BMW K1600
The BMW K1600GTL and K1600GT are motorcycles announced by BMW Motorrad in July 2010,
and unveiled at the Intermot motorcycle show in Cologne in October 2010.
The bikes went on sale in March 2011.
The K1600GTL is a full dress luxury tourer, which replaces the K1200LT, and is intended to compete with the Honda Gold Wing. The K1600GT is more of a sport tourer similar to the existing K1300GT and previous K1200GT models.
Technology
The bikes feature a new 1,649 cc (100.6 cu in) straight-six engine which is mounted transversely across the chassis. The engine is angled forward by 55°.
The engine was originally used on the Concept 6, a concept bike that was shown at the 2009 EICMA Milan Motor Show.
BMW claims that the engine, which at 560 mm (22 in) wide is just 67 mm (2.6 in) wider than the K1300 engine,
is the narrowest six-cylinder engine ever produced. Cylinder bore is 72.0 mm (2.83 in) and the distance between cylinder centres 77 mm (3.0 in).
The camshaft is hollow, with cam lobes pressed on, which saves around 2 lb (0.91 kg).
The engine has electronic throttle control and multiple drive modes which can be set according to road conditions.