Best Touring bike: 2019 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards

The 2019 Bikesales Bike of the Year (BOTY) Awards recognise excellence across 11 separate motorcycle categories.

And here’s how it will work. After a massive five-day test through-north-east Victoria in early November – branching out from the beautiful town of Bright – we'll whittle our shortlist down to an outright winner to be announced on Thursday, December 5.

Let’s continue the 2019 BOTY by announcing the BMW K 1600 Grand America as our Touring bike winner.

The Grand America is the only carry-over category winner from the 2018 Bike of the Year Awards, which says something about what a mighty machine it is.

Now priced from $44,180 ride away, the full-dress Grand America does multi-day open-road touring with absolute ease, mixing a smorgasbord of high-tech features for riders and pillions seeking comfort, performance and luxury in equal measure.

The machine possesses a sense of poise and balance that belies its dimensions and weight, and that 160hp/175Nm six-cylinder engine is creamy smooth. It's just a wonderfully cohesive, integrated unit.

Click here for the 2019 livery options.

The current Aussie specification gets 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.

However, the long list of inclusions – while impressive – fades into the background when you consider the Grand America's dynamic qualities… and that’s what we’ll be experiencing first-hand in Bright in November.

It’s a heavyweight luxury tourer of the highest order. Congratulations BMW Motorrad.