BMW Motorrad R 1200GS Adventure Installation and maintenance manual

Rider's Manual (US Model)
R 1200 GS
BMW Motorrad

Motorcycle/Retailer Data
Motorcycle Data
Model
Vehicle identification number
Color number
Initial registration
License plate
Retailer Data
Contact in Service
Ms./Mr.
Phone number
Retailer's address/phone number (com-
pany stamp)

Welcome to BMW
Congratulations on choosing a
motorcycle from BMW Motorrad
and welcome to the community
of BMW motorcycle owners and
riders. Familiarize yourself with
your new motorcycle so that you
can ride it safely and confidently
in all highway traffic situations.
About this Rider's Manual
Please read this Rider's Manual
carefully before starting to use
your new BMW. It contains im-
portant information on how to
operate the controls and how to
get the most benefit from your
BMW's advanced technical fea-
tures.
In addition, it contains information
on maintenance and care to help
you maintain your motorcycle's
reliability and safety, as well as its
value.
Documentation confirming per-
formance of scheduled mainte-
nance is a precondition for gen-
erous handling of out-of-warranty
claims and goodwill warranty
treatment.
Should you want to sell your
BMW one day, please also re-
member to turn over the Ride's
Manual to the new owner. it is
an important part of your motor-
cycle.
Suggestions and complaints
If you have any questions con-
cerning your motorcycle, your au-
thorized BMW Motorrad retailer
is always happy to provide advice
and assistance.
We wish you many miles of safe
and enjoyable riding on your
BMW
BMW Motorrad. 01 40 8 406 477
*01408406477*
*01408406477*
*01408406477*

Table of Contents
1 General instructions ... . 5
Overview..................... 6
Abbreviations and
symbols...................... 6
Equipment ................... 7
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Notice concerning current sta-
tus ........................... 7
2 Overviews ................ 9
General view, left side . . . . . . . 11
General view, right side . . . . . 13
Underneath seat . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Multifunction switch, left . . . . 15
Multifunction switch,
right......................... 17
Instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3 Displays ................. 19
Indicator and warning
lights ........................ 20
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 22
Warning symbols in the
display panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Warning lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
4 Operation................ 49
Steering and ignition
lock ......................... 50
Ignition with Key-
less Ride .................... 52
Emergency on/off switch (kill
switch) ...................... 56
Lights ....................... 56
Hazard warning lights sys-
tem ......................... 58
Turn indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 59
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)........................ 66
Automatic Stability Control
(ASC) ....................... 67
Dynamic Traction Control
(DTC) ....................... 68
Electronic chassis and
suspension adjustment
(DESA) ..................... 69
Riding mode ................ 72
PRO riding mode . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Hill Start Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Anti-theft alarm (DWA) . . . . . . 82
Heated handlebar grips . . . . . 85
Rider and passenger
seats ........................ 86
5 Setting................... 89
Mirrors ...................... 90
Headlight.................... 90
Wind shield ................. 91
Clutch....................... 91
Brakes ...................... 92
Handlebars.................. 93
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Damping .................... 94
6 Riding.................... 97
Safety information . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Observe checklist . . . . . . . . . 100
Always before riding off . . . 100
At every third refueling
stop....................... 101
Starting.................... 101
Runningin ................ 104

