Eka's K1600GT Chat

[Eka]

Maybe i start again my own topic about this bike. Tomorrow i have first service. Today i drove a little faster and i'm surprised how powerful and agile this fatty-a-cow is at speed. This bike is surprisingly fast. At stopping it still feel weird and awfully heavy... maybe i get used to it.

I didn't know before buying there is slippery clutch also. You can feel it at lever also while engine breaking. I haven't checked any specifications, but there must be as it handles so great at engine breaking.

I adjusted gear lever a little upwards to get boot under it. I said few dirty words about how tight it was locked. After managed to make some marks in bolts i noticed it was reverse thread... stupid me.

I did try once cruise control and it works great. I mainly drive only twisty roads while break in, so not much experience with it yet.

I don't know about windscreen. I would rather prefer something like C6 with hard bags. Anyhow it makes big difference adjusting it. At highway getting it up enough to just saw over it makes helmet noise quiet enough to hear radio. It's not so hi-fi, but better than helmet sets. I have bluetooth helmet set. Pairing it with navigator works great. It works only for phone calls and navigation now and music comes from loudspeakers. There is also USB-connection for i iPod or iPhone i think. I have to check out. Radio signal fades away now and then in mountains. I have to get some player there.

Well, here she is:

[Mach Schnell]

Its very nice to hear about your impressions of the K1600GT. I have thought about this one myself a few times. I'm glad you're enjoying yours. Keep us posted.

[SHIVA]

Cool!

[Bernardo]

The New Eka's Era !

One of the best ways to know the K16...

I think is another dimension compared with your previous bikes isn't it ?

[Mirage_ZA]

I have no doubt that it's a great tourer but it will be interesting to hear what you think after doing some miles on mountain roads. Bike doesn't have slipper clutch as we know, it is something to do with how it engages, i.e. it requires lighter pull on the lever - it doesn't help with downshifts. How is your fuel consumption, being I6 and all ?

[r1 Convert]

You'll be enjoying your trips between Helsinki and Spain a little too much now then ?!

Good luck with the new toy Eka !

[Eka]

Looks like there is nothing mentioned about slipper clutch, just "Multiple-disc clutch in oil bath". I would have bet there is. Feels exactly the same as was my STM clutch in KS. While engine break clutch lever makes some movements. I can also downshift without clutch preloading lever and blipping throttle off. At least it's also very light to operate. Clutch is great.

I always adjust annoying throttle slack off from my bikes. It makes it easier to control at low speeds. I didn't find any way to adjust it with this. It's fly by wire and there is not adjustment. Maybe it would be possible, if i open fairings first... maybe some day. Throttle is also very light to turn, maybe almost too light. Rain mode is annoying. I probably would not use it ever.

I have not calculated consumption, but feels quite low. Actually board computer can tell that in two resetable meter... i have to try to read it. Last time i filled 25,4 l in 24 liter tank. That was positive surprise. Navigator also works together with gasoline meter. I think i put somewhere as parameter 70km reserve range and looks like navigator show gas pump at display the same time as yellow triangle and range comes in bike display - nice. You can also zoom navigator from handle bar control system...

[Eka]

Hahaa, there is slipper clutch! In UK site it's mentioned:
http://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/motorcycles/tour/bmw-k-1600-gt-se/

Why they hide this important information in international site and other sites also. How stupid is that. Well the bike is better than expected.

[Mirage_ZA]

It is strange. On S1000RR they call it anti hopping and on super touring bike they call it slipper clutch.

[JHB1984]

maybe thats because ... the touring bikes have a heavier back ... so heavy that there isn't anything anymore that "hops"

[Mirage_ZA]

As long as they explain what it does...

[Eka]

Well i finally had time to pick my bike up from first service. Actually i ordered it with those extra lights and engine protector, but they didn't get it on time an either for this first service as expected. No can do..

The bike is still a little clunky as i'm no used to this throttle slack, slippery clutch and six cylinder screaming. I still look at 3000rpm how close to limiter it already is
I think gears have also strongly undercutted dogs as those will like to stay on quite strongly. Let's see how it dovelopes...

I today tested TDC. Amazing feature. It slide a little at Dynamic-mode if you hit throttle at end of corner. You can just keep throttle while instinctively try to turn throttle off and rise bike up. If rear jump in the air at bumps, it just drop power quite totally for a moment. Also at first gear it could effect a little less at slippery surface. You can't just let it spin for fun...

Adaptive Xenon could turn a little more. If you drive little faster it just doesn't turn enough and light turn down. Anyway much better than any old lights. Still i wish it to be brighter. 'Could it be possible just change Xenon bulp to 50W or does ballast stand it? Has anybody tried?

