BMW K1600B (2016 - on) Review
At a glance
| Owners' reliability rating: | |
|---|---|
| Annual servicing cost: | £340 |
| Power: | 160 bhp |
| Seat height: | Low (30.7 in / 780 mm) |
| Weight: | High (741 lbs / 336 kg) |
Prices
Overall rating
Next up: Ride & brakesTo create the BMW K1600B, the Bavarian firm have taken their K1600GT and lowered it at the rear with a traditional curved mudguard and panniers (sorry, saddlebags). Wheel travel is reduced by 10mm, seat height by 60mm, with a more pulled-back handlebar. The screen’s smaller than on the regular K1600, too. The big Beemer is not that frugal, returning 45mpg, but due to its 26.5-litre tank it will cover 262 miles before needing a fuel stop.
Ride quality & brakes
Next up: EngineThe K1600B has two suspension setting: Cruise and Road. The former is too soft for anything other than smooth arrow-straight routes (clue’s in the name), and though the latter has more control the BMW tries to wallow and becomes unsettled on fast, bumpy roads.
This bike's lower at the back than a stock K1600GT and has a shock with reduced wheel travel. It’s reasonable rather than great. There’s not much legroom and even with the seat in the highest position (780mm), my knees are higher than my hips. This is a bike that weighs 336kg – that’s 87 bags of Tate & Lyle heavier than an R1250GS – yet on the move the steering is light and accurate.
Engine
Next up: ReliabilityThe engine has so much in-hand that half the time it’s barely awake. With 160bhp on tap the K1600B may be a big beast but it can shift when asked to. The 1649cc across-the-frame six-cylinder motor overflows with character and tractable torque. With perhaps the smoothest throttle feel of any bike, it pulls like a John Deere from low revs, uses huge midrange thrust to surge past traffic and, if you let it, streak to the top of its revs.
Reliability & build quality
Next up: ValueThe finish and reliability is what you’d expect on a £20k BMW… faultless. It feels robust and able to tackle any riding conditions.
Value vs rivals
Next up: EquipmentWhile the base-model K1600B is £19,140, the SE model comes with up-and-down quickshifter, an electric screen, cruise control, self-cancelling indicators, heated grips and seats is a fairly substantial £22,165.
Equipment
BMW’s asymmetric dash is unique to the K1600. A colour digital panel between the dials for speed and revs is controlled from the switchgear. Info is logically laid out and there’s every bit of bike and trip data you could wish for, though in this age of widescreen displays it feels a bit previous-generation. The BMW’s pannier also have central locking. And it has a reverse gear!
From August 2020, all the K1600 models (that’s GT, GTL and Bagger) come with reverse, cornering lights, tyre pressure monitors and DRLs as standard, which is a very healthy saving for your wallet. There’s new colours all over the shop but the GT is now only available with a black frame and engine, while the ‘Safety’ pack has been ditched for the entire range.
Specs |
|
| Engine size | 1649cc |
|---|---|
| Engine type | DOHC 24v inline six |
| Frame type | Cast ali twin-spar |
| Fuel capacity | 26.5 litres |
| Seat height | 780mm |
| Bike weight | 336kg |
| Front suspension | Double wishbone, semi-active damping |
| Rear suspension | Semi-active mono shock, adjustable for damoing and electronic preload adjustment |
| Front brake | Two 320mm discs, four-piston callipers |
| Rear brake | 320mm disc, two-piston calliper |
| Front tyre size | 120/70 ZR17 |
| Rear tyre size | 190/55 ZR17 |
Mpg, costs & insurance |
|
| Average fuel consumption | 45 mpg |
|---|---|
| Annual road tax | £121 |
| Annual service cost | £340 |
| New price | £19,140 |
| Used price | £13,500 - £15,200 |
| Insurance group |
15 of 17 How much to insure? |
| Warranty term | Three years |
Top speed & performance |
|
| Max power | 160 bhp |
|---|---|
| Max torque | 129 ft-lb |
| Top speed | 160 mph |
| 1/4 mile acceleration | - |
| Tank range | 262 miles |
Model history & versions
Model history
- 2011: BMW unveil the K1600 and K1600GT and the K1600GTL. The GTL is a full-dress luxury tourer while the GT is more of a sports-tourer. The K1600B appears in 2016.
Other versions
Owners' reviews for the BMW K1600B (2016 - on)
4 owners have reviewed their BMW K1600B (2016 - on) and rated it in a number of areas. Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below.
Review your BMW K1600B (2016 - on)
Summary of owners' reviews |
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| Overall rating: | |
|---|---|
| Ride quality & brakes: | |
| Engine: | |
| Reliability & build quality: | |
| Value vs rivals: | |
| Equipment: | |
| Annual servicing cost: | £340 |
Version: se
Year: 2018
Annual servicing cost: £350
3 bikes in one - Muscle bike - touring bike and cruiser Engine is as good as a bike engine gets. All day comfort for two, luggage space and every gadget you need and want. Handling is amazing for this type of bike. weight only an issue 2 up at cambered junctions etc but low seat height helps with this a lot .
