BMW R 1200 GS - Installation and maintenance manual

Rider's Manual
R 1200 GS
BMW Motorrad
The Ultimate
Riding Machine

Motorcycle data/dealership details
Motorcycle 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 motorcycle from
BMW and welcome you to the
community of BMW riders.
Familiarise yourself with your new
motorcycle so that you can ride it
safely and confidently in all 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 questions concerning
your motorcycle, your authorised
BMW Motorrad dealer will gladly
provide advice and assistance.
We hope that you will enjoy rid-
ing your BMW and that all your
journeys will be pleasant and safe
BMW Motorrad.
01 41 8 548 431
*01418548431*
*01418548431*
*01418548431*

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
Currency ..................... 7
2 General views .. .. . . .. . . .. 9
General view, left side . . . . . . . 11
General view, right side . . . . . 13
Multifunction switch, left . . . . 14
Multifunction switch,
right......................... 16
Underneath the seat . . . . . . . . 17
Instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3 Status indicators . . . .. . . 19
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 20
Service-due indicator . . . . . . . . 21
Fuel reserve................. 21
Ambient temperature. . . . . . . . 22
Tyre pressures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Oil level ..................... 23
Recommendation to up-
shift ......................... 23
Warning and telltale
lights ........................ 25
Warning symbols in the dis-
play ......................... 27
Warnings.................... 28
4 Operation................ 43
Ignition switch/steering
lock ......................... 44
Ignition ...................... 45
Electronic immobiliser
EWS ........................ 46
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 46
Lights ....................... 53
Daytime riding lights . . . . . . . . 54
Turn indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Hazard warning flashers . . . . . 56
Emergency off switch (kill
switch) ...................... 57
Heated handlebar grips . . . . . 57
BMW Motorrad Integ-
ral ABS...................... 58
Automatic Stability Control
ASC......................... 59
Riding mode ................ 60
Cruise-control system . . . . . . . 63
Clutch....................... 65
Brakes ...................... 65
Mirrors ...................... 66
Handlebars.................. 67
Windscreen ................. 67
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Damping .................... 68
Dynamic ESA, electronic
suspension adjustment . . . . . . 69
Anti-theft alarm (DWA) . . . . . . 71
Tyres........................ 73
Headlight.................... 73
Front and rear seats. . . . . . . . . 74
5 Riding.................... 77
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . 78
Checklist .................... 80
Starting...................... 81
Runningin .................. 83

Off-roading.................. 84
Brakes ...................... 85
Parking your motorcycle . . . . 86
Refuel....................... 86
Fuel grade .................. 88
Secure motorcycle for trans-
portation .................... 88
6 Engineering details. . .. . 91
Riding mode ................ 92
Brake system with
BMW Motorrad Integral
ABS......................... 93
Electronic engine manage-
ment with BMW Motorrad
ASC......................... 96
Tyre pressure monitoring
RDC......................... 98
7 Accessories . . .. . . .. . . . 101
General instructions . . . . . . . 102
Power sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Cases ..................... 103
Topcase................... 106
Navigation system . . . . . . . . . 109
8 Maintenance . . .. . .. . . . 113
General instructions . . . . . . . 114
Toolkit..................... 114
Engine oil ................. 115
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Coolant.................... 120
Clutch..................... 122
Rims and tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Wheels.................... 123
Front-wheel stand . . . . . . . . . 129
Bulbs...................... 130
Air filter.................... 135
Jump-start ................ 136
Battery .................... 137
Fuses ..................... 141
9 Care.................... 143
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Washing motorcycle. . . . . . . 144
Cleaning easily damaged
components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Paint care ................. 145
Protective wax coating . . . . 146
Lay up motorcycle . . . . . . . . 146
Restoring motorcycle to
use........................ 146
10 Technical data .. . .. . 147
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . 148
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . 149
Engine .................... 151
Fuel....................... 152
Engine oil ................. 153
Clutch..................... 153
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . 154
Running gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Brakes .................... 157
Wheels and tyres. . . . . . . . . . 157
Electrics................... 158
Anti-theft alarm. . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Frame..................... 160
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Weights ................... 162
Riding specifications . . . . . . 162
11 Service ............... 163
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 164
BMW Motorrad Mobility
services ................... 164
Maintenance work . . . . . . . . . 164
Confirmation of mainten-
ance work................. 166

Confirmation of service . . . . 171
12 Appendix. . . .. . .. . . .. . 173
Certificate ................. 174
13 Index ................. 175

General instructions
Overview ............................ 6
Abbreviations and symbols . . . . . . . . . . 6
Equipment........................... 7
Technicaldata....................... 7
Currency............................. 7
1
5
z General instructions

