BMW Motorrad R 1250RT Installation and maintenance manual

Rider's manual
R 1250 RT
BMW Motorrad

Vehicle data/dealership details
Vehicle 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)

Welcome to BMW
We congratulate you on
your choice of a vehicle from
BMW Motorrad and welcome
you to the community of BMW
riders. Familiarise yourself with
your new vehicle so that you can
ride it safely and confidently in all
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
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 vehicle's
reliability and safety, as well as its
value.
This record of the maintenance
work you have had performed on
your vehicle is a precondition for
generous treatment of goodwill
claims.
If the time comes to sell your
BMW, please remember to hand
over this Rider's Manual to the
new owner. It is an important
part of the vehicle.
Suggestions and criticism
If you have questions concern-
ing your vehicle, your authorised
BMW Motorrad dealer will gladly
provide advice and assistance.
We hope you will enjoy riding
your BMW and that all your jour-
neys will be pleasant and safe
BMW Motorrad.
01 40 9 899 711
*01409899711*
*01409899711*
*01409899711*

Table of Contents
1 General instructions ... . 5
Overview..................... 6
Abbreviations and
symbols...................... 6
Equipment ................... 7
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Currentness.................. 8
Additional sources of informa-
tion........................... 8
Certificates and operating li-
cences ....................... 8
Data memory................. 8
Intelligent emergency call
system ...................... 12
2 General views . .. . . . . .. . . 17
General view, left side . . . . . . . 19
General view, right side . . . . . 21
Underneath the seat . . . . . . . . 22
Multifunction switch, left . . . . 23
Multifunction switch,
right......................... 25
Multifunction switch,
right......................... 26
Instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
3 Status indicators . . .. . . . 29
Indicator and warning
lights ........................ 30
Meaning of symbols. . . . . . . . . 31
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 33
Warnings.................... 34
Service-due indicator . . . . . . . . 54
Range....................... 55
Electronic oil-level check . . . . 55
Ambient temperature. . . . . . . . 56
Tyre pressures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
4 Operation................ 59
Ignition switch/steering
lock ......................... 60
Ignition with Key-
less Ride .................... 62
Emergency off switch (kill
switch) ...................... 68
Intelligent emergency
call .......................... 68
Lights ....................... 71
Day run lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Hazard warning lights sys-
tem ......................... 74
Turn indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 75
On-board computer . . . . . . . . . 79
Trip recorder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Automatic Stability Control
(ASC) ....................... 81
Dynamic Traction Control
(DTC) ....................... 82
Electronic Suspension Ad-
justment (DESA) . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Riding mode ................ 84
Cruise-control system . . . . . . . 85
Hill Start Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Anti-theft alarm (DWA) . . . . . . 90
Heating...................... 93
Front seat................... 96
Rear seat.................... 97
Stowage compartment . . . . . . 99
Central locking system . . . . 100

5 Adjustment . .. ...... ... 105
Mirrors .................... 106
Headlight.................. 106
Windscreen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . 107
Clutch..................... 108
Gearshift lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Brakes .................... 110
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Damping .................. 113
6 Riding.................. 115
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . 116
Comply with checklist . . . . . 118
Always before riding off . . . 118
Every 3rd refuelling
stop....................... 118
Starting.................... 119
Runningin ................ 122
Shifting gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Brakes .................... 124
Parking your motor-
cycle ...................... 126
Refuelling ................. 127
Securing motorcycle for
transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
7 Engineering
details ................. 133
General instructions . . . . . . . 134
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)...................... 134
Automatic Stability Control
(ASC) ..................... 137
Dynamic Traction Control
(DTC) ..................... 139
Electronic Suspension Ad-
justment (DESA) . . . . . . . . . 140
Riding mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Dynamic Brake Control. . . . 143
Tyre pressure control
(RDC) ..................... 143
Shift assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Hill Start Control . . . . . . . . . . 146
8 Maintenance . . . . .. . . . . 149
General instructions . . . . . . . 150
Standard toolkit . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Service toolkit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Front-wheel stand . . . . . . . . . 151
Engine oil ................. 152
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Clutch..................... 158
Coolant.................... 158
Tyres...................... 160
Rims and tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Wheels.................... 161
Silencer ................... 167
Lighting ................... 169
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Battery .................... 175
Fuses ..................... 179
Diagnostic connector . . . . . . 180
9 Accessories . . . .. . . . . .. 183
General instructions . . . . . . . 184
Power sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Cases ..................... 185
Topcase................... 187
Navigation system . . . . . . . . . 190
10 Care .................. 195
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Washing the vehicle . . . . . . . 196
Cleaning easily damaged
components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Care of paintwork . . . . . . . . . 198
Vehicle preservation . . . . . . . 198
Laying up the motor-
cycle ...................... 198

Restoring motorcycle to
use........................ 199
11 Technical data . . .. . . 201
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . 202
Screw connections . . . . . . . . 203
Fuel....................... 205
Engine oil ................. 206
Engine .................... 206
Clutch..................... 207
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . 209
Frame..................... 209
Chassis and
suspension................ 210
Brakes .................... 211
Wheels and tyres. . . . . . . . . . 212
Electrical system . . . . . . . . . . 214
Anti-theft alarm. . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Weights ................... 217
Riding specifications . . . . . . 217
12 Service ............... 219
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 220
BMW Motorrad Service
history..................... 220
BMW Motorrad Mobility
services ................... 221
Maintenance work . . . . . . . . . 221
BMW Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Maintenance schedule . . . . 225
Maintenance confirma-
tions....................... 226
Service confirmations . . . . . 240
13 Appendix.. . . . . .. . . . . . 243
Certificate for electronic
immobiliser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Certificate for remote
key........................ 246
Certificate for Key-
less Ride .................. 250
Certificate for tyre pressure
control (RDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
14 Index ................. 253

