BMW 2012 R 1200 GS Installation and maintenance manual

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

Motorcycle/Retailer Data
Motorcycle data
Model
Vehicle Identification Number
Color number
First registration
Registration number
Retailer Data
Contact in Service
Ms./Mr.
Phone number
Retailer's address/phone number (com-
pany stamp)

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.
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 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
BMW Motorrad.
01 41 8 525 777
*01418525777*
*01418525777*
*01418525777*

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
Currentness of this man-
ual............................ 7
2 Overviews ................ 9
General view, left side . . . . . . . 11
General view, right side . . . . . 13
Multifunction switch, left . . . . 14
Right handlebar fitting . . . . . . . 15
Underneath seat . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3 Status indicators . . . .. . . 19
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 20
Meanings of displays . . . . . . . . 21
Warning and indicator
lights ........................ 21
Service display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Range....................... 22
Ambient temperature. . . . . . . . 23
Tire inflation pressures . . . . . . 23
Oil level indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Warning indicators . . . . . . . . . . 24
4 Operation................ 39
Steering and ignition
lock ......................... 40
Electronic immobilizer
EWS ........................ 41
Clock........................ 42
Display ...................... 43
Lights ....................... 45
Turn indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Hazard warning flashers . . . . . 47
Emergency ON/OFF
switch....................... 48
Heated handlebar grips . . . . . 48
BMW Motorrad Integral
ABS......................... 49
ASC Automatic Stability
Control...................... 50
Clutch....................... 51
Brakes ...................... 52
Mirrors ...................... 53
Windshield .................. 53
Handlebars.................. 54
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Damping .................... 56
ESA Electronic Suspension
Adjustment.................. 57
Tires ........................ 59
Headlight.................... 60
Driver and passenger
seats ........................ 60
Helmet holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
5 Riding.................... 65
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . 66
Checklist .................... 68
Starting...................... 69
Breakingin.................. 71
Offroad riding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Brakes ...................... 73
Parking your motorcycle . . . . 74
Refueling.................... 75
Secure motorcycle for trans-
port ......................... 76
6 Technology in
detail..................... 79
Brake system with BMW
Motorrad Integral ABS . . . . . . 80
Engine management with
BMW Motorrad ASC . . . . . . . . 82
Tire Pressure Control TPC/
RDC......................... 84
ESA Electronic Suspension
Adjustment.................. 85
7 Accessories . . .. . . .. . . .. . 87
General instructions . . . . . . . . . 88
Onboard sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Case ........................ 89
Topcase..................... 92
Luggage rack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
8 Maintenance . . .. . .. . . .. . 97
General instructions . . . . . . . . . 98
Onboard tool kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Engine oil ................... 99
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Clutch..................... 105
Rims and tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Wheels.................... 106
Front wheel stand . . . . . . . . . 112
Lamps..................... 113
Air filter.................... 119
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Battery .................... 122
9 Care.................... 127
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Washing your motorcy-
cle......................... 128
Cleaning sensitive vehicle
parts ...................... 129
Paint care ................. 130
Protective wax coating . . . . 130
Storing motorcycle . . . . . . . . 130
Returning motorcycle to
use........................ 130
10 Technical data . .. . . . 131
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . 132
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . 133
Engine .................... 135
Fuel....................... 136
Engine oil ................. 137
Clutch..................... 138
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . 139
Running gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Brakes .................... 140
Wheels and tires . . . . . . . . . . 141
Electrical system . . . . . . . . . . 142
Frame..................... 144
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Weights ................... 145
Riding specifications . . . . . . 145
11 Service ............... 147
Reporting safety
defects.................... 148
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 149
BMW Motorrad Mobility
Services................... 149
Maintenance work . . . . . . . . . 149
Confirmation of mainte-
nance work................ 151
Confirmation of service . . . . 156
12 Index ................. 158

