Some days are purt near perfect. Yesterday was one of those days. After being blessed with what may be the most incredible motorcycle I’ll ever own, I needed to take it out for a spin. What is this machine? A 2013 BMW K1600 GT!

Turns out a friend of mine in our volunteer police unit has a similar machine, so he graciously agreed to wander around the byways of our region of Virginia with me this past Sunday. He’s a great guy, who lives quite near me, and has retired as a successful finance executive. I got to meet his wife, his son, and his new dog over coffee this morning, and we headed out about 1020.

We went out US 6, Patterson Avenue, towards Scottsville, VA. The sun was to our backs, the temperature was a perfect 68 F, and the traffic was light. Patterson turns into River Road, which changes from East to West River Road a few times along the way. What determines east and west, no one knows. At one major intersection, we headed south on 15, through Fork Union, and continued west on 6 towards Scottsville. Right at the eastern border of this little enclave you find yourself diving down back and forth twisties as you enter this small town on the northern bank of the river. Of course, the BMW K1600 GT only asks that you think about where you want to go, and somehow it goes there. At the stop sign, a new K1600 GT rider managed to entertain the throng of Harley-Davidson riders at the patio with a somewhat amateurish launch and left turn, with a foot down for a save. It reminds me of a launch and left turn I experienced in 1980 at Vanderbilt, where a friend and I gave the Kappa Sig fraternity brothers a laugh as we fell over on his Yamaha RD 350 in front of their porch. Thankfully on this day, I made it across the busy intersection and into the Farmer’s Market shed adjacent to Tavern On The James.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many Harley-Davidson riders in one place at one time. The weather and the cuisine offered there made a perfect storm of thunderous V-Twin rumbles, as gang after gang rolled in. Men and women riders stumbled across the parking lot, after swinging their kickstands out, most often because of age and some infirmity. Most were grey-haired, grey-bearded, and bespectacled. Even the women. OK, I jest, but only slightly. As the only BMW riders there, we hoped that we would survive without having to fight or flight.

We were greeted by a friendly manager, who wore his gold-rimmed sunglasses pushed up over his dreadlocks. His jeans, with saucy embroidered back pockets, sashayed around the patio as group after group made their way to the restaurant. One group of 12 bikers managed to rearrange all the available tables and chairs, while we hurriedly placed our order before they overwhelmed the kitchen. It was a fabulous lunch. My friend had a perfectly done cheeseburger, while I stuffed a “Dagwood” club into my pie hole. The bacon was perfectly crunchy, within the mayonnaise-laden toasted sourdough trio. Real chicken breast and ham lay alongside fresh tomato slices. The French fries were wide, thick, and perfectly fried. We talked about life, family, and of course bikes. BMW bikes. I felt somewhat conspicuous in my sport bike leather jacket! We tried to avoid criticizing the H-D brand too loudly, given that we were surrounded by no less than 40 bikers. Four were wearing vests with patches, albeit patches announcing they were members of a police motorcycle club, the Blue Knights.

After the leisurely lunch, we headed back out towards the east, on US 6, up the winding road. Once we got to Fork Union, we headed north on US 15, towards Gordonsville. At the US 250 traffic signal, my friend congratulated me on a fine purchase, a fun ride, turned due east and headed home. I continued northward towards Gordonsville, where I wanted to recreate a photo from some years ago. Thankfully, the spot where I parked my beloved Honda Interceptor was still there, and I was able to park the BMW K1600 GT at about the same place. I took a few shots of the new ride, and met an elderly couple out for a walk with their dog. Although they live there, they for some reason took pictures of each other on the bench as if they were tourists.

I looked at the map, and saw I was near Culpeper, VA. My daughter lives there at present, with her husband and her dog. Seemed like a perfect day to ride up there and show her the new bike. After keying in their address in the BMW GPS, I found myself enjoying the quaint small town downtown, and then I was back in the generica of America with Walmart, Autozone, and McDonald’s on the main drag. Soon enough I was riding down their street. But, alas, due to their gravel driveway, I couldn’t visit them at home, and we had to meet for a moment on nearby Bradford Road. It was nice to see her again, if only for a few minutes, and I think I impressed her with my new scoot.

I headed back east towards US 29 south, and easily accelerated up to highway speed in about ten feet with the incredible 160 hp of the 1.6L engine. One exit to the south, and I hooked up with US 522 South, through Mineral, and on to US 64. There, on I-64, I zoomed along with the ancient Ford Rangers and new Mercedes sedans, until US 288 took me to Broad, Lauderdale, and home.

So, I rode 224 miles in one day. I’ve never piloted that far in one day. It was impossible, with my sport bike, just due to the riding position and the pain that follows hours in the saddle. I still had plenty of fuel in the 6.4 gallon tank. The entire experience filled me with astonishment. No matter what the situation demanded, the motorcycle easily fulfilled. At speed, the curves of the byways were carved by Teutonic precision. I think I get extra credit if I use that word with BMW, by the way. Maybe they will send me a free BMW Motorrad hat. But, without question, this motorcycle is simply amazing. Slight countersteering pressure on the grips leans the bike over with no hesitation, and at whatever speed you want to go around the curve, you go. The adjustable height windscreen moves up and down at the touch of a button, to set the protection bubble at your present speed. The GPS in the instrument panel gives you confidence in your course, and the suspension adjustments add comfort or handling prowess. All are readily adjustable, by a few button presses and twirls of the wonder wheel control on the left grip. I even got to listen to bluegrass music from the onboard stereo. The seating position is neutral, and actually promotes good posture. My arms don’t hurt from leaning forward (like on the sport bike), and my 198 pounds are suspended between compliant dampers and Michelin Road GT tires. About the only thing that is challenging, now, is dealing with the 679 pounds of engineered aluminum, plastic and steel at very low speeds. But, I can do it. I just have to think about my parking lot positions, my clutch and throttle coordination, and my entrances from a parking lot onto a roadway. It’s different than a 472 pound sportbike, but not impossible for this 58-year young adventurer.

So, the sun is setting, the pinot noir is relaxing, and the machine is settled in the garage, waiting for the next sojourn. Where and when? Who knows. But, this gentleman will no doubt dream dreams of journeys far away, with the wind gently wafting over his Arai helmet while the cares of today fade behind him.