Comparative of high flight, between luxury, pleasure, performances and comfort, melody of majestic the 6 cylinders in bonus. Is the BMW news worthy of the Honda reference? What does she propose moreover? Or of less, Let us see that in this very top-of-the-range match…
BMW K1600GTL vs. Honda Goldwing GL 1800 the Comparative
Our competitors of the day: more than 2.60 m long and more than 400 kg all full facts for the Honda Goldwing! Is it still a motorcycle, with its 6-cylinder flat that could just as easily fit under the hood of a car… But this reference to the superlative is – finally – contested by the brand new and already unavoidable BMW K1600GTL.
A super GT the German, sleek, fast, and technological, and it is also, driven by a motor with six cylinders, history adds mechanical nobility to his pedigree. A match at the Summit for a genus that displays record numbers on paper… but also an unsuspected efficiency on the road.
Off-shore against the yacht, the comparison!
The Honda Goldwing, in its current capacity, appeared in 2001. This record longevity owes to a design flawless or almost, attention to detail, exemplary behavior… and the absence of competition. But this year, this supremacy takes end with the introduction of the BMW K1600GTL, inevitably more modern. In his white livery, the Honda exudes a charmingly old-fashioned way old Cadillac, then the BMW, cut to the sickle and equipped with optical ultra techno, smells good German engineer’s brain juice.
Small surprise between the profiles of motorcycles, Honda shows a rear monopoly, vested in the passenger and luggage, while BMW has removable luggage, as on a classic GT. Maybe, by operating the motorcycles, one notes the weight more contained BMW, 50 kg lighter than the Honda, but the higher center of gravity requires finally more attention than envisaged.
Comes the time to sit with these ships offshore. There again, the years that separate them felt. On the Honda, the seat is low (740 mm, as on a custom), but flat and wide enough and one has the impression of being close to the steering column. The environment is teeming with buttons and can be guessed already that it will take time to tame it, but the finish is correspondingly: opulent.
On the BMW, the saddle is barely higher (750 mm in ‘low’ setting), but mainly its form is worked: close to the base of the tank to easily stretch the legs down, and then padded to the buttocks. The steering column is removed from the bust, but the handle is bent backward. The reservoir is bedecked with no order because a rowel in the left stalk centralizes numerous functions: we here are projected in the epoch of ‘ very numerical of the Earth ‘ in two wheels. It is high time to start turbines.
The K1600GTL has incredible agility
These two motors share the same number of cylinders and a distant capacity of less than 200 cm3 but it is all that brings closer to them. Having endowed 6 cylinders with one Boxer portray (2 x 3 compared cylinders) in the dish, Honda Goldwing broadcast an almost husky, serious breath, with a marked inertia and a rhythm of slow motion which always wobbles.
At his side, the BMW emits almost a yelp the inline 6 climbs in the towers without inertia compared to the flat-six of the Honda. From the outset, one highlights his sportsmanship (already), and this is confirmed in the grip.
Let’s be clear these two motorcycles, huge, and heavy at zero speed are almost light beyond 25 km / h or impressive beyond when the sets are balanced and everything becomes fluid. But it keeps no less than a huge difference. Honda Goldwing is a monster of equilibrium with weak paces.
The motor with dish lowers considerably the center of gravity and the smoothness of the mechanics (order of clutch, box, tree, and universal joint) brings an unsuspected calmness. Very quickly, they settle comfortably on the second or third report and they dare to baste, watching out nevertheless for his size of a semi-trailer.
The BMW contrasted with unparalleled agility, which will not cease to amaze us in this comparison. It does not turn; it plunges and, especially, shows much more reactive steering than the Honda, which takes its time when you push on its handlebars. BMW leaps to each rotation of the handle then the Honda responds less quickly.
This lag time is eradicated on the modern BMW, whose throttle seems directly connected to the rear wheel. This connection also shows its limits in terms of approval: the BMW is very dry transmission; spread over a net of gas causes a kicker under the rather unpleasant buttocks, especially when we try to do without and it fails.
But this involved above all our trial bike. We subsequently took over other BMW K1600GTL, which have proved to be gentler and more pleasant. It does no less than this acceleration of a rocket offers new feelings on a tourer. Sat in the BMW armchair, one plays off the throttle hand grip like a joystick, the lane weaving towards the motorway looks like a video game then.
The Goldwing is a must in GT
Calibrated at 130 km/h with speed regulators, we find a rather long time. There is always a way to discover the functioning of the radio between the multiple buttons on the Honda and BMW wheel, although the km could scroll more quickly without even disturbing, especially in Germany, both the BMW seem made to swallow the asphalt at high speed.