Brakes are amazing, suspension is as good as any cruiser but not the best available on a motorbike- more than happy with it though. All day comfort for rider and pillion, floor boards are great addition on motorways. the low seat make this bike far better than GT for handling the weight especially at junctions etc.
previous bikes were H2 SX se and Speed triple 1200 RS - the K1600 isnt as fast but makes up for it with smooth power delivery, low and mid range punch and still has a top end rush ! the noise is also very very addictive. Sublime quick shifter
Rusty centre stand and failed reverse gear module are the only issues so far , removed the centre stand as not needed and reverse module replaced under warranty.
over £20k, 6 cylinder bike so expect maintenance to be a bit more ! good MPG and ok insurance .
literally has everything ! 2 heated seats and grips , electronic screen, quick shifter, floor boards , sound system, keyless ride, tyre sensors , alarm system etc etc etc - amazing spec
Buying experience: Great deal with warranty no complaints
Version: le
Year: 2018
Annual servicing cost: £250
This bike is a rival to what ? its a 160 bhp cruiser / bagger with 6 cylinders and 130 ft lb torque. its got all day comfort for 2 , all the bells and whistles too. compare it to a Harley and it pretty much beats it with its angel eyes closed ! yes its heavy at a stand still etc (nearly all cruisers are )but reverse gear and low seat height are a massive help with this. when on the move about 10 mph it becomes an almost super naked .put your feet on the foot boards and its a cruiser . its 3 bikes in one and it looks awesome from any angle too.
Brakes are amazing, the suspension is electronic but not the best, short rear travel makes some really rough roads a bit uncomfortable. the new 2022 version has a better system apparently .
sublime engine , pulls from any rev range with a searing top end if needed . sounds incredible at high revs and burbles along nicely at low revs. so much more pleasing than a V twin .
My bike is nearly 6 years old and everything still works perfectly , only issue is rusty centre stand which I took off anyway .
Great MPG for size of engine and bike, insurance is also reasonable.
It has every thing possible anyone could need . only issue is phone connectivity. but there are ways around this and I dont see it as a deal breaker.
Buying experience: Brought second hand in mint condition with full Service history and warranty.
Version: SE
Year: 2020
Annual servicing cost: £222
Left field choice & I like it. Turbine smooth engine, slick gearbox, powerful brakes & very easy to throw around given its size. on the -ve side, suspension runs out of travel quickly leading to bum out of seat moments when pushing on & somewhat vague handling at motorway speeds
My first ride was 300 miles, no issues whatsoever, brilliant long legged tourer, its ideal hunting ground is on the motorways & fast A roads. capable of silly lean angles & can keep up with most 'sport bikes' when ridden hard. not so great around town as filtering nigh on impossible due to its bulk
Like sitting on a comfy chair strapped to a cruise missile, turbine smooth engine, great quickshift & gearbox
Rust on the rear subframe at 1500 miles - typical of recent BMW's I have owned - they dont / cant paint anything properly any more!! radio is pants! Otherwise a great bike
If you can afford one, service costs shouldnt be a problem apart from valve check / set at 18k which will be extortionate
Reverse a hoot to use & essential on a bike this size, loads of toys, radio connectivity & function poor though speakers usable to apx 70mph (best to plug in the phone & use Spotify)
Buying experience: Bought from Ocean Motorrad Plymouth with 1500 miles on the clock, I found substantial corrosion on the rear subframe / pannier mounts upon first inspection having got the bike home. Ocean Motorrad have not been helpful in resolving the issue, I am now working to resolve with a northwest dealer. Lesson learned - dont buy from a remote dealer especcially one located near the coast (sea salt / poor BMW paint quality)
Version: K1600 B LE
Year: 2018
Annual servicing cost: £526
The K1600B is big - really big - and very comfortable but only at reasonable speeds. The engine pulls like a train, but had an annoying clatter at 30 to 40 mph (could have been the clutch) in all gears. The handling is surprisingly good on bends but above 65 mph on motorways it felt very nervous particularly in traffic, twitching from side to side. The dealer blamed the tyres which were changed at the first service, but if anything the bike felt worse. I found the bike to be an enigma. It is sold as a cruiser with cruiser suspension, but then has a turbine of an engine that the rest of the bike can't keep up with. There are parts of the bike I loved, and others that I hated. Eventually I couldn't stand it any more, and I sold it. No, I wouldn't recommend this bike.
The 1600B is very comfortable and you can ride all day without any problems. The quick shifter is very smooth, even at low revs. Overall it is a cruiser and is at its best doing around 60 mph on twisting roads. The brakes are phenomenal for such a heavy bike and always inspire confidence. The suspension only has two settings - cruise and road - and I found both of them too soft. The bike is long - longer than a normal K1600 - and I thought this would make it more stable, but it doesn't. Motorway riding is worrying. The best compromise is to set it to rider plus luggage and road, which sets some preload and raises the rear of the bike.
Overall I didn't like the bike, but the engine is phenomenal. It pulls from any speed in any gear, and the noise is exhilarating. You feel like it is revving its nuts off, and look down to see 3000 rpm, and then it keeps going until it is screaming. Put it in dynamic and it pops and bangs on gear changes and overrun. Great fun.
Being a BMW it is built beautifully, but there were some problems. The back cover for the mirror fell off and I had to tape it on. I was surprised at how much oil the bike was using and at my first service on the bike (it was ex demo) the dealer found a serious oil leak on the engine, which surprised me for such a relatively new bike. Whenever I parked the bike in my garage there was a very strong smell of petrol. Again rather worrying. The dealer checked the bike and couldn't find anything wrong.
I only paid for one service, when the bike had covered 4000 miles. The dealer told me that the front tyre had worn unevenly and both tyres needed to be replaced. They thought that this was why the bike was twitching on motorways, but changing the tyres didn't fix it.
If you have deep pockets you get just about every extra going. Reverse gear is a must and I loved the central locking, heated seats, quick shifter and cruise control. The radio seems a complete waste of time but it does provide traffic info to the sat nav (I believe). It annoyed me to try controlling the sat nav from the hand controls. I had a R1200GS and this was so easy, but on the K1600B it seems like a late add on. You have to dive into the menus to eventually find the sat nav, and then the control wheel only works in one direction. Also the heated grips and seat can only be set through the menu. Very tiresome.
