BMW Offers Armrests for K1600GTL

When you think of BMW, odds are you think of adventure––riding around the world, eating strange food, and getting bitten by exotic fauna. But lately, along with the graying of American motorcyclists, the term “adventure” is broadening to encompass spa weekends and wine tours, often two-up.

Recognizing that in this scenario the passenger’s happiness is as important as the pilot’s, BMW is offering padded passenger arm rests for the K1600GTL, and only as a dealer-installed accessory. They’re ergonomically compatible with the standard top case backrest pad, and are hinged to ease mounting and dismounting the motorcycle.

The passenger’s “comfort experience” can be further enhanced by the retrofitting of the larger passenger-seat grab handles from the 2013 K1600GTL to the 2012 model at the same time as the installation of the arm rests, effectively stripping roundel riders of the right to sneer at Mom and Pop on their "Winnebagoed" Gold Wing.

The GTL arm rests don’t fit the K1600GT––find somewhere else to put your arms, GT pillions––and sell for a suggested retail of $719.20, not including labor.