Off-road riding . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Shifting gears . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Brakes .................... 107
Parking your motorcy-
cle......................... 109
Refueling.................. 110
Securing motorcycle for
transport .................. 114
7 Technology in de-
tail...................... 117
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)...................... 118
Automatic Stability Control
(ASC) ..................... 121
Dynamic Traction Control
(DTC) ..................... 122
Dynamic ESA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Riding mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Tire pressure control
(RDC/TPC)................ 126
Shift assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Hill Start Control . . . . . . . . . . 129
8 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . 131
General instructions . . . . . . . 132
Tool kit.................... 132
Service tool kit . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Front wheel stand . . . . . . . . . 133
Engine oil ................. 134
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Clutch..................... 139
Coolant.................... 139
Tires ...................... 141
Rims and tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Wheels.................... 143
Air filter.................... 149
Light sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Battery .................... 156
Fuses ..................... 160
Data link connector . . . . . . . 162
9 Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . 165
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Onboard power
sockets.................... 166
Case ...................... 167
Topcase................... 170
Navigation system . . . . . . . . . 176
10 Care .................. 181
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Washing your motorcy-
cle......................... 182
Cleaning sensitive motorcy-
cle parts................... 183
Paint care ................. 184
Protective wax coating . . . . 184
Store motorcycle . . . . . . . . . . 184
Return motorcycle to
use........................ 185
11 Technical data . . . . . . 187
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . 188
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . 189
Fuel....................... 191
Engine oil ................. 192
Engine .................... 192
Clutch..................... 193
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . 195
Frame..................... 195
Suspension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Brakes .................... 198
Wheels and tires . . . . . . . . . . 199
Electrical system . . . . . . . . . . 200

Alarm system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Weights ................... 205
Performance data . . . . . . . . . 205
12 Service ............... 207
Reporting safety
defects.................... 208
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 209
BMW Motorrad Mobility
Services................... 209
Maintenance proce-
dures...................... 209
BMW Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Maintenance schedule . . . . 213
Maintenance confirma-
tions....................... 214
Service confirmations . . . . . 228
13 Appendix... . . . . . . . . . . 231
Certificate for Electronic
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Certificate for Key-
less Ride .................. 234
Certificate for Tire Pressure
Control.................... 236
14 Index ................. 237

General instructions
Overview ............................ 6
Abbreviations and symbols . . . . . . . . . . 6
Equipment........................... 7
Technicaldata....................... 7
Notice concerning current status . . . . 7
1
5
z General instructions

Overview
This Rider's Manual has been
designed to provide quick and ef-
ficient orientation. The quickest
way for you to find information
on specific topics is to consult
the comprehensive index at the
back of the manual. If you would
like to start with a quick overview
of your motorcycle, this informa-
tion has been provided in chapter
2. All maintenance and repair
work carried out on your mo-
torcycle will be documented in
Chapter 12. Documentation con-
firming performance of scheduled
maintenance is a precondition
for generous handling of out-of-
warranty claims and goodwill war-
ranty treatment.
When the time comes to sell
your BMW, remember to hand
over this Rider's Manual; it is an
important part of the motorcycle.
Abbreviations and
symbols
CAUTION Hazard with
low risk. Failure to avoid
this hazard can result in minor or
moderate injury.
WARNING Hazard with
moderate risk. Failure to
avoid this hazard can result in
death or serious injury.
DANGER Hazard with high
risk. Failure to avoid this
hazard results in death or serious
injury.
ATTENTION Special in-
structions and precaution-
ary measures. Non-compliance
can cause damage to the vehi-
cle or accessories and warranty
claims may be denied as a result.
NOTICE Special informa-
tion on operating and in-
specting your motorcycle as well
as maintenance and adjustment
procedures.
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 ac-
cessory or equipment-
dependent information.
Tightening torque.
Technical data.
NV National-market version.
1
6
z General instructions

