Simple answer - The GTL had everything I had added to my LT over 50,000 miles and did not have the power center stand (not needed) and has a lower center of gravity. It's a very different bike and the only way to really know is to put 1,000 miles on it.

After 8,000 miles on the GTL, I would not go back. A few tiny problems quickly fixed by BMW. So far, no final drive issues that I'm aware of.

The K1600 forum and this thread have all of the other answers.

 

Take one for a test ride, then you'll know. :bike:

 

If you can get passed the sticker shock, I can't think of a single reason not to make the move.

 

If you can get passed the sticker shock, I can't think of a single reason not to make the move.

Still counting those pennies, Joe?

 

the only way to really know is to put 1,000 miles on it.

So true... I had 138,000 on my LT and could ride for hours without touching the handlebars.

When I took of on my maiden 4,000 mile voyage on my GTL I was a bit frustrated that I could not take my hands off the handlebars without it tipping. After about a couple hundred miles it started behaving. The GTL is a thoroughbred that you have to earn its respect.

I was reading some of the threads about GW vrs GTL and how some magazine rated the GW superior... all I have to say is that they are correct if you want to sight see from a couch at 55, but if you want to join the hurd of testosterone riden college rice burning gazelles you run into occasionally while your sight seeing and earn their respect while blowing them away the 16 is your baby.

I live in the northwest and had farkled a wiper into my screen (the harley riders chuckle at me but when your going up the columbia gorge in the pouring rain and passing a semi on I-84... at the next stop they stopped chuckling.

I mention this because on my maiden voyage I was a bit afraid when I came back into Oregon and it started raining that the skinny shield and fairing on the GTL might soak my arms. I was greatly pleased with the aerodynamic thought that must have been put into this machine. My elbows used to get wet on my LT... on the GTL they didn't.

The removable saddle bags are sweet too (LT... well) I love the ability to drop the trunk when I am home.

AND last but not least... that under 5 mph concentration needed on the LT is virtually gone.

IMHO

ZBaron

 

Thanks for the feedback.

I need to get to the dealer and test drive.

I wonder if someone can rent one for a weekend?

I been reading about the issues with handler bar switches, water pump leaks, some oil leaks. Can anyone comment on this?

 

[hijack]

Still counting those pennies, Joe?

Nope. I can't get passed the sticker shock. My Concours14 is well on it's way to being paid for with many years of warranty left. Think I'll even spray her a different color this Winter.

[/hijack]

 

I been reading about the issues with handler bar switches, water pump leaks, some oil leaks. Can anyone comment on this?

Some of the early bikes had some of these issues, but not all bikes had all issues.

The switches have been redesigned, oil leaks are rare (and usually traced to a bad o-ring), oil usage tapers off with miles, and water pumps are being replaced. A few bikes have had their water pumps replaced more than once, but that's also quite rare.

I'd say it pays to be aware of these reported issues, but I wouldn't let them stop you from buying the bike if it's what you really want to ride.

 

IMHO the GTL is NOT a replacement for the LT. The GTL is a SPORT Touring bike. Lighter, faster and uglier than the LT. I was very happy with my LT and it really fit my style of riding for over 70K miles. BMW has conceded the touring market to Gold Wing and decided to build a bad a** Sport Touring bike. Once I took it for an extended test ride I knew that I had to have one.

 

I wonder if someone can rent one for a weekend?

The folks at Motorcycles of Atlanta once let me keep an LT over the weekend while my R1200C was being serviced. The pitfall there is that I was in their office talking trade after bringing the C back.

Greg

 

"Lighter, faster and uglier than the LT."

Uglier? UGLIER??? I don't know, KayGee, I think the GTL is, generally, a beautiful machine, and I know mine is gorgeous. To paraphrase the old punch-line, you must have picked the ugly one.

 

"Lighter, faster and uglier than the LT."

Uglier? UGLIER??? I don't know, KayGee, I think the GTL is, generally, a beautiful machine, and I know mine is gorgeous. To paraphrase the old punch-line, you must have picked the ugly one.

Hey I have one so I'm allowed to say that. You have to admit that the open space by the battery box is ugly and looks unfinished. Also the top trunk looks like an after thought but I can't see either when I'm riding it so it doesn't really matter to me.

 

Sigh.

