BMW K 1600 B vs Harley-Davidson Road King vs Indian Springfield Competition Check

The BMW K 1600 B was launched at the 2017 India Bike Week. It competes with the Harley-Davidson Road King and the Indian Chief Vintage. Let’s see how the bagger from BMW fares against its rivals-

Design and Features

The BMW K 1600 B is the bagger version of the K 1600 GTL. It sports the traditional bagger design language with its low, stretched-out look and sweeping rear section. It gets all-black components unlike its chrome-loaded rivals. The large fairing has been revised for better wind and weather protection. The bike loses the top-box and sports a short, electronically adjustable windscreen to complement its bagger design. The 336kg bike rides on BMW’s Duolever suspension system up front and the Paralever suspension at the rear with a monoshock. The 26.5litre fuel tank would ensure few fuel stops. The bike gets three power modes- Road, Cruise and Rain along with ABS Pro, Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), heated grips and seat heating.  The large 37-litre panniers house a USB and Audio port that improve the K 1600 B’s touring capabilities.

While the K 1600 B sports a sharper and modern design, the Indian Springfield gets a classic American cruiser appeal. The bike is loaded with chrome components to accentuate its design language.  It sports a removable and tall quick-release windscreen, heated rider and passenger seat, remote locking hard bags and adjustable passenger floorboards and dual auxiliary headlamps. Electronically, it features a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), electronic cruise control and ABS. The bike rides on cartridge type front forks and an air-adjustable suspension at the rear. The bike is the heaviest of the lot at 388kg and gets the smallest fuel tank capacity at 20.8 litres

The Road King is the entry-level model in Harley-Davidson’s Touring range. It sports a classic design inspired by the cruisers from the 50s. Just like the Indian Springfield, the Road King also gets the chrome treatment to boost its classic appeal along with white-walled tyres as standard. It features a detachable large windscreen and dual auxiliary lamps placed on either side of the round headlamp. Harley-Davidson believes in a no-electronic intervention ride and hence, the Road King does not get any electronic aids. The bike weighs 379kg and sports a 22.7 litre fuel tank capacity.

Engine

The BMW K 1600 B uses a 1649cc in-line six cylinder engine that produces 158bhp and 175Nm and is mated to a six-speed gearbox with reverse gear and final shaft drive. It also gets a quickshifter as an optional accessory. This engine is the most powerful of the lot and the only one with a reverse gear.

The Indian Springfield is powered by the Thunder Stroke 111 V-Twin engine that produces 137Nm at 2600rpm. This motor is mated to a six-speed gearbox that transfers power to the rear wheel via a final belt drive.

Powering the Road King is an air-cooled High Output Twin Cam 103 engine. This 1745cc V-twin engine is the least powerful and delivers 150Nm of torque through a six-speed transmission and final belt drive.

Pricing 

Given the number of features and that powerful engine, the BMW K 1600 B is appropriately priced at Rs 29 lakh (ex-showroom). The Harley-Davidson is Rs 50,000 lesser than the K 1600 B and comes with a price tag of Rs 28.58 lakh. The Indian Springfield is the most expensive bike here with a retail price of Rs 31.94 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).