OE Optional extra.
BMW Motorrad optional
extras are already com-
pletely installed during
motorcycle production.
OA Optional accessory.
BMW Motorrad op-
tional accessories can
be purchased and in-
stalled at your autho-
rized BMW Motorrad
retailer.
ABS Anti-Lock Brake System.
ASC Automatic Stability Con-
trol.
D-
ESA
Electronic chassis and
suspension adjustment.
DTC Dynamic Traction Con-
trol (optional equipment
only in combination with
Pro riding modes).
DWA Anti-theft alarm.
EWS Electronic immobilizer.
TPC Tire Pressure Control
(TPC).
Equipment
When you ordered your BMW
motorcycle, you chose various
items of custom equipment. This
Rider's Manual describes optional
equipment (OE) offered by BMW
and selected optional accessories
(OA). This explains why the man-
ual may also contain descriptions
of equipment which you have not
ordered. Please note, too, that
your motorcycle might not be ex-
actly as illustrated in this manual
on account of country-specific
differences.
If your motorcycle comes with
equipment not described here,
you can find the descriptions in a
separate manual.
Technical data
All dimensions, weights and out-
puts in the Rider's Manual relate
to the German DIN standards
and comply with their tolerance
specifications. Versions for indi-
vidual countries may differ.
Notice concerning
current status
The outstanding levels of safety
and quality furnished by every
BMW motorcycle are the result
of ongoing advanced develop-
ment focusing on continuous
improvement in design and en-
gineering as well as equipment
and accessories. For this reason,
some aspects of your motorcycle
may vary from the descriptions in
this Rider's Manual. In addition,
BMW Motorrad cannot guarantee
the total absence of errors. For
this reason BMW is unable to
recognize any claims stemming
1
7
z General instructions

from the information, illustrations
and descriptions in this manual.
1
8
z General instructions

Overviews
General view, left side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
General view, right side . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Underneathseat.................... 14
Multifunction switch, left . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Multifunction switch, right . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Instrumentpanel.................... 18
2
9
z Overviews

2
10
z Overviews

General view, left side
1Fuel filler opening
( 111)
2Seat lock ( 86)
3Adjuster for rear damp-
ing (at the bottom on the
spring strut) ( 94)
2
11
z Overviews

2
12
z Overviews

General view, right side
1without Dynamic ESAOE
Adjuster for spring preload,
rear ( 93).
2Air cleaner (under center
fairing panel) ( 149)
3Brake-fluid reservoir, front
( 137)
4Height adjuster for wind-
shield ( 91)
5Power socket ( 166)
6Vehicle identification num-
ber (on the steering head)
Type plate (on frame at
front right)
7Coolant level indicator
( 139)
Coolant tank ( 140)
8Oil fill location ( 135)
9Engine oil level indicator
( 134)
10 Behind the side panel:
Battery ( 156)
Positive battery connection
point ( 155)
Diagnostic connector
( 162)
11 Brake-fluid reservoir, rear
( 138)
2
13
z Overviews

Underneath seat
1Standard tool kit ( 132)
2Rider's Manual (US Model)
3Tire inflation pressure table
4Load capacity table
5Adjuster for the rider's seat
height ( 87)
6Fuses ( 160)
2
14
z Overviews

Multifunction switch,
left
1Headlight flasher and high-
beam headlight ( 56)
2with cruise controlOE
Cruise-control system
( 79).
3Hazard warning lights sys-
tem ( 58)
4ABS ( 66)
ASC ( 67)
with riding modes ProOE
DTC ( 68)
5with Dynamic ESAOE
Dynamic ESA adjustment
options ( 69)
6with LED auxiliary head-
lightOA
LED auxiliary driving lamp
( 57).
7Turn indicators ( 58)
8Horn
9Multifunction display
( 59)
2
15
z Overviews

10 with preparation for navi-
gation systemOE
Operating the navigation
system ( 177)
Multi-Controller
2
16
z Overviews

Multifunction switch,
right
1with heated gripsOE
Heated handlebar grips
( 85).
2Riding mode ( 72)
3Emergency on/off switch
(kill switch) ( 56)
4Starter button
Starting engine ( 101).
2
17
z Overviews

Instrument panel
1Speedometer
2Tachometer
3Photosensor (for adjusting
brightness of instrument
lighting)
with anti-theft alarm sys-
tem (DWA)OE
Alarm system LED
Alarm signal ( 83)
with Keyless RideOE
Indicator light for radio-
operated key
Ignition with Keyless Ride
( 53).
4Indicator and warning lights
( 20)
5Multifunction display
( 22)
2
18
z Overviews