First Ride - BMW K1600GT / GTL

Join along with us on our first ride aboard the 2012 BMW K1600GT and GTL. We share our first thoughts in real-time as we experience them. Learn about the bike, it's features, and how it all works and sounds with us. We show it like nobody else, you'll feel as if you're there riding.

[@hamwa4eis]

AWSOME Video! I felt like I was there with you. Great Roads too. I think I'll go with a GTL but, the GT looks like FUN!

[@opmike343]

I like these long reviews; you actually learn something about the product. Lots of the other KZbin video reviews are five minutes long, and have like 2-3 minutes of nothing but the "reviewer" riding in front of the camera trying to look cool. Complete waste of time.

[@geonassar]

Great review. You really make the watcher feel like he's on the bike. How does the bike compare to the Concours 14 in the twisties and straight on?

[@02840]

I went to my local dealer with every intention of trading my 2004 Wing...only to be told the dealership expects all K1600s to be received through late-September/early-October will be going pre-order customers. Bummer! Now it looks like I'll target next spring. I'm not going to buy a new touring bike going into the winter months (northern tier state). Which might not be a bad thing, I'll have the benefit of being able to read a ton of user reviews and folks will start accumulating some mileage.

[@motorcycletesting]

@landondyer Me too! Our time was limited but it was hot and humid the last part of the day and no heat issues were noted at that time. MVR

[@mrnicktoyou]

Wow, the exhaust sound is just amazing. Straight six engines are the best.

[@motorcycletesting]

@Podmanaus The BMW is supposed to get excellent fuel mileage - we can't back this up yet. It runs poorly at idle specifically for this reason - long intake tracks. These are two very different bikes. The Kawi is far more of a sport bike (power/roll-on as well) seating and particularly steering which takes a lot of effort. The BMW handles fantastic for a large bike - period. Brakes are excellent on both. BMW sit up straight and relaxed, much less effort to ride fast. tall riders prefer GT.

[@motorcycletesting]

@tentori It's extremely hard to fault the K1600GT. I could fault the GTL, but not the GT - other than I was expecting a magical windscreen in terms of being quiet. The key is that it is so easy to ride, you never have to work at it as with the GTR. We don't know the longevity of this bike, but we would expect good. MVR

[@turbo311]

Awesome! Very difficult choice between this and a R1200GS. I like them both for different reasons. Good thing I can't afford either.

[@tango165]

Awesome bike!!!

[@motorcycletesting]

@opmike343 Thank You, we agree completely. Unfortunately shorter videos get far more viewers. Our viewers are passionate, committed, intelligent, riders! Our viewers are hard-core motorcyclists, the real deal.

[@motorcycletesting]

@plaxdan An hour or so out of Atlanta. I have no idea where we were as I was concentrating on the bike and the filming. MVR

[@motorcycletesting]

@ericplloyd No bike has ever had direct and easy access to so many features by a single controller. It's cool. MVR

[@BIKERMETOO]

Excellent !!

[@motorcycletesting]

@punchthedog 6'2" - 6'3". I love the GT, slightly reserved on the GTL. Taller riders seem to like the GT best, shorter riders the GTL. If you are a sporty rider - the GT for sure. The windshields (they are different) are one of the points I was let down a bit. They are OK, but in this day and age I was expecting more. MVR

[@Podmanaus]

Concours 14 or the BMW, which one would you take, taking ALL things into consideration - brakes, power, comfort, running cost and reliability.

[@dahveed284]

Sounded like he really liked it in the twisties. Is it better than the FJR? Better enough to justify the extra cost?

[@motorcycletesting]

@hamwa4eis I really liked the GT more, and there is more road noise and such on the GTL with it's full bags and such. With hat said, an informal survey seemed to show taller riders likes the GT, shorter riders the GTL. MVR

[@landondyer]

Nice review. Dammit, now I want one. I need to convince my wife that my 1995 R1100GS needs a companion. Any idea how what the motor heat is like? I had a K100RS and it was a real heater, really murder in stop-and-go traffic.

[@motorcycletesting]

@dahveed284 Better than the older FJRs I've ridden - you bet. Better than the Kawasaki? Not sure, but it doesn't have the quirks of the Kawasaki handling - just completely neutral. MVR

[@ryanparfet7374]

Cool! I don't get the dash though, who designs these?

[@IvannoTentori]

K1600GT or GTR1400? What do you think?

[@motorcycletesting]

@burkerow No!

[@kkchristy]

WANT