Does anyone have both the Transcontinental (or R18B) and K1600?

[Billt1NH]

I've really wanted the K1600B since 2016. My visit to the BMW dealership was less than fruitful so I continued to buy Harley Davidsons up until this year. I still own one. My intentions were to buy the R18 Classic this year but I saw ,fell in love and bought the the R18 Transcontinental . I really find the Transcontinental to be an amazing and fun bike but I have always wanted the Grand America. I told the dealer if the 2022 had the same dash as the Transcontinental I would buy one of those as well. At age 65 I am really looking for the most comfortable long distance tourer and I think that is probably the K1600? Any insight would be appreciated. .

 

[AwesomeDad]

Plenty of info here
clicky clicky

I wouldn't let the dash be the deciding factor, plenty of left over B's out there at a discount. If you already have a Transcontinental you may want to look at the GT for a sportier ride and use the R18 for the long haul.

 

[Billt1NH]

Plenty of info here
clicky clicky

I wouldn't let the dash be the deciding factor, plenty of left over B's out there at a discount. If you already have a Transcontinental you may want to look at the GT for a sportier ride and use the R18 for the long haul.

My objection to the dash was primarily the outsourced navigation which I felt truly lacking .

 

[AwesomeDad]

My objection to the dash was primarily the outsourced navigation which I felt truly lacking .

I got the Nav VI thrown in with my bike, I use it as a visual reference to back up what my phone is saying in my headset. And with all the issues the RT community is having with the TFT and BMW app it will be awhile for the bugs to get worked out... But I am loving my B and looking at picking up an R18 for an around town project bike....

 

[Billt1NH]

I got the Nav VI thrown in with my bike, I use it as a visual reference to back up what my phone is saying in my headset. And with all the issues the RT community is having with the TFT and BMW app it will be awhile for the bugs to get worked out... But I am loving my B and looking at picking up an R18 for an around town project bike....

 

[Billt1NH]

Sweet set up . As much as I like the Transcontinental and will keep it I am assuming for long distance touring the smoothness , ability to move your feet forward to floorboards , electronically adjustable windshield and less frequent shifting ( lower horsepower and RPM comfort range makes shifting the R18 a frequent occurrence) make the K1600 a touring king?

 

[Black Dog]

I've really wanted the K1600B since 2016. My visit to the BMW dealership was less than fruitful so I continued to buy Harley Davidsons up until this year. I still own one. My intentions were to buy the R18 Classic this year but I saw ,fell in love and bought the the R18 Transcontinental . I really find the Transcontinental to be an amazing and fun bike but I have always wanted the Grand America. I told the dealer if the 2022 had the same dash as the Transcontinental I would buy one of those as well. At age 65 I am really looking for the most comfortable long distance tourer and I think that is probably the K1600? Any insight would be appreciated. .

K1600B in 2016?
First K1600Bs were sold in August 2017 in the U.S.
Both the first one sold by the dealer, Aug 2017. Tide home from the dealer 456 miles.
Bought the R18 Oct 2020. Ride home from the dealer was 256 miles.
Bought the B specifically to convert it to a bobber. Great around town bike, but much like a one inch pecker, feels great in the short run.
You want a long distance ride, the K1600B is your best choice.



This message is Dog Approved.

 

[Billt1NH]

K1600B in 2016?
First K1600Bs were sold in August 2017 in the U.S.
Both the first one sold by the dealer, Aug 2017. Tide home from the dealer 456 miles.
Bought the R18 Oct 2020. Ride home from the dealer was 256 miles.
Bought the B specifically to convert it to a bobber. Great around town bike, but much like a one inch pecker, feels great in the short run.
You want a long distance ride, the K1600B is your best choice.
View attachment 3847View attachment 3848View attachment 3850

I figured you’d pipe in , thanks . Yes I believe it was announced in 2016 and I visited the dealer that year test riding the GTL to get a feeling for it . My continuing to ride Harleys for the next few years had nothing to do with me not liking the bike .

 

[Black Dog]

I figured you’d pipe in , thanks . Yes I believe it was announced in 2016 and I visited the dealer that year test riding the GTL to get a feeling for it . My continuing to ride Harleys for the next few years had nothing to do with me not liking the bike .

I put a deposit on K1600B in Nov 2016, Engle Motors in KC, was the 4 bike I bought from them, 2 Triumphs and an R1200RT.
I have owned many Harleys starting with a 1962 Pan. Hell my wife road a 2002 Super glide to Sturgis 3 times.
Gave my FXR to my son 4 years ago, I rode it over 250,000 miles, he is riding to this day.
Sounds as if you have a hard time making up your mind and are heavily influenced inexperienced advisors.
If 50 miles one way is a long ride for you, by all means have the R18 for your primary ride.

