Does ANYONE Like Their M8??
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 342
From: Virginia Beach
Just took a BMW K1600B (same engine and front end as a GTL) for a test ride. Its a very powerful bike once you get into the rpms. I did not find it remarkable down low but once you get into the throttle, it is extremely powerful. But there are a few things that just seem downright poorly designed. While the electronic controls are definitely confusing, I'm confident with more time they would become familiar. But there is still too much weight forward on my wrists (I'm 6"3") to ever imagine doing thousand mile trips on a BMW 1600.
Additionally, the shift linkage cover near the left foot peg juts out in the boot area. Simply poor design. It rubs up against my shifter ankle (through my tall boot) unless I moved my foot towards the outer edge of the peg. But once you move your foot outward to be comfortable, you then have to torque your knee inwards to make shifts. Foolish space design IMO.
From an aesthetic POV, the bike looks unfinished with the lake of a cover on both sides below the seat and in front of the rear wheel. Brake plumbing and other wiring exposed that just looks badly designed to my eye. While it was an exciting bike to take out for a test ride (about 25miles), I have decided I could never own the BMW Bagger or Grand America.
Additionally, the shift linkage cover near the left foot peg juts out in the boot area. Simply poor design. It rubs up against my shifter ankle (through my tall boot) unless I moved my foot towards the outer edge of the peg. But once you move your foot outward to be comfortable, you then have to torque your knee inwards to make shifts. Foolish space design IMO.
From an aesthetic POV, the bike looks unfinished with the lake of a cover on both sides below the seat and in front of the rear wheel. Brake plumbing and other wiring exposed that just looks badly designed to my eye. While it was an exciting bike to take out for a test ride (about 25miles), I have decided I could never own the BMW Bagger or Grand America.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 154
Likes: 100
From: Wisconsin
I traded it because as I aged (I'm nearly 70) it became more difficult to flat-foot it while stopped. This Spring I could only tippy-toe it, and that's a safety issue because I don't want to tip over. My wife had both knees replaced over winter, and while she is petite, lithe, and nimble, I feared that a tip-over would damage one of her new knees. So we traded for an Ultra Limited.
Secondarily, I needed to slow down some. I REALLY liked having 160 hp, but thought at times my speed was getting ahead of my reaction time. The Ultra Limited has enough power, and not much more. Counter-intuitively, I also wanted a heavier bike because I don't want to battle turbulence on the interstate as much as I did with a bike that was 150 lbs lighter.
Although I have a history of BMWs and like the brand, I grew weary of the only dealer in the metro area where I live charging absurd prices for routine service. $450 to change engine oil is far too much.
We've put about 4500 miles on the Ultra Limited in the past six weeks and I've grown to like it much more than I anticipated I would. It has all the HD quirks, but it's a damn nice bike. No regrets.
Last edited by Michael Haz; Jul 26, 2018 at 09:30 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,679
Likes: 11,472
From: State of Confusion
I like every motorcycle I've owned including the K1600GTL.
I traded it because as I aged (I'm nearly 70) it became more difficult to flat-foot it while stopped. This Spring I could only tippy-toe it, and that's a safety issue because I don't want to tip over. My wife had both knees replaced over winter, and while petite, lithe, and nimble, I feared that a tip-over would damage one of her new knees. So we traded for an Ultra Limited.
Secondarily, I needed to slow down some. I REALLY liked having 160 hp, but thought at times my speed was getting ahead of my reaction time. The Ultra Limited has enough power, and not much more. Counter-intuitively, I also wanted a heavier bike because I don't want to battle turbulence on the interstate as much as I did with a bike that was 150 lbs lighter.
Although I have a history of BMWs and like the brand, I grew weary of the only dealer in the metro area where I live charing absurd priced for routine service. $450 to change engine oil is far too much.
We've put about 4500 miles on the Ultra Limited in the past six weeks and I've grown to like it much more than I anticipated I would. It has all the HD quirks, but it's a damn nice bike. No regrets.
I traded it because as I aged (I'm nearly 70) it became more difficult to flat-foot it while stopped. This Spring I could only tippy-toe it, and that's a safety issue because I don't want to tip over. My wife had both knees replaced over winter, and while petite, lithe, and nimble, I feared that a tip-over would damage one of her new knees. So we traded for an Ultra Limited.
Secondarily, I needed to slow down some. I REALLY liked having 160 hp, but thought at times my speed was getting ahead of my reaction time. The Ultra Limited has enough power, and not much more. Counter-intuitively, I also wanted a heavier bike because I don't want to battle turbulence on the interstate as much as I did with a bike that was 150 lbs lighter.
Although I have a history of BMWs and like the brand, I grew weary of the only dealer in the metro area where I live charing absurd priced for routine service. $450 to change engine oil is far too much.
We've put about 4500 miles on the Ultra Limited in the past six weeks and I've grown to like it much more than I anticipated I would. It has all the HD quirks, but it's a damn nice bike. No regrets.
Last edited by mjwebb; Jul 26, 2018 at 09:32 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,679
Likes: 11,472
From: State of Confusion
I like every motorcycle I've owned including the K1600GTL.
