BMW R 1200 GS - Installation and maintenance manual

Rider's Manual
R 1200 GS
BMW Motorrad
bmw‑motorrad.com
The Ultimate
Riding Machine

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 8 358 051
*01408358051*
*01408358051*
*01408358051*

Table of Contents
1 General instructions ... . 5
Overview..................... 6
Abbreviations and
symbols...................... 6
Equipment ................... 7
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Actuality...................... 7
2 General views .. .. .. .. .. .. 9
General view, left side . . . . . . . 11
General view, right side . . . . . 13
Underneath the seat . . . . . . . . 14
Multifunction switch, left . . . . 15
Multifunction switch,
right......................... 17
Instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3 Status indicators . . . . . . . 19
Telltale and warning
lights ........................ 20
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 22
Warning symbols in the
display ...................... 24
Warnings.................... 25
Service-due indicator . . . . . . . . 40
Fuel reserve................. 41
Oil level ..................... 41
Ambient temperature. . . . . . . . 42
Tyre pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Recommendation to up-
shift ......................... 43
4 Operation................ 45
Ignition switch/steering
lock ......................... 46
Ignition with Key-
less Ride .................... 48
Emergency off switch (kill
switch) ...................... 52
Lights ....................... 53
Daytime riding light . . . . . . . . . . 54
Hazard warning lights sys-
tem ......................... 56
Turn indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 57
Anti-lock brake system
(ABS)........................ 64
Automatic Stability Control
(ASC) ....................... 65
Electronic Suspension Ad-
justment (ESA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Riding mode ................ 68
Cruise-control system . . . . . . . 72
Anti-theft alarm (DWA) . . . . . . 74
Heated handlebar grips . . . . . 76
Front and rear seats . . . . . . . . . 76
5 Adjustment . .. .. .. .. .. .. . 81
Mirrors ...................... 82
Headlight.................... 82
Windscreen ................. 83
Clutch....................... 84
Brakes ...................... 84
Handlebars.................. 85
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Damping .................... 86
6 Riding.................... 89
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . 90
Comply with checklist . . . . . . . 93
Always before riding off: . . . . . 93
Every 3rd refuelling stop . . . . 93
Starting...................... 93
Runningin .................. 95

Off-roading.................. 96
Shifting gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Brakes ...................... 98
Parking your motor-
cycle ...................... 100
Refuelling ................. 101
Securing motorcycle for
transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
7 Engineering
details ................. 107
General instructions . . . . . . . 108
Anti-lock brake system
(ABS)...................... 108
Automatic Stability Control
(ASC) ..................... 111
Riding mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Tyre pressure monitoring
(RDC) ..................... 115
Shift assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
8 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . 119
General instructions . . . . . . . 120
Standard toolkit . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Service toolkit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Front-wheel stand . . . . . . . . . 121
Engine oil ................. 122
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Clutch..................... 128
Coolant.................... 128
Tyres...................... 129
Rims and tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Wheels.................... 131
Air filter.................... 138
Light source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Battery .................... 145
Fuses ..................... 149
Diagnostic connector . . . . . . 151
9 Accessories .. .. .. .. .. . 153
General instructions . . . . . . . 154
Power sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Cases ..................... 155
Topcase................... 158
Navigation system . . . . . . . . . 164
10 Care .................. 171
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Washing the vehicle . . . . . . . 172
Cleaning easily damaged
components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Paint care ................. 174
Protective wax coating . . . . 174
Laying up the motor-
cycle ...................... 174
Restoring motorcycle to
use........................ 174
11 Technical data . . . . . . 175
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . 176
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . 177
Fuel....................... 179
Engine oil ................. 180
Engine .................... 180
Clutch..................... 181
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Final drive ................. 182
Frame..................... 183
Chassis and
suspension................ 183
Brakes .................... 184
Wheels and tyres. . . . . . . . . . 185
Electrical system . . . . . . . . . . 187
Anti-theft alarm. . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Weights ................... 190
Riding specifications . . . . . . 190

12 Service ............... 191
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 192
BMW Motorrad Mobility
services ................... 192
Maintenance work . . . . . . . . . 192
BMW Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Maintenance schedule . . . . 195
Confirmation of mainten-
ance work................. 196
Confirmation of service . . . . 210
13 Appendix. . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Certificate for electronic
immobiliser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Certificate for Key-
less Ride .................. 216
Certificate for tyre pressure
monitoring (tyre pressure
control, RDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
14 Index ................. 219

