Taking the 2023 BMW K1600 Grand America to Big Bear - DM Review | Test Ride

[@Timmayytoo]

As a former K1600GT owner, I can attest that they are terrific bikes but ultimately the weight of the bike led me to move on to something smaller. I don't really understand the B models - it's a very BMW way of mimicking a bagger - they're attractive enough, but if touring is your jam, the K1600GTL is a better choice, imo, simply because it has the full-size panniers rather than the chopped down versions of the B models.

[@bsjacks]

Great bike, but once outside the major cities, good luck finding authorized BMW service shops. That's the main reason i went with a goldwing. Its plenty fast enough, but i keep a sports bike for the raw acceleration thrills i need ocassionally...

[@AK33harr]

I have a 23 grand america and due to its instability at highway speeds, I'm afraid of getting onto the interstate. It wobbles far too much behind cars and trucks...so many people are complaining about the exact same thing.

[@rightlanehog3151]

Charlie, I remember when BMW sedans were smaller and lighter than this motorcycle.

[@edgonzo7079]

I believe BMW makes a USB type C charging cable to keep your phone connected and charged. Nice bike, I own an older GTL and I love it.

[@kidluk]

Re your weight concerns. I have one of these and I also had a Road Glide Ultra. This bike is about 130 pounds lighter than the Harley……..

[@bobdumbell]

Great review Charlie, currently ride a R1200RT and tour with my wife (both in our early 60s) looking at a more comfy tourer with lower seat height for the wife, and have ridden a Chieftain and loved this, I would this bike but your thoughts on weight and moving it around have been great and honest and probably confirmed one of these are not for us. Thanks

[@DailyMotor]

Great to hear! Yeah, unfortunately most of these big touring bikes are going to feel similar, but I have heard that the R1200T is a sweetheart. Good luck!

[@enricohockx171]

One can add the heated grip and heated seat options to the programmable buttons like I did with my K1600GT

[@edl6814]

Good review. I used to be a pure, Harley guy, but now I am looking to buy this one. I had read many reviews. they talked about the instability at highway speeds! Most say it happens when riding solo, not two up. Also, the phone charging and navigation issue is really an issue! Those two things are keeping me from pulling the trigger and actually making me think of buying the same bike, but without the grand America package. Then, when I need extra storage, I could latch on a carry bag in the passenger seat. As for the navigation, maybe just put the phone mounted on the crossbar of the handles? Then run the USB cable to the charger? Seems sloppy. Any thoughts from anyone regarding the instability issue would be appreciated. I look forward to seeing more of your posts. Thanks!

[@DailyMotor]

Thanks! Have you considered the R 1250 RT? I've yet to try it, but I've heard it's actually preferable as the one-up tourer

[@JS-nf1sn]

Great video. I have a 2022 BMW. The tech suite is annoying including the non wireless charger. Overall a great bike. I heard a BMW response that basically said to remember it's a motorcycle not a computer. I get that, but I don't understand why everyone else can figure it out, including Honda....A lot of people are just hooking up the bluetooth cardo to their phone and going around it completely. I ended up getting the sirius xm subscription with mine, even though I prefer Spotify.

[@hadespaganism2405]

Thanks for the video, and yes, it's really a great motorcycle .

[@thearousedeunuch]

Regarding wireless charging: I saw a temperature warning sticker on that storage compartment. I wonder if wireless charging would heat up the phone excessively.

[@MWS1960]

Nice bike….. but I prefer the R1250 Boxster engine with it lower center of gravity.

[@JohnSmith-if8wp]

most people that buy this bike get rid of it quick. It's a nice looking bike and it's quick, but the stability issues at highway speeds can be scary. I took one for a test ride . I jumped on the expressway doing 75 mph. The back end was getting so squirrely, I thought they may not have torqued the rear tire down. I assume that's why the top speed is limited to 100 mph.

[@noob2x]

if I remember correctly, it's just the Bagger that's limited in this way.

[@blackkitty1774]

@@noob2xno. The grand American not the bagger

[@jesseonamotorcycle]

Nice video. Awesome bike! What do you think about the 1250 RT?

[@DailyMotor]

Thanks! Haven't tried it yet but planning to in the next year. Heard great things.

[@dsiever1]

I'm really on the fence with this bike vs the k1600GTL. On thing I've ready is that the motorcycle is limited to 105 - 110mph due to stability issues. Some people might think this is a ridiculous comment but I presently have an '05 K1200LT and if I'm on a two lane road and I swing out to pass two or three vehicles, I'll bang that k1200 up to 110 easily. Can anyone confirm that the Grand America is restricted to 110?

