BMW Motorrad R 1200GS Adventure Installation and maintenance manual

Rider's Manual (US Model)
R 1200 GS Adventure
BMW Motorrad
The Ultimate
Riding Machine

Motorcycle/Dealer Data
Motorcycle data
Model
Vehicle identification number
Color number
Initial registration
License plate
Dealer Data
Contact in Service
Ms./Mr.
Phone number
Dealer's address/phone number (company
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 informa-
tion on maintenance and care to
help you maintain your vehicle's
reliability and safety, as well as its
value.
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 41 8 543 657
*01418543657*
*01418543657*
*01418543657*

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
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......................... 16
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3 Displays ................. 19
Warning and indicator
lamps ....................... 20
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 21
Warning symbols in the dis-
play panel ................... 22
Warning lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Outside temperature . . . . . . . . 36
Fuel reserve................. 36
Oil level indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Service display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Tire inflation pressure . . . . . . . 38
Upshift recommendation . . . . 38
4 Operation................ 41
Steering and ignition
lock ......................... 42
Ignition ...................... 42
EWS Electronic immobi-
lizer ......................... 43
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 44
Anti-theft alarm system
(DWA)....................... 50
Emergency on/off switch (kill
switch) ...................... 52
Headlight.................... 52
Lights ....................... 53
Turn indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Hazard warning flashers . . . . . 55
BMW Motorrad Inte-
gral ABS .................... 55
ASC Automatic Stability
Control...................... 56
Riding mode ................ 57
Cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Damping .................... 64
Dynamic ESA, Electronic
Suspension Adjustment . . . . . 65
Clutch....................... 67
Brakes ...................... 67
Shifting...................... 69
Tires ........................ 69
Handlebars.................. 70
Heated handlebar grips . . . . . 70
Mirrors ...................... 71
Windshield .................. 71
Rider and passenger
seats ........................ 72

Storage compartment . . . . . . . 74
5 Riding.................... 75
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . 76
Checklist .................... 78
Starting...................... 78
Breakingin.................. 80
Brakes ...................... 81
Parking your motorcycle . . . . 82
Off-road riding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Refueling.................... 83
Fastening motorcycle for
transport .................... 85
6 Technology in
detail..................... 87
Riding mode ................ 88
Brake system with
BMW Motorrad Integral
ABS......................... 89
Engine management with
BMW Motorrad ASC . . . . . . . . 92
Tire Pressure Control TCP/
RDC......................... 93
7 Maintenance . . . . .. . . . . . . 95
General instructions . . . . . . . . . 96
Onboard tool kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Engine oil ................... 97
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Coolant.................... 102
Clutch..................... 103
Wheel rims and tires . . . . . . 103
Wheels.................... 104
Front wheel stand . . . . . . . . . 110
Bulbs...................... 111
Air cleaner................. 116
Jump-start ................ 117
Battery .................... 118
Fuses ..................... 121
8 Accessories . . . . . . . . .. . 123
General instructions . . . . . . . 124
Onboard power
sockets.................... 124
Navigation system . . . . . . . . . 125
Case ...................... 128
Topcase................... 130
9 Care.................... 133
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Washing your vehicle. . . . . . 134
Cleaning sensitive vehicle
parts ...................... 134
Paint care ................. 135
Storing motorcycle . . . . . . . . 136
Protective wax coating . . . . 136
Returning motorcycle to
use........................ 136
10 Technical data .. . . .. 137
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . 138
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . 139
Engine .................... 141
Fuel....................... 142
Engine oil ................. 143
Clutch..................... 143
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . 144
Suspension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Brakes .................... 146
Wheels and tires . . . . . . . . . . 146
Electrical system . . . . . . . . . . 147
Frame..................... 149
Anti-theft alarm system . . . 149

Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Weights ................... 151
Performance data . . . . . . . . . 151
11 Service ............... 153
Reporting safety
defects.................... 154
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 155
BMW Motorrad Mobility
Services................... 155
Maintenance proce-
dures...................... 155
Confirmation of mainte-
nance work................ 157
Confirmation of service . . . . 162
12 Appendix. . . . . . . . .. . . . 165
Certificate ................. 166
13 Index ................. 167

