My New Ride! K1600GTL

[@jimbroen]

At 64 and newly retired I bought a 2013 GT with 80K km at the beginning of this season. It's now up to 94K of Canadian Prairie and British Columbia travel. It's several hundred pounds heavier than any motorcycle I've owned over the years and I found it's heft very intimidating at first. Over time I've gotten better at managing the bulk of the machine and I no longer accept the inevitability of a low speed tip over. I have no other large touring machine experience to compare but my appreciation of these large BMWs grows every time I go for a ride. I'll be performing a valve check and other sundry maintenance activities this winter which will be the final test to determine if the bike's a keeper. If time, patience and a reasonable level of mechanical ability are sufficient to keep my K1600GT operating reliably, I anticipate keeping this bike for a number of years.

[@Centexrider]

Good choice. I've owned both a GTL and a B (Grand America). For me, the speed limiter on the GA wasn't a big deal, as it can be retuned with Bren Tuning. It was the instability at higher speeds, particularly in "dirty air". Anyway, as I'm now in my mid 70s, I have moved to a 2019 R1250RT. As much as I loved my K1600s, the RT is much lighter yet steady as a rock, and power to weight ratio still on par with the K1600 (IMHO). Anyway, I still enjoy your videos. There's significant application between BMW models, so I'm "staying tuned".

[@johndrew9382]

There are a lot of K1600GTLs on the market for sale with relatively low miles and surprisingly low priced. My guess is that the high cost of dealer service and complexity of DIY has resulted in a lot of riders giving up their bikes. Kirk, I think you’ll find lots of interest in your future videos.

[@j.t.5826]

Most of the time its the size and weight of the bike. People do not realize how big the bike really is. Overall awesome bike.

[@billschafer4147]

K1600 IS an awesome bike for sure! I'm on my second, of which I'm not super enthusiastic about it. First was a '14 GT Sport which I totally loved. Hands down the best bike I've ever owned or ridden. And like Kirk, I ride them. Living in NC I have access to some of the best roads in the country. After ten yrs I traded it in on a '22 K16B. A beautiful beautiful bike for sure but it is not the GT. Doesn't accelerate or handle like the GT and become a little sketchy at highway speeds and above, especially in dirty air. I'm going to take the floorboards off to see if that makes a difference. Has anyone experienced this as well, any solution?

[@PeteyKale]

Hey Kirk- Thanks for doing the service on my 2000 K 1200 LT last month. When I called you from Rhode Island on my way to Wisconsin, I was very pleased when you said you were able to work me into the shop for a service the following Monday. On Labor Day, no less! After seeing many of your videos it was good to meet you and get low rpm power issue and the annual service done. (I also had fun riding into town on the scooter for breakfast, though it did get a little hairy out on the 4-lane). The ride up to The Dells rally went great! I did some fly fishing out in the country and then did a 3 day cruise back to Tucson. All together it was about 9k miles in 30 days. Today the temperature topped 100 again so I shouldn’t have hurried back. Thanks again for troubleshooting and the annual service and I look forward to getting back up there on the way to/from Anchorage next year. You’re providing a great service to the touring community!

[@s.k.y_kitty3godward850]

I’ve came Goldwing ,to GTL ,I’ve owned one nearly two years ,this bike addictive,power delivery,handling,steering it incredible,wow I’ve rode on 3000 mile road trip last year,and done 8 k miles on it ,it like two drug ,no words I can say ,it additive

[@shamoy1000]

Interesting remarks about that dealership in Big Bend. I rode in there this past spring on my LT and some guy blew me off with short negative answers to my questions about a used bike on their website. I bought an RT somewhere else.

[@jeffshootsstuff]

Looking forward to the valve check/adjustment video. Maybe swapping suspension.

[@scannan]

new follower here from Dublin Irl. k1600GTL from 2015 and had a k1200GTL a while back...I do miss the reverse gear :( as my back is 66years on the go. Keep her between the ditches Kirk. I wish I could drop in to your interesting workshop but if I turn westwards I hit a lot of water around Clifton in County Galway...nice ride up to that though.

[@davidbradley9204]

I've owned both K1200LT and 1600 GTL. The GTL has a horrible OE seat, radio was weak. 1600 better handling and nimble. Low center of gravity and easier for short person to move GTL around. No reverse gear. Love GTL with easy to remove trunk and saddle bags. Oil filter is easy to remove and replace, but there is an extra step in removing the drain plug.

[@sandiegodan]

Congratulations on the new ride! Agree completely on your reasoning. Despite our affection for the LT the reality is it’s a discontinued model and your channel will benefit greatly from relevant content on a modern model.

[@aBluegrassPicker]

This will be great. I have the first year 2012, now with 110 K on it - looking forward to your videos!

