Long-Term Update

LONG-TERM UPDATE

BMW K1600GTL For the love of the road

INTENTIONALLY ADD MILES TO YOUR daily commute? Are you mad?! Well, call us crazy, but with our new BMW K1600GTL long-term testbike, all we've wanted to do is ride. Even to the point of adding mileage to at least one staffer's already lengthy grind to and from work.

It's not just that the Big K is luxuri ous and comfortable, but that it is also thrilling to ride, from the smooth and abundant flow of liquid power delivered by that 1649cc inline-Six to that easy steering, ultra-precise chassis.

Our well-optioned 2012 Premium package model was delivered brandnew (close to zero miles) in Royal Blue Metallic paint. We've since accumulat ed more than 2000 miles in short order, and everyone who has ridden the bike has been tempted to warp off toward the horizon.

A few observations: A luxury-touring bike with easily and quickly removable luggage is fantastic (see nude photo...); the flip-out air deflectors at midfainng sides add a welcome cooling breeze on hot days; the Bluetooth interface on our bike offers mildly distorted music sound quality (a bass "crunch") despite the use of four different brands of helmet integrated headsets and regardless of

volume/tone settings, while external speaker sound remains clear; tire wear characteristics from the Metzeler Roadtec Z8 Interacts (1 20/7OZR1 7 front, 1 90/55ZR1 7 rear) are excellentno signs of squaring on the rear. But that may be a testament to how much lean time we have been chasing!

I lie OUU-mile service went ott witn out a hitch (engine oil/filter, final-drive oil change, plus safety checks), but the chrome strip adorning the left saddlebag had come loose. Latter was fixed, no charge, and the first service is billed at 1.5 hours labor, plus $90 in parts.

Best mpg so far is 42, which is nice, because, with a 7.0-gallon fuel tank, mile munching is easy. And you know what else is cool? There is a horizon in every direction. Bummer that work is often as close as we get to it, but there's no reason not to enjoy that ride, too. Even if you're only adding a few miles to your commute.

BMW

K1600GTL

$25,845

Honda VFR1200F DCT Service and, now, a smile

MAINTENANCE-WISE, WE DIDN'T HAVE to touch our long-term 2010 Honda VFR1200F DCT for more than 8000 miles. Okay, we changed the tires once-going from the original-equip ment Dunlop Sportmax RoadSmarts to crisper-steering and only slightly less durable SportMax Q2s ($498.43)-and topped up the engine oil once with half a quart. But, as far as any actual wrenching was concerned, that was pretty much it.

Following the initial 600-mile breakin service, Honda calls for an "inspec tion" at 4K to check the sparkplugs, idle speed, brake-fluid levels, pad wear and clutch action, and lube the drive chain.

We managed nearly all of those tasks ourselves without dealer intervention, leaving only plug condition to chance. Hey, we had good spark, thanks, initially, to the factory-issue Yuasa battery and, later, when we tried a lightweight Shorai XtremeRate Lithium-Iron replacement ($186.95).

For the 8000-mile service, however, we took the bike to Huntington Beach Honda in Huntington Beach, California, the next town up the coast from the CW offices in Newport Beach. The actual service (new sparkplugs, engine oil and filter, plus a lengthy list of inspections) set us back $246.50. We brought our own oil (four liters of Bel-Ray EXS 10w40; $18.74 per liter). We also carted along fresh rubber: a set of Michelin’s new dual-compound Pilot Road 3s, a 120/70-17 front ($216.95) and a 190/55-17 rear ($300.95), fitment of which totaled $108, including wheel weights and disposal of the old tires.

In addition, the on/off-switch housing for the optional heated handgrips had to be replaced. The housing was damaged by a poorly routed tie-down strap during transport prior to our sport-touring comparison earlier this year (“High Speed, Low Altitude,” February). Unfortunately, the necessary parts weren’t available separately, so total outlay, including $135 in labor charges, was a whopping $484.95. Finally, installation of the rLINK Moto Technology System ($499.95) mentioned in a previous update (“Automatic on the road,” March) was another $180.

With maintenance done and repairs made, it’s time to break out the maps and go for a ride. □

HONDA VFR1200F DCT

$21,153.55