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

Overview
We have placed great importance
on good orientation when using
this Rider's Manual. You'll find
special topics most quickly by
using the extensive index at the
end of the manual. You can find
a first overview of your motorcy-
cle in Chapter 2. All maintenance
and repair work carried out on
your vehicle will be documented
in Chapter 11. Proof of the main-
tenance work performed is a pre-
requisite for generous treatment
of claims.
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
Indicates warnings that
you must comply with for
reasons of your safety and the
safety of others, and to protect
your product against damage.
Special information on op-
erating and inspecting your
motorcycle as well as mainte-
nance and adjustment proce-
dures.
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
OE Optional equipment
BMW Motorrad optional
extras are already com-
pletely installed during
motorcycle production.
OA Optional accessory
BMW optional acces-
sories can be purchased
and installed at your au-
thorized BMW Motorrad
retailer.
EWS Electronic immobilizer.
DWA Anti-theft alarm.
1
6
z General instructions

ABS Anti-Lock Brake System.
ASC Automatic Stability Con-
trol.
ESA Electronic suspension
adjustment.
TPC/
RDC
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 high safety and quality stan-
dards of BMW motorcycles are
maintained by constant devel-
opment work on design, equip-
ment and accessories. Because
of this, your motorcycle may dif-
fer from the information supplied
in the Rider's Manual. In addition,
BMW Motorrad cannot guarantee
the total absence of errors. 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

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 . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2
9
z Overviews

2
10
z Overviews

General view, left side
1Fuel filler opening ( 84)
2Seat lock ( 72)
3Adjuster for rear damp-
ing (at the bottom on the
spring strut) ( 64)
2
11
z Overviews

2
12
z Overviews

General view, right side
1Adjuster for spring preload,
rear ( 63)
2Air cleaner (under center
fairing panel) ( 116)
3Brake-fluid reservoir, front
( 100)
4Height adjuster for wind-
shield ( 71)
5Onboard power socket
( 124)
6Vehicle Identification
Number (on steering-head
bearing)
Type plate (on steering-
head bearing)
7Coolant level indicator
( 102)
Coolant tank ( 102)
8Engine oil fill location
( 98)
9Engine oil level indicator
( 97)
10 Battery (behind side panel)
( 118)
Auxiliary terminal for jump
starting (behind side panel)
( 117)
11 Brake-fluid reservoir, rear
( 101)
2
13
z Overviews

Underneath seat
1Onboard tool kit ( 96)
2Rider's Manual (US Model)
3Tire inflation pressure table
4Payload table
5Adjuster for the rider's seat
height ( 73)
6Fuses ( 121)
2
14
z Overviews

Multifunction switch,
left
1High-beam headlight and
headlight flasher ( 53)
2with cruise controlOE
Cruise control ( 61)
3Hazard warning flashers
( 55)
4ABS ( 55)
ASC ( 56)
5with dynamic ESAOE
ESA ( 65)
6with additional LED
headlightOA
Additional LED headlight
( 54)
7Turn indicators ( 54)
8Horn
9Multifunction display
( 44)
10 with preparation for navi-
gation systemOE
Navigation system
( 126)
2
15
z Overviews

Multifunction switch,
right
1with heated handlebar
gripsOE
Heated handlebar grips
( 70)
2Riding mode ( 57)
3Emergency on/off switch
(kill switch) ( 52)
4Starting the engine
( 78)
2
16
z Overviews

Instrument cluster
1Speedometer
2Tachometer
3Ambient light sensor (for
brightness adjustment of
instrument lighting)
with anti-theft alarmOE
Anti-theft alarm system in-
dicator lamp (see anti-theft
alarm system operating in-
structions)
4Warning and indicator
lamps ( 20)
5Multifunction display
( 21)
2
17
z Overviews

2
18
z Overviews