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Naked bike K1600R BMW Motorrad

BMW K1600R

This naked bike from BMW Motorrad is not something new, not at all. Their current model line-up includes several naked bikes with the K1300R being the stratospheric maximum power beast. The BMW K1600R to be released for the model year 2014 features the Inline Six-Cylinder Engine offered in the GT and other models from 2013. BMW Motorrad needs the K1600R to excel against the K1300R but, more importantly, it needs to outgun the Ducati Diavlo and other max capacity naked bikes in the big cylinder market.

New BMW K1600R

While spy photos of the new K1600R show a more sedate variant of the 2009 concept bike presented with Concept 6 at the 2009 EICMA in Milan, the exhaust retains the multiple exists to the right of the bike and, also, the low slung look has been retained. The sinister look of the front of bike is made more obvious by the downward facing headlight cluster and the BMW “angel eyes” with the matt black background. The digital clocks with colored screen background are a first on BMW production motorcycles.

The BMWK1600R to be released in 2014 is set to be a winner and will finally come to the US!


BMW K1600R Ricardo engine upgrade

BMWK1600R

Ricardo has had a long standing close relationship with BMW Motorrad for a number of years and had already undertaken a number of smaller motorcycle projects for the Munich based manufacturer. Now in 2013 Ricardo was invited to re-engineer the six-cylinder 1600 engine for the BMWK1600R to produce a new family of K1600 motorcycles for 2014. It was a sizeable task, quickly and fruitfully undertaken by Ricardo drawing on expertise at its engineering sites across Europe in the UK, the Czech Republic and Schwäbisch Gmünd in Southern Germany.

bmwK1600R Engine

The engine has been upgraded to increase maximum revolutions to 12.000 and as such the estimated power ratios are Bore / stroke, 72 mm × 67.5 mm (2.8 in × 2.66 in). Compression ratio, 13.3:1. Power, 145.5 kW (195 hp) @ 9,500 rpm. Torque, 186 N•m @ 6,500 rpm

BMW is widely known for declaring almost exact power from their engines and we don´t expect the BMWK1600R to differ much from the above data. This would give the engine a real-world almost 200HP!

BMW K1600R release date

 

K1600R Angel Eye lights

Our Munich insiders say that the K1600R will be revealed in 2014 which seems to coincide the recent BMW K1600R spy photos we have been seeing during hot weather testing in Arizona. The lightly camouflaged machine shows a half fairing similar to that used on the K1600R and also some novel wind deflection ailerons at each side of the fuel tank. One aspect of the New K1600R that we think Motorrad fans will love is the low slung exhaust and large rear 200 width tire. The wheels have also been modified, now with 5 spokes instead of the multiple Motorrad sport wheel offered as an option on the 2013 models. The “angel eye” lights on the BMWK1600R are being brought from the BMW automobile stable and will feature as twin headlights with a black background on the snout of the bike offering an animal like look to the pointed front.

 

We expect the K1600R to be available for order around March, although the unique engine design (again by UKs Ricardo engineering) could mean that volumes of these units will begin to ramp up mid 2014 to satisfy the bourgeoning demand for the K1600R.