BMW R 1200 GS - Installation and maintenance manual

Rider's Manual (US Model)
R 1200 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 8 548 437
*01418548437*
*01418548437*
*01418548437*

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
Multifunction switch, left . . . . 14
Multifunction switch,
right......................... 16
Underneath seat . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3 Displays ................. 19
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 20
Service display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Fuel reserve................. 21
Outside temperature . . . . . . . . 22
Tire inflation pressures . . . . . . 22
Oil level indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Upshift recommendation . . . . 23
Warning and indicator
lamps ....................... 25
Warning symbols in the dis-
play panel ................... 27
Warning lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
4 Operation................ 41
Steering and ignition
lock ......................... 42
Ignition ...................... 43
EWS Electronic immobi-
lizer ......................... 44
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 44
Lights ....................... 51
Turn signals................. 52
Hazard warning flashers . . . . . 52
Emergency on/off switch (kill
switch) ...................... 53
Heated handlebar grips . . . . . 53
BMW Motorrad Integral
ABS......................... 54
ASC Automatic Stability
Control...................... 55
Riding mode ................ 56
Cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Clutch....................... 61
Brakes ...................... 61
Mirrors ...................... 62
Handlebars.................. 63
Windshield .................. 63
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Damping .................... 64
Dynamic ESA, Electronic
Suspension Adjustment . . . . . 65
Anti-theft alarm system
(DWA)....................... 67
Tires ........................ 69
Headlight.................... 69
Rider and passenger
seats ........................ 70

5 Riding.................... 75
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . 76
Checklist .................... 78
Starting...................... 78
Breakingin.................. 81
Offroad riding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Brakes ...................... 83
Parking your motorcycle . . . . 84
Refueling.................... 84
Fuel specifications . . . . . . . . . . 86
Fastening motorcycle for
transport .................... 86
6 Technology in
detail..................... 89
Riding mode ................ 90
Brake system with
BMW Motorrad Integral
ABS......................... 91
Engine management with
BMW Motorrad ASC . . . . . . . . 94
Tire Pressure Control TPC/
RDC......................... 95
7 Accessories . . .. . . .. . . .. . 97
General instructions . . . . . . . . . 98
Onboard power sockets . . . . . 98
Case ........................ 99
Topcase................... 102
Navigation system . . . . . . . . . 105
8 Maintenance . . .. . .. . . . 109
General instructions . . . . . . . 110
Onboard tool kit . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Engine oil ................. 111
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Coolant.................... 116
Clutch..................... 117
Wheel rims and tires . . . . . . 118
Wheels.................... 118
Front wheel stand . . . . . . . . . 124
Lamps..................... 126
Air cleaner................. 131
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Battery .................... 133
Fuses ..................... 137
9 Care.................... 139
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Washing your vehicle. . . . . . 140
Cleaning sensitive vehicle
parts ...................... 140
Paint care ................. 141
Protective wax coating . . . . 142
Store motorcycle . . . . . . . . . . 142
Returning motorcycle to
use........................ 142
10 Technical data .. . .. . 143
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . 144
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . 145
Engine .................... 147
Fuel....................... 148
Engine oil ................. 149
Clutch..................... 149
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . 150
Suspension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Brakes .................... 152
Wheels and tires . . . . . . . . . . 153
Electrical system . . . . . . . . . . 154
Anti-theft alarm system . . . 155
Frame..................... 155

Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Weights ................... 157
Performance data . . . . . . . . . 157
11 Service ............... 159
Reporting safety
defects.................... 160
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 161
BMW Motorrad Mobility
Services................... 161
Maintenance proce-
dures...................... 161
Confirmation of mainte-
nance work................ 163
Confirmation of service . . . . 168
12 Appendix. . . .. . .. . . .. . 171
Certificate ................. 172
13 Index ................. 173

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 ini-
tial overview of your motorcycle.
All maintenance and repair work
carried out on your vehicle 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.
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 German Standardization
Institute (DIN) and comply with its
tolerance regulations. 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 design, 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
General view, left side. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
General view, right side . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Multifunction switch, left . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Multifunction switch, right . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Underneathseat.................... 17
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2
9
z Overviews

2
10
z Overviews

General view, left side
1Fuel filler opening ( 84)
2Seat lock ( 70)
3Adjuster for rear damp-
ing (at the bottom on the
spring strut) ( 64)
2
11
z Overviews

2
12
z Overviews

General view, right side
1Adjuster for spring preload,
rear ( 63)
2Air cleaner (under center
fairing panel) ( 131)
3Brake-fluid reservoir, front
( 114)
4Height adjuster for wind-
shield ( 63)
5Onboard socket ( 98)
6Vehicle Identification
Number (on steering-head
bearing)
Type plate (on steering-
head bearing)
7Coolant level indicator
( 116)
Coolant tank ( 116)
8Engine oil fill location
( 111)
9Engine oil level indicator
( 111)
10 Battery (behind side panel)
( 133)
Auxiliary terminal for jump
starting (behind side panel)
( 132)
11 Brake-fluid reservoir, rear
( 115)
2
13
z Overviews

Multifunction switch,
left
1Headlight flasher and high-
beam headlight ( 51)
2Not included in standard
equipment
with cruise controlOE
Cruise control ( 59)
3Hazard warning flashers
( 52)
4ABS ( 54)
with riding modesOE
ASC ( 55)
5Not included in standard
equipment
with dynamic ESAOE
ESA ( 65)
6Not included in standard
equipment
with additional LED
headlightOA
Auxiliary headlight ( 51)
7Turn signals ( 52)
8Horn
2
14
z Overviews

9Multifunction display
( 44)
10 Not included in standard
equipment
with preparation for navi-
gation systemOE
Navigation system
( 105)
2
15
z Overviews

Multifunction switch,
right
1Not included in standard
equipment
with heated handlebar
gripsOE
Heated grips ( 53)
2Not included in standard
equipment
with riding modesOE
Riding mode ( 56)
3Emergency on/off switch
(kill switch) ( 53)
4Starting the engine
( 78)
2
16
z Overviews

Underneath seat
1Onboard tool kit
2Rider's Manual (US Model)
( 110)
3Tire inflation pressure table
4Payload table
5Adjuster for the rider's seat
height ( 72)
2
17
z Overviews

Instrument cluster
1Speedometer
2Tachometer
3Ambient light sensor (for
brightness adjustment of
instrument lighting)
with anti-theft alarmOE
Anti-theft alarm system in-
dicator lamp (see anti-theft
alarm system operating in-
structions)
4Warning and indicator
lamps ( 25)
5Multifunction display
( 20)
2
18
z Overviews