BMW, as a brand, is known for performance motorcycles. So it knows a thing or two about making sharp-handling motorcycles. It also has a massive presence in the touring motorcycle market. Add the two, and you're in for a treat if you want a long-haul BMW machine. These Bavarian tourers will handle well, keep you comfy, and gulp miles effortlessly all day. When the twisties arrive, you might scrape a knee or two as well. Out of the lineup, one full-dresser truly does all that better than its siblings. Why Is BMW So Good At Touring Motorcycles? BMW MotorradBMW has always been a premium motorcycle manufacturer, and that gives it an advantage. With its brand cachet, it can afford to experiment a little with its models. Of course, the experimentation is backed by impeccable engineering and more than a little German madness, so the result is invariably something that is desirable, functional, and as premium as any other. But before we get to the BMW that makes long rides feel short, let's have a look at what it is up against. No Shortage Of Non-Bavarian Capable Full-Dress Bikes HondaWhen Honda set out to make the original Gold Wing, the brief was to make a bike that outmatched anything in the market. Half a century on, it's safe to say that Honda achieved the target. There are very good reasons that the Gold Wing is the tourer of choice for most people who put on serious miles on their motorcycle. Despite all the electronics and features, it is reliable in only the way a Honda can be. But the interface now looks a little dated, with its many buttons and small-ish 7-inch TFT display flanked by analog dials.Harley-DavidsonThe Harley-Davidson Road Glide Limited is back as a separate model for the 2026 model year, and it has a competitive base price. The Milwaukee-Eight engine has turned out to be reliable and powerful, with just enough character to keep the traditionalists happy while still managing to draw in new customers with its refinement. However, Harley's dedication to its heritage also means that the engine still cools itself via air-cooling and uses pushrods, which can, and does, limit the kind of performance and efficiency the Road Glide Special can offer. Indian MotorcycleIndian’s biggest, baddest tourer is the Pursuit, and it is a direct rival to the Harley Road Glide Special. It is one of the few Indian tourers that was available from the jump with the PowerPlus wholly liquid-cooled engine. It has what it takes to challenge the best in the segment; however, Indian’s financial troubles keep it from developing its products to be truly significantly better than the competition. We do appreciate the connected features that the Pursuit offers, but we also wish that it had a lower curb weight. The K 1600 GTL Is The BMW That Makes Long Rides Feel Short BMW MotorradThere are some very strong contenders for the title of the BMW that makes long rides feel short in BMW's portfolio. But considering the kind of country the U.S. is and the kind of roads it has, you have to go to the big daddy of them all: the K 1600 GTL. It is Bavaria’s flagship full-dress tourer, and has one of the unique engines in motorcycling today. With its surprising agility for its class because of its focus on being sporty as well as comfortable, it is the BMW that makes long rides feel short. Premium Base Price, But Justifies The Moolah BMW MotorradThe K 1600 GTL has one of the shortest options lists of any BMW motorcycle, and that is because it has everything standard. Little wonder then that its base price is $29,995. This is on par with other full-dress tourers that have a lot of options on them as standard, like the Honda Gold Wing, and cheaper than the American competitors, both of which cost over $32,000. You get a unique experience with the BMW, and we are very pleasantly surprised that it is priced at the value end of its segment. World’s Only Inline Six Motorcycle Engine Is A Gem BMW MotorradBMW has been the only one to install a transverse inline-six engine on a production motorcycle. It has managed to do that by making it just 2.6 inches wider than the four-cylinder engine that preceded it. This engine has been around for a decade and a half, and it hasn't changed — not that it needs to.It displaces 1,649 cc, has a short-stroke design, and a compression ratio of 12.2:1. This results in 160 horsepower at 6,750 RPM and 132.7 pound-feet at 5,250 RPM. This is the smoothest engine that you will probably experience on a motorcycle. BMW chooses to run through a six-speed manual gearbox with an optional two-way quickshifter and shaft drive. Electronically Damped Suspension With An Aluminum Chassis BMW MotorrradBMW uses a bridge-type aluminum frame for the GTL with the engine as a stressed member, and this, along with the engine, is used across the K 1600 range. This is paired with the BMW Duolever double wishbone front suspension and the Paralever single-sided swingarm with a single shock at the rear. The suspension has electronic damping and 4.5 inches of travel at the front and 5.3 inches at the rear. Sporty Wheels And Brakes BMW Motorrad Large 320 mm discs with radial four-piston fixed calipers are present for the front brakes, and an identically sized 320 mm rear disc with a two-piston floating caliper is present at the back. 17-inch alloy wheels help with the GTL’s handling, and they are shod with tubeless radial tires. The chassis specs of the GTL read like a sport tourer, and that is what it is: something between a full-dress tourer and a sport tourer. This Isn’t A Small BMW This is a full-dress tourer made to carry two people across states in comfort, so it should not come as a surprise that it is 98 inches long and 39.4 inches wide, while the wheelbase is 63.7 inches. The seat is at an appreciably low 29.5 inches thanks to the canted-over engine. It will come in handy when you muscle the near-800-pound curb weight. The fuel tank can hold a massive seven gallons of fuel, but it is necessary since this one is even thirstier than the equivalent Harley-Davidsons. Full Suite Of Technology From The Factory BMW MotorradThe K 1600 GTL is the flagship touring bike in the BMW portfolio, and as such, BMW has no real base model for the GTL. It chooses to give it everything while leaving very few options for the customer. A 10.25-inch TFT display with Bluetooth connectivity and navigation sits front and center. Alongside is a storage space where you can keep your phone and charge it via a USB-C port, and the headlamp has adaptive cornering features. Other standard features include heated grips and seats, standard luggage, an audio system, keyless ignition, and intelligent emergency calling. There is also a ‘favorite button’ cluster.BMW Motorrad As far as the electronics are concerned, the K 1600 GTL has a by-wire throttle and a six-axis IMU, so it has everything that you would expect from a premium BMW. It has three ride modes, dynamic traction control, engine brake control, electronic suspension with automatic load leveling, hill-start control, tire pressure monitoring, and a reverse assist, which is not available on the American touring options. There Is One Other BMW That You Could Consider BMWBMW does have a very competent sport-tourer in the R 1300 RT, but when you plan to ride across state lines, comfort takes the wheel. And so we’d pick another BMW that has almost as much comfort as the K 1600 GTL. That is the R 18 Transcontinental, which is a more traditional full-dress tourer with a large twin-cylinder engine. In true BMW fashion, it uses an air- and oil-cooled boxer twin engine. It costs under $25,000, but of course, you give up a lot of performance for the money. However, if the way you ride is low and slow, then the R 18 Transcontinental will make more sense while saving you a significant chunk of cash.Source: BMW USA
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