The K16 trunk is not an "afterthought". It was specifically designed to be easily removable, giving the owner the ability to transform the K16 from two-up tourer to solo sport-tourer in mere minutes. It was done that way on purpose, and it works. Let it go, guys . . .

Note that LT also has a removable trunk, it just takes more time and more tools to remove it . . .

As for the battery box being visible, that was also done on purpose, to allow better venting of the heat coming off that Slant/6 motor. But if you really think there should be a small cover there, fortunately, there's a simple solution available . . .

 

Sigh.

The K16 trunk is not an "afterthought". It was specifically designed to be easily removable, giving the owner the ability to transform the K16 from two-up tourer to solo sport-tourer in mere minutes. It was done that way on purpose, and it works. Let it go, guys . . .

Note that LT also has a removable trunk, it just takes more time and more tools to remove it . . .

As for the battery box being visible, that was also done on purpose, to allow better venting of the heat coming off that Slant/6 motor. But if you really think there should be a small cover there, fortunately, there's a simple solution available . . .

I'm not obsessed with the trunk but IMHO it doesn't look as integrated as the LT. Thanks for the link for the battery box cover, I'm ordering now.

 

...It was specifically designed to be easily removable, giving the owner the ability to transform the K16 from two-up tourer to solo sport-tourer in mere minutes. . .

Ken, do you routinely do your rallies with the top box on or off?

I like the way the bike feels and looks without it, but the convenience of having it usually wins out on anything but local rides for me. Just wondering what your approach is.

 

Keep in mind that I'm running at the extreme edge here. The bike has to do everything for me, from competitive Rallying, to getting groceries, to transporting work tools and computers, to living out of it for weeks at a time.

I prefer to run with the trunk off, as removing that much weight from that far up and back does make a difference in how the bike handles when pushed hard. I did the same thing on the LT when running solo:

That also allows you to pack much more efficiently when needed. This is how I cleaned out a work apartment after a long-term assignment, using a large cardboard box in place of the trunk:

And this is carrying the tools and clothes needed for a month-long work trip:

I could definitely feel the weight back up there, but it still beats flying.

The difficulty when running minimalist is that I'm using a 17" laptop, as I love the large screen for mapping/routing purposes. The laptop doesn't fit into the saddlebags, and doesn't lay flat in the LT or GTL trunks. Many LD riders use a Pelican Case, as they are tough, waterproof, and come in a variety of sizes. A good Pelican case attached to a fuel cell is a staple among LD riders:

On my last couple of bikes, I just went to the local motorcycle junkyard and grabbed an old, cheap fiberglass box out of their spare parts pile. I brought my laptop bag with so I knew that it would be big enough for that. It looks like hell, but it works:

The last few rallies, I've pared down to the absolute minimum, and even run without the saddlebags. Saving that width helps when lane splitting, and removing that extra weight also helps, especially when I'm adding 4.5 gallons of Aux fuel. Pulling the factory trunk and bags just helps to minimize the total weight. As does losing 35 lbs myself.

This is how I rolled on my 22,000-mile August ride. Note that everything I needed was tucked inside that white trunk:

Now I did ship some street clothes ahead for those few days that I was holed up in a hotel, but most of that month was spent running thousand-mile days on the bike.

What I love about the K16 is that I can convert from full Rally mode, to around town shopping mode, two two-up touring mode in mere minutes. Having integrated, removable trunk and bags gives the bike a lot of flexibility.

And that smooth, endless torque simply can't be beat.

 

...Note that everything I needed was tucked inside that white trunk...

Awesome...so you pull the trunk AND the side bags in trade for your white box. :thumb:

But Ken, I noticed in the last photo...what's with that open space under the seat?

I just think of it as the BMW version of Lauren Hutton's gap.

 

Awesome...so you pull the trunk AND the side bags in trade for your white box.

Note that was an extreme ride, where I spent 10 days and 10,728 miles wearing nothing but LDComfort underwear and my outer riding gear. I had a set of street clothes sent ahead to my hotel so I had something clean to change into at the end. All I had in the trunk was my heated gear, basic tools, my laptop, and snacks.

But Ken, I noticed in the last photo...what's with that open space under the seat?

Gotta have room for the suspension to work.

Besides, as you can probably tell, aesthetics is usually my last concern . . .