2012 Motorcycle of the Year | Best Touring Bike

BMW K1600GT **
**_King of the Road _

The GT in the K1600's name stands for "Grand Touring," and boy, is it apt! BMW's flagship über-tourer has an insatiable appetite for miles and all the comforts and amenities you'd expect to find in a 6 Series sedan. ABS, satellite navigation, electronically adjustable suspension, and an adaptive xenon headlight that lets you see around corners at night are just a few of the features that make this the ultimate two-wheeled vehicle for cross-continental adventures. An intuitive Multi-Controller ring inboard of the left handgrip controls its various systems and a 5.7-inch TFT cockpit screen shows you what's going on. But how well can a 700-lb. land-yacht handle? Well enough to bevel the footpegs and embarrass anything else in the class! Power comes by way of a 1649cc inline-six that puts down a claimed 160 horsepower and 129 lb.-ft. of torque, 70 percent of which is available at just 1500 rpm. The K1600GT sat in this same spot last year, and with no new challengers to unseat it, it's still the King of the Road.

Alternative Take

Kawasaki Concours14

The Connie is nearly as quick and as comfy as the Beemer, and it costs a lot less. For $15,599 you get ABS, KTRC traction control, an adjustable windscreen and switchable, fuel-conserving ECO drive mode. The ZX-14-derived engine cranks out an honest 130 bhp that turns there into here with a twist of the wrist.