BMW Motorrad R 1200GS Adventure Installation and maintenance manual

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

1
Introduction
i
Welcome to BMW
We congratulate you on your
choice of a motorcycle from
BMW and welcome you to the
community of BMW riders.
Familiarize yourself with your
new motorcycle, so that you
can ride it safely and confidently
in all traffic situations.
To make sure of this, please
read this Rider’s Manual care-
fully before starting to use your
new 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 informa-
tion on maintenance and care
to help you maintain your
motorcycle’s reliability and
safety, as well as its value. It
also offers useful hints and
information on the correct
equipment for machine and
rider, again geared toward max-
imizing reliability and safety.
If you have any questions con-
cerning your motorcycle, your
authorized BMW Motorrad
retailer will gladly provide
advice and assistance.
We hope you enjoy reading this
Rider’s Manual and wish you
many a pleasant, safe journey
on your BMW motorcycle.
Best wishes,
BMW Motorrad
Welcome to BMW

2
Introduction
i
General information
About this Rider’s Manual
We have tried to make all the
information in this Rider’s
Manual easy to find.
The quickest access to a par-
ticular topic or item is by con-
sulting the detailed alphabetical
index at the end. The first chap-
ter of this Rider’s Manual will
provide you with an initial over-
view of your motorcycle.
When the time comes to sell
your BMW, please remember to
hand over this Rider’s Manual; it
is, by law, an important part of
the vehicle.
Symbols and
abbreviations

This symbol indicates pre-
cautions and measures which
are essential in protecting the
rider and other persons from
severe or fatal injury.

Instructions and precautions
specifically intended to prevent
damage to the motorcycle. Dis-
regarding them may render the
warranty invalid.

Special information on operat-
ing and inspecting your motor-
cycle as well as maintenance
and adjustment procedures.

3
Introduction
i
XTightening torque:
This symbol introduces values
for the various tightening
torques
• This symbol introduces a pas-
sage containing instructions
on how to perform a particular
operation
– This symbol draws your atten-
tion to the outcome of the
instructions on how to per-
form a particular operation
( ) Figure in parentheses
bpage number with
explanations
OE Optional equipment
Your motorcycle was
assembled complete with
all the optional equipment
you ordered
OA Optional accessory
You can obtain optional
accessories only through
your authorized BMW
Motorrad retailer or spe-
cialized retail outlet;
optional accessories must
be retrofitted to the
motorcycle
EWS Electronic immobilizer
DWA Anti-theft alarm
General information

4
Introduction
i
General information
Custom equipment
When you ordered your BMW
motorcycle, you chose various
items of custom equipment.
This Rider’s Manual describes
all the optional equipment (OE)
and selected optional accesso-
ries (OA) that BMW offers for
this model series.
This explains why the manual
may also contain descriptions
of equipment which you have
not ordered.
If your BMW was supplied with
equipment not described in this
Rider’s Manual (such as a radio
or anti-theft alarm, for example),
you will find these features
described in separate manuals.
Technical specifications
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 Deutsche Institut für
Normung e. V. (DIN).
Configurations for individual
countries may differ.

5
Introduction
i
Currency
The high safety and quality
standards of BMW motorcycles
are maintained by unceasing
development work on designs,
equipment and accessories.
Because of this, your motorcy-
cle may differ from the informa-
tion supplied in the Rider’s
Manual. Nor can errors and
omissions be entirely ruled out.
We hope you will appreciate
that no legal claims can be
entertained on the basis of the
data, illustrations or descrip-
tions in this manual.
For your own safety

Use only parts and accesso-
ries approved by BMW for
your motorcycle.
Parts and products approved
for your motorcycle by BMW
have been checked for safety,
function and suitability.
BMW accepts product liability
for these products. Conversely,
BMW is unable to accept any
liability whatsoever for parts
and accessories which it has
not approved.
Safety information

