4 new items on the royal BMW K1600GT and why I would still choose the R1200RT for the trip

1. Lower windshield.

When you raised the previous generation K1600GT windshield, which was already electrically adjustable at the time, to the highest position, the top edge was exactly in line between the rider's eyes and the road in front of him, so it obstructed the view slightly. This is not to say that you can miss the tractor because of this thin edge of transparent plastic, but still: it's a nuisance about the same as the flies on the visor of the helmet.

Well, with the new K1600GT, this problem is no longer present, as the windshield is cut much lower. However, the wind protection is still good, which is good - great, so good that there are flaps on the front next to the mask that you manually launch for extra airflow that will cool the body in the summer heat. When I drove the lady on the F700GS a day later, she was already screaming from her helmet on the Jeprka: "Hey, it's blowing today!" Of course it blows, F700GS against the K1600GT moped. Thank you very much for the lower windshield and excellent wind protection.

2. Electric reversible gearbox.

If you lean towards the left side of the motorcycle, you will see a black cover near the driver's pedal, which was not in the previous model, and on the left side of the handlebars, the R: R key has found its place as 'reverse'. Yes, the new K1600GT has a reverse gear, which is not really a gear in the full sense of the word, since the starter takes care of the movement. How? The engine must be running (when turned on, idle even rises to ensure sufficient voltage), the transmission must be idling (N) and the R button must be pressed.

It is wise to keep your finger on the front brake to quickly stop the motorcycle if necessary if the electricity wants to push it too far back as the starter spins momentarily after the starter button is released. In short and simple: it can happen that the motorcycle slips too far back. With the weight of a motorcycle with luggage in suitcases and a chef in the backseat, such a gadget will definitely come in handy someday, but I also believe there will be a time when Dad is backing up to the top of Jau Pass. accidentally shakes his mother on the floor and in front of others. XNUMX motorcyclists curse modern technology, ramp in front of sniper and Bosnian laying asphalt. Raises a finger up for reverse gear with the comment that dad should check this several times before on home tiles.

3. Proximity key and central locking.

There isn't much to say here: the key is in your jacket pocket, and the engine lets you turn on the ignition by pressing the big black button in the middle of the steering wheel, and a long press will lock the steering wheel. extreme position. I personally like this idea, and I see no drawbacks (except that I completely forget where we put the key, and possibly fell into the lake with it, and the matter will die, but this could have happened with a normal encryption key). Thumb up for the proximity key!

4. Help when moving

Japanese, the K1600GT has a “quickshifter” that allows you to shift up and down without using the clutch and releasing the throttle (well, when shifting down, the throttle is disengaged anyway). Sounds pretty cool; it sounds great even when the six-cylinder engine just stops roaring for a moment and the bike instantly jumps up to a higher gear for years to come. But to be honest, I am not thrilled with the novelty, dear readers, keep in mind that I enjoy riding enduro and that I have even been involved in this industry, that we enduros are a bit of a strange variety and that we love to fascinate with the clutch more. than it seems expedient to mortals.

Personally, I also enjoy enchanting with the traction when riding a road bike, say, on a serpentine road to prevent unwanted squeaking, while at the same time with the charm of the rear brake to maintain smooth acceleration when cornering or during tight turns. braking deep into corners when you want to maintain good grip on the rear tires so that the engine smoothly turns into corners. While testing this "quickshifter" I found that the clutch and throttle magic when controlling the gearbox with Mr. Assistant didn't work the way I sometimes expected. You just have to let the tech (electronics) do their thing.

Let me remind you something else: if you go to read the driving experience of the then newly born K1600GT (and GTL) in Cape Town in 2011, you will find this sentence. "If I could be a little picky, I would point out a somewhat unnatural reaction to quick turns of the throttle valve (with kilometers a person gets used to this, and this is noticeable only when starting off or turning in a parking lot)". And this flaw, which is not really there, is just an observation by an overly picky rider left with the new K1600GT. For example, when you want to exit an intersection faster, the throttle response will be unnatural. I can't say otherwise and I think that many people don't even notice it, especially if you have already covered a large number of kilometers on the same engine. I've even heard it has to do with the long intake pipes between the air/fuel premix and the combustion chambers. Who would know.

I'll put it this way: Thumbs up for a quickshifter with the comment that you'd better try it before you buy to see if it works for you at all. Interestingly, this year I have much more impressions of the R1200GS with the same gadget. Honestly: more intermediate options, I can't wait for one good machine!

Then here they are radio with AUX and USB inputs, electrically heated levers and comfortable seats, great working electrically adjustable suspension, quiet engine without vibrations, lots of torque to sometimes forget to move in sixth gear in the city, cruise control, nice sound, really nice and elegant exterior looks, quality workmanship and a lot of facts that say without apology that this is currently one of the best motorcycles on the market - but now it's just a matter of for which roads in for whom.

First, which roads? If I had to choose a comfortable motorcycle for traveling in Slovenia or even further in the Balkans, I would prefer R1200RT (if not R1200GS, but let's leave the tendency to get lost in the endless forests of the Balkans). Why? Simply because the RT behaves like a ballerina compared to the GT, offering a similar level of comfort, only slightly less exclusivity. In addition, the RT boxer can easily be content with less than five liters of gasoline when driving together, while the GT requires at least a liter, and preferably two liters more.

I would put it this way: on the R1200RT everything is made to work, but on the K1600GT there is something more; something we don't really need (it has four more cylinders!), but it's nice to have it if you can afford it, of course. I also nod to someone who simply swears by the silky smooth running of a six-cylinder engine and claims that the six is ​​second to none. It's true, he doesn't have it. But when you find yourself in the center of Durmitor that you forgot your camera in Žabljak and need to turn onto a narrow, flat road, the GT is a big deal for a man. But, in fact, I almost forgot, because it has a “reverse side”! Included, but we also answered another question between the lines of the same paragraph: for whom?

Matevj Hribar

Base price: 23.380 EUR

Test bike cost: 28.538 EUR

Dealers in Slovenia: A-Cosmos dd, Ljubljana, 01 583, Avtoval doo, Grosuplje, 3540 01 781, Selmar doo, Celje, 1300 03 424, Selmar doo, Maribor, 4000 02 828. www.bmw-motorrad.si.