The Machine

The BMW K1600 GT.

Every BIGBLUE K1600 tour is ridden on the BMW K1600, BMW’s six-cylinder grand tourer, and the machine the rest of the touring world measures itself against. One motorcycle, built for long days two-up, carrying you from the Karoo koppies to the edge of the Indian Ocean without ever asking you to work for it.

A blue BMW K1600 GT in side profile, with panniers and a top box fitted, parked on a quiet lane lined with palms.
The K1600 GT Built for long days two-up 1 649 cc of smooth inline-six, with panniers and a top box fitted.
A white BMW K1600 GT with panniers and a top box, seen from the front three-quarter, parked under gum trees.
Road-ready Provided, fuelled and insured Heated seats and grips, an electrically adjustable screen and adaptive cornering light.
A BMW K1600 GT parked on a quiet open road, with big sky and flat plains stretching to the horizon.
Inland The open road Heated seats and grips for cool early starts; effortless torque for the long, straight kilometres.
The same BMW K1600 GT parked above a rocky stretch of South African coastline, with breaking surf beyond.
… to the coast The coast Adaptive cornering light and a planted, confident chassis for the coastal sweepers along the way.

The same motorcycle, the same tour, ten nights apart.

Why we ride nothing else.

The six-cylinder engine

1 649 cc of BMW inline-six, uncannily smooth, and with enough low-down torque that the mountain passes never call for a fistful of gearchanges. It simply pulls.

A pillion seat for all day

The K1600 GT's pillion seat is built for real distance: wide, well-padded and heated. It is the seat your passenger actually wants to be in from breakfast to sundowners.

Warmth on demand

Heated seats and grips, an electrically adjustable screen and generous weather protection, the difference between enduring a 6 a.m. Karoo start and enjoying it.

Confidence built in

Adaptive cornering light that fills in the bend ahead, stable cruise control and modern electronics, so the last hour into the lodge, in fading light, stays relaxed.

  • ModelK1600 GT
  • Engine1 649 cc inline-6
  • CharacterSmooth · torque-rich
  • SeatingRider + pillion
  • ComfortHeated seats · e-screen
  • LightAdaptive cornering
  • LuggageFitted panniers + top box
  • ConditionProvided fuelled & insured

Provided, and fully supported.

You arrive with a helmet and a riding jacket, the motorcycle is waiting for you in Gqeberha, fully fuelled, insured and road-ready, fitted with panniers and a top box. Prefer not to ride? Join as the passenger of a travel companion who holds a valid motorcycle licence, and the tour is exactly the same.

  • Dedicated support vehicle and trailer travelling with the group every riding day, carrying luggage and essentials.
  • Main luggage transferred lodge to lodge, so you ride light and your bags are in the room when you arrive.
  • Lead ride captain and crew throughout, route, pace, fuel stops and photographs all handled, so you can just ride.
  • All fuel included for approximately 1 500 km of the route.
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