General instructions
General instructions
Overview ............................ 6
Abbreviations and symbols . . . . . . . . . . 6
Equipment........................... 7
Technicaldata....................... 7
Currentness of this manual . . . . . . . . . . 7
1
5
z General instructions

Overview
Chapter 2 of this Rider's Man-
ual will provide you with an initial
overview of your motorcycle. All
maintenance and repair work car-
ried out on your motorcycle will
be documented in Chapter 11.
Proof of the maintenance work
performed is a prerequisite for
generous treatment of 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
reasons of your safety and the
safety of others, and to protect
your motorcycle 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
The motorcycles are as-
sembled complete with
all the BMW optional ex-
tras originally ordered.
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.
ABS Anti-Lock Brake System.
ASC Automatic Stability Con-
trol.
ESA Electronic Suspension
Adjustment.
TPC/
RDC
Tire Pressure Control
(TPC).
1
6
z General instructions

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 BMW is equipped with
options or accessories not de-
scribed in this Rider's Manual,
then this equipment is described
in separate operating instructions.
Technical data
All dimensions, weights and out-
puts in the Rider's Manual refer
to the Deutsches Institut für Nor-
mung e. V. (DIN) and comply with
its tolerance regulations. Ver-
sions for individual countries may
differ.
Currentness of this
manual
The high safety and quality stan-
dards of BMW motorcycles are
maintained by constant devel-
opment work on designs, 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
Overviews
General view, left side. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
General view, right side . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Multifunction switch, left . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Right handlebar fitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Underneathseat.................... 16
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2
9
z Overviews

2
10
z Overviews

General view, left side
1Adjusting front spring
preload ( 54)
2Adjusting windshield
( 53)
3Headlight range adjust-
ment (below instrument
cluster) ( 60)
4Clutch fluid reservoir
( 105)
5Type plate (on frame be-
hind side cover)
6Seat lock ( 60)
7Onboard socket ( 88)
8Adjustment of rear damp-
ing ( 56)
9Engine oil level indicator
( 99)
2
11
z Overviews

2
12
z Overviews

General view, right side
1Adjuster for spring preload,
rear ( 54)
2Fuel filler opening ( 75)
3Brake-fluid reservoir, front
( 103)
4Vehicle Identification
Number (on steering-head
bearing)
5Air filter (behind right side
panel) ( 119)
6Engine oil fill location
( 100)
7Brake-fluid reservoir, rear
( 104)
2
13
z Overviews

Multifunction switch,
left
1Selecting display readings
( 43).
with onboard
computerOE
Reset average values
( 44).
2with BMW Motorrad In-
tegral ABS Generation
IIOE
ABS operation ( 49)
with Automatic Stability
ControlOE
Operating ASC ( 50)
3with Electronic Suspen-
sion Adjustment (ESA)OE
Operating ESA ( 57)
4Horn
5Flashing turn indicators,
left ( 46)
Hazard warning flashers
( 47)
6Headlight flasher and high-
beam headlight ( 45)
2
14
z Overviews

Right handlebar fitting
1Emergency ON/OFF
switch ( 48)
2Starter button ( 69)
3with heated handlebar
gripsOE
Heated hand grip operation
( 48)
4Flashing turn indicators,
right ( 46)
Hazard warning flashers
( 47)
5Turn indicators off ( 46)
Hazard warning flashers off
( 47)
2
15
z Overviews

Underneath seat
1Rider's Manual (US Model)
2Battery ( 122)
3Standard tool kit ( 98)
Payload table (in tool tray)
Tire inflation pressure table
(in tool tray)
4Helmet holder ( 62)
2
16
z Overviews

Instrument cluster
1Speedometer
2Tachometer
3Warning and indicator
lights ( 21)
4Multifunction display
( 20)
5Ambient brightness sensor
(for brightness adjustment
of instrument lighting)
with anti-theft alarmOE
Anti-theft alarm indicator
light (see anti-theft alarm
operating instructions)
6Operating odometer
( 43)
Operating clock ( 42)
2
17
z Overviews

2
18
z Overviews