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R18 Transcontinental or K1600 Grand America?

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mikefmoto said:
I didn't see anyone mention anything about ease of maintenance. For me, the K turn-off is that you have the tear the bike apart to practically do any simple maintenance. That's expensive if you do it yourself (my time is worth something) or paying someone to do it. The more you ride, the more maintenance is required to keep it going trouble free. Just getting near the engine for plugs or valves on the K requires radiator removal vs jugs out in the wind for the R18. Same goes for simple air filter change. I looked at the many versions of K's and went with an RT before my current main touring bike. There's a lot to be said about simplicity. I'll gladly trade hyper performance for ease of ownership that includes stress-free maintenance.
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Get A Horse
 
mikefmoto said:
I didn't see anyone mention anything about ease of maintenance. For me, the K turn-off is that you have the tear the bike apart to practically do any simple maintenance. That's expensive if you do it yourself (my time is worth something) or paying someone to do it. The more you ride, the more maintenance is required to keep it going trouble free. Just getting near the engine for plugs or valves on the K requires radiator removal vs jugs out in the wind for the R18. Same goes for simple air filter change. I looked at the many versions of K's and went with an RT before my current main touring bike. There's a lot to be said about simplicity. I'll gladly trade hyper performance for ease of ownership that includes stress-free maintenance.
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Ever change the air filter on the r18? Clearly bmw is moving into the almost impossible maintenance stratosphere; it's hard to believe they are simply motorcycles.
 
Gr8adv said:
Ever change the air filter on the r18? Clearly bmw is moving into the almost impossible maintenance stratosphere; it's hard to believe they are simply motorcycles.
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No, but I watched a video by a BMW tech explaining where it is and how to get to it. Seemed pretty simple. Pretty interesting how they disguised the access with the displacement plate and the top of the engine plate. Seems a hell of a lot simpler than replacing the R1200RT air filter.
 
mikefmoto said:
No, but I watched a video by a BMW tech explaining where it is and how to get to it. Seemed pretty simple. Pretty interesting how they disguised the access with the displacement plate and the top of the engine plate. Seems a hell of a lot simpler than replacing the R1200RT air filter.
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BMW is never an easy or cheap maintenance, cheap reliable must be Japanese brand.
 
They are two completely different bikes. I just picked up my TC today, only have 150 miles on today, and I can confirm the top speed is only 110 mph, it does handle really well for such a heavy bike due to the shortened rake and I was scraping my boards all day. It is underpowered over 75 mph. The seat is really comfortable, however the leg and foot position will take some getting used to because of that big beautiful engine. I’ve adjusted the shif controls (front and heel) and that makes for some more room, but still the space is limited for your legs and the engine is not that comfortable of a leg rest (they are coming out with leg rest attachments). Again, they are two different bikes, It is all about for what purpose you are buying the bike. My other bike is a Softail staged and bored to 117 with a trask turbo and a 240 rear end that eats my buddies k1600 for dinner to 130 mph (I don’t see a reason to exceed 130). I do love riding his K1600, but I opted for the style of the TC.
 
R18 TC said:
They are two completely different bikes. I just picked up my TC today, only have 150 miles on today, and I can confirm the top speed is only 110 mph, it does handle really well for such a heavy bike due to the shortened rake and I was scraping my boards all day. It is underpowered over 75 mph. The seat is really comfortable, however the leg and foot position will take some getting used to because of that big beautiful engine. I’ve adjusted the shif controls (front and heel) and that makes for some more room, but still the space is limited for your legs and the engine is not that comfortable of a leg rest (they are coming out with leg rest attachments). Again, they are two different bikes, It is all about for what purpose you are buying the bike. My other bike is a Softail staged and bored to 117 with a trask turbo and a 240 rear end that eats my buddies k1600 for dinner to 130 mph (I don’t see a reason to exceed 130). I do love riding his K1600, but I opted for the style of the TC.
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"My other bike is a Softail staged and bored to 117 with a trask turbo and a 240 rear end that eats my buddies k1600 for dinner to 130 mph (I don’t see a reason to exceed 130)." For a short distance, might even outrun a fighter jet down the runway, but the jet does not stop at the end of the runway.
Have had the K1600 at 135+ passing semis on a 2 lane road, Hwy 212 between Alzada, MT and Belle Fourche, SD, Bring on that Harleyzilla.
You must ride it there first, no trailer biking.
All these modifications to the Wankermobile to get it even close to the stock K1600s straight line capabilities, forget the actual curve handling, or comfort and other amenities.
Would you be more comfortable taking off tomorrow morning on a 3,000 mile trip on the Harleyzilla or the stock K1600?
Have owned a few Harleys, rode one over 250,000 miles.
By the way I own a K1600 and an R18, gave my Harley to my son when I bought the K1600.
R18 is a great around town motorcycle, but for serious distance give me the K1600 every time, to each his own.
 