[@seymoreduless8920]

Nothing better than getting to know a new bike! Congratulations

[@tomludwigson349]

Very nice ride! Now you have hooked for a few more years. I own a 2019 BMW k1600 Grand america. I'll be watching for information on the K1600's maintenance and other items as well. You always give us so much information about our bikes. Kudos to you. 😊

[@zycoBR]

Congratulations Kirki Pela Moto is beautiful, be very happy with it🙏

[@rickjacobs5652]

I bought 3 BMWs at Road, Track and Trail not disappointed at all. I Love that place! I live only 25 miles away..... I just bought a second bike there yesterday.

[@kirksmotorrad]

Tell them you saw my shout out!

[@RrrO-k5i]

Nice to see another Kirk in the world. I am picking up a 2005 LT soon and just wanted to say thanks, your pre buying guide snd all the other content gave me the confidence to purchase. First up, brake lines. Kirk 2

[@rosscorindia9527]

Hi Kirk, you,ll love the GTL and will soon forget the LT. I’ve owned one and loved it.

[@kaweeno]

I'm a big fan of the K1600 and as a low time DIY, your channel will be most useful. I just subscribed. Thank you.

[@robertlennie7466]

Love my own K1600GT but they are definitely bikes for folks who enjoy doing their own maintenance work (or are very wealthy).

[@DarrenTB100]

Congrats on the new ride - love your work and videos. I have a K1300S, so picking up useful hints and tips… thank you for what you do. Keep safe.

[@cameronbednar7277]

Thanks for the kind words Kirk! Pleasure working with you!

[@grizzlyjp]

I had a K1200LT and now I ride a K1600GTL and love it. The LT still has better wind protection and a MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE seat, and 4 speakers compared to 2 speakers on the GTL. The power that the GTL produces however is AMAZING!!! I've taken my GTL up to 241km/h (150mph) in Australia and I backed off, the GTL had more to give. The GPS tracked and captured my speed because I didn't take my eyes off the road. I've hit 220km/h on my LT and thought this might have been similar, and I was kind of shocked to see 241km/h.

[@paulkonar7842]

Congratulations on your great purchase. I have a 2024 K1600 GTL and I have always appreciated the video content that you have provided on the K1600s.

[@Zayphod_zz9pza]

I had a 2000 LT and owned it for 20 years. I traded it in 2 year ago for a 2022 GTL and am genuinely impressed with the differences. Sure there is over 20 years difference in technology, but the one thing that impressed me the most was the slow speed handling. After riding the LT for so long I became very accustomed to its low speed quirks. The GTL is night and day difference to me in low speed maneuvering. Even with 2-up the GTL is so predictable moving through traffic, weaving around traffic. Such a fun bike. Glad to see you picked one up Kirk. Looking forward to GTL videos. (and maybe a new torque poster?)

[@MrPhatelvis]

Super excited to see what you do as I own a 23 and like to do my own work and use your channel for help.

[@richardshort4587]

Sweet looking bike, I tried one of these after selling my LT. Still found it to top heavy for me. Just turned 70 and losing muscle mass I ended up getting a Goldwing. Just as heavy but the weight is so low down it’s much easier to handle. Getting old sucks, but at least I can still ride. Best of luck Kirk, looking forward to more of your videos. Thanks for taking the time to make them for us all. God bless brother and keep the rubber side down. 🍻👍

[@kramr7012]

Nice choice! 🏍👏🏻 Looking forward to future content!

[@digger8180]

Great bike, looking forward to your posts about the K1600GTL. I have a 2016 model my land yacht ✌

[@DavidSand-c4r]

Very nice new to you BMW. I'm looking forward to seeing the future content on it and other bikes. I recently purchased a "used" B with 18 miles on it. The owner of the dealership ordered it and a GT at the same time for himself. He liked the GT more. I got it at the used price.

[@sparkypdx]

Fantastic. You will love this bike. Look forward to K1600 videos.

[@OneDown5Up]

Congrats! I ride a 2012 K1600GTL, couldn't be happier! Post-HD rider here. I swapped the GTL windscreen with an OEM GT windscreen after trying several aftermarket attempts, and found the GT version was the best option. Better windflow, bike is much more stable at high speeds, just a better fit for me personally. Fellow IL rider here, enjoy!

[@davidlaw-px4ef]

Great bike, I replaced my GTR1400 with a GTL last year and took it to Spain and Portugal this year. It was awesome and performed flawlessly

[@sportsmancraft1]

Not surprised you got one of these, best way to learn about them.

[@KeithVakoc-no7eg]

Congratulations on your new to you bike, Kirk. 🎉

[@edorazio1]

I bought my K1600GTL from Road Track and Trail as well. Different sales rep, but same great experience. Had it shipped to me in Virginia. Also transitioned from an LT. Loved the LT, age was catching up to me, I’m 73: the GTL is about 110lbs lighter with lower center of gravity.