General instructions
Overview ............................ 6
Abbreviations and symbols . . . . . . . . . . 6
Equipment........................... 7
Technicaldata....................... 7
Currentness ......................... 8
Additional sources of information . . . . 8
Certificates and operating
licences.............................. 8
Datamemory ........................ 8
Intelligent emergency call
system.............................. 12
1
5
z General instructions

Overview
An important aspect of this
Rider's Manual is that it can
be used for quick and easy
reference. Consulting the
extensive index at the end of this
Rider's Manual is the fastest way
to find information on a particular
topic or item. To first read an
overview of your motorcycle,
please go to Chapter 2. All
maintenance and repair work on
the motorcycle is documented
in Chapter 12. This record of
the maintenance work you have
had performed on your vehicle
is a precondition for generous
treatment 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
CAUTION Low-risk hazard.
Non-avoidance can lead to
slight or moderate injury.
WARNING Medium-risk
hazard. Non-avoidance can
lead to fatal or severe injury.
DANGER High-risk haz-
ard. Non-avoidance leads
to fatal or severe injury.
ATTENTION Special
notes and precautionary
measures. Non-compliance can
lead to damage to the vehicle or
accessory and, consequently, to
voiding of the warranty.
NOTICE Specific instruc-
tions on how to operate,
control, adjust or look after items
of equipment on the vehicle.
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.
Technical data.
OE Optional extras.
The vehicles are as-
sembled complete with
all the BMW Motorrad
optional extras originally
ordered.
1
6
z General instructions

OA Optional accessories.
You can obtain
BMW Motorrad
optional accessories
through your authorised
BMW Motorrad dealer;
optional accessories
have to be retrofitted to
the vehicle.
EWS Electronic immobiliser.
DWA Anti-theft alarm (Dieb-
stahlwarnanlage).
ABS Anti-lock brake system.
ASC Automatic Stability Con-
trol.
D-
ESA
Electronic chassis and
suspension adjustment.
DTC Dynamic Traction Con-
trol (optional extra only
in combination with Pro
riding modes).
RDC Tyre pressure monitor-
ing.
Equipment
When purchasing your BMW mo-
torcycle, you chose a model with
individual equipment. This rider's
manual describes optional equip-
ment (OE) and selected optional
accessories (OA) provided by
BMW. Please make allowance
for the fact that some equip-
ment specifications may be de-
scribed that you have not selec-
ted. Equally, country-specific de-
viations to the motorcycle shown
are also possible.
If your motorcycle has equipment
that is not described, you will find
the relevant description in a sep-
arate manual.
Technical data
All dimensions, weights and
power outputs in the rider's
manual refer to the German
standard DIN (Deutsches Institut
für Normung e. V.) and comply
with its specified tolerances.
Technical data and specifications
in this rider's manual serve as
reference points. The vehicle-
specific data may deviate from
these, for example as a result of
selected optional equipment,
the national-market version or
country-specific measuring
procedures. Detailed values
can be taken from the vehicle
registration documents and
signs on the vehicle, or can be
obtained from your authorised
BMW Motorrad Retailer or
another qualified service partner
or specialist workshop. The
specifications in the vehicle
documents always have priority
1
7
z General instructions

over the information provided in
this rider's manual.
Currentness
The high safety and quality level
of BMW motorcycles is ensured
by constant further development
in the areas of design, equipment
and accessories. This may res-
ult in deviations between these
operating instructions and your
motorcycle. Also, mistakes can-
not be completely excluded by
BMW Motorrad. Please therefore
understand that we do not ac-
cept any liability for claims arising
from incorrect information, draw-
ings and descriptions.
Additional sources of
information
BMW Motorrad Retailer
Your BMW Motorrad Retailer will
be happy to answer any ques-
tions you may have.
Internet
The rider's manual for your
vehicle, operating and installation
instructions for any accessories
and general information on
BMW Motorrad, for example
relating to technology, are
available at www.bmw-
motorrad.com/service.
Certificates and
operating licences
The certificates for the vehicle
and the official operating licences
for any accessories are available
at www.bmw-motorrad.com/
certification.
Data memory
General
Control units are installed in the
vehicle. Control units process
data that they receive, for ex-
ample, from vehicle sensors, or
that they generate themselves or
exchange between each other.
Some control units are required
for the vehicle to function safely
or provide assistance during rid-
ing, for example assistance sys-
tems. In addition, control units
enable comfort or infotainment
functions.
Information on data that has
been stored or exchanged can
be obtained from the manufac-
turer of the vehicle, for example
via a separate booklet.
Personal reference
Each vehicle is identified with a
clear vehicle identification num-
ber. Depending on the country,
the vehicle identification num-
ber, the number plate and the
corresponding authorities can
be referenced to ascertain the
vehicle owner. There are also
other ways to use data obtained
from the vehicle to trace the rider
or vehicle owner, for example
1
8
z General instructions