BMW F 800 GS - Installation and maintenance manual

Rider's Manual (US Model)
F 800 GS
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
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 high-
way 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 informa-
tion on maintenance and care to
help you maintain your vehicle'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 8 550 697
*01418550697*
*01418550697*
*01418550697*

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
Under fairing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Multifunction switch, left . . . . 16
Multifunction switch,
right......................... 17
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3 Displays ................. 21
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 22
Meaning of symbols . . . . . . . . . 23
Warning and indicator
lamps ....................... 24
Fuel level.................... 25
Fuel reserve................. 25
Service display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Ambient temperature. . . . . . . . 26
Warning lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
4 Operation................ 35
Steering and ignition
lock ......................... 36
Electronic immobilizer
(EWS)....................... 37
Clock........................ 37
Display ...................... 38
Stopwatch................... 39
Lights ....................... 41
Turn indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Hazard warning flashers . . . . . 42
Emergency on/off switch (kill
switch) ...................... 43
Heatedgrips ................ 43
BMW Motorrad ABS . . . . . . . . 44
BMW Motorrad ASC . . . . . . . . 45
Riding mode ................ 46
Clutch....................... 48
Brakes ...................... 48
Mirrors ...................... 49
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Damping .................... 50
ESA Electronic Suspension
Adjustment.................. 51
Tires ........................ 52
Headlight.................... 53
Seat......................... 54
Helmet holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Rider's Manual (US
Model) ...................... 55
5 Riding.................... 57
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . 58
Checklist .................... 60
Starting...................... 60
Breakingin.................. 63
Speed....................... 64
Offroad riding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Brakes ...................... 65

Parking your motorcycle . . . . 66
Refueling.................... 67
Securing motorcycle for
transport .................... 69
6 Technology in
detail..................... 71
Riding mode ................ 72
Brake system with
BMW Motorrad ABS . . . . . . . . 72
Engine management with
BMW Motorrad ASC . . . . . . . . 74
7 Accessories . . .. . . .. . . .. . 77
General instructions . . . . . . . . . 78
Onboard sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Luggage .................... 79
Auxiliary headlight . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Case ........................ 80
Topcase..................... 83
Aluminum case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Aluminum topcase . . . . . . . . . . 87
8 Maintenance . . .. . .. . . .. . 91
General instructions . . . . . . . . . 92
Onboard tool kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Engine oil ................... 93
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Coolant...................... 98
Clutch....................... 99
Wheel rims and tires . . . . . . 100
Chain...................... 101
Wheels.................... 102
Front wheel stand . . . . . . . . . 110
Lamps..................... 111
Fairings and Panels . . . . . . . 117
Air cleaner................. 118
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Battery .................... 120
9 Care.................... 125
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Washing your vehicle. . . . . . 126
Cleaning sensitive vehicle
parts ...................... 126
Paint care ................. 127
Protective wax coating . . . . 128
Storing motorcycle . . . . . . . . 128
Returning motorcycle to
use........................ 128
10 Technical data . .. . . . 129
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . 130
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . 131
Engine .................... 133
Fuel....................... 134
Engine oil ................. 135
Clutch..................... 135
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . 136
Suspension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Brakes .................... 138
Wheels and tires . . . . . . . . . . 138
Electrical system . . . . . . . . . . 140
Frame..................... 141
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Weights ................... 143
Performance data . . . . . . . . . 143
11 Service ............... 145
Reporting safety
defects.................... 146
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 147
BMW Motorrad Mobility
Services................... 147
Maintenance proce-
dures...................... 147
Confirmation of mainte-
nance work................ 149
Confirmation of service . . . . 154

12 Appendix. . . .. . .. . . .. . 157
Certificate ................. 158
13 Index ................. 159

General instructions
Overview ............................ 6
Abbreviations and symbols . . . . . . . . . . 6
Equipment........................... 7
Technicaldata....................... 7
Notice concerning current status . . . . 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 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.
ABS Anti-Lock Brake System.
ASC Automatic Stability Con-
trol.
ESA Electronic suspension
adjustment.
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 a separate set of 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.
Notice concerning
current status
The high safety and quality stan-
dards of BMW motorcycles are
maintained by consistent, on-
going development efforts em-
bracing their design, equipment
and accessories. For this rea-
son, aspects of your motorcycle
may vary from the descriptions
in this Operating instructions. In
addition, BMW Motorrad can-
not guarantee the total absence
of errors. We hope you will ap-
preciate that no claims can be
recognized based on the data, il-
lustrations 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
Underfairing........................ 15
Multifunction switch, left . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Multifunction switch, right . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2
9
z Overviews

2
10
z Overviews

General view, left side
1Onboard socket ( 78)
2Seat lock ( 54)
3Engine oil fill location and
oil dipstick ( 93)
2
11
z Overviews

2
12
z Overviews

General view, right side
1Fuel filler opening ( 67)
2Adjusting spring preload
( 49)
3Brake-fluid reservoir, rear
( 97)
4Brake-fluid reservoir, front
( 97)
5Vehicle identification
number, type plate (on
steering-head bearing)
6Coolant level indicator (be-
hind side panel) ( 98)
7Damping adjustment
( 50)
2
13
z Overviews

Underneath seat
1Storage space
with first-aid kitOA
Storing first-aid kit
2Standard tool kit ( 92)
3Payload table
4Tire inflation pressure table
5Helmet holder ( 55)
6Rider's Manual (in vehicle
rear)
with anti-theft alarm sys-
tem (DWA)OE
Rider's Manual (under the
control unit) ( 55)
7Tools for adjusting spring
preload ( 49)
2
14
z Overviews

Under fairing
1Battery ( 120)
2Air filter housing ( 118)
2
15
z Overviews

Multifunction switch,
left
1High-beam headlight and
headlight flasher ( 41)
2Selecting display readings
( 38).
with onboard
computerOE
Resetting average data
( 39).
3Hazard warning flashers
( 42)
4with LED auxiliary head-
lightOA
Operating auxiliary head-
lights ( 79)
5Turn indicators ( 41)
6Horn
7with Electronic Suspen-
sion Adjustment (ESA)OE
ESA control ( 51)
8ABS operation ( 44)
with Automatic Stability
Control (ASC)OE
ASC control ( 45)
2
16
z Overviews

Multifunction switch,
right
1with heated handlebar
gripsOE
Heated grip ( 43)
2with off-road mode ABS
and ASCOE
Off-road mode ( 46)
3Starter button ( 60)
4Emergency on/off switch
(kill switch) ( 43)
2
17
z Overviews

Instrument cluster
1Warning and indicator
lamps ( 24)
2Speedometer
3Set the clock ( 37).
with onboard
computerOE
Operation of stopwatch
( 39)
4Multifunction display
( 22)
5Selecting display readings
( 38).
Reset tripmeter ( 39).
2
18
z Overviews