BMW Motorrad R 1200 GS 2012 Installation and maintenance manual

BMW Motorrad
Rider's Manual
R 1200 GS
The Ultimate
Riding Machine
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Motorcycle data/dealership details
Motorcycle data
Model
Vehicle identification number
Colour code
Date of first registration
Registration number
Dealership details
Person to contact in Service department
Ms/Mr
Phone number
Dealership address/phone number (com-
pany stamp)
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Welcome to BMW
We congratulate you on your
choice of a motorcycle from
BMW and welcome you to the
community of BMW riders.
Familiarise yourself with your new
motorcycle so that you can ride it
safely and confidently in all traffic
situations.
Please read this Rider's Manual
carefully before starting to use
your new BMW motorcycle. It
contains important information on
how to operate the controls and
how to make the best possible
use of all your BMW's technical
features.
In addition, it contains information
on maintenance and care to help
you maintain your motorcycle's
reliability and safety, as well as its
value.
If you have questions concerning
your motorcycle, your authorised
BMW Motorrad dealer will gladly
provide advice and assistance.
We hope that you will enjoy rid-
ing your BMW and that all your
journeys will be pleasant and safe
BMW Motorrad.
01 41 8 525 771
*01418525771*
*01418525771*
*01418525771*
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Table of Contents
You can also consult the index at
the end of this Rider's Manual if
you want to find a particular topic
or item of information.
1 General instructions ... . 5
Overview..................... 6
Abbreviations and
symbols...................... 6
Equipment ................... 7
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Currency ..................... 7
2 General views .. . . .. . . . . . . 9
General view, left side . . . . . . . 11
General view, right side . . . . . 13
Multifunction switch, left . . . . 14
Handlebar fitting, right . . . . . . . 15
Underneath the seat . . . . . . . . 16
Instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3 Status indicators . .. . . . . 19
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 20
Meanings of the status in-
dicators ..................... 21
Warning and telltale
lights ........................ 21
Service-due indicator . . . . . . . . 22
Range....................... 22
Ambient temperature. . . . . . . . 23
Tyre pressures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Oil level ..................... 24
Warnings.................... 25
4 Operation................ 39
Ignition switch/steering
lock ......................... 40
Electronic immobiliser
EWS ........................ 41
Clock........................ 42
Reading ..................... 43
Lights ....................... 45
Turn indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Hazard warning flashers . . . . . 46
Emergency off switch (kill
switch) ...................... 47
Grip heating................. 48
BMW Motorrad Integral
ABS......................... 49
Automatic Stability Control
ASC......................... 50
Clutch....................... 51
Brakes ...................... 52
Mirrors ...................... 53
Windscreen ................. 53
Handlebars.................. 54
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Damping .................... 56
Electronic Suspension Ad-
justment ESA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Tyres........................ 59
Headlight.................... 60
Front and rear seats . . . . . . . . . 61
Helmet holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
5 Riding.................... 65
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . 66
Checklist .................... 68
Starting...................... 69
Runningin .................. 71
Off-roading.................. 72
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Brakes ...................... 73
Parking your motorcycle . . . . 74
Refuelling ................... 75
Securing motorcycle for
transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
6 Engineering details... . . 79
Brake system with BMW
Motorrad Integral ABS . . . . . . 80
Electronic engine manage-
ment with BMW Motorrad
ASC......................... 82
Tyre pressure monitoring
RDC......................... 84
Electronic Suspension Ad-
justment ESA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
7 Accessories .. . . . . . . .. . . . 87
General instructions . . . . . . . . . 88
Power sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Cases ....................... 89
Topcase..................... 92
Luggage carrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
8 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . .. 97
General instructions . . . . . . . . . 98
Toolkit....................... 98
Engine oil ................... 99
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Clutch..................... 105
