BMW beat its K 1600 tourbike platform mercilessly with the buffhammer for the '22 model year, and the result is a marked improvement over the previous generation for its bagger-tastic “B” variant. Updated electronics and out-of-this-world graphics join a souped-up engine and specialized LED lighting to make this a significant upgrade worthy of the “new” tag. This model is clearly aimed at the U.S. market, or at least at riders interested in a proper Boulevard Bruiser with strong, American-style touring capabilities.

2022 BMW K 1600 B Design

The K 1600 B hits all the appropriate high points for the genre. In profile, the visual weight favors the front end with a bulky fairing, complete with glass, opposite a low-and-clean rear end. Sure, there are the stock, 17-gallon bags and all, but they are mounted below the flyline, thus don't affect the profile a bit. Passenger accommodations are limited to flip-down footpegs and a set of beefy, confidence-inspiring J.C. handles, but no backrest, because that would utterly clutter that clean rear end and defeat the designed purpose of the “B” model.

Complete as is, the B is available in a couple of “serving suggestions” to use the factory's parlance for what is, essentially, minor trim packages. We have “The Casual One” that adds a moderate amount of bling with chrome bits and bobs that stand out in stark relief against the dark bodywork, and then there's “The Cool One” with a short screen and touring tweaks. The base-model, blackout K 1600 B is labeled “The Straightforward One,” while there's “The Exclusive One” in Manhattan Metallic Matt.

If you really want to set yourself apart from the pack, the Option 719 “Midnight” package may be for you. Dubbed “The Elegant One,” the Midnight carries a water-transfer over the base coat that represents an entire galaxy for a truly unique finish that makes each unit a unique work of art. Go ahead and pencil me in as a fan 'cause I'm diggin' it, ya feel me?

New for this year are the powerful LED lights up front and the adaptive headlight feature that detects chassis lean and aims the lights so that they illuminate the actual turn instead of something over in the other lane.

A well-vented windshield delivers low-buffet protection for rider and instrumentation both. Around behind the glass is a high-vis, color TFT display that measures a whopping 10.25-inches wide, corner-to-corner. Monitor the mundane metrics, access the electronic rider systems, and pull up other infotainment options all in one spot. As for the latter, it will pipe in your favorite jams through the new audio system 2.0, let you field phonecalls underway and offer navigation support to help ease your journeys.

A short-rise handlebar joins with a bucket seat and forward footboards to put the pilot in a comfortable, relaxed windsock riding position for cruising comfort, though you'll have to relocate your feet to the actual control pegs that are under your thighs to shift or use the foot brake. Heated handgrips make the standard equipment list this year for you intrepid year-round riders out there, as does the heated seat.

2022 BMW K 1600 B Chassis

Cast-aluminum was the material of choice for the bridge-type frame on the K 1600 B that uses the six-banger engine as a stressed unit to achieve its final strength. The steering head is set for 27.8 degrees of rake from the vertical (62.2 degrees from the horizontal) with 4.2 inches of trail to strike a balance between agility and tracking stability.

Like a sportbike, both cast-aluminum rims run in a 17-inch diameter, and that's a sentiment backed up by the “Z” speed rating that places them in the top speed-tier of tires. As for the hoops themselves, they run in a 120/70 ahead of a 190/55 for nice, fat contact patches where the rubber literally meets the road.

The suspension is all Beemer. Its proprietary Duolever forks replace the traditional hydraulic units for a twin-slider/single-shock arrangement. Out back, a single-side, cast-aluminum swingarm relies on another single coil-over shock for support.

The real magic lies in the six-axis accelerometer that delivers the metrics to enable the Dynamic Electronic Suspension Adjustment feature that automatically adjusts the trinity of variables fore and aft. Additionally, the ESA automatically compensates for changes in load, so there's no need for dirty knees and parking lot wrench-turning actions. A “Cruise” and “Road” setting allows for quick setup changes with fixed variables on the fly. Suspension travel is fairly generous with 4.5 inches up front and 5.3 inches out back, so you can expect plenty of stroke, even under heavy passenger/cargo loads.

At 758 pounds curb weight, this is a lot of bike to keep under control, so the dual front brakes are definitely not there for dramatic effect. Four-bore, opposed-piston calipers bite 320 mm discs to provide considerable braking effort up front. Even the rear brake runs a 320 mm disc, which is fairly rare, with a twin-pot anchor to keep your rear end behind you where it belongs. Beemer's own integral ABS Pro delivers dynamic, lean-optimized levels of intervention based on the available calculated traction so you can safely get the most out of the binders.

The Hill Start Control feature is the proverbial icing on the cake. It holds the brake for you so you can put both of your lamborfeeties down for stability and control when operating on a grade.

