BMW R 1200 GS - Installation and maintenance manual

Rider's Manual
R 1200 GS
BMW Motorrad
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.
Suggestions and criticism
If you have questions concerning
your motorcycle, 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 41 8 563 201
*01418563201*
*01418563201*
*01418563201*

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
Warning and telltale
lights ........................ 20
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 22
Warning symbols in the
display ...................... 24
Warnings.................... 25
Ambient temperature. . . . . . . . 39
Fuel reserve................. 40
Oil level ..................... 40
Service-due indicator . . . . . . . . 41
Tyre pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Recommendation to up-
shift ......................... 42
4 Operation................ 43
Ignition ...................... 44
Ignition with Key-
less Ride .................... 46
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 51
Anti-theft alarm (DWA) . . . . . . 57
Emergency off switch (kill
switch) ...................... 59
Headlight.................... 60
Lights ....................... 61
Daytime riding light . . . . . . . . . . 62
Turn indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Hazard warning flashers . . . . . 65
BMW Motorrad Integ-
ral ABS...................... 65
Automatic Stability Control
ASC......................... 66
Riding mode ................ 67
Cruise-control system . . . . . . . 71
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Damping .................... 74
Dynamic ESA, electronic
suspension adjustment . . . . . . 75
Clutch....................... 77
Brakes ...................... 78
Tyres........................ 78
Handlebars.................. 79
Heated handlebar grips . . . . . 79
Mirrors ...................... 80
Windscreen ................. 80
Front and rear seats . . . . . . . . . 81
5 Riding.................... 85
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . 86
Comply with checklist . . . . . . . 89
Starting...................... 89
Runningin .................. 91
Shifting gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Brakes ...................... 93
Parking your motorcycle . . . . 95
Off-roading.................. 96
Refuelling ................... 97

Securing motorcycle for
transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
6 Engineering
details ................. 103
Riding mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Shift assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Brake system with
BMW Motorrad Integral
ABS....................... 106
Electronic engine manage-
ment with BMW Motorrad
ASC....................... 110
Tyre pressure monitoring
RDC....................... 112
7 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . 115
General instructions . . . . . . . 116
Toolkit..................... 116
Engine oil ................. 117
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Coolant.................... 122
Clutch..................... 124
Rims and tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Wheels.................... 125
Front-wheel stand . . . . . . . . . 132
Lighting ................... 133
Air filter.................... 138
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Battery .................... 141
Fuses ..................... 145
8 Accessories .. .. .. .. .. . 147
General instructions . . . . . . . 148
Power sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Navigation system . . . . . . . . . 149
Cases ..................... 154
Topcase................... 157
9 Care.................... 161
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Washing the vehicle . . . . . . . 162
Cleaning easily damaged
components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Paint care ................. 164
Laying up the motor-
cycle ...................... 164
Protective wax coating . . . . 164
Restoring motorcycle to
use........................ 165
10 Technical data . . . . . . 167
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . 168
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . 169
Engine .................... 171
Fuel....................... 172
Engine oil ................. 173
Clutch..................... 173
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . 174
Running gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Brakes .................... 176
Wheels and tyres. . . . . . . . . . 177
Electrics................... 179
Frame..................... 180
Anti-theft alarm. . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Weights ................... 182
Riding specifications . . . . . . 182
11 Service ............... 183
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 184
BMW Motorrad Mobility
services ................... 184
Maintenance work . . . . . . . . . 184
Maintenance schedule . . . . 187
Standard BMW service . . . . 188
Confirmation of mainten-
ance work................. 189
Confirmation of service . . . . 194

12 Appendix. . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Certificate for electronic
immobiliser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Certificate for Key-
less Ride .................. 200
Certificate for tyre pressure
monitoring (Reifendruck-
Control, RDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
13 Index ................. 203

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 (Dieb-
stahlwarnanlage).
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 de-
scriptions of equipment 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