BMW F 800 GS - Installation and maintenance manual

Rider's Manual (US Model)
F 800 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.

Table of Contents
1 General instructions ... . 5
Overview..................... 5
Abbreviations and
symbols...................... 5
Equipment ................... 6
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Notice concerning current sta-
tus ........................... 6
2 Overviews ................ 7
General view, left side . . . . . . . . 8
General view, right side . . . . . 10
Underneath seat . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Under fairing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Multifunction switch, left . . . . 13
Multifunction switch,
right......................... 15
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3 Displays ................. 18
Warning and indicator
lamps ....................... 18
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 20
Warning lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Onboard computer
display ...................... 29
Fuel level.................... 29
Fuel reserve................. 29
Service display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Outside temperature . . . . . . . . 30
4 Operation................ 32
Steering and ignition
lock ......................... 32
Electronic immobilizer
(EWS)....................... 33
Clock........................ 33
Display ...................... 34
Stopwatch................... 36
Lights ....................... 37
Turn indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Hazard warning flashers . . . . . 39
Emergency on/off switch (kill
switch) ...................... 40
Heatedgrips ................ 40
BMW Motorrad ABS . . . . . . . . 41
BMW Motorrad ASC . . . . . . . . 42
Riding mode ................ 43
Clutch....................... 45
Brakes ...................... 45
Mirrors ...................... 46
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Damping .................... 48
ESA Electronic Suspension
Adjustment.................. 49
Tires ........................ 50
Headlight.................... 50
Seat......................... 51
Helmet holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
5 Anti-theft alarm sys-
tem DWA ................ 54
Overview.................... 54
Activation ................... 54
Alarm function. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Deactivation................. 57
Programming................ 58
Logging on remote con-
trol .......................... 59
Synchronizing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Battery ...................... 61

6 Riding.................... 63
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . 63
Checklist .................... 65
Starting...................... 65
Breakingin.................. 68
Speed....................... 68
Off-road riding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Brakes ...................... 70
Parking your motorcycle . . . . 71
Refueling.................... 72
Fuel quality.................. 73
Fastening motorcycle for
transport .................... 73
7 Technology in
detail..................... 75
Riding mode ................ 75
Brake system with
BMW Motorrad ABS . . . . . . . . 76
Engine management with
BMW Motorrad ASC . . . . . . . . 77
8 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
General instructions . . . . . . . . . 80
Onboard tool kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Engine oil ................... 81
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Coolant...................... 86
Clutch....................... 87
Wheel rims and tires . . . . . . . . 88
Chain........................ 89
Wheels...................... 91
Front wheel stand . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Lights ..................... 101
Fairings and panels . . . . . . . 107
Air filter.................... 108
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Battery .................... 110
9 Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . 113
General instructions . . . . . . . 113
Onboard sockets . . . . . . . . . . 113
Luggage .................. 114
Aluminum case . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Aluminum Top Case . . . . . . 117
10 Care .................. 119
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Washing your motorcy-
cle......................... 119
Cleaning sensitive motorcy-
cle parts................... 120
Paint care ................. 120
Protective wax coating . . . . 121
Storing the motorcycle . . . . 121
Returning motorcycle to
use........................ 121
11 Technical data . . . . . . 122
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . 122
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . 123
Engine .................... 125
Fuel....................... 126
Engine oil ................. 127
Clutch..................... 128
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . 129
Suspension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Brakes .................... 130
Wheels and tires . . . . . . . . . . 130
Electrical system . . . . . . . . . . 132
Frame..................... 133
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Weights ................... 134
Performance data . . . . . . . . . 134

12 Service ............... 135
Reporting safety
defects.................... 135
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 136
BMW Motorrad Mobility
Services................... 136
Maintenance proce-
dures...................... 136
Confirmation of mainte-
nance work................ 138
Confirmation of service . . . . 143
13 Index ................. 145

