BMW’s 6-cylinder, 160-horsepower luxury tourer, the K 1600 GTL, has been updated for 2017 with Dynamic ESA, optional Reverse Assist and Shift Assistant Pro, updated styling and more.
At last month’s Intermot show in Germany, BMW Motorrad announced updates to its 6-cylinder sport tourer, the K 1600 GT. And at BMW’s Vision Next 100 event in Los Angeles, it unveiled a new spin-off model, the blacked-out K 1600 B bagger.
Read our 2017 BMW K 1600 GT first look review
Read our 2017 BMW K 1600 B first look review
Read about the BMW Motorrad Vision 100 Next
New new colors for 2017 include K 1600 GTL Elegance (Ebony metallic/Blackstorm metallic, top), Lightwhite non-metallic (above) and Thundergrey metallic (below).
So it came as no surprise that, at the EICMA show in Milan, Italy, this week, BMW unveiled an updated version of the K 1600 GTL luxury tourer. In 2012—the model year in which they were introduced—the K 1600 GT and GTL shared Rider’s Motorcycle of the Year award by virtue of the new levels of performance and sophistication they brought to the sport touring and luxury touring segments. Differing mainly in terms of seating position, windscreen size/shape and the presence of a top trunk (on the GTL), they share an inline 6-cylinder engine that churns out a claimed 160 horsepower and 129 lb-ft of torque.
As on the GT and B, new catalytic converters and updated engine management allow the K 1600 GTL’s engine to be Euro4 compliant without any loss in claimed output. Three riding modes—Road, Dynamic and Rain—adapt throttle response to riding conditions and automatically adjust the Dynamic Traction Control setting accordingly. New for 2017 is Dynamic ESA, which automatically adjusts suspension damping and offers two modes, Road and Dynamic.
Styling updates for the 2017 BMW K 1600 GTL include new/redesigned trim panels, wind deflectors and lower storage compartments.
Standard equipment includes ABS Pro, xenon headlight, heated grips and seats, Multi-Controller, cruise control and removable saddlebags and top trunk. New options include Reverse Assist, a reverse gear that is engaged using a button on the left handlebar and controlled using the starter button, and Shift Assistant Pro, which allows clutchless upshifts and downshifts. Other options include the adaptive headlight, Keyless Ride, Hill Hold Control, central locks, forged wheels and a full line of accessories.
Read our 2012 BMW K 1600 GT / GTL review
Read our 2012 BMW K 1600 GT vs 2011 Kawasaki Concours 14 comparison review
A fully optioned BMW K 1600 GTL provides the height of luxury touring performance and sophistication.
Styling updates for the K 1600 GTL include new side trim panels, larger slipstream deflectors, new wind deflectors to protect the rider’s hands, redesigned mirrors with larger faces and aspherical insets, and redesigned foot guards and lower storage compartments. New color schemes include Lightwhite non-metallic, Thundergrey metallic and K 1600 GTL Elegance (Ebony metallic/Blackstorm metallic).
Availability and pricing for the 2017 BMW K 1600 GTL are TBD.