BMW Motorrad May Unveil New K1600 Variant At EICMA

Patent pictures of a new variant of the BMW K1600 have emerged, and they have been published on the European Union Intellectual Property Office website. The European patent of the new variant - a touring-cruiser version of the K1600, which may be called the BMW K1600C, has been marked 'registered and fully published' with the date for October 26. Now, that date coincides with the recently concluded Tokyo Motor Show, but BMW did not reveal the bike there, so the full sized touring motorcycle with panniers and top box may be unveiled at the upcoming EICMA show in Milan from November 6.

The BMW K1600 has a transversely mounted straight-six engine

But this is not the first time the same patent images have emerged. Over two years ago, spy shots of this bagger emerged, based on the K1600. That bike is basically the same K1600, but with a top box, tall touring screen and pillion back-rest. The same patent images also emerged later the same year, but there was no news of BMW introducing the bike, and now two years later, those same patent images have emerged.

The new bagger, seems to cater to tastes of American cruiser lovers, and will take on the likes of the Honda Gold Wing, as well as Harley-Davidson's Touring models. There's still no word on where the development of the model is, but considering a spy shot was seen almost two years ago, BMW Motorrad may well introduce the K1600 bagger at the EICMA show in Milan. Currently, BMW Motorrad has the K1600GT, K1600GTL and K1600B models on offer. The BMW K1600 is powered by a 1,649 cc, straight six engine, mounted transversely across the chassis. Power is rated at around 160 bhp with 175 Nm of peak torque kicking in at 5,250 rpm to move the 319 kg machine.