Overview
Chapter 2 of this Rider's Manual
will provide you with an initial
overview of your motorcycle.
All maintenance and repair 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 treat-
ment 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
Indicates warnings that you
must comply with for reas-
ons of your safety and the safety
of others, and to protect your
product against damage.
Specific instructions on
how to operate, control, ad-
just or look after items of equip-
ment on the motorcycle.
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 extra
The motorcycles are as-
sembled complete with
all the BMW Motorrad
optional extras originally
ordered.
OA Optional accessory
You can obtain optional
accessories through your
authorised BMW Motor-
rad dealer; optional ac-
cessories have to be
retrofitted to the motor-
cycle.
EWS Electronic immobiliser.
DWA Anti-theft alarm (Dieb-
stahlwarnanlage).
ABS Anti-lock brake system.
ASC Automatic Stability Con-
trol.
1
6
z General instructions

ESA Electronic Suspension
Adjustment.
RDC Tyre pressure monitoring
(ReifenDruck-Control).
Equipment
When you purchased your BMW
motorcycle you have chosen
a model with individual equip-
ment. This Rider's Manual de-
scribes the special equipment
(OE) offered by BMW and se-
lected optional accessories (OA).
This explains why the manual
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 should feature
equipment that is not described
in this Rider's Manual, then
these scopes are described in a
separate Rider's 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.
Currency
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. 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

General views
General view, left side. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
General view, right side . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Multifunction switch, left . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Multifunction switch, right . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Underneath the seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Instrumentpanel.................... 18
2
9
z General views

2
10
z General views

General view, left side
1not included in the stand-
ard equipment specifica-
tion
with daytime riding
lightsOE
Daytime riding light
( 54)
2Fuel filler neck ( 86)
3Seat lock ( 74)
4Setting the rear damping
(down at the spring strut)
( 68)
2
11
z General views

2
12
z General views

General view, right side
1Adjuster for spring preload,
rear ( 67)
2Air filter (underneath the
centre trim panel) ( 135)
3Brake-fluid reservoir, front
( 118)
4Height adjustment of the
windscreen ( 67)
5Power socket ( 102)
6Vehicle Identification Num-
ber (VIN) (on steering-head
bearing)
Type plate (on steering-
head bearing)
7Coolant-level indicator
( 120)
Coolant reservoir ( 121)
8Engine-oil filler neck
( 116)
9Engine oil level indicator
( 115)
10 Battery (behind the side
trim panel) ( 137)
Battery support point (be-
hind the side trim panel)
( 136)
11 Brake-fluid reservoir, rear
( 119)
2
13
z General views

Multifunction switch,
left
1High-beam headlight and
headlight flasher ( 53)
2not included in the stand-
ard equipment specifica-
tion
with speed controlOE
Cruise-control system
( 63)
3Hazard warning flashers
( 56)
4ABS ( 58)
with riding modesOE
ASC ( 59)
5not included in the stand-
ard equipment specifica-
tion
with Dynamic ESAOE
ESA ( 69)
2
14
z General views

6not included in the stand-
ard equipment specifica-
tion
with LED auxiliary head-
lightOA
Auxiliary headlights ( 54)
7Turn indicators ( 56)
8Horn
9Multifunction display
( 46)
10 not included in the stand-
ard equipment specifica-
tion
with preparation for nav-
igation systemOE
Navigation system
( 109)
11 not included in the stand-
ard equipment specifica-
tion
with daytime riding
lightsOE
Daytime riding lights
( 54)
2
15
z General views

Multifunction switch,
right
1not included in the stand-
ard equipment specifica-
tion
with heated handlebar
gripsOE
Heated handlebar grips
( 57)
2not included in the stand-
ard equipment specifica-
tion
with riding modesOE
Riding mode ( 60)
3Emergency off switch (kill
switch) ( 57)
4Start engine ( 81)
2
16
z General views

Underneath the seat
1Toolkit
2Rider's Manual ( 114)
3Table of tyre pressures
4Payload table
5Adjusting the driver seat
height ( 75)
2
17
z General views

Instrument panel
1Speedometer
2Rev. counter
3Ambient-light brightness
sensor (for adapting the
brightness of the instru-
ment lighting)
with daytime riding
lightsOE
Ambient brightness sensor
for the automatic mode of
the daytime riding light
with anti-theft alarmOE
Anti-theft alarm telltale light
(see the instructions for
use for the anti-theft alarm)
4Warning and telltale lights
( 25)
5Multifunction display
( 20)
2
18
z General views