 

[Rambler358]

I've really wanted the K1600B since 2016. My visit to the BMW dealership was less than fruitful so I continued to buy Harley Davidsons up until this year. I still own one. My intentions were to buy the R18 Classic this year but I saw ,fell in love and bought the the R18 Transcontinental . I really find the Transcontinental to be an amazing and fun bike but I have always wanted the Grand America. I told the dealer if the 2022 had the same dash as the Transcontinental I would buy one of those as well. At age 65 I am really looking for the most comfortable long distance tourer and I think that is probably the K1600? Any insight would be appreciated. .

I have the Transcontinental now, and my previous bike was the Grand America. One of the reasons I sold the Grand America was for its instability on the freeway when riding solo. Nothing I couldn't handle, but on long freeway drones it became fatiguing. After with just over 2000 miles on the TC now, I say it's more comfortable for me (and my wife) than the Grand America was. I do miss the GA's electric windshield, but the TC's standard windshield is good for my height (6'1"). In our colder Southern California months (like now) I would like to have a bit more windshield height, but I suspect aftermarket items will soon become available to correct that.

I've also purchased the R18 Bren Tune which IMHO really opens up the R18's engine power. The downside is less fuel economy, but for me the multiple benefits of the Bren Tune out-weight that one negative.

One thing that still needs some work is the Navigation. BMW has recently released a new TFT update (version 012.008.40) that is supposed to fix remaining Bluetooth and connectivity issues, which I plan to schedule to have done after the new year. But map legibility is kind of another issue when you're not navigating a route - smaller roads are difficult to see but setting night mode helps some. Some folks may not like the phone-based navigation these new TFTs use, but aside from my mentioned gripes it works very well for me. The TomTom maps which the navigation uses are updated on a regular basis, and they don't take a lot of space on your phone because you determine what areas you need to download for your routing.

So... knowing what I know now, would I still pick the R18 Transcontinental over the K1600? This is a personal decision for folks, but for me the answer is a definite yes. The TC just fits me better, and I really like the retro styling it has. Everywhere I go, I'm always complemented on it. This bike handles a lot better than I thought it would, having a 35 degree lean angle that only scrapes the floorboards when it's really being pushed in the corners. Normal riding in the twisties is not an issue, even with a passenger. The bike's auto-adjusting of the rear suspension works very well, where with the Grand America I had to specifically set it for riding with luggage, a passenger, etc, and sometimes forgetting to set it when I needed to.

 

[Billt1NH]

I have the Transcontinental now, and my previous bike was the Grand America. One of the reasons I sold the Grand America was for its instability on the freeway when riding solo. Nothing I couldn't handle, but on long freeway drones it became fatiguing. After with just over 2000 miles on the TC now, I say it's more comfortable for me (and my wife) than the Grand America was. I do miss the GA's electric windshield, but the TC's standard windshield is good for my height (6'1"). In our colder Southern California months (like now) I would like to have a bit more windshield height, but I suspect aftermarket items will soon become available to correct that.

I've also purchased the R18 Bren Tune which IMHO really opens up the R18's engine power. The downside is less fuel economy, but for me the multiple benefits of the Bren Tune out-weight that one negative.

One thing that still needs some work is the Navigation. BMW has recently released a new TFT update (version 012.008.40) that is supposed to fix remaining Bluetooth and connectivity issues, which I plan to schedule to have done after the new year. But map legibility is kind of another issue when you're not navigating a route - smaller roads are difficult to see but setting night mode helps some. Some folks may not like the phone-based navigation these new TFTs use, but aside from my mentioned gripes it works very well for me. The TomTom maps which the navigation uses are updated on a regular basis, and they don't take a lot of space on your phone because you determine what areas you need to download for your routing.

So... knowing what I know now, would I still pick the R18 Transcontinental over the K1600? This is a personal decision for folks, but for me the answer is a definite yes. The TC just fits me better, and I really like the retro styling it has. Everywhere I go, I'm always complemented on it. This bike handles a lot better than I thought it would, having a 35 degree lean angle that only scrapes the floorboards when it's really being pushed in the corners. Normal riding in the twisties is not an issue, even with a passenger. The bike's auto-adjusting of the rear suspension works very well, where with the Grand America I had to specifically set it for riding with luggage, a passenger, etc, and sometimes forgetting to set it when I needed to.

Thanks for the thorough comparison. I’ve had loud Harleys for 40+ years the last 20 years most of them have had stage II or III . As I age I want some performance without all the noise and Thousands needed to spend to get there , hence the attraction to 6 cylinders. Thanks for the tuning recommendation. Looking at their website it seems to offer the little extra needed without the expense and complexity

 

[Billt1NH]

I have the Transcontinental now, and my previous bike was the Grand America. One of the reasons I sold the Grand America was for its instability on the freeway when riding solo. Nothing I couldn't handle, but on long freeway drones it became fatiguing. After with just over 2000 miles on the TC now, I say it's more comfortable for me (and my wife) than the Grand America was. I do miss the GA's electric windshield, but the TC's standard windshield is good for my height (6'1"). In our colder Southern California months (like now) I would like to have a bit more windshield height, but I suspect aftermarket items will soon become available to correct that.

