BMW K1600 Bagger was recently spotted doing the test rounds at a top-secret racing track last week. These spy shots point directly towards a straight-six engine model that was first seen in the GTL and K1600GT. Both of these models were launched in 2011 and now the Bagger is expected to take the flag of BMW higher. Bagger models are not so popular in the European market but they make a huge impact on the American market. BMW is the latest manufacturer to enter this highly competitive and lucrative market after Honda and the F6B, which is based on Gold Wing.
The new K1600 Bagger was seen from a long range while it was undergoing brake tests at a private racing track in Germany. Alongside this model was a water-cooled variant of the R1200R roadster model. This clearly indicates that the bike maybe launched as early as during the Cologne Motorcycle Show in Germany scheduled for October this year.
The main highlight of a Bagger is pretty simple. It moves away as far as possible from the fairing. The design aspects come with some hard and low-slung panniers, which allow the bike to have a sufficiently low stance. The remaining parts of the bike stay as stock. The fairing as well as the top is expected to stay unchanged.
The Bagger has been provided with a huge 1649 cc across-the-frame, straight-six engine. It is expected that the bike engine would not be retuned and it will produce the same 160 bhp power as it generates in the GT and GTL models. Also, the torque output is expected to stay identical with its older variants.
Phil West, Executive Editor of MCN said, "While naked and adventure bikes remain the 'on trend' machines of choice in Europe, globally, driven primarily by the USA, it's the rise of the baggers which is making manufacturers sit up most. 'Baggers', or, bluntly, cruisers with bags and screens, have risen in recent years to be the biggest market sector by far in the States with not just magazines, websites, and TV shows dedicated to the cause, there's also a whole scene involving customising, events and more. Of the manufacturers, Harley-Davidson, perhaps unsurprisingly, are the ones to beat. What is a surprise, though, is the scale. Harley's Street Glide bagger is not only H-D's best seller, according to Harley it outsells all imported bikes put together.
No wonder, then, that the likes of BM, Honda (with its recent F6B and CTX1300) and Triumph (with its 2014 Thunderbird LT) all want a slice of that pie. If they can tempt even a small percentage of those bagger buyers they'll be laughing all the way to the bank."
Image Source: Visordown