2022 BMW K 1600 B Drivetrain

Power for the K 1600 B comes from an in-line, six-cylinder lump that rides transversely mounted in the frame to the tune of a whopping 160 horsepower at 6,750 rpm with 132.7 pound-feet of torque that tops out at 5,250 rpm. That's the same power output as the previous version, but it reaches its maximum potential a full one-thousand rpm sooner in the rev range for a significant improvement over the previous generation.

Slightly oversquare, the mill runs a 72 mm bore with a 67.5 mm stroke for a 1,649 cc total displacement and a fairly high compression ratio at 12.2-to-1. Usually, this would indicate a preference for high-octane gas, however, cylinders two and five sport knock sensors that allow the ECU to dynamically tune out knock/ping through variations in ignition timing. Additionally, the factory added two more Lambda probes this year for a total of four, so the engine management system has even more data with which to work, to the benefit of emissions, efficiency, and power delivery. Gotta' say, this is a Daisy of an engine, and is a perfect example of German engineering excellence.

The fandanglery intensifies in the engine-management electronics department with a host of goodies in store. A trio of preset Ride Modes – Road, Rain, and Dynamic – lets you quickly dial in for the prevailing weather. Dynamic, lean-sensitive traction control ensures your turns by calculating the available traction via data from the inertial measurement unit, and moderates its interventions accordingly.

In another move to protect the integrity of the rear contact patch, Beemer chucks on its “MSR,” or engine-brake control, to deliver variable backtorque protection so you don't skid out on a downshift. The anti-hopping, slipper-style clutch adds yet another layer of protection for the traction out back.

In addition to six forward speeds from the transmission, the “B” rocks an electric reverse feature to help you back the thing up. A shaft-type final drive makes the connection to the rear wheel through a powerful, helical-cut gear with a top speed of 124 mph. That drops to 111 mph due to drag if you run with the floorboards installed. No matter how you slice it, it's plenty fast enough for public roads.

2022 BMW K 1600 B Price

The 2022 K 1600 B base-model rolls for $22,545, and as usual, the factory has no shortage of accessories to let you make your own mark on the machine. Chief among these is the floor lighting feature that places a pool of light under the bike, close to the side-stand mount, to improve visibility with a concurrent boost in safety at night and other low-light situations.

2022 BMW K 1600 B Competitors

No doubt about it, the “B” comes straight out of the classic-bagger mold, albeit with a European spin, and is destined for stiff competition in the U.S. market from domestic brands Harley-Davidson and Indian. With that in mind, I decided to see how the resurgent Indian Motorcycle marque fares against this Bavarian beast with its own Challenger bagger model.

Indian Challenger

Like its counterpart, the Challenger pushes a frame-mount fixed front fairing over a trim front fender with a power-adjustable windscreen up top that lets you dial in for preference. Around behind the glass, a smaller, 7-inch touchscreen display handles a robust “Ride Command” infotainment system and acts as an interface for the electronic goodies as a whole, which is over three inches smaller, corner to corner, than the Beemer. A set of stock, hard-side saddlebags bring just over 18 gallons of storage to the table for a slim advantage in cargo capacity.

Indian powers its entry with the new, water-cooled PowerPlus V-twin engine that claims 122 horsepower and 128 pounds o' grunt against 160/132 to cede some ground to the Beemers six-banger, but I mean, how much of that extra power will you actually be able to use on public roads? Not much, not without getting old Smokey all excited anyway.

Price and paint go hand in hand with Black Metallic rolling for $23,999 and the Titanium Smoke going for a premium at $24,749. Gotta' say, neither are half as cool as the galaxy-theme paint available on the B model. That said, the more-powerful German bike is a lot more bike for the buck, and at a lower price point to boot.

Read our full review of the Indian Challenger.

He Said

“You aren't going to get many folks to jump the fence from an American brand, but I can see this moving some folks who aren't otherwise stuck on a particular brand. The power is ridiculous, way too much for the street, which puts the pilot in the unenviable position of always having to hold back, like a lot even. Now on the Autobahn, maybe so, but not over here.”

She Said

My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says, “I think this is an update that needed to happen. It was already a nice bike with low-effort slow-speed maneuvering and nice highway cruising, but the things I liked about it are better. Max power comes on lower in the rev range and it has a skosh more torque. Out on the interstate, you always want roll-on available for situations and the improved engine delivers even more of that. The new suspension is awesome with revised calibration and new automatic load level compensation added to the mix. Dynamic, adaptive, and lean-tastic electronics bring the new K 1600 family to a higher level of sophistication. Harley and Indian, sure, but what about Honda? I look at this and think, yeah, but how about the Gold Wing?”

2022 BMW K 1600 B Specifications

Further Reading

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