2022 BMW K1600 BT Moto ECU Flash Review

2022 BMW K1600 BT Moto ECU Flash Tune Review

The BMW K-platform has undergone its most significant transformation since 2017 with the 2022 BMW K1600. This beast now rocks a 6-axis IMU for super-smooth handling and a second-gen Dynamic Electronic Suspension. Under the hood, it’s all about power with a 1,649 cc engine that kicks out 160 horsepower at 6,750 rpm and 133 pound-feet of torque at 5,250 rpm. This model also marked a notable upgrade from the K 1300, shifting from a four-cylinder to a six-cylinder configuration and increasing displacement from 1,293cc to 1,649cc. 

Designed with long rides in mind, the K1600 offers a comfy and ergonomic setup that keeps you cruising comfortably, plus some solid wind protection. It’s also decked out with a sleek 10-inch TFT display, LED lights that are literally directional, and easy-to-use controls, not to mention a built-in sound system and full suite of high-tech riding aids like adaptive cruise control and dynamic brake control. 

In this 2022 BMW K1600 GTL review, the top dog of the K family, we wanted to see how the bike performed before and after the BT Moto ECU Flash Tune. We also ran dyno and acceleration tests and addressed a few common customer complaints with our custom flash tune. So, without further ado, let’s start the 2022 BMW K1600 review.

Stock Tuning First Impressions of 2022 BMW K1600

Riding the 2022 BMW K1600? It’s like lounging on a giant, high-tech Lazy Boy that just happens to have wheels. One of the cooler upgrades this year is the adjustable visor—simple, sure, but surprisingly handy. Now, despite its comforts and tech, this mammoth ride, which weighs in at a hefty 789 pounds, comes with its share of quirks. The quick shifter is generally smooth, but you might notice some clunkiness when upshifting occasionally. At lower speeds, the bike could use a bit more oomph, and the throttle response tends to feel a bit on the lazy side. One common complaint has been about the top speed limiter, but we've managed to remove that quite easily with our flash tune. So, overall, cruising on this bike offers a super comfy experience, even if there are a few bumps along the way.

Next, we delved into the factory tuning to get a feel for the bike's top-end capabilities. First off, the handling and braking are pretty impressive, especially considering the size of this beast. It’s interesting that the bike really comes alive in the last 20 percent of the throttle—it's like it's dormant until then, but when it wakes up, it really wakes up. However, this doesn’t mean the power is jerky or unpredictable; it’s actually quite the opposite, which is great for a touring bike that’s not designed for racing.

We couldn’t wrap up without putting the bike through a 60 to 130 mph test to see what kind of power it was really packing. It managed to hit the mark in 10.45 seconds, which is definitely decent for a touring bike of this caliber.

However, this test made it pretty clear that the bike is missing some punch at the lower end of the speed spectrum. So, while the K1600 offers a plush and comfy ride, a bit more grunt in its step wouldn't hurt. And this is where BT Moto ECU Flash came into play.

2022 BMW K1600 ECU Flash and Results

After the flash tune, the bike kicked off with a lower RPM and idle, a stark contrast to the higher idle we saw pre-flash. This is a crucial improvement, especially when you consider cold starts. Typically, a higher rev at startup leads to more engine wear and tear because the oil hasn’t reached its optimal operating temperature yet. Post-flash, we also noticed a significant enhancement in throttle response—it was now responsive and delivered power right when you needed it. You no longer had to go full throttle to get the bike moving.For owners of the 2022 BMW K1600 looking for an even more aggressive throttle, we've got some good news. We’ve full control over the bike’s ECU, so if you're looking to amp up the throttle response even further, just shoot us an email. We can tweak it to your liking without making it overly jerky—keeping the throttle smooth and balanced is key.

As for the top-end power, there wasn’t a monumental change post-flash, but we did anticipate seeing some improvement in the 60 to 130 mph tests. The reason we didn't observe a huge difference at the top end is likely due to the initial lack of power at lower speeds, an issue that the BT Moto ECU Flash has impressively rectified. Moreover, the bike smoothly took off from 1,500 rpm without any stalling—a minor annoyance we noticed before the flash that was neatly resolved. Plus, after the flash, the bike retained all its original modes, so no surprises there—just a smoother, more responsive ride.

In our stage 1 review of the top-end power for the 2022 BMW K1600, we pushed the bike hard to really test its limits. The handling definitely felt more aggressive post-flash, yet the top-end power seemed to mirror the factory tuning's output. However, the improved throttle response was a game-changer, injecting much more excitement into the ride. Previously, the bike struggled with throttle response at lower speeds, but now it's smooth and consistent across the board, enhancing its versatility.

Wrapping up our post-flash review of the 2022 BMW K1600, we conducted the 60 through 130 mph test to measure any gains in performance. The results were promising—the BT Moto ECU Flashed K1600 shaved off a solid 0.20 seconds compared to its pre-flash performance. The cherry on top? Most of the power gains were realized in the higher rev range, making it a thrilling ride for those who love to push their bikes to the limit.

The Key Takeaways

The flash tune really took the 2022 BMW K1600 to a new level, enhancing several aspects of its performance. It not only lowered the bike's running temperatures but also refined the quick shifter and significantly boosted the throttle response—a feature so improved that many riders would consider the BT Moto ECU Flash worth it just for that. Additionally, we bumped up the RPM limiter by 500 RPM over the stock setting, although we didn't adjust the top speed limiter, which isn't really a concern on this bike, even though we pushed it up to 145 mph. Overall, the bike became a lot more enjoyable to ride post-flash.

If you ever feel that the throttle response on your 2022 BMW K1600 is too sluggish or overly sensitive, don’t hesitate to contact us. Adjusting it is no trouble at all, and we're here to make sure your ride feels just right.