Rod Chapman•21 Nov 2018

REVIEW

2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year: BMW K 1600 Grand America

Name: 2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year: BMW K 1600 Grand America
Brand: BMW

For long-distance mile-munching, BMW's latest full-dress tourer cossets you in a cocoon of luxury…

First unveiled at Italy's EICMA expo in late 2017, BMW's new K 1600 Grand America promised all the long-and-low style of the firm's K 1600 B bagger with extra luggage capacity courtesy of a topbox, plus a smorgasbord of high-tech features for riders and pillions seeking comfort, performance and luxury in equal measure.

Bikesales Editor Mark Fattore praised the model after he rode it recently, and so it was with a great expectations that, over the 2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year test, we pressed the Grand America into the role for which it was designed: multi-day, open-road touring.

Granted, the daily distances involved in our three-day run around Tassie weren't extreme, but the variety of roads – spanning motorway, undulating highways, and high-speed sweepers down to tight hairpins – served up a selection of just about everything a bike like this is likely to encounter.

The pillion seat came in handy on the final day, after another bike was relegated to the back of our Fiat Ducato support van with a holed radiator, and the panniers and topbox were chock full of gear – mainly medical supplies for our resident paramedic, Muzz.

Fine pedigree

While the Grand America is based on the K 1600 B, it is of course an offshoot of the straight K 1600 touring platform, comprising the K 1600 GT and K 1600 GTL. Introduced in 2011, the all-new K 1600 took over as BMW's touring flagship from the four-cylinder K 1200 LT, and instantly raised the bar in terms of performance, handling and technology.

The Grand America simply comes dripping with good gear – as you'd expect, given its $39,690 (plus on-roads) price tag.

However, the good news is that the Aussie specification sees the model get pretty much the works in terms of features, including the Traction Package (adaptive xenon headlights, daytime riding lights, hill start control and tyre pressure control), Equipment Package (keyless ignition, central locking, LED fog lights, alarm system), and Grand America Package (audio system, radio with Bluetooth, electric high screen, reverse gear, topbox).

Add to that a choice of three ride modes (Rain, Road and Dynamic), electronic suspension adjustment, cornering ABS, dynamic traction control, electronic cruise control, quickshifter, TFT instrumentation, and heated seats and hand grips, and the Grand America is a rolling showcase of BMW technology, with just about every conceivable feature a touring motorcyclist could want.

You will, however, have to shell out another $1290 for BMW's latest Navigator VI sat-nav unit, while the standard 780mm rider's seat can be swapped for a 750mm alternative at no extra charge. Surprisingly, for a big touring bike, a centrestand isn't standard – it's a $650 accessory.

Chassis and performance

However, the long list of inclusions – while impressive – fades into the background when you consider the Grand America's dynamic qualities…

This is an imposing lump of a motorcycle, weighing in at a monster 364kg (wet), with a 1618mm wheelbase and a maximum payload of 196kg. Thing is, as soon as you've hauled it off its sidestand, clicked first gear and eased out the (decidedly light) clutch, it's no harder to control than any other big bike, possessing a sense of poise and balance that belies its dimensions and weight.

The majority of that weight is held low in the frame – just take a look at how that cylinder block is canted forward – while the winning combination of the bridge-type cast-aluminium frame and Duolever/Paralever suspension package is thoroughly up to the job of taming the engine's output.

A reverse gear makes it far easier to manhandle the thing around a car park. While in neutral, simply press the 'R' button and then use the starter button the crank the bike backwards using the starter motor.

Performance? There's plenty of it – this wonderfully smooth six pumps out a claimed 160hp and 175Nm, the grunt fed down the line to the rear wheel via shaft final drive. They're both hefty figures and they rocket this beast along with a heap of pace, sling-shotting it away from a standing start as the tacho streaks around the dial to the soundtrack of a howling engine note.

The twin mufflers might be the size of NASA booster rockets but they still produce a pleasing aural backdrop, and one that increases markedly in intensity when the throttle is used with any enthusiasm.

It's hard not to, because despite the Grand America's size and intention it's still a marvel through the bends – you can ride it like it's a sportsbike if the mood takes you, and its composure through corners beggars belief.

Hit a major bump or pothole while cranked over right on the apex? No bother – the big Beemer just soaks it up and continues scything along on its merry way (preferably with AC/DC blaring out of its quality speakers!).