6
Introduction
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Safety information
BMW cannot assess every
product of outside origin in
order to decide whether it can
be used on or with a BMW vehi-
cle without constituting a safety
hazard.
Even approval by an official
inspection authority such as the
TÜV in Germany, or an official
permit (General Operating Per-
mit) cannot always provide this
guarantee.
Genuine BMW parts and
accessories and other products
which BMW has approved can
be obtained from your autho-
rized BMW Motorrad retailer,
together with expert advice on
their installation and use.
The right clothing
To reach your destination safely
every time, there's only one
choice:
•Helmet
• Suit
•Gloves
• Boots
It's foolish to ride without the
right clothing. This applies even
to short journeys, and to every
season of the year.
Your authorized BMW Motorrad
retailer will be happy to provide
advice and tell you about the
latest developments, and help
you select the right clothing for
your purpose.

7
Introduction
i
Service
For safety reasons and to main-
tain the value of your motorcy-
cle, regular maintenance
intervals have been laid down.
Always keep to the specified
maintenance intervals. This is
the only way to ensure that war-
ranty claims are not invalidated.
Your authorized BMW Motorrad
retailer can provide information
on the currently specified Ser-
vice, Inspection and Annual In-
spection needed, or you can
fetch the information from the
Internet whenever you want by
visiting
“www.bmw-motorrad.com/
maintenance”.
Important:
BMW refuses to accept liability
for damage or consequential
damage due to repairs or
service work performed by
other than BMW-authorized
workshops.
Consequently, we advise you to
have service and inspection
work performed by your autho-
rized BMW Motorrad retailer's
specially trained, expert per-
sonnel, and confirmed by an
entry in the “Service” section of
this Rider's Manual.
Authorized BMW Motorrad
retailers are supplied with the
latest technical information and
have the necessary technical
know-how and specially trained
staff.
Please do not hesitate to con-
tact your authorized BMW
Motorrad retailer on all matters
concerning your motorcycle.
Authorized BMW Motorrad
retailers are fully informed about
all aspects of your motorcycle
and will gladly advise and assist
you.
Best wishes,
BMW Motorrad
Safety information

8
i
Introduction
Willkommen bei BMW 1
Allgemeine Informationen 2
Allgemeine Informationen 3
Allgemeine Informationen 4
Sicherheitsinformationen 5
Sicherheitsinformationen 6
Sicherheitsinformationen 7
8
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
11
Gesamtansicht links 12
Gesamtansicht rechts 13
Lenkerarmatur links 14
Lenkerarmatur rechts 15
Cockpit 16
17
Contents
Welcome to BMW ..................1
General information............ 2-4
Safety information .............. 5-7
Overview .............................11
General view, left side ..........12
General view, right side........13
Left handlebar fitting ............14
Right handlebar fitting ..........15
Cockpit ................................16
Status indicators ................17
Indicator and
warning lights.......................18
Multifunction display.............19
Function indicators...............20
Warning indicators ......... 21-23
ABS warning lights......... 24-25
Operation ............................27
Ignition switch and
steering lock .................. 28-29
Electronic immobilizer
EWS............................... 30-31
Hazard warning
flashers .......................... 32-33
Tripmaster...................... 34-35
Kill switch.............................36
Heated handlebar grips........37
Clock ...................................38
Windshield ..........................39
Handlebar levers ............ 40-41
Lights ............................. 42-45
Seat ............................... 46-48
Mirrors .................................49
Spring preload ............... 50-51
Shock-absorber
adjustment...........................52
Wheels.................................53
Loading.......................... 54-55
Shift lever.............................56
Riding .................................57
Safety instructions ......... 58-59
Checklist........................ 60-61
First time out.................. 62-63
Before you start ............. 64-66
Starting ................................67
Running in...................... 68-69
Gear shifts ..................... 70-71
Off-road riding................ 72-73
Parking .......................... 74-77
Refueling........................ 78-79
Brake system -
general........................... 80-81
Brake system - with
BMW Integral ABS ......... 82-89
Accessories........................91
General instructions.............92
12 V sockets.................. 93-94
Luggage system .......... 95-101
Arrive safely......................103
Reliable operation ..............104
Service worldwide..............105
Training means
extra safety ........................106