I traded it because as I aged (I'm nearly 70) it became more difficult to flat-foot it while stopped. This Spring I could only tippy-toe it, and that's a safety issue because I don't want to tip over. My wife had both knees replaced over winter, and while petite, lithe, and nimble, I feared that a tip-over would damage one of her new knees. So we traded for an Ultra Limited.
Secondarily, I needed to slow down some. I REALLY liked having 160 hp, but thought at times my speed was getting ahead of my reaction time. The Ultra Limited has enough power, and not much more. Counter-intuitively, I also wanted a heavier bike because I don't want to battle turbulence on the interstate as much as I did with a bike that was 150 lbs lighter.
Although I have a history of BMWs and like the brand, I grew weary of the only dealer in the metro area where I live charing absurd priced for routine service. $450 to change engine oil is far too much.
We've put about 4500 miles on the Ultra Limited in the past six weeks and I've grown to like it much more than I anticipated I would. It has all the HD quirks, but it's a damn nice bike. No regrets.
I traded it because as I aged (I'm nearly 70) it became more difficult to flat-foot it while stopped. This Spring I could only tippy-toe it, and that's a safety issue because I don't want to tip over. My wife had both knees replaced over winter, and while petite, lithe, and nimble, I feared that a tip-over would damage one of her new knees. So we traded for an Ultra Limited.
Secondarily, I needed to slow down some. I REALLY liked having 160 hp, but thought at times my speed was getting ahead of my reaction time. The Ultra Limited has enough power, and not much more. Counter-intuitively, I also wanted a heavier bike because I don't want to battle turbulence on the interstate as much as I did with a bike that was 150 lbs lighter.
Although I have a history of BMWs and like the brand, I grew weary of the only dealer in the metro area where I live charing absurd priced for routine service. $450 to change engine oil is far too much.
We've put about 4500 miles on the Ultra Limited in the past six weeks and I've grown to like it much more than I anticipated I would. It has all the HD quirks, but it's a damn nice bike. No regrets.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 154
Likes: 100
From: Wisconsin
mjwebb: Thanks! The kind words are appreciated.
We love to travel on two wheels. Our affection for riding is one of the things that makes us keep engaged and stay fit. Our goal (God willing) is to ride until age 80. We've met a few riders that age and above, and their joy for life was a wonder to see.
We love to travel on two wheels. Our affection for riding is one of the things that makes us keep engaged and stay fit. Our goal (God willing) is to ride until age 80. We've met a few riders that age and above, and their joy for life was a wonder to see.
Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,310
Likes: 1,079
I like every motorcycle I've owned including the K1600GTL.
I traded it because as I aged (I'm nearly 70) it became more difficult to flat-foot it while stopped. This Spring I could only tippy-toe it, and that's a safety issue because I don't want to tip over. My wife had both knees replaced over winter, and while she is petite, lithe, and nimble, I feared that a tip-over would damage one of her new knees. So we traded for an Ultra Limited.
Secondarily, I needed to slow down some. I REALLY liked having 160 hp, but thought at times my speed was getting ahead of my reaction time. The Ultra Limited has enough power, and not much more. Counter-intuitively, I also wanted a heavier bike because I don't want to battle turbulence on the interstate as much as I did with a bike that was 150 lbs lighter.
Although I have a history of BMWs and like the brand, I grew weary of the only dealer in the metro area where I live charging absurd prices for routine service. $450 to change engine oil is far too much.
We've put about 4500 miles on the Ultra Limited in the past six weeks and I've grown to like it much more than I anticipated I would. It has all the HD quirks, but it's a damn nice bike. No regrets.
I traded it because as I aged (I'm nearly 70) it became more difficult to flat-foot it while stopped. This Spring I could only tippy-toe it, and that's a safety issue because I don't want to tip over. My wife had both knees replaced over winter, and while she is petite, lithe, and nimble, I feared that a tip-over would damage one of her new knees. So we traded for an Ultra Limited.
Secondarily, I needed to slow down some. I REALLY liked having 160 hp, but thought at times my speed was getting ahead of my reaction time. The Ultra Limited has enough power, and not much more. Counter-intuitively, I also wanted a heavier bike because I don't want to battle turbulence on the interstate as much as I did with a bike that was 150 lbs lighter.
Although I have a history of BMWs and like the brand, I grew weary of the only dealer in the metro area where I live charging absurd prices for routine service. $450 to change engine oil is far too much.
We've put about 4500 miles on the Ultra Limited in the past six weeks and I've grown to like it much more than I anticipated I would. It has all the HD quirks, but it's a damn nice bike. No regrets.
I took a K1600B out for a test ride. I was thinking about a K1600 GA. I have to agree that it was very powerful as you wind out the throttle. But I just coukdn’t get past the weight on my wrists. i’m 6’3” and the seat position and pegs definitely puts weight out on your wrists.
Also I found the left shift linkage cover near the shifter peg to be very poorly designed. It intrudes on the foot peg space. If you have your foot close to the bike, then the cover rubbed against my ankle. When I moved my foot outward to avoid the cover, I needed to torque my knee inwards to shift.
Lastly the GTL, GA and the B all look unfinished on both sides beneath the seat. All the brake lines and plumbing are exposed and looks like the bike is unfinished. Hard to believe they designed it like that.
Anyways, my conclusion is the bike is a very well made, powerful ride but definitely not for me
Last edited by Heatwave; Jul 26, 2018 at 10:32 PM.
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