[@DailyMotor]

Yes, it was restricted, and yes, I know what you mean. You get up to high speeds very quick on these machines.

[@sandilemajiya7831]

Wow what a great bike 🏍 👏

[@CodyMcDonald89]

hey there AWESOME video.. So ive been on harley bikes for 4years. I have a 21 ultra harley and has stage 2 stuff done to it and also speakers upgraded as well.. But im kinda considering BMW k1600 grand america for a more refined bike and power as well and not having to do all those add ons like Harley bikes. and the upshift and downshift without using clutch seems really nice.. So How is the 2 up riding and the speakers for the bike?

[@DailyMotor]

Thanks! Both are very good! Hard to get more refined than this!

[@johncook1076]

Great motorcycle!

[@ottoman5713]

11K more than the Vulcan Voyager. no thanks!!

[@davidmann2988]

Nothing like buying a 30,000 plus dollar touring motorcycle that is unstable at highway speeds. And it gets so bad, the manufacture limits the speed to 100mph. BMW should be embarrassed and ashamed.

[@rivertownrider7126]

I have mixed feelings about your comment. I bought a new 2024 GA. On backroads, on twisties, on secondary routes, around town, the bike is absolutely amazing. It handle like a super sport, and the power delivery is just astounding… smooth, vibrationless rocket ship on demand. If you are on a hiway with limited traffic, it’s a little twitchy. If you’re in heavy traffic with trucks etc, it’s very twitchy. As a rider with 50 years of experience, I find it annoying, but it doesn’t stop me from taking it on the hiway and crushing big miles, but it’s a little more tiring than it should be. I have to agree, why couldn’t BMW engineers make it less twitchy on the highway. I wonder what the trade off was where they said, it will handle amazing on the twisties but well except it getting blown around on the highway. The speed limiter is 104… I know this for a fact thru direct experience. With that said, the Goldwing has a 110 limit, so not much more than the GA. But, having owned a 21 GW, it was much more stable on the hiway, but in the twisties, it handled, well, like a big fat touring bike. The GA would crush the GW on backroads.

[@Jay_Wood]

BMW really needs to get with the times on that map situation. Such a great bike otherwise but that’s a big drawback for me.

[@tonymcflattie2450]

Something something… big bear, rides big motorcycle.

[@robertlester2855]

Why are you using the clutch? It has auto shifting. (no clutch shifting). Not sure if you have ridden big bikes before. Does not sound like it. This rides more like a sport bike than any cruiser. By far. As for going through the control panel, down on your left, you had programmable buttons. Plugging in a usb c cord takes 3 seconds. Boo hoo. You could have hit a lot more of the bike had you researched it before making the video. This bike takes nothing away from riding a bike. It ADDS to the experience. Your review is the only negative review I have seen on a GA. I think the lack of bike review videos, and abundance of car videos on your channel explains it. To each is own.

[@psychoticxombie]

As someone who's driven motorcycles for years, this dudes review was very useful. Maybe if you paid better attention to the video and understood where this guy is coming from, you'd probably make a better argument. First off not every motorcycle is going to have an auto clutch so he's going to use the clutch based off instinct. Second off the USB C cord, if you watched the video PROPERLY, you'd know he has an IPhone. Which by the way DOESN'T USE USB C. A majority of people use IPhones nowadays so that completely screws over a lot of riders. If you are going to pay 28,000$ FOR A MOTORCYCLE, IT WOULD BE FAIR TO HAVE WIRELESS CHARGING. In the video he said himself that this was a TINY FLAW. Yes this man is more experienced with cars and smaller bikes and no is he not gonna understand large bikes, but let's be honest, NO ONE IS GOING TO UNDERSTAND TOURING BIKES WHEN THEY FIRST RIDE. His video is arguably better for less experienced riders since he's showing his true and honest opinion as someone who is new to the scene like many others. So quit your whining and respectfully (not at all) shut the fuck up.

[@BazzerObama]

Don’t guess about the features ie the ‘wireless’ phone charging……..just offer facts otherwise it wastes everybody’s time. Who would even think of wearing a water camel pack on a touring bike with a huge backrest, it makes no sense !!!

[@McDaidVideo]

Who compares a motorcycle to a car on a motorcycle review.. really!!! poor review guys!