The Gold Wing is the standard when it comes to its segment. This is due to a combination of value, features, comfort, ownership cost, and reliability that is unbeatable. And that is before we get to how pleasant and comfortable it is to ride for extended periods and distances. With the only automatic gearbox in the segment, not too many bikes can keep up with it. Sure, they might be quicker over a short distance, but to keep you fresh day after day on an intercontinental ride, there is nothing better.
The Gold Wing’s Life Has Become More Difficult In Recent Times
2026 Honda Gold Wing Tour with its electrically adjustable windscreen, front fascia close-up shotHonda Powersports
There are many giants in the segment, but few have managed to trouble the Gold Wing. The sheer variety of engine layouts in the segment is a thing to behold – you can choose from an air-cooled V-twin with enough torque to embarrass some cars, there are more modern V-twins that are liquid-cooled, there is a boxer twin, a flat six, and even an inline six.
Close up shot of the 2026 Honda Gold Wing front brake system.Honda
But to truly shake the Gold Wing’s dominance, you need something that is equally luxurious and modern. While American brands have tried to achieve that in recent times, the real competition comes from Europe instead. In particular, there is one product comparable to the Gold Wing’s smoothness, performance, and luxury while injecting a flavor all of its own. It hails from Bavaria, wearing the BMW badge.
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The BMW K 1600 B Refuses To Live In The Gold Wing’s Shadow
Silhouette shot of matte black BMW K 1600 BBMW Motorrad
It can’t be too difficult to live in the Gold Wing’s shadow because it casts such a large one. But the K 1600 B is evenly matched with the Honda on so many different fronts, not least of all the engine. It has a six-cylinder engine, thus making these two the only six-cylinder production motorcycles on the planet. But BMW, as always, chooses to forge its own path.
There’s an incredible power figure for a touring motorcycle, and not only is it comfortable, it can give you quite a lot of joy if ridden with pace — the kind of bike that turns cross-state trips into casual rides. It has its own loyal following, and it is quite reliable now that it is a mature platform. The K 1600 B also has a price comparable to the Gold Wing, and that is why it is the touring bike that refuses to live in the Gold Wing’s shadow.
Base Price Is Value-Oriented
You think, being a premium brand and coming out of Europe, that the BMW would be much more expensive than the Honda, but that isn’t the case with the base price. The K 1600 B is actually a little over $500 more affordable when you compare the base prices; it retails for $24,975. This makes it a Gold Wing rival at a lower price. This base K 1600 B has all the necessities for a luxury touring motorcycle, but with luxury, you always want more, and there is always scope for improvement, so there are a lot of options that you can add. These options drive the BMW’s price up in a hurry, and that’s one of the few negatives of this product.
Silky Smooth I6 Engine Is One Of A Kind
A rider cruising on the BMW K 1600 B fast, on a scenic mountain road, front fascia cinematic shotBMW Motorrad
We always knew that BMW loved the inline six-cylinder format, but what we didn’t expect was for the manufacturer to put it in one of its motorcycles! This is installed transversely in the chassis, but it is only 2.6 inches wider than the older inline-four 1,300 cc engines that it replaced. BMW has also canted it over at 55 degrees, which helps lower the bike’s center of gravity.
This setup utilizes liquid cooling, a DOHC head with four valves per cylinder, a slightly short-stroke design, a compression ratio of 12.2:1, and a displacement of 1,649 cc to generate 160 horsepower at 6,750 RPM and 132.7 pound-feet of torque at 5,250 RPM. That’s the kind of horsepower that excites riders who prefer highways to airports. This is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox with an assist and slipper clutch. A two-way quickshifter is optional, while a shaft drive is standard.
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If You Want A Tourer That Loves Corners, This Is The Answer
Digital 3D model of BMW K 1600 series chassisBMW Motorrad
You wouldn’t expect a full-size bagger or full-dress tourer to handle like a sport bike, but given the constraints of their size and weight, if you wanted your tourer or bagger to be the best-handling one in its class, you’d have to pick one of the K 1600s. They all have a cast aluminum bridge-type frame with the engine as a stressed member.
Elsewhere, the K 1600 B has BMW’s patented Duolever wishbone front suspension and the Paralever single-sided swingarm with a monoshock. There is electronic control for the suspension, and it offers 4.5 inches of travel at the front and 5.3 inches at the rear, offering Gold Wing-levels of comfort.
The brakes are up to the task of the engine’s power and torque with dual 320 mm front discs paired with axial four-piston fixed calipers and a rear disc of identical size but with a two-piston floating caliper. Also contributing to the nimble handling are 17-inch alloy rims fitted with tubeless radial tires.
A Big Bagger Comfy Enough For An Interstate Ride
BMW K 1600 B parked with rider and pillion on a mountain topBMW Motorrad
The K 1600 series of motorcycles is a full-size touring range, and that is reflected in the dimensions. The K 1600 B is 97.2 inches long, 39.4 inches wide, and has a wheelbase of 63.7 inches, which should make it extremely stable out on the highway. It has a slightly high seat at 29.5 inches; however, the curb weight is quite good for the segment at 758.4 pounds, ready to ride with a full tank of fuel. Speaking of which, the fuel tank can hold seven gallons.
Standard Features List Is Comprehensive
BMW K 1600 B TFT displayBMW Motorrad
The K 1600 B has a very comprehensive standard features list. It starts off with the big 10.25-inch TFT display that has Bluetooth and navigation as standard. It also has tire pressure monitoring, hill hold assist, a USB charging port with storage space for your phone, an all-LED headlamp with adaptive cornering lights, heated grips and seats, and reverse assist. All of these are standard features.
BMW K 1600 B cornering along a winding mountain road, front third quarter cinematic shotBMW Motorrad
When it comes to safety, the K 1600 B has a comprehensive electronics suite that is based on a by-wire throttle and a six-axis IMU. It includes dynamic traction control, three ride modes, engine brake control, electronic suspension adjustment with automatic load leveling, and cornering ABS with linked brakes. You don’t have any electronic crawl mode like the Gold Wing or an optional automatic transmission, however.
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There Are More Great Options In The Segment Besides The Obvious Choice
Rider on a 2026 Honda Gold Wing cruising along winding roadHonda Powersports
Every product in the segment has to go through the Gold Wing because that is the most luxurious Honda ever made. For the price, it offers a lot of kit, and it has one thing that the others do not offer: the automatic gearbox. It is also the most well-known of the competition when it comes to reliability, and Gold Wings doing 100,000 miles without trouble is quite commonplace.
Static shot of 2026 Harley-Davidson Road GlideHarley-Davidson
Then there are the traditional American tourers. The most popular ones are the Harley-Davidson Road Glide and Street Glide twins, which are the ultimate reliable American baggers. Your preference depends on whether you want a frame-mounted fairing for highway stability or the more traditional ‘Batwing’ fairing that is fork-mounted. Harley has given them very competitive base prices of late, but to keep up with the Gold Wing and the K 1600 B, they do need options that can drive their price up to over $30,000 quickly.
Tracking shot of a 2026 Indian Challenger Dark Horse corneringIndian Motorcycle
Finally, there is the Indian Challenger with the PowerPlus engine, which is a great option for those who ride far and often. It is the largest displacement liquid-cooled V-twin engine in America. It has pretty much everything that the Harley-Davidsons offer, but most of it is standard. One thing that it gets that the others don’t is connected features. This means you can locate the bike in ae parking lot, it offers ride stats, GPS position, and even traffic updates if you so wish via a subscription service that is paid for after the first year.
Source: BMW USA
