New BMW 1600s

[ponch]

The Touring rig:

[flash=350,287:mewynk7n]http://www.youtube.com/v/o1Z8G_gHnGI&hl=en&fs=1[/flash:mewynk7n]
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The Sport Tourer:

[flash=350,287:mewynk7n]http://www.youtube.com/v/-vG4_ovFHZA&hl=en&fs=1[/flash:mewynk7n]
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Must be a press junket. How does one get on one of those?

[ringadingh]

You don't see very much other than the guys back while riding. Whoever made the video should of at least let us see the bike.
It must have been made in two countries since the first one he is driving on the LH side.

[waterman]

Definately not much to see other than a ride on these two videos.

[ponch]

I like the feel of the speed in some places. I wish the camera was on the front. I bet it was a press junket in Europe, probably the UK as they drive on the left and the plates looked European. Since it's a brand new bike that no one can take home yet and the footage is raw and uncut, I found it interesting. The guy riding the GTL was pushing it in some places and you could hear the bike touch down. I imagine there were a few places of well into triple digit speeds. I also wish we could see more of the bike too, but it wasn't meant for a PR/marketing purpose. In fact, I wonder if BMW said it was ok to post them, although, why not, but the germans can be pretty straight laced.

[ponch]

Oh yeah, the bikes exhausts was fairly quiet.

[Dave]

When are they suppose to be out?


That looks like the roads Brad and I ride on down in eastern San Diego county.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by Dave

When are they suppose to be out?


That looks like the roads Brad and I ride on down in eastern San Diego county.

Except you ride on the right side of the road. ;)

From what I understand, they are supposed to be out sometime between may and june. I got the pricing from a BMW forum:


"The finally-official prices I've received are:

K 1600 GTL

Base price $23,200 + freight = $23,695

Premium package price $25,845 + freight = $26,340


K 1600 GT

Base price $20,900 + freight = $21,395

Standard package $23,045 + freight = $23,540

Premium package $24,540 + freight = $25,035"

[ponch]

I found out it was in South Africa. The plates looked European? I think SA does drive on the left though.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Sure was a lot of wind noise. Barely could hear the bike. They make a nice bike.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by AlabamaNomadRider

Sure was a lot of wind noise. Barely could hear the bike. They make a nice bike.

I noticed that too. More wind than exhaust. I don't know if I could adjust to left side right away. It must be awkward...

[bogatyrs]

If they are anything like my Ex's BMW they will keep you in the poor house with service costs. I still love everything Beemer...

[ponch]

Originally Posted by Bogie

If they are anything like my Ex's BMW they will keep you in the poor house with service costs. I still love everything Beemer...

That's true if you go to the dealer for service and also depends on what model you own. One of the reasons I got the R1200RT because the R engine is the easiest to service. The K bikes are a little more involved with valve adjustments. The other thing is if you follow BMWs schedule, it seems a lot more stringent that other manufacturers, you will have trouble free service, but I think it reflects the anal nature of the manufacturer. If you want flawless service from the bike, do this. The big deal is changing the brake fluid on schedule. The ABS unit is very expensive (≈$1500), much more than the cost of brake fluid. If they say change it once a year, that is something I can do myself. The only thing I have to get a special tool with is for throttle body syncing (≈$110). It's also a good idea to get the scan tool (GS911), which is $350. Outside of that, the service is very doable.

[ringadingh]

Beemer does have ridiculous service prices, I guess its part of the BMW culture that they try to cater to. My brothers bike fell over in the driveway a couple years ago off the kickstand. It broke the clutch lever,mirror, and shifter, and cost him almost $700.00 to replace those three parts. That didn't include the scrapped paint on the fairing either.

[bogatyrs]

I hear you and I didn't mean to imply that I wouldn't consider one it was just an observation. One thing I find with the car is that if you follow their service you can drive with confidence and carefree.

We have several friends with BMW's from 3 series to 7's and the experience is all the same - costly for service but worth it in terms of the performance and trouble free experience.

I would jump at the 1600 in a heartbeat if I was younger and didn't already have a new bike.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by Ringadingh

Beemer does have ridiculous service prices, I guess its part of the BMW culture that they try to cater to. My brothers bike fell over in the driveway a couple years ago off the kickstand. It broke the clutch lever,mirror, and shifter, and cost him almost $700.00 to replace those three parts. That didn't include the scrapped paint on the fairing either.

Ask him if he knows about the Beemer Bone Yard. http://www.beemerboneyard.com/

They have a lot of used and new parts. A good source for anything a BMW rider might need.