Rims and tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Wheels.................... 107
Front-wheel stand . . . . . . . . . 113
Bulbs...................... 114
Air filter.................... 120
Jump starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Battery .................... 124
9 Care.................... 129
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Washing motorcycle. . . . . . . 130
Cleaning easily damaged
components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Paint care ................. 132
Protective wax coating . . . . 132
Laying up motorcycle . . . . . 132
Restoring motorcycle to
use........................ 132
10 Technical data . . . . . . 133
troubleshooting chart . . . . . . 134
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . 135
Engine .................... 137
Fuel....................... 138
Engine oil ................. 139
Clutch..................... 140
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . 141
Running gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Brakes .................... 142
Wheels and tyres. . . . . . . . . . 143
Electrics................... 144
Frame..................... 145
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Weights ................... 147
Riding specifications . . . . . . 147
11 Service ............... 149
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 150
BMW Motorrad Mobility
services ................... 150
Maintenance work . . . . . . . . . 150
Confirmation of mainten-
ance work................. 152
Confirmation of service . . . . 157
12 Index ................. 159
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General instructions
General instructions
Overview ............................ 6
Abbreviations and symbols . . . . . . . . . . 6
Equipment........................... 7
Technicaldata....................... 7
Currency............................. 7
1
5
z General instructions
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Overview
Chapter 2 of this Rider's Manual
will provide you with an initial
overview of your motorcycle. All
maintenance and repair work on
the motorcycle is documented in
Chapter 11. This record of the
maintenance work you have had
performed on your motorcycle is
a precondition for generous treat-
ment of goodwill claims.
When the time comes to sell
your BMW, please remember
to hand over this Rider's Manual;
it is an important part of the mo-
torcycle.
Abbreviations and
symbols
Indicates warnings that you
must comply with for reas-
ons of your safety and the safety
of others, and to protect your
motorcycle against damage.
Specific instructions on
how to operate, control, ad-
just or look after items of equip-
ment on the motorcycle.
Indicates the end of an
item of information.
Instruction.
Result of an activity.
Reference to a page with
more detailed informa-
tion.
Indicates the end of a
passage relating to spe-
cific accessories or items
of equipment.
Tightening torque.
Item of technical data.
OE Optional extra
The motorcycles are as-
sembled complete with
all the BMW optional ex-
tras originally ordered.
OA Optional accessory
You can obtain optional
accessories through your
authorised BMW Motor-
rad dealer; optional ac-
cessories have to be
retrofitted to the motor-
cycle.
EWS Electronic immobiliser.
DWA Anti-theft alarm (Dieb-
stahlwarnanlage)
ABS Anti-lock brake system
ASC Automatic Stability Con-
trol.
1
6
z General instructions
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ESA Electronic Suspension
Adjustment
Electronic Suspension
Adjustment.
RDC Tyre pressure monitoring
(ReifenDruck-Control)
Equipment
When you ordered your BMW
motorcycle, you chose various
items of custom equipment.
This Rider's Manual describes
optional extras (OE) offered by
BMW and selected optional ac-
cessories (OA). This explains why
the manual may also contain de-
scriptions of equipment which
you have not ordered. Please
note, too, that your motorcycle
might not be exactly as illus-
trated in this manual on account
of country-specific differences.
If your BMW was supplied with
equipment not described in
this Rider's Manual, you will
find these features described in
separate manuals.
Technical data
All dimensions, weights and
power ratings stated in the
Rider's Manual are quoted to the
standards and comply with the
tolerance requirements of the
Deutsches Institut für Normung
e.V. (DIN). Versions for individual
countries may differ.
Currency
The high safety and quality
standards of BMW motorcycles
are maintained by constant
development work on designs,
equipment and accessories.
Because of this, your motorcycle
may differ from the information
supplied in the Rider's Manual.
Nor can BMW Motorrad entirely
rule out errors and omissions.
We hope you will appreciate that
no claims can be entertained on
the basis of the data, illustrations
or descriptions in this manual. 1
7
z General instructions
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1
8
z General instructions
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