BMW K1600GT wins IBOTY 2011 Award

The worldwide shift in motorcycling trends has been amply illustrated by the success of the BMWK1600GT in the International Bike of the Year 2011. 25 magazines from around the globe voted the big BMW into 1st spot, ahead of Ducati’s Diavel and Aprilia’s Tuono V4 APRC (see test somewhere in this issue).
If BMW were happy with the result, their cup must have overflowed with joy as the K1600GTL and the S1000RR came in fourth and joint fifth respectively.

The BMW press release reads as follows; “The K 1600 GT convinced the motorcycle journalists with its unique combination of comfort, performance and use of innovative technologies. The powerful in-line 6-cylinder engine was said to offer power, refinement and lots of fun. The bike's sophisticated technology – in addition to ABS, traction control and navigation system, an adaptive headlight and electronically controlled suspension with various modes increase active riding safety – makes the K 1600 GT an incomparable touring motorcycle. On the road, the outstanding qualities of the K 1600 GT are its agile chassis and unusually light handling. All this gives the rider a unique riding experience, according to the jury, impressing the most demanding touring and sports motorcyclists.”

The top five were;
1) BMW K 1600 GT (41 points)
2) Ducati Diavel (32 points)
3) Aprilia Tuono V4 APRC (22 points)
4) BMW K 1600 GTL (18 points)
5) BMW S 1000 RR and Kawasaki ZX 10R (16 points each)