Using a motorcycle for travel is one of those things that will never go out of style. You can get on pretty much any bike you like and take it across the country; it just depends on how much discomfort you are really willing to put up with. If you want to turn that “adventure” into more of a casual ride, then a more dedicated touring bike is the way forward.
Today, we have a wide selection of great touring bikes at our disposal. Unfortunately, most of the bigger, more highway-friendly bikes are pretty expensive. In some cases, you will need to fork out well over $30k for a bagger. While the bike in question certainly is not cheap, it is marginally cheaper than the direct competition in this space, and just as comfortable.
A Couple Of Great Highway-friendly Alternatives
Over the fifty-plus years that it has been in production, the Honda Gold Wing has evolved into a technological tour-de-force. You can choose from a variety of trims, but even the base spec bagger offers a host of impressive comfort features. If you prefer something with a V-twin, one motorcycle certainly stands out.
The Harley-Davidson Street Glide actually offers good value, arguably the most value out of all the bikes in Harley’s extensive touring lineup. The potent Milwaukee-Eight 117 delivers ample torque throughout the rev range, and it comes with all the usual touring bells and whistles. Air-cooled twins of this size are an acquired taste, and they won’t appeal to everyone.
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If I had deep pockets, this would be way up on my list of motorcycles I want in my garage.
The BMW K 1600 B Turns Cross-State Trips Into Casual Rides
MSRP: $24,975
The K 1600 B is nowhere near the top of BMW’s touring lineup, but it still offers a host of great comfort features to go along with that glorious inline-six. At this price, it offers great value, undercutting the direct competition without making any obvious sacrifices in terms of overall touring comfort. BMW’s build quality and finishing are also second to none, so even though it might be the cheapest six, it is still very much a luxury motorcycle.
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Powered By A Smooth-Running Inline-Six
Power: 160 Horsepower
Other manufacturers may have tried to build inline-six motorcycles, but BMW is the only brand that persevered with it. Considering how many decades’ worth of research and development that brand has sunk into the configuration on the automotive side, it kind of follows that the Bavarians were the ones to stick it out. The benefits are pretty easy to see. Immense power, equally strong torque throughout the rev range, all without any vibrations on the highway. All of which is ideal for a luxury touring bike, but there is a reason why nobody else builds one.
A Little Wider Than The Average Motorcycle
Although these engines have several desirable characteristics, they make these touring bikes incredibly wide. So much so that other manufacturers basically conceded that the benefits are not worth the price you have to pay in terms of packaging. The width of the bike is not the only issue, either. These engines have six of everything, so that means more components to manufacture and more components to maintain.
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Where highways melt into comfort, this touring machine turns long rides into lounge sessions with thunder under the tank and miles that vanish quietly
The K 1600 B Is An Incredibly Comfortable Bagger
At this price point, tech features like lean-sensitive traction control, cornering ABS, cruise control, ride modes, and a TFT dash are more or less expected. The key point of difference comes in the form of comfort. The saddlebags provide ample storage – 17 gallons – the adjustable windshield offers more than enough wind protection, and heated grips also reduce fatigue. Both rider and passenger seats are well-padded and comfortable enough to sit on for several hours at a time. It also has semi-active electronic suspension, or Dynamic ESA in BMW speak, which takes all the effort out of setting up the suspension before a big trip. Make no mistake, this is a very comfortable motorcycle, but there is always a “but.”
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Some Features Are Conspicuous In Their Absence
For the most part, base model BMW motorcycles are already well-equipped and competitively priced. Unfortunately, the brand has a pretty clear strategy of “dangling a carrot.” This particular carrot comes in the form of the extensive options list that comes with pretty much every BMW Motorrad product. While there are obviously certain nice-to-have features that really won’t appeal to everyone, and are justifiably left off the bike, some seem deliberate. In the case of the otherwise well-equipped K 1600 B, it is the quickshifter that is left off the bike. Now, this is certainly not the end of the world, but pretty much every other bike getting sold at this price point has a quickshifter these days. It is also a rather expensive option. You will either need to check the “Gear Shift Assist Pro” box or “Bagger Package” box.
The Bagger Package has other inclusions, but is the same price as the quickshifter on its own. The center stand is also AWOL, but this is a motorcycle with shaft drive, so you won’t need it quite as much. But, BMW also knows this is an option several touring bike buyers will be willing to pay extra for. If you happily check both of these boxes before you know it, your “out-the-door” price will go from reasonable to very unreasonable in a few strokes of a pen… or clicks of a button, depending on how advanced your dealer is.
Naturally, this is only a minor gripe. It is just important to be fully aware of what you want before you walk into any BMW dealership, because the base model is not the bike they want you to buy. Some dealers will even keep certain models in stock with certain options already fitted, while the base model will require you to put an order in and wait. This is a bike that is most certainly worth the wait. In its base trim, it is already more than capable of handling cross-state trips without a fuss.
Source: BMW Motorrad