The Gold Wing is history. BMW's new K1600GTL is over 100 lbs lighter and has 42 more hp.

 

Probably costs $4200 more too.

 

Yup, word has it the new BMW 1600 caught Honda by surprise and they went back to the drawing board. Which is why the 2012 Goldwing only has minor updates.

 

The BMW K1600GTL is a TRUE Touring bike. I'd love to own one.

 

I like my HD. But having owned and operated several makes and models, I would agree that BMW's new 1600GTL is at the top of the touring heap. It has taken BMW several years to milk all the juice out of the 1200LT model, including ignoring all the final drive failure issues, and much the same as Honda and the "old"wing model, minus any final drive issues.

Its my personal observation that most of the guys riding HDs these days do no real touring....some do...but most just take short weekend rides, or bar hop with buddies in hopes of somehow validating why they make payments on a HD. At least that is what I see in this part of the country. Each to his own. I find it comical that if you mention any other legitimate motorcycle on this forum, some of them get defensive since their knowledge about diversity in motorcycle design, purpose, and build is so very shallow.

I want the 1600 to get the bugs out for a year or two, then I will start making room in the stable for one myself.

I thought the OP post to the wing site was very funny and sure to get a rise out of the wing faithful!

 

LowCountry,

I put about 12K miles on my 2010 StreetGlide from April 2010 to end of October 2010 last year. I dont ride daily to work or anything, just ride when I can, most every weekend. I wonder how you define "touring"? My longest run was to Sturgis last year, out on the road about 7 days total. Most other "trips" were three day weekends up into Colorado or over into Arizona. I have also pretty much been all over New Mexico now. This summer's goal is to "tour" (dare I use the word?) the state of Utah. Would this meet your definition of touring? Not pickin at your ***** just wondering.

 

Not sure if this was aimed at me, but after owning Triumph, Victory, BSA, Harley,Guzzi and a few older Bimmer's, I had no problem chiming in. Shallow, indeed.

 

I seem to remember my 03 Goldwing rev needlessly high at 60mph. I think it was around 2700 rpm.

 

I spent a few miles on a 'wing recently, tons of power but it really could have used a 6th gear, the rev's are up there a bit. I do realize that the bike has a different rev range than my Ultra. 6th would really help the gas mileage on the wing too.

I cant wait to see/ride a new BMW 1600 GTL, man that bike seems like it's going to be awesome. Its also very competitivly priced at about 25K loaded

To Lowcountry Joe: As far as real touring; not sure what you define "real touring" as, but I put about 12k/yr on my bike and none of it is commuting back and forth to work.

 

This past Sunday on our weekly Polar Bear ride, we had my old high school teacher take he ride with us. He has a '03 wing while I have an old Harley cop bike . He was saying how disappointed with the '12 wings features. He was hoping for a 6 speed trans, a windshield that can move up and down, and few other items. Then he went on to say how he want's "technology" in a bike, and in the same breath he complained about the lousy gas mileage he gets. Then he told us how he replaced the front and rear suspension for the tune of $3k. I couldn't help but let him know Harley has had a 6 speeder for years, and even my old '96 gets 43 mpg regularly. And I don't think you could spend $3k on suspension for a street Harley. And all the fancy techno stuff they add to those bikes is just more expensive stuff to break. I was just ribbing him about it nothing mean spirited, but wing owners need to hear it now and then to keep their bikes supposed superiority in check.,,