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IrelandFortNine finds a steering catch in BMW's smooth six
RyanF9's K 1600 review moves from engine balance to bump steer, explaining the speed restriction behind its title.
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Story of Why this story? 1,264,967 views so far, and here is what is inside it.
The Bike so Dangerous, BMW Changed its Speed Limit
Things we can learn from the video
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- 2:00Ryan explains why an inline-six is inherently balanced compared with several other engine layouts.
- 3:13Six-cylinder motorcycles bring compromises in engine width, cornering clearance and servicing costs.
- 5:14BMW's Duolever front suspension applies Norman Hossack's alternative design to the K 1600.
- 6:52A demonstration shows how bumps can transmit unexpected steering input to the handlebars.
- 7:22The title's explanation arrives: Ryan connects high-speed bump steer, a federal investigation and BMW's electronic speed restriction.
- 8:23Ryan demonstrates leftward drift without hands, attributing it to shaft-drive forces and offset wheel geometry.
How can a motorcycle engine be so beautifully balanced while the bike itself still has awkward habits? RyanF9 makes that contrast the center of FortNine's BMW K 1600 review, admiring its inline-six before examining what happens at the handlebars.
His enthusiasm starts with the sound. Riding at night, he declares, "That's the best stock exhaust I've ever heard!" Then comes the engineering explanation: the inline-six's inherent balance, set against the width, cornering-clearance problems and servicing costs that have made six-cylinder motorcycles a complicated proposition.
The comfort equipment gets its turn, too, from adjustable wind protection to cockpit controls. But the main question in "The Bike so Dangerous, BMW Changed its Speed Limit" arrives in the second half, when Ryan examines BMW's Duolever front suspension, based on Norman Hossack's design.
He demonstrates how bumps can feed unexpected steering input into the handlebars. Around seven minutes in, he connects high-speed bump steer with a federal defect investigation and BMW's electronic top-speed restriction, showing an NHTSA investigation document. Later, his hands-off demonstration illustrates a separate tendency to drift left, which he attributes to shaft-drive forces and offset wheel geometry.
The review has drawn about 1.3 million views in five days. In the comments, owners compare their own K 1600 experiences with Ryan's demonstrations, while others single out the engine-balance explanation and his handling of the large motorcycle.
Ryan's conclusion isn't that the engineering pleasures disappear. It's that enjoying this BMW means recognizing the limits alongside the smoothness.
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What viewers say
I laughed out loud when the coffee cup went on the tank.
@kiwialfa2083See it on YouTubeRyan talking about the balance of a 6 cylinder begins to feel like TechnologyConnections talking about heatpumps and latent heat
@rubenyoranpcSee it on YouTubeThe FJR has been the best bike I ever owned. Although to be fair I didn't try to ride mine in elevated tight spaces right over a boat landing.
@SophisticatedBobSee it on YouTube
4 more comments
is it a good beginner bike?
@zafarhauseea9143See it on YouTubeThe tip-in demonstration in the rain was a nice little confidence booster. I understand it is not a crazy lean angle, but still
@irenoemiSee it on YouTubeI am so envious of Ryan's riding skills. He throws that huge BMW around like a 300cc trail bike.
@steveharleyfanSee it on YouTubeI owned a 2016 K1600GT for just under 100k miles. The thing handled like a sports bike, toured like a Gold wing (almost) and sounded like an F1 when on the "pipe".
It also broke the bank every service and out of warranty repair.....amazing engine.@Marc-zf3xvSee it on YouTube
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- Channel
- FortNine
- Subscribers
- 2,370,000
- Channel views, last 7 days
- 2,797,991
- Channel views, pace per day
- 368,030 (on a normal day: 321,228)
- Video published
- October 21, 2026
- Video views so far
- 1,264,967 (5 days online)
- Video views, pace per day
- 159,121 (on a normal day: 352,164)
The numbers
The K 1600 review has passed a million views. Its viewing totals sit below alongside FortNine's broader channel activity.
💡 Test your knowledge
Which engine layout powers the BMW K 1600 reviewed here?
The K 1600's inline-six engine is central to Ryan's explanation of its smoothness.