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NEWS
BMW bagger unveiled
Chopped-down touring flagship to target lucrative US bagger marketBMW has revealed details of its new K 1600 B, a cruising 'bagger' based upon its six-cylinder touring platform.
The new model is essentially a production version of BMW 'Concept 101' design study shown at Italy's Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este last year, and it has the massive US touring market fixed firmly in its sights.
There's a very good chance the K 1600 B will also be heading our way; while official word is yet to be received from BMW Motorrad Australia, the local arm of the German giant has issued technical details of the model, suggesting it's well and truly on its radar.
Available initially in a Blackstorm Metallic paint scheme, the bagger utilises the same basic technology as the K 1600 GT/GTL tourers but features a redesigned rear section that drops the height of the pillion seat by 7cm.
The panniers are slimmer but deeper while the rear mudguard can be folded upward to facilitate removal of the rear wheel, and BMW says the side sections of the wind deflectors are stretched further back.
The K 1600 B isn't left wanting in terms of features, either. Like the touring bikes there's a reverse assistant to aid parking and the model comes with BMW's electronic suspension package (with automatic damping) as standard.
The rider's footpegs can be fitted to serve has feet-forward highway 'pegs and forged wheels are available as an option. Other options include crash bars, keyless starting, a tyre pressure monitoring system, central locking and sat-nav, among many others. A 'Shift Assistant Pro' feature, available as an ex-works option, affords pushbutton gear changes without the use of a clutch.
The K 1600 B will certainly hold the upper hand against many of its rivals when it comes to performance. Powered by the touring bike's 1649cc, liquid-cooled, in-line six-cylinder engine, BMW says the mill pumps out (an unchanged) 160hp at 7750rpm and a monster 175Nm at 5250rpm.
The K 1600 B's wet weight is 336kg, actually 4kg heavier than the K 1600 GT, while it comes with a larger 26.5-litre tank (up from 24 litres in the K 1600 GT).
The model will go head to head in the US with competitors like Honda's Goldwing F6B and, to a lesser extent, American-made V-twin baggers like Harley-Davidson's Road Glide and Street Glide, and Victory's Cross Country and Magnum.
Bikesales will bring you more information on the BMW K 1600 B as it comes to hand.
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Written byRod Chapman
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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