Sure, its steering is slow and it requires a decent shove of the bars to effect any change of direction, but it's stable and entirely predictable, and its ground clearance is surprisingly healthy. There's even a bi-directional quickshifter – it works well, although the precision gearbox is entirely adequate when used in the traditional manner.

Brake, set up for the corner, tip it in and power out… It's a rush, and thoroughly addictive – and perhaps not at all what you may have expected of a big tourer.

Suspension and comfort

Altering the electronic suspension is easy via the menu on the TFT instrumentation and with the multi-function controller (a knurled dial on the left-hand throttle grip), as is changing ride modes. Whether you're happy to lope along down the highway, the tacho barely registering its interest at 2900rpm in sixth, or when sweeping along a winding road like a giant magic carpet, there's a setting to suit the moment.

With all this weight and sporty potential the Grand America's brakes don't perhaps have the easiest of lives, but they too are well up to the job. Heaps of power and a high level of feel – just another highly impressive piece to the overall jigsaw.

Of course comfort has to be at or near the top of any tourer's priority list, and here the Grand America delivers. The seating, with heat settings for both rider and pillion, are broad and compliant, and there's lumbar support for the rider and an uber-comfy backrest for a pampered pillion.

The rider gets forward-set highway boards as well as regular footpegs, and the expansive bodywork and high electric screen offer superb wind and weather protection. When the mercury plummeted and the rain came down on the middle day of our Tassie tour, for many the Grand America soon became the most sought-after steed on the trip…

And the adaptive xenon headlights are the best in the business, period. They alter the projection of their beam as the bike leans through a corner, effectively helping you to see further 'through' the bend.

The low seat and ergonomics will suit quite a wide spectrum of buyers, too, although taller types may find the cockpit a little more cramped than they'd like. At 188cm (6ft 2in) this author felt he was at the upper end of the bike's rider spectrum – anyone taller might find roomier options elsewhere in the BMW touring line-up.

Luggage carrying is addressed with a 49-litre topbox and two 37-litre panniers, with one key servicing all three. The bike's fob offers central locking too, but there's no glove up front, which seems like a bit of an oversight in a hardcore tourer. At least there's a 12-volt outlet in the topbox, giving you somewhere to charge your phone.

As for fuel economy, the Grand America returned 7.5L/100km over the course of this largely hard-charging test. With a sizeable 26.5-litre fuel tank, that's a range of 353km.

Summing up

Given several of our riders on this year's Bike of the Year had little or no experience of heavyweight luxury tourers, the Grand America consistently surprised with its heady mix of competence, capability and creature comforts.

The sheer quality of manufacturing is also a highlight – the attention to detail is obvious, from the fit of the fairing panels to the paint, the wiring, welding and the smallest of brackets.

In short, the Grand America is nothing less than a marvel of modern motorcycle engineering, its various component parts acting collectively in complete harmony to produce a wonderfully cohesive, integrated whole.

At this point in time, it's hard to see how luxury motorcycle touring could get much better than BMW's K 1600 Grand America.

Specs: BMW K 1600 Grand America

ENGINE
Type: Liquid-cooled, four-valve inline six cylinder
Capacity: 1649cc
Fuel system: Electronic fuel injection

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 160hp (118kW) at 7750rpm
Claimed maximum torque: 175Nm at 5250rpm

TRANSMISSION
Type: Six speed
Final drive: Shaft

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Front suspension: BMW Motorrad Duolever; central spring strut, 115mm travel
Rear suspension: BMW Motorrad Paralever 125mm travel
Front brakes: 320mm disc with twin-piston caliper, ABS
Rear brake: 245mm disc with single-piston caliper, ABS
Wheels: Front – 17 x 3.5, rear 17 x 6.0
Tyres: Bridgstone Battlax BT022, front 120/70-ZR17, rear 190/55-ZR17

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed wet weight: 364kg
Rake: 27.8 degrees
Seat height: 780mm (750mm optional)
Wheelbase: 1618mm
Fuel capacity: 26.5 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $39,690 plus on-road costs
Colour: Blackstorm Metallic or Austin Yellow Metallic
Bike supplied by: BMW Motorrad Australia
Warranty: 24 months unlimited kilometres plus 24 months roadside assist