Ride Review: 2012 BMW K1600GT

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2012 BMW K1300GT (demo ride)

Absolutely amazing! It seems ponderously heavy at a stand still...until the first few rotations of the tires where it seems like 200 lbs just vanishes. The motor is a jewel…so much power everywhere, yet ultra refined & understressed...it is geared so tall that 100kph = 2500 rpm in 6th from where it pulls cleanly as the momentum just keeps building & building & building…4th & 5th are amazingly fun hwy gears! 5k rpm in 4th is around 140 kph…this things is so fast, drama free & relaxed it is fun doing ¼ mile sprints starting from 80 kph to 160 kph…I defy anyone not to be giggling to themselves. Perhaps the K16 might not accelerate quite a quickly as the K1300GT because the K13 actually has a better power to weight ratio with shorter gearing…but it does it in a more sublime manner. 


The suspension is rock solid & it rails around sweepers leaned over holding a perfect line at a pace that no near 800+ lb bike should. Fabulous air management, huge windscreen adjustability, all day ergos & the largest bags & top box anywhere. The fly-by-wire throttle is light & smooth & the inline 6 revs so effortless & fast you can hardly believe it. This is the ultimate 2 up Q-ship, bar none which just happens to be stupidly fun solo & stupidly expensive…the equivalent of a M5 series sedan!

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