Their protections are remarkable, so much so that one can roll with the screen raised without another embarrassment that the noise level comparable with that of a roadster of rolled average. With the liking of the goings beyond and exchangers of motorway, one notices that BMW measures Honda with the game of the recoveries, in 5th as in 6th, thanks to a new mechanical promptness at the touring.
Strong couple, Honda does not lag so far, but can only – at best – remain in contact. Then, we note that the BMW has heading maintenance more sensitive to the elements than the Honda: grooving, wind gusts, it takes a bit of cottage while the ‘barge’ Honda remains marble. It must be said that the Gold has a longer wheelbase of 40.2 cm, no less.
It is necessary sometimes to compensate onboard BMW to keep a perfectly rectilinear course. Let us check these aptitudes on the small roads. At the end of 2 km of turns, the desire for attacking is omnipresent on board BMW, where all is inciting, of the angry, expressive engine, full with pep’ S between 2,500 rpm and 5,500 rpm (in this 100 hp version) with the agility of ballerina who only asks to devour the turns. It is very simple, in the first curves, it is necessary to raise the motorbike so much it quickly takes you indoors…
And if turns are transformed into successions, it is still better. It does not take off roll, waddle on its adjustable suspensions by running: thank you ESA! In brief, it loves running quickly, whatever the state of the putting on thanks to suspensions which make light of changeability.
Behind the Honda followed with a wiser philosophy. With it, you can wrap all types of turns with astonishing speed but must break the operation. It then breaks academically, placed well to be on his motorcycle doing not have to correct the path, and it still happens.
Improvisation is not the strong point of the Honda, which at the same time, revels in the pins swallowed on a net of gas. It remains nonetheless ultra healthy, even if it gives less want to play than the BMW, which remains unflappable on the angle that one has reached the limits of the guard on the ground or not.
The BMW establishes new references in terms of agility, especially at the outbreak of the turn, facing a clumsier Honda.
One breath, one whistle, the two sing
On the way, they lock the last report to be profitable to the full of this tasty mechanical. Both blocks resume in a wholesale trade of 1500 rpm on the last report. BMW resumes in a nonlinear manner, with an instantaneous answer, a lively motor, and a growing potency.
However, with the Honda Goldwing, one can easily imagine an automatic install, as with the BMW, we find the idea incongruous (this is anyway not in the program, according to the manufacturer itself). Besides, the rapid transmission is faithful to the spirit of the sports regime and falls only slightly between each report while Honda lost 1200 rev/min for each gear engaged.
A passenger plane in gold on Gold
Two hours thirty later, we arrived at our destination. We empty the bags which show a hair more tenantable on Honda. Our momentary, Sylvie, already seems to hold her verdict. BMW K1600GTL is comfortable in the absolute – it would be necessary to be difficult to complain some – but it cannot compete with the Honda Goldwing, which approaches a convertible on this point. Both bikes are true hymns of tourism bikes, but each in their own way. We suspected from the start, but the BMW shows frankly sportier. Its modern design is felt in many aspects.
With demonic agility, a very responsive sporty engine, electronic driving aids galore, and versatility between comfort and sport the BMW K1600GTL is remarkable in more ways than one, but it is aimed more at couples ‘dynamic’ than Wingers. The last Gold remains a must in this area, to travel far and more reasonable speed. And given the ambient suppression, it is far from being negligible.
Reconciliation Goldwing vs. K1600GTL impressive, BMW still be improved
Finally, these two motorbikes prove to be rather different. The news Big Luxury Tourism from BMW adopts a very sports philosophy for type. Competing with GT more light in turn, the BMW K1600GTL proves to be fantastic in terms of performance, in the motor as in party-cycle. It is very dynamic touring that gives its lot of feelings, even in this version tied down in 100 hp. by our absurd legislation. It brings new impetus in the category for a finally ‘reasonable’ price given its range of novelty and its embedded technology. Our model to test, with options, is less expensive than the Honda (€24 615 against 28 €990 for the Honda). With such capabilities, the BMW K1600GTL can only prevail in our objective rating.
The situation is quite different from our subjective opinions where the charm of Honda always acts. The regret is that BMW has perhaps too focused on sporting terms since the BMW K1600GTL lacks accreditation mechanical when it wants to run more quietly and step on crucial points in the category, as the home of the passenger or… the very useful (featured on the Honda) reverse.
Best BMW K1600GTL Image
Honda GL 1800 Goldwing Image
