Touring motorcycles are impressive. They have a lot of comfort, come fitted with massive engines, and get some of the latest tech. Unfortunately, all that tech and heat means that they can be a little moody at times, which is not something you want when you’re on an interstate ride, and the nearest town is a short ride but a long, long walk away.
If you want something reliable on two wheels, you look to the Japanese; that’s something we’ve all learned through experience. But if you research hard enough, you’ll know there is a touring motorcycle that has Yamaha reliability and Gold Wing-level comfort, and it doesn’t come from the Far East. Here is our surprising contender for a reliable yet comfortable tourer that you can count on.
The BMW K 1600 B Is The Touring Bike With Yamaha Reliability And Gold Wing-Level Comfort
BMWs are expensive, tech-heavy motorcycles, but they also have a reputation for reliability. The GS is often a first pick when it comes to choosing a round-the-world motorcycle, and the case isn’t much different with BMW’s other motorcycles made for touring. From sport tourers to traditional full-dress tourers, the brand has what it takes to make your long rides pleasurable. Among these, the K 1600 series has not just performance from its sublime inline six engine, but it has proven itself a reliable, comfortable tourer.
Aggressive Price And Not Just For A BMW
The K 1600 B is priced quite aggressively at $24,975, undercutting its main rivals despite having up to four cylinders more than them. There is a fairly long options list as well, which can drive the price up to more expected levels from a full-size tourer. That said, the base price will also net you a complete motorcycle that you will enjoy for many years.
Inline Six Offers Unique Experience
The K 1600 B’s 1,649 cc inline six is a marvel of engineering. BMW decided to develop a straight six to replace the K 1300, which is an inline four. The two additional cylinders have widened it by a mere 2.6 inches. Like the 1300, this is also a transverse engine canted over 55 degrees from the vertical, so it keeps the center of mass low. There are no counterbalancers because you don’t need any in an inline six. Then, what you get is an incredible output for a touring motorcycle: 160 horsepower at 6,750 RPM and 132.7 pound-feet at 5,250 RPM. All that oomph reaches the wheel via a six-speed manual gearbox, and a driveshaft is chosen to drive the rear wheel.
8 Six-Cylinder Motorcycles That You Shouldn’t Ignore In 2025
Although it’s a dying engine breed, these bikes all make a case for themselves with some solid USPs
Perimeter Frame Helps Reduce Weight
The K 1600 B has a perimeter frame like a sports bike. It is made of aluminum, and the mounting for the front fairing is made of magnesium alloy to save further weight. BMW’s unique Duolever and Paralever suspension is present, which is a double wishbone setup at the front and a single-sided swingarm at the rear. Electronic damping in the form of BMW Dynamic ESA is standard here. Travel available is 4.5 inches at the front and 5.3 inches at the rear.
For stopping power, the twin front discs and the single rear disc are all the same size (320 mm). The calipers are also the same size, with the radial mount front calipers being of the fixed type with four pistons, while the rear brake caliper is a two-piston floating one. It also runs 17-inch wheel rims, unlike any other competitor, which gives it a truly sporty edge over them.
Dimensionally, the K 1600 B is a large motorcycle, with a 97 inch length and a 63.7 inch wheelbase. It isn’t as wide as you’d expect a transverse inline six would be, with an overall width of under 40 inches. Its weight (758 pounds ready to ride) also backs up the massive dimensions. Size becomes less of a worry when you consider the seat height of under 30 inches, though. This should help plant the feet with ease. The fuel tank is understandably big at 7.0 gallons.
Great Standard Features, Short On Accessories
The K 1600 B is a premium tourer, so it should have a ton of great features, right? Well, it does! Leading the way is a massive 10.25 inch TFT display. There is also a place to keep your phone and charge it, and BMW has even installed a cooling fan to make sure your phone doesn’t suffer. Other features include an electrically adjustable windscreen, LED headlamps with adaptive cornering, hill hold assist, tire pressure monitoring, reverse assist, heated grips, and a heated seat. For safety on the go, the K 1600 B has a by-wire throttle and six-axis IMU. These enable ride modes, cornering traction control, cornering ABS, and linked brakes are present.
If that’s not all, there’s a healthy options list. Keyless ignition, central locking (remote locking for the luggage), a better audio system, additional lights to light the road, guards for the engine, floorboards (although that usually limits top speed), a center stand, and forged handlebars are all present for more moolah. You can’t order these individually; you have to equip the K 1600 B with either the Comfort Package or the Tour Package, and you get whatever is part of each pack.
The Most Comfortable American Touring Motorcycles For Long Road Trips
While Harley’s new lineup dominates the list, Indian has some impressive options for you as well
BMW K 1600 B Competition
There is no touring motorcycle that is a real threat to the K 1600 B because of the unique combination of luxury, comfort, and sportiness that it offers. All the other touring motorcycles fall to either side of it, focusing on either better comfort or more sportiness. That said, there are some strong products that prospective customers will need to look at. Among them are the Harley-Davidson Road Glide ($27,999) and Indian Challenger ($27,999), both of which are American tourers that offer sporty intent in some measure. Of course, they are powered by V-twin engines.
The K 1600 B’s natural enemy is the Honda Gold Wing, another tourer powered by a six-cylinder engine. The Honda is a more laid-back product, although it can hustle along just fine, given its limitations. The Gold Wing is also one of the benchmarks for reliability, and examples that have covered 100,000 miles without a fuss aren’t uncommon. The Honda makes less power and is heavier, but it does offer a unique experience, especially with its seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
BMW K 1600 B Vs Honda Gold Wing
|
Model |
BMW K 1600 B |
Honda Gold Wing |
|
Price |
$24,975 |
$25,500 |
|
Engine |
I6 |
Longitudinal flat six |
|
Displacement |
1,649 cc |
1,833 cc |
|
Power |
160 HP @ 6,750 RPM |
124.7 HP @ 5,500 RPM |
|
Torque |
132.7 LB-FT @ 5,250 RPM |
125.3 LB-FT @ 4,500 RPM |
|
Curb Weight |
758.4 LBs (wet) |
802 LBs (wet) |
Source: BMW USA