not give me a hard-un. And where have I seen those mufflers before... something from the 60's or 70's I recon. It'll come to me...

If youve owned either of them bikes....its arguable that anything could ever give you a hard-un.



JOKES!

[Big Dave]

It's sick. Boris says it's the best of its kind. I think I agree. Shot some video and Lou Martin took the stills. Will post when I get back to unzud.

[Toaster]

It is rare that i like a motorcycle just from pictures, but this is a very attractive and no doubt well appointed bikes. I was reading an article in a mag about them yesterday.

I would expect they will ask a fair penny for these machines.

Looking forward to hearing more about them.

[Scouse]

typical adolf bike buttfuckinugly

[Devil]

typical adolf bike buttfuckinugly

Have a think about what you've got to compare it to in its class.
Comparitively it's gorgeous.

[yod]

Not that this is my typical genre of choice but the styling I like.

Price = showstopper, however.

[Paul Searancke]

It's sick. Boris says it's the best of its kind. I think I agree. Shot some video and Lou Martin took the stills. Will post when I get back to unzud.

I spent some time aboard one last week in Canada at the FIM Experienced Rider Training Symposium. I was pleasantly surprised how all the aids (ABS, Dynamic Traction Control, etc) are so refined and work so well that they even made me look good around the track. The engine and gearbox are super smooth. I think I agree with Boris as well although I don't get to ride all the new models like you guy's, I haven't ridden anything as good (yet).

[HenryDorsetCase]

I'm waiting for the streetfighter version: Speed Triple competitor. with six into six straight pipes.

Build it BMW, and they will come.......

[HenryDorsetCase]

I'm really shallow, but I love the dash. Like your Dad's '60's Valiant or Falcon....

[Devil]

I'm really shallow, but I love the dash. Like your Dad's '60's Valiant or Falcon....

Heh, until the bike is running, then you'll see it is most certainly a contemporary piece!

[GPS MAN]

As for me: I like it:yes:

[Big Dave]

Have a think about what you've got to compare it to in its class.
Comparitively it's gorgeous.

I don't think the comparatively qualifier is needed.
It's a good looking luxury tourer.
The dash didn't do a lot for me, but nor do I dislike it, very clear data display considering the amount it carries.
Best windscreen I've used too.
We did an hour and a half in pitch black on mountain roads and the adaptive headlights really are very good as well.

[Devil]

Have I told you lately how much I hate you?

GT is on my lotto list.

[Big Dave]

The Fillum with index:

http://www.kiwirider.co.nz/k1600.html

[Big Dave]

All of it:
<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/t4C1rmOqyzY?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[NZsarge]

All of it:


Nice BD, pity the riding section was a little longer, I hope they gave you a bit better crack at it than that.

[Big Dave]

Nice BD, pity the riding section was a little longer, I hope they gave you a bit better crack at it than that.

Cheers. We did 450km - of various conditions and road types - the last 100 was at night.

Those bits are just between the camera stops. I have more footage - but it's really just more of the same.

[Gremlin]

Ta for that Mr Dave.

Looks like it has a 24L tank, and enough gizmos to not require actually riding it :lol:

I want the adaptive lights, but the go-anywhere of the GSA... guess I'll keep my GSA with 8 forward facing lights :D

[NZsarge]

Cheers. We did 450km - of various conditions and road types - the last 100 was at night.


I'e seen video of riding at dusk to demonstrate the headlights, I know the cornering lights on cars are pretty good, are they all they're cracked up to be on the bike?

[Big Dave]

Yeah - they shine around the corners. The headlights are amongst the best on a motorcycle. The high beam with driving lights on the GTL is quite spectacular, the GT's array is all I'd ever need.

[Big Dave]

pic removed.

[Gremlin]

Video showed a few too :D