General instructions
Overview ............................ 6
Abbreviations and symbols . . . . . . . . . . 6
Equipment........................... 7
Technicaldata....................... 7
Actuality ............................. 7
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 servicing work
on the vehicle is documented
in Chapter 11. 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.
ABS Anti-lock brake system.
ASC Automatic Stability Con-
trol.
ESA Electronic Suspension
Adjustment.
RDC Tyre pressure monitor-
ing.
Equipment
When you purchased your BMW
motorcycle, you chose a model
with individual equipment. This
Rider's Manual describes the
optional extras (OE) offered by
BMW and selected optional ac-
cessories (OA). This explains why
the manual may also contain
equipment specifications which
you have not ordered. Please
note, too, that your motorcycle
might not be exactly as illus-
trated in this manual on account
of country-specific differences.
If your motorcycle contains
equipment that has not been
described, its description can be
found in a separate manual.
Technical data
All dimensions, weights and
power ratings stated in the
Rider's Manual are quoted to the
standards and comply with the
tolerance requirements of the
Deutsches Institut für Normung
e.V. (DIN). Versions for individual
countries may differ.
Actuality
The high safety and quality level
of BMW motorcycles is ensured
by continuous development
work on design, equipment
and accessories. Because of
this, your motorcycle may differ
from the information supplied
in the Rider's Manual. Nor
can BMW Motorrad entirely
rule out errors and omissions.
Consequently no claims can be
derived from the information,
graphics or descriptions.
1
7
z General instructions

1
8
z General instructions

General views
General view, left side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
General view, right side . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Underneath the seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Multifunction switch, left . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Multifunction switch, right . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Instrumentpanel.................... 18
2
9
z General views

2
10
z General views

General view, left side
1with daytime running
lightOE
Daytime riding light
( 54).
2Fuel filler neck ( 102)
3Seat lock ( 76)
4Setting the rear damping
(down at the spring strut)
( 86)
2
11
z General views

2
12
z General views

General view, right side
1without Dynamic ESAOE
Adjuster for spring preload,
rear ( 85).
2Air filter (underneath the
centre trim panel) ( 138)
3Brake-fluid tank, front
( 126)
4Height adjustment of the
windscreen ( 83)
5Power socket ( 154)
6VIN (on steering-head
bearing)
Type plate (on the frame,
front right)
7Coolant-level indicator
( 128)
Coolant reservoir ( 128)
8Oil filler neck ( 123)
9Engine oil level indicator
( 122)
10 Behind the side trim panel:
Battery ( 145)
Battery-positive connection
point ( 144)
Diagnostic connector
( 151)
11 Brake-fluid reservoir, rear
( 127)
2
13
z General views

Underneath the seat
1Standard toolkit ( 120)
2Rider's Manual
3Tyre pressure table
4Payload table
5Adjusting the front seat
height ( 78)
6Fuses ( 149)
2
14
z General views

Multifunction switch,
left
1High-beam headlight and
headlight flasher ( 53)
2with cruise controlOE
Cruise-control system
( 72).
3Hazard warning lights sys-
tem ( 56)
4ABS ( 64)
ASC ( 65)
5with Dynamic ESAOE
Dynamic ESA Possible set-
tings ( 66)
6with LED auxiliary head-
lightsOA
Auxiliary headlights
( 54).
7Turn indicators ( 57)
8Horn
9Multifunction display
( 57)
2
15
z General views

10 with preparation for nav-
igation systemOE
Operating navigation sys-
tem ( 166)
Multi-Controller
11 with daytime running
lightOE
Daytime riding light
( 54).
2
16
z General views

Multifunction switch,
right
1with heated handlebar
gripsOE
Heated handlebar grips
( 76).
2Riding mode ( 68)
3Emergency off switch (kill
switch) ( 52)
4Starter button
Start engine ( 93).
2
17
z General views

Instrument panel
1Speedometer
2Engine speed display
3Photosensor (for adapting
the brightness of the in-
strument lighting)
with alarm system
(DWA)OE
Alarm system LED
with Keyless RideOE
Telltale light for the radio-
operated key
Switching on ignition
( 49).
4Telltale and warning lights
( 20)
5Multifunction display
( 22)
2
18
z General views