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Black Dog said:
"My other bike is a Softail staged and bored to 117 with a trask turbo and a 240 rear end that eats my buddies k1600 for dinner to 130 mph (I don’t see a reason to exceed 130)." For a short distance, might even outrun a fighter jet down the runway, but the jet does not stop at the end of the runway.
All these modifications to the Wankermobile to get it even close to the K1600s straight line capabilities, forget the actual curve handling, or comfort and other amenities.
Would you be more comfortable taking off tomorrow morning on a 3,000 mile trip on the Harleyzilla or the stock K1600?
Have owned a few Harleys, rode one over 250,000 miles.
By the way I own a K1600 and an R18, gave my Harley to my son when I bought the K1600.
R18 is a great around town motorcycle, but for serious distance give me the K1600 every time, to each his own.
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All day long I’d much rather be on the K1600 then my muscled up Harley for any trip over 3 hours long (heck, on that note, any trip with traffic too, as the Turbo cooks my leg to a nice medium rare when standing still) , that is the reason why I bought the TC, for the long haul trips. I have only owned the TC for a day, so haven’t put the miles on the TC yet to give an honest opinion on how it will perform for its name given purpose “Transcontinental“ trips, but I have already noticed vibration at 85 Mph that is very concerning, as that is my usual cruise control speed on trips, and also it is underpowered over 85, not super underpowered as it seems to have semi trailer passing ability, but not a flick of the wrist power machine at that speed like a K1600.
 
R18 is a great around town motorcycle, but for serious distance give me the K1600 every time, to each his own.
 
Bigphoto said:
Ditto
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For all those who say “they have had both”. The post is asking about the Transcontinental, not just a R18, but that specific model. The TC is configured very differently then the classic, and not just the hard bags, but the rake and other changes.

As I just picked up the first Transcontinental delivered in the Chicago area last Friday, and only have 400 miles on it since then, I highly doubt any of the people that are saying that they have owned both are specifically talking about a Transcontinental, but rather just a regular R18, which is a different bike.

I have put more miles on my TC in the last couple days and will say there is serious vibration over 85 miles per hour that I don’t think is acceptable for this bike.

I don't the think the original posters choice in comparisons is a good one. Again, the R18 TC and the K1600 are two very different bikes. In my opinion, the K1600 should be comparable to the new Goldwing Tour, and the R18 Trans should be compared to the Harley Ultra Limited and that family of bikes.
 
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R18 TC said:
For all those who say “they have had both”. The post is asking about the Transcontinental, not just a R18, but that specific model. The TC is configured very differently then the classic, and not just the hard bags, but the rake and other changes.

As I just picked up the first Transcontinental delivered in the Chicago area last Friday, and only have 400 miles on it since then, I highly doubt any of the people that are saying that they have owned both are specifically talking about a Transcontinental, ut rather just a regular R18, which is a different bike.

I have put more miles on my TC in the last couple days and will say there is serious vibration over 85 miles per hour that I don’t think is acceptable for this bike
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Got it
 
R18 TC said:
For all those who say “they have had both”. The post is asking about the Transcontinental, not just a R18, but that specific model. The TC is configured very differently then the classic, and not just the hard bags, but the rake and other changes.