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 an introductory
overview of your motorcycle, you
can find the desired information
in Chapter 2. Chapter 12 records
all of the maintenance and re-
pair operations that have been
performed. 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
Indicates warnings that are
imperative to observe for
your own 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 extra.
BMW Motorrad optional
extras are already com-
pletely installed during
motorcycle production.
OA Optional accessory.
BMW Motorrad optional
accessories can be
purchased and installed
at your authorized
BMW Motorrad retailer.
EWS Electronic immobilizer.
DWA Anti-theft alarm.
1
5
z General instructions

ABS Anti-Lock Brake System.
ASC Automatic Stability Con-
trol.
ESA Electronic Suspension
Adjustment.
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 per-
formance data contained this
Rider's Manual refer to the Ger-
man DIN standards and comply
with their tolerance specifications.
Versions for individual 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 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
6
z General instructions

2
7
z Overviews

General view, left side
1Onboard power socket
( 113)
2Seat lock ( 51)
3Engine oil fill location and
oil dipstick ( 81)
2
8
z Overviews

2
9
z Overviews

General view, right side
1Fuel filler cap ( 72)
2Adjusting spring preload
( 47)
3Brake-fluid reservoir, rear
( 85)
4Brake-fluid reservoir, front
( 84)
5Vehicle identification
number, type plate (on
steering-head bearing)
6Coolant level indicator (be-
hind side fairing) ( 86)
7Adjusting damping ( 48)
2
10
z Overviews

Underneath seat
1Storage space
with first-aid kitOA
Storing first-aid kit
2Standard tool kit ( 80)
3Rider's Manual (US Model)
4Payload table
5Tire inflation pressure table
6Helmet holder ( 52)
7Tools for adjusting spring
preload ( 47)
2
11
z Overviews

Under fairing
1Battery ( 110)
2Air cleaner housing
( 108)
2
12
z Overviews

Multifunction switch,
left
1High-beam headlight and
headlight flasher ( 38)
2Select display readings
( 34).
with onboard
computerOE
Resetting average data
( 35).
3Hazard warning flashers
( 39)
4Not included in standard
equipment
with additional LED
headlightOE
Auxiliary headlight ( 38)
5Turn indicator ( 39)
6Horn
7Not included in standard
equipment
with Electronic
Suspension Adjustment
(ESA)OE
ESA ( 49)
2
13
z Overviews

8ABS ( 41)
with Automatic Stability
Control (ASC)OE
ASC ( 42)
2
14
z Overviews

Multifunction switch,
right
1Not included in standard
equipment
with heated handlebar
gripsOE
Heated grips ( 40).
2Not included in standard
equipment
with off-road mode ABS
and ASCOE
Off-road mode ( 43)
3Starter ( 65)
4Emergency on/off switch
(kill switch) ( 40)
2
15
z Overviews

Instrument cluster
1Warning and indicator
lamps ( 18)
2Speedometer
3Set the clock ( 33).
with onboard
computerOE
Operation of stopwatch
( 36)
4Multifunction display
( 20)
5Select display readings
( 34).
Resetting trip odometer
( 35).
2
16
z Overviews

6Ambient light sensor (for
instrument lighting control)
with anti-theft alarm sys-
tem (DWA)OE
Anti-theft alarm system in-
dicator lamp (see anti-theft
alarm system operating in-
structions)
with onboard
computerOE
Engine speed warning
( 68)
7Tachometer
2
17
z Overviews

Warning and indicator
lamps
1ABS ( 27)
2Not included in standard
equipment
with Automatic Stability
Control (ASC)OE
ASC ( 28)
3Fuel reserve ( 29)
( 25)
4Universal warning lamp
(appears together with
warnings in display panel)
( 21)
5High-beam headlight
6Turn indicator, right
7Not included in standard
equipment
with additional LED
headlightOE
Auxiliary headlight ( 38)
8Idle
9Turn indicator, left
3
18
z Displays