At the time of its release, the 2013 BMW K 1600 GTL was probably the most powerful touring motorcycle available on the market due to the most compact inline-six-cylinder engine ever fitted on a production motorcycle and the narrowest with 55 mm width.
The model featured every detail designed for maximum riding pleasure with a slim design of the rider seat and handlebars pointed far back, which resulted in a relaxed upright seating position for the rider and passenger.
The 2013 model came standard with technical features such as Cruise Control, E-Gas (Ride by Wire), three riding modes, Rain, Road, Dynamic, and BMW Motorrad integral ABS. It also came with heated grips and seats, an electrically adjustable windshield, matched-color side cases, and a detachable top case with an integrated backrest, comfortable footrest, and Xenon lights.
The adaptive headlight was a special equipment feature available for the first time on a motorcycle that adjusted the lens to compensate for the variations between braking and accelerating.
The most compact and narrowest 1649cc four-stroke liquid-cooled engine ever fitted on a production motorcycle measured the power of 160 hp at 7,500 rpm and 175 Nm (129 lb-ft) of torque at 5,000 rpm sent to the rear wheel through a shaft and a six-speed manual transmission.
The BMW K 1600 GTL set a benchmark for luxury touring motorcycles.