2018–2020 · Tourer · Buyer's Guide
Six Cylinders, First-Class Silence
The K 1600 Grand America is built around one of the smoothest engines you can put between your knees: a 1649 cc inline-six making 160 hp and 129 lb-ft. That torque arrives low and stays flat, so a fully loaded 802 lb machine still pulls away from a stoplight without drama. The chassis pairs a Duolever front and Paralever rear with Dynamic ESA, and the electronics run deep, from Integral ABS Pro to the Gear Shift Assistant Pro. This is BMW's full-dress touring statement, a rolling first-class cabin with a top case, floorboards, and a passenger backrest.
On the road it feels planted and composed, the kind of bike that shrinks its own bulk once you're moving and treats 500-mile days as routine. It's for the coast-to-coast rider who travels two-up, packs heavy, and wants the last 10 percent of comfort a lighter sport-tourer can't reach. The honest caveat is size. At 802 lb with a 30.7 in seat, this is a lot of motorcycle at walking pace and in tight parking, and you need to respect its mass in the slow, awkward moments before the wheels are turning.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 160 hp (118 kW) @ 7,750 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 129 lb-ft (175 Nm) @ 5,250 rpm |
| Displacement | 1649 cc |
| Engine | Inline-six |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Shaft |
| Fork | Duolever |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70 ZR 17 |
| Rear tire | 190/55 ZR 17 |
| Seat height | 30.7 in (780 mm) |
| Wet weight | 802 lb (364 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 7.0 gal (26.5 L) |
| Fuel economy | 41 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Connectivity
Lighting
Safety
The named systems that set this bike apart — and what each one does for you.
Drivetrain
Fire it up and the six settles into a turbine hum you feel more than hear, with vibration so faint the mirrors stay clear at cruising speed. The riding position is upright and open, floorboards giving your legs room to stretch and shift over a long day. Wind protection is genuine, the fairing pushing turbulence up and over so conversation and music carry cleanly. Roll on the throttle and the response is seamless, that flat wave of torque swelling without steps or surges. What surprises you is how the weight melts once you're rolling; it tips into a bend with more willingness than 802 lb has any right to. The one physical fact you never fully forget is that mass at parking-lot pace, where every stop asks for a firm stance and a plan.
This comes from years of listening to the riders who actually live with the bike: talk at fuel stops and rallies, long owner threads, and the notes people send me directly. For the Grand America the feedback sorts cleanly into steady praise and a short, familiar list of gripes.
Past the engine, what owners return to most is how easily it eats distance. Solo or two-up, they describe a seat and riding position that stay comfortable deep into a long day, helped by the pulled-back bars, floorboards, and suspension that takes the edge off rough pavement. The other common surprise is how it handles for its size, holding a clean line through bends far better than the mass suggests. The specification draws praise too, from cornering ABS to the color display and central-locking cases, with keyless entry offered as an option.
The complaints are consistent and narrow. Owners point to how much bike there is to wrestle at parking-lot speed, and to a loaded machine that grows unsettled once the pace climbs. A steady group also flags what you pay to put one in the garage against how much extra you actually get over its closer relatives.
Rear suspension link strut may crack (recall 22V-023)
On certain 2019‑2020 K 1600 models (includes Grand America), the link strut connecting the rear suspension to the frame may not have been produced to specifications, potentially failing and causing loss of control. BMW issued recall 22V‑023.
High‑speed front‑end wobble
At highway speeds (above 60 mph), especially in turbulent air or behind large vehicles, the front end may oscillate or weave violently, potentially leading to loss of control. Reported by many owners and under NHTSA investigation.
Reverse gear control unit may overheat (potential fire risk)
On 2018‑2020 Grand America (and other K 1600 models), the seal for the reverse gear control unit may fail, allowing moisture ingress and subsequent overheating, increasing risk of a fire. Recall issued.
DTC warning light due to calibration error
A fast‑flashing DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) warning triangle may appear despite normal riding; sometimes resolved by a firmware update or recalibration via GS‑911 tool, without affecting performance.
Where this BMW K 1600 Grand America pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the K 1600 Grand America is actually built for.
If your season is Going-to-the-Sun, Beartooth, and long weather-changing days two-up, this bike was built for exactly that. The six's smoothness and the luggage make cross-country travel feel first-class.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
You want curves plus comfort on 200 to 400-mile days, and this bike carves better than its weight suggests. Just know you're buying a full-dress tourer, not a lithe backroad tool, so slow corners ask for muscle.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
The ritual and the miles fit, and the comfort is unmatched for a long haul to a rally. The character is refined German competence rather than air-cooled V-twin theater, so weigh that against the sound and identity you're after.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week