Loudspeakers should put some more volume. At highway it's just not enough. The sound is also quite poor. I listened in local store some 4" speakers and ended up to Pioneer ones. Those put out most volume and most bass ... as you could expect from much from these tiny speakers. Well those are 2-way and i also leave original tweeters there. I had to cut two assembly things off as original has only three, but with big washer i get it fixed. I always use ear plugs and wouldn't mind more treble. Well it didn't get as much low end as at store, because those boxes are so tiny. but anyway it's better now. I have to test with helmet tomorrow...

[Bernardo]

I have to test with helmet tomorrow...

[Eka]

Loudspeakers

[Eka]

Hot day again. I loaded new software and maps to my BMW Navigator. It took so long, that i left it downloading and go to drive around without navigator.



I went to one village and get a little lost. I didn't had my navigator and didn't want to go back the same route. I saw the bigger road higher in the hill, where i wanted to go. There did look to go one tiny road up there and i took it. Well, it get worst and worst and very crazy steep uphill and finally dead end. There was not dead end sign earlier. I parked the bike and went to walk to see if i can pass that and go there somewhere, but there was not asphalt or congrete and the road was in too terrible condition to even try. I had to make U-turn in that tiny road. It was very very steep uphill. Well i almost managed, but there was big stones on side of road and i had to backward once again. The bike was already little downhill and i just couldn't get that elephant any backwards. Would have only needed 20cm backwards to get it turn enough before those stones at side of the road. I couldn't park it as it was sloping so much down at left side, that sidestand wouldn't keep it up. I looked around and didn't saw anyone to pull me a little or throw those stones away. There was a big stone just in front of tyre and i couldn't pass it left side. Well, i decided to try to drive front tyre around the biggest one at uphill side so the rear will go left side of that stone and i just should be able to turn to road again. I thought i will survive those smaller ones after that. It did sound like a plan. Everything went well, till it was too big stone to fit under the bike. It touch headers and lifted and rolled bike enough, that i couldn't save it. That thing is heavy when it start to fall and i hardly could reach the ground at downhill side.

Stone touch right hand side headers:



There come couple guys somewhere to help the bike up. I tried to park the bike downhill, but rear slide or engine turn even at first gear and sidestand start to fold up. I had to keep it still with brake and asked other guy to take a photo. The big stone is behind the bike and doesn't show in picture. In picture it's hard to see how steep it was as the guy took picture from down to up:



Some damages:















I just can't stop to get troubles. I think i go to get drunk... #%&xxx!!!

[T2pd1]

That stinks that you dinged your new bike Eka. You should get a GS or something for those dirt road adventures.

Tom

[JHB1984]

sorry to hear about your little crash, but see it positive ... at least now you know that this bike is haevy ;o\

my dad also learned this last week ... he also learned, that gravity is the best reverse gear for this bike

thanks for your blog and the experiance you share with us

[Eka]

Yes, it's not a trial bike which you just can turn on still by jumping by it.

I should have forget that small road right away, but how will i know it would be landslides and everything on the road and it will not continue. I have seen here many these steep roads, but this i didn't expect and there was not any signs about dead end. Actually the road was not closed and could be passed with Jeep or something... i think.

Well, a good driver would have saved it somehow in there. That stone didn't look so high for me to touch headers, but afterwards i looked and ground clearance isn't that much. Then i couldn't check anything as it was impossible to get off the bike.

[iehawk]

Eka on the K1600GT... man... I'm off for a while and I came back to this news. Amazing!

I haven't ridden one yet, but yes, that throttle is so light. It's almost a little too light, maybe because I'm used to the more standard/mechanical one. And a slipper clutch? Wow! I have been considering it as a second bike when it's time. I get the feeling I will like it more than I think I will too... and end up with one myself.

Awesome review, Eka!

[motorbikez]

I just can't stop to get troubles. I think i go to get drunk... #%&xxx!!!

At least you walked away from this one unscathed Eka, surely your recent bad luck is over now.

[Bernardo]

Oh, s**t... I can't let you leave alone for a while

minor damages all easily fixed, perhaps the exhaust, is a guard or silencer?

[T2pd1]

I think the damaged exhaust is a good reason to switch to the Akrapovic!

Tom

[luizftoliveira]

Eka,

You must consider a 1200GS very seriouslly...

May be BMW issues a 4L 1300 GS replacing the boxer, something in the line of the Duc 1200 Multistrada. That would fit well enough for you.

[Eka]

No GS bofore they make it 150 hp water cooled version. Actually i have Megamoto, which is 50kg? lighter version from GS. And i put there tuning cams and everything. Must be close to 130hp now...

[Mirage_ZA]

Any update on repairs Eka ? You can still ride it while you're awaiting parts ?