I've also purchased the R18 Bren Tune which IMHO really opens up the R18's engine power. The downside is less fuel economy, but for me the multiple benefits of the Bren Tune out-weight that one negative.

One thing that still needs some work is the Navigation. BMW has recently released a new TFT update (version 012.008.40) that is supposed to fix remaining Bluetooth and connectivity issues, which I plan to schedule to have done after the new year. But map legibility is kind of another issue when you're not navigating a route - smaller roads are difficult to see but setting night mode helps some. Some folks may not like the phone-based navigation these new TFTs use, but aside from my mentioned gripes it works very well for me. The TomTom maps which the navigation uses are updated on a regular basis, and they don't take a lot of space on your phone because you determine what areas you need to download for your routing.

So... knowing what I know now, would I still pick the R18 Transcontinental over the K1600? This is a personal decision for folks, but for me the answer is a definite yes. The TC just fits me better, and I really like the retro styling it has. Everywhere I go, I'm always complemented on it. This bike handles a lot better than I thought it would, having a 35 degree lean angle that only scrapes the floorboards when it's really being pushed in the corners. Normal riding in the twisties is not an issue, even with a passenger. The bike's auto-adjusting of the rear suspension works very well, where with the Grand America I had to specifically set it for riding with luggage, a passenger, etc, and sometimes forgetting to set it when I needed to.

I also agree the retro styling of the R18 is out of this world . No matter how much expense or customizations I did to my Harleys I never got responses like I do to the stock Transcontinental. Everywhere I go people are making comments . I’ve even had women come up to me at a filling station saying they knew nothing about motorcycles but they never saw one they liked more .

 

[Black Dog]

I also agree the retro styling of the R18 is out of this world . No matter how much expense or customizations I did to my Harleys I never got responses like I do to the stock Transcontinental. Everywhere I go people are making comments . I’ve even had women come up to me at a filling station saying they knew nothing about motorcycles but they never saw one they liked more .

I stopped for gas on the way home from the dealer after buying the R18, had a lady come over and made at least 2 circles of the bike talking about how much shebliked it.
Get nothing but compliments about its looks anywhere I go, but then so does the K1600B.

 

[Billt1NH]

I stopped for gas on the way home from the dealer after buying the R18, had a lady come over and made at least 2 circles of the bike talking about how much shebliked it.
Get nothing but compliments about its looks anywhere I go.

I agree the B is hot. We would probably get option 719 for the additional pop

 

[Black Dog]

I agree the B is hot. We would probably get option 719 for the additional pop

Sure you would, 5 years and still talking.

 

[Billt1NH]

Sure you would, 5 years and still talking.

That’s fair . Let’s see what happens in year 6

 

[Joost R1200CL to R18TC]

I also agree the retro styling of the R18 is out of this world . No matter how much expense or customizations I did to my Harleys I never got responses like I do to the stock Transcontinental. Everywhere I go people are making comments . I’ve even had women come up to me at a filling station saying they knew nothing about motorcycles but they never saw one they liked more .

One of the reason for going with the TC over a Harley was a dubious experience with the latter in Australia. Wanted to pass, on an Ultra, 2-up, a truck going up hill. With full gas the Harley made more noise but accelerates little. We barely made it around the truck before oncoming traffic would have made the situation really scary. Never had that issue with the TC. Even made it up the Stelvio pass, 2-up again, without stress.

 

[harrisrc740]

Yes I have both and love them. Instead of the TC a K1600GTL and a R18B.

 

[twowheelerhealer]

I own both bikes. I'm thinking about trading the GA for a 2024/25 GT (prices seem to be shooting upwards, though).
A comparison between the K1600 GA (2019) and the R1800 TC (2023) is precisely what I spent the last half of 2024 doing. I picked up the TC when it finally got set free from a recall (defective light assembly). I rode it during the summer heatwave from New Haven to Lake Placid (White Face Mountain) and then down to Atlanta, taking random detours (Smokey Mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway) all along the way. A friend on a 2022 Harley Street Glide and I had a blast. I put 4500 miles on the TC in two weeks. What are the comparisons between the two BMW powerhouses that translate to most avid riders who ride 10K per year?
1. Power & Performance

