Managing the big Beemer in car parks or the garage is made so much easier via its thumb-operated reverse feature - it’s a godsend on a bike of this size and weight.
Speaking of gears, the typically excellent BMW quickshifter has a lovely snickety-snick feel in combination with the precise gearbox, while electronic torque drag control helps to keep the rear wheel composed should you toe the shift lever down too enthusiastically. A centrestand is also standard.
As you might expect, BMW has left no stone unturned in this department. You get cornering ABS, dynamic electronic suspension adjustment, hill start assist, dynamic traction control, tyre pressure sensors, Bluetooth connectivity for rider and passenger, plus cruise control.
There are three riding modes - Rain, Road and Dynamic. I mostly preferred the sharper throttle response offered by Dynamic, but the Road setting’s softened suspension and fuel maps smoothed out proceedings when riding two-up.
The damping can be independently adjusted via the vehicle settings, but the suspenders will also automatically adjust for varying loads. The system seems to work well, with barely any noticeable difference to ride quality with the addition of a pillion.
The term, ‘all-day comfort’ gets thrown around a fair bit in bikes, but BMW does a great job of nailing everything that separates a tolerable mile-eater from a proper long-haul tourer. The GTL’s plush saddle, neutral ride position and wide footpegs meant I could shift my weight around on longer rides, with the ’bars set at just the right distance and inclination so I was neither slouched nor crouched. The low 750mm seat makes walking speed manoeuvres easier, but does reduce the available legroom somewhat. The forward-mounted floorboards on the BMW K 1600 Grand America might better suit taller types.