As I just picked up the first Transcontinental delivered in the Chicago area last Friday, and only have 400 miles on it since then, I highly doubt any of the people that are saying that they have owned both are specifically talking about a Transcontinental, but rather just a regular R18, which is a different bike.

I have put more miles on my TC in the last couple days and will say there is serious vibration over 85 miles per hour that I don’t think is acceptable for this bike.

I don't the think the original posters choice in comparisons is a good one. Again, the R18 TC and the K1600 are two very different bikes. In my opinion, the K1600 should be comparable to the new Goldwing Tour, and the R18 Trans should be compared to the Harley Ultra Limited and that family of bikes.
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I think you are spot on here.

Having traveled across the country several times on both, the k1600 GT/GTL and the Wing are in a class of their own for touring 2-up bikes. Hands down.

FWIW my GTL was just starting to get happy at 85 mph. 35, 85, 105 all felt exactly the same from a vibration, ride quality and handling perspective.
 
I am at the dealers now having the break in service done ( 800 miles) on my Transcontinental. After 40 years on Harleys, many of which topped their money charts ( CVOs ) I am so impressed with the TC I told the dealer when the 2022 k1600b arrives I’ll take one of those as well . I plan to write a mini review of my transition experience from Harley to BMW later . Is the Transcontinental perfect? No but it provides both excitement and fun .
 
Quit riding my Harley after buying an R1200RT in 2005.
Finally gave the Harley to my son after buying the K1600B in Aug 2017.
Now have theR18 bobber (my conversion) for short around town(under 300 mile one way) trips and the K1600B for real road trips.
 
R18 TC said:
For all those who say “they have had both”. The post is asking about the Transcontinental, not just a R18, but that specific model. The TC is configured very differently then the classic, and not just the hard bags, but the rake and other changes.

As I just picked up the first Transcontinental delivered in the Chicago area last Friday, and only have 400 miles on it since then, I highly doubt any of the people that are saying that they have owned both are specifically talking about a Transcontinental, but rather just a regular R18, which is a different bike.

I have put more miles on my TC in the last couple days and will say there is serious vibration over 85 miles per hour that I don’t think is acceptable for this bike.

I don't the think the original posters choice in comparisons is a good one. Again, the R18 TC and the K1600 are two very different bikes. In my opinion, the K1600 should be comparable to the new Goldwing Tour, and the R18 Trans should be compared to the Harley Ultra Limited and that family of bikes.
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Let me be clearer in my answer I have had two K1600 GTL and 1600 GTE and a GRAND America and currently have 1400 miles on the R18TC. I have between these bikes almost 150 K miles and having owned 12 other BMW bikes and my 2 cents for what it's worth. In riding my R18TC I took it from the dealership after making a couple of adjustments rode it 1400 miles and after passing the 650 mile mark ran it hard above 80 and notice some noticeable vibration nearer 100 MPH above 3400 RPM around, but no buffeting or wavering back and forth near trucks. Closer to 4000 RPM more noticeable on the buzz but expected as your closer to 125+ on the speed and depending on the road might be a rougher ride. I do wish BMW didn't give control on the suspension system to the computer and let the rider be able to fine tune it on the fly. My only complaint currently. For what it's worth .
 
My two cents,
the K16 touring bikes are state of the art and seriously equipped to the max. I love my R18 but the beauty of it is also a minus. theres only so much suspension travel you can build in. I wouldnt buy either of them (The GS is the best touring bike in the world, also the best sport touring bike in the world) but I would probably choose the K16 if I was going to wear it out... and I mean wear it out. it is a continent crosser
 
There was an earlier comment about a large difference between the base r18, r18 classic and Transcontinental I have to agree. Dealer was gracious enough to let me take a bike out for the afternoon while they did my initial service and I took the base R18 . Though a really fun bike no comparison to ride comfort or lean angles to the transcontinental.
 
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