[@SNTFmaster]

Congratulations on getting your new ride!

[@NS-yl6wj]

Nice find!!!

[@Wiz3721]

Get a Corbin saddle, crash bars and highway pegs, and maybe some helmet locks. My 2018 has 71k and counting. Enjoy.

[@afrobiker97]

Awesome video. Looking forward to the new content. Just wanted to say Thanks for all your help. Your kit worked wonders for my K1200gt.

[@petechampagne4893]

Beauty Bike Sir! Congrats. I have a 2022 GTL, I absolutely love it. Looking forward to your service videos on it as I also do all my own work. Enjoy!

[@willpierson5138]

Congratulations on your new machine…..looking forward to seeing some videos on this model. I am tempted to purchase one of these. Thanks for all your valuable videos.

[@icing777]

GREAT!!! Enjoy!!!

[@moogmike01]

My Pastor has a K1600GA he loves it.... I would like to consider upgrading, but I have so much extra parts and such for my LT, it will make it hard to move on... but time will tell. Congratulations on the new ride!

[@dennisemanuel6141]

Hi Kirk,your going to love it !I made the same switch back in 2012 when my LT started smoking blue after 150k miles.Love the 2012 GTL that I have now,the LT does have better wind and rain protection. I get we on the GTL mostly my feet.2 up rising is great on GTL!Dennis

[@tomamos5771]

After 2 k1200lt s now a k1600gtl. . Like and appreciate your expertise But maybe downsizing too

[@christophesiffermann5603]

Hello from France, got a k1200 lt too. Have fun with your new ride. ✌️

[@jfarlandutube]

Hi Kirk, congratulations on getting that bike. Looks great. I’m sure you’ll make a lot of wonderful improvements. I’ve been following your channel for years. I have had four 1200 LT’s. The last one I bought is a 2009, it only had 3000 miles. I still have that bike and recently put progressive springs on it front and rear. And it made a big difference in the handling. I have six other motorcycles so I don’t ride it all the time, but I probably won’t sell it. It’s still one of the finest touring motorcycles ever built and that last version all black is quite beautiful. Hope you enjoy the 1600 and look forward to seeing your videos. I took a test ride on the grand America and that bike gets weird at high speed. Definitely was a no go. Like you, I have to see triple digits now and then.

[@shawnolson9370]

Congratulations on your new bike. I own both an LT and K1600GT. I'm also happy your experience was good at Road Track and Trail. Mine was not. They were rude and didn't want to help. Then when I got the bike home. They must have not inspected it. It needed a bunch of work. That's the last time I'll buy a bike from them.

[@kirksmotorrad]

fortunately for me I didnt want them to touch mine and I was all to happy to insist they didn't! Now I know exactly what was done!

[@eddiecompton7790]

Nice! Pretty sure my next Ride will be the 1600 for sure, keeping my 02 LT tho😊

[@usargentino]

Congratulations, it's a beautiful machine!!! :)

[@bentleyhar]

Looking forward to your new videos I have a 18 K1600 bagger and I would love to learn more about the service of the bike

[@rudydyck4891]

Thanks Kirk..- from Saskatchewan

[@Abyou35]

Good job 👏 brother beautiful Bike. I think you’re gonna have fun with this one… God bless you, I love my K1200LT have a great day

[@josephwinkler4863]

Gorgeous motorcycle I was wondering about the new in-line four-cylinder on the K models Sure, it’s excellent

[@johnbrown4280]

Well done Sir, best choice by far. You can get two helmets in the top box if you lay them sideways. Done 40:000 on my 2014 gtle, arse gets a bit sore, so seat will need sorting, other than that, yiu will have a very big smile on yur mush... 👍👍

[@phensriwood2093]

The headlight will be of interest.

[@goodmanuni09]

Congrats on the new bike. Looking forward to the GTL content. And if you ever decide to throw on some aftermarket armrest for the Mrs., the how-to video would be greatly appreciated! Just saying (as the kids would say).

[@tracythorn2918]

I'm very interested in your maintenance videos on this bike. I've been thinking about finding one of these but my budget dictates I do all the mechanical work myself (as I do with my RT). That electrical connection looks exactly like my Gerbing heated clothing battery connector which might make sense for an Alaskan rider. Beautiful bike!

[@kevinmckenna5389]

Sweet Ride and nice find

[@rodneybarcus2233]

Congratulations on your new bike. I have always wondered if it’s possible to find a good bike at those auction places at a fair price that doesn’t require a lot of work. Enjoy the bike and welcome to the modern era. By the way I’ve always wanted a bmw, I just don’t want to go broke in order to get one.