• K1600 GA (2019):
  • 1649cc inline-6, 160 hp, 129 lb-ft torque.
  • Effortless power delivery, buttery smooth, with instant acceleration.
  • Sportier handling with a lower center of gravity. *** (Big Plus)
  • Shaft drive with minimal maintenance.
  • Refined dynamic ESA suspension, eats up road imperfections.
• R18 TC (2023):
  • 1802cc air/oil-cooled boxer twin, 91 hp, 116 lb-ft torque.
  • More character, but power delivery is more relaxed. (fit and finish is unbelievable).
  • Noticeable vibration at certain RPMs. (I now understand what Harley riders experience)
  • Heavier, lower stance; requires more rider input at slow speeds. (nearly hyper-vigilant at low speeds; going to explore HeliBars this spring and Corbin seat).
  • Basic rear suspension compared to the K1600 (floorboard position is not for everyone; needs some kind of footpegs like Harleys).

Translation for a 10K-mile/year rider:

• If you love effortless passing power and a high-speed touring machine, the K1600 GA wins, except at above 110 mph.
• The GA passes the Tail of the Dragon test; lots more braking for me in twisties on the TC
• If you prefer a more visceral, traditional experience, the R18 TC delivers but requires more planning for overtakes, not shift assist.

2. Comfort & Ergonomics​

• K1600 GA:
  • Better wind protection with its large, electronically adjustable windshield.
  • Heated grips/seats are more refined.
  • Sportier rider triangle; some riders might want highway pegs.
  • Great for 600+ mile days without feeling exhausted.
• R18 TC:
  • Classic cruiser feel, more relaxed arm position.
  • Floorboards for stretching out but limited lean angle.
  • Good wind protection with large fairing, but airflow can be tricky.
  • Feels heavier at low speeds but is incredibly stable on highways.

Translation for a 10K-mile/year rider:

• For all-day, fatigue-free riding, the K1600 wins.
• If you love a laid-back, old-school cruiser feel, the R18 TC is the way to go.

3. Handling & Ride Quality​

• K1600 GA:
  • It feels lighter than it is due to the low center of gravity (way lighter and maneuverable at low speeds).
  • Electronically adjustable suspension adapts instantly to road conditions.
  • It is predictable and precise in corners, even for a big bike.
• R18 TC:
  • Heavy steering at slow speeds.
  • Limited lean angle compared to the K1600 (lean all day on GA).
  • Once rolling, it's incredibly planted and stable; I mean stable.

Translation for a 10K-mile/year rider:

• Twisty roads? K1600 GA dominates.
• Relaxed highways? R18 TC excels.

4. Tech & Features​

• K1600 GA:
  • Full electronic suite: ride modes, ESA, quickshifter, adaptive headlight, cornering ABS.
  • 7-inch TFT (pre-2022 models) with excellent integration.
  • Cruise control, reverse assist, and keyless ride.
• R18 TC:
  • More basic tech; simple ride modes (Rock, Roll, Rain).
  • Massive 10.25-inch TFT screen with built-in nav, music, and Bluetooth.
  • Lacks some high-end features like adaptive suspension.

Translation for a 10K-mile/year rider:

• If you love rider aids and cutting-edge tech, the K1600 is superior.
• If you prefer a minimalist, nostalgic ride with a modern twist, the R18 TC delivers.

5. Touring Practicality​

• K1600 GA:
  • More storage, integrated top case, and better luggage capacity.
  • Better fuel economy (around 40-45 MPG highway).
  • 7-gallon tank = longer range.
• R18 TC:
  • Less storage, but the side cases are decently sized.
  • Worse fuel economy (mid-30s MPG).
  • 6.3-gallon tank means more frequent stops.

Translation for a 10K-mile/year rider:

• If range and luggage are priorities, K1600 GA wins.
• If you don’t mind stopping a bit more, R18 TC is fine.
• There's no comparison between the stereo systems--the TC is the best stock system ever put on a BMW

Final Verdict​

• For long-distance, high-speed comfort with power and handling, the K1600 GA remains the king.
• For a relaxed, classic touring feel with old-school character, the R18 TC is unbeatable.

I will trade one of them for an upgrade (what upgrades are perplexing).
Good luck,
Robert

 

[Rambler358]

Had a 2018 GA, sold that due to the instability and after test riding a TC with the wife, she said that was the bike she wanted, as she rides with me about 50% and said the TC had the most comfortable pillion of all the bikes I’ve had. Plus she has back issues, and the TC’s low seat height really helps her.

However, the TC is a pig in the twisties, and not what I wanted. So the wife reluctantly let me sell that and get a 2022 GTL. After a few long distance rides on that, she said she probably wouldn’t be able to ride with me on the GTL due to her back. She did say she’d be able to keep riding with me on another TC.

So… as much as I really liked the GTL, I wanted to make her happy and ended up trading in the GTL for a 2023 TC. So here I am, trying to get better riding this pig in the twisties…