Ask any owner of a BMW touring motorcycle why they chose their particular machine <br />and the responses will vary significantly, from engine configuration to wind and <br />weather protection, ergonomics, comfort and special equipment. Owners are dedicated <br />and knowledgeable, and ride their machines serious distances, usually with a pillion and <br />often as part of their annual holidays. <br />The introduction of a new model series such as the K 1600 GT and K 1600 GTL into such <br />an established market is always exciting, especially one that promises so many new <br />innovations in the class. In a series of articles, we profile some of the innovative <br />technical features – starting with adaptive headlight technology – that will help keep the <br />K 1600 Series machines ahead of their rivals. <br />Riding in the hours of darkness has its advantages, such as lower traffic levels and cooler <br />temperatures (in warmer climates) but many riders choose not to do it because they just <br />don’t feel safe enough. This has a lot to do with the simple fact that basic motorcycle <br />headlights are not good enough to illuminate the road ahead to match the speed the <br />rider wants to travel at. Furthermore, a lack of adjustment often means that the <br />headlight cannot compensate for changes to riding and load conditions, and ends up <br />shining straight towards oncoming traffic rather than assisting the rider’s vision. <br />Another key drawback for many motorcyclists is that, quite simply, they cannot see far <br />enough into corners, as conventional fixed headlights cast their beam straight ahead <br />only. As well as blinding other road users in bends, this also leaves the rider’s area of the <br />road in darkness, which can compromise safety. <br />Imagine if you could use new adaptive headlight technology to ‘see’ around corners and <br />ensure that you have the best possible view of the road ahead? The concept is simple: as <br />you enter a bend, the headlight beam turns to follow the direction of the road, so you <br />always know what’s in front. The BMW K 1600 GT and K 1600 GTL are the first <br />motorcycle models in the world to offer an adaptive xenon headlight for even greater <br />safety at night, and here’s how it works… <br />BMW’s car division has been using adaptive headlight technology in various models for <br />some time, with a dynamic headlamp control system using sensors to measure speed, <br />steering angle and yaw (degree of rotation around the vertical axis), with small electric <br />motors turning the cars headlights and guiding the driver into bends. However, <br />motorcycles are not ‘steered’ in the same way, as riders lean their machines when <br />cornering, so a new system has been developed as a supplement to the standard xenon <br />headlamp, not only increasing safety, but solving one of the age‐old problems of riding at <br />night. <br />The K 1600 models already feature ride height sensors in the front and rear axles that <br />provide data for permanent headlamp levelling, regardless of riding and load conditions, <br />but the optional adaptive headlight actually tilts the headlight according to your lean <br />angle, allowing you to see around a corner as you turn, instead of having to ride into <br />darkness. <br />It’s a simple idea with a clever solution that features a servomotor which turns the <br />standard static reflector mirror into a swivel mirror. When the lean angle of the <br />motorcycle changes, the mirror turns on an axis to compensate for this, and the low <br />beam light is balanced in relation to the actual angle of lean. These two movements are <br />superimposed, resulting in significantly improved illumination being directed into the <br />bend and a subsequent increase in active riding safety. <br />The calculation of the motorcycle’s lean angle is made by means of a sensor box, as used <br />in the S 1000 RR, which also distributes information used by the Dynamic Traction <br />Control and ABS, via the Can bus system. The result is a significant safety benefit – <br />especially when taking bends at night or whenever visibility is poor, quite simply <br />because the road ahead is better illuminated and obstacles become visible sooner. <br />With the high‐beam circular <br />headlamps positioned to the <br />right and left of the standard <br />xenon lights with fibre optic <br />rings, there’s no doubt that <br />the striking ‘face’ of the K1600 <br />GT and GTL will be <br />immediately recognisable as it <br />briefly fills the rear view <br />mirrors of motorists, before <br />disappearing off into the <br />distance and lighting the way <br />for others to follow.