[@spkuse]

I traded my 2018 Goldwing DCT on a 2022 BMW GT. Had that bike for 6 months and traded it in on a 2023 GSA. Did not like the GT. All its power was in the upper rev range and that does me no good. But the main factor was is that it is too top heavy. Any high wind would literately force the bike over. Not to mention getting passed by semi trucks. Not good in the rain either. Because it is top heavy I was not confident in the ride. The GSA and the GW both are lower center of gravity. All power and torque on these bikes are in the lower rev ranges.

[@hugebear53]

The windscreen in rhe K16GT Sport is awesome. I disliked the screen on the GTL(E) to the point that i wasn't even interested in the GTS until the different screen was pounted iut.

[@samhill3496]

My Arctic Wolf came from Alaska. It runs hot in the south 48.

[@kirksmotorrad]

That is a great name for a bike!

[@carsyoungtimerfreak1149]

Congratulations. Last Saturday I traded my 1150GS against a '05 K1200GT, the 'brick' model. Obviously technical identical to the K1200LT. May I suggest you repair of have the side case repaired properly? The bike is certainly worth it.

[@commonsense769]

One common issue on k1600 gtl is the radiator overheating due to its positioning so low to the ground and the front mud guard chucking dirt into the radiator!

[@joeq3082]

That harness looks like one I had for a heated suit on my snowmobile.

[@kirksmotorrad]

That is what I meant. I think the rider had Gerbing heated gear. He would have to living in Alaska!

[@andersencupp1998]

Great video! I look forward to following your progress with the new K1600. What type of motorcycle lift do you use? Thanks!

[@LTVoyager]

Yes, LTs are getting long in the tooth and I also would like a newer ride, but I just can’t find anything my wife and I like better than the LT. Heck, we can’t find anything we like even as good as the LT. We’ve test ridden pretty much every competitor, including the K1600s, both GTL and GA, and nothing matches the LT. Sure, the 1600s have a lot more performance and that is fun for me, but for two-up touring, the 1600s aren’t really even close to the LT. Probably the Gold Wing comes closest, but sacrifices too much storage space, fuel range, etc. to be a good replacement. So, I keep my 2007 LT soldiering on knowing that someday it will have to be replaced and we will have to step down to a lesser touring bike. Enjoy your 1600! FYI - My wife and I have toured three times in Europe and the UK on GTLs and have probably close to 5,000 total miles on them. That is how we learned that the GTL just doesn’t measure up to the LT when it comes to two-up touring comfort, in particular wind and rain protection.

[@kirksmotorrad]

I think my wife may already agree with you. I did change the ws to a Ztechnik already and that helps a lot. Now I need to get that ass breaking seat sorted out!

[@LTVoyager]

@@kirksmotorrad I am sure a new seat will help a lot and many who moved from LT to GTL add the extra air shields from a company called Aeroflow or something like that, but few can match the LT wind protection. My wife is fairly tall and her head got buffeted continually on the GTL due to its passenger seat being so much higher than the riders seat. It would take a really tall windshield to fix that and then I’d have to always look through the shield which is a pain in the rain. We also had occasion to ride in the rain several times in Switzerland and in Ireland and Scotland and my hands and feet got soaked on the GTL where they stay nearly dry on the LT. I’ve never bought waterproof boots or gloves as I never needed them, but if I owned a GTL, they would be high on my list. Good luck with it! It will be fun to watch your journey to try to make your wife comfortable on the GTL.

[@monsternorm4245]

Hey Kirk, thanks for all your videos. Do you have a way to get a repair manual for a k1600gt? Thanks

[@milanstefanovic3854]

Maybe fake carbon decal on that side case. Both sides. Just a suggestion. Beautifull bike. And only 6600 miles in 6 years. Just run in.

[@bjrnhjjakobsen2174]

I guessed right 😂

[@deandavis3090]

I bought a 2018 GTL 3 months ago and it had 5 open recalls. Been waiting on a New transmission for over 2 months. Was yours part of the transmission recall?

[@kirksmotorrad]

I have no idea but I will find out! Thanks for the heads up!

[@deandavis3090]

@kirksmotorrad I would be interested to see if yours is part of the recall.

[@LTVoyager]

Sounds like someone put a used tire on the front. I can’t imagine wearing out a front tire in 6K miles.

[@kirksmotorrad]

The tire is dated late 2016 so it is the original. The new one is ordered.

[@iamkingrichard2032]

Are you aware of the issues owners are complaining about driving this motorcycle at high speed on the interstate?

[@threehanded8853]

That’s on the Bagger version, not the GTL.

[@moconnor50]

The maintenance is not as expensive as Harley Davidson. BMW makes a better bike with more horse power, torque, comfort, and style.

[@davidmann2988]

For some odd reason I thought this was going to be a …. Review.

[@kirksmotorrad]

Not yet! I need some time to really get to know it before I can make a review or a comparison video. I will do one though!