BMW R 1200 GS - Installation and maintenance manual

BMW Motorrad
Rider's Manual
R 1200 GS
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)

Details described or illustrated
in this booklet may differ from
the motorcycle's actual specifica-
tion as purchased, the accessor-
ies fitted or the national-market
specification. No claims will be
entertained as a result of such
discrepancies.
Dimensions, weights, fuel con-
sumption and performance data
are quoted to the customary tol-
erances.
The right to modify designs,
equipment and accessories is
reserved.
Errors and omissions excepted.
© 2010 BMW Motorrad
Not to be reproduced either
wholly or in part without written
permission from BMW Motorrad,
After Sales.
Printed in Germany.

The most important data for a filling-station stop can be found in the following chart:
Fuel
Recommended fuel grade Premium plus unleaded
98 ROZ/RON
91 AKI
alternative fuel grade Premium unleaded (slight power- and consumption-re-
lated restrictions)
95 ROZ/RON
89 AKI
with regular unleaded (RON 91) OE Regular unleaded (power- and consumption-related re-
strictions)
91 ROZ/RON
87 AKI
Usable fuel capacity approx. 20 l
Reserve fuel approx. 4 l
Tyre pressures
Tyre pressure, front 2.2 bar, one-up, tyre cold
2.5 bar, two-up and/or with luggage, tyre cold
Tyre pressure, rear 2.5 bar, one-up, tyre cold
2.9 bar, two-up and/or with luggage, tyre cold
BMW recommends
Order No.: 01 41 8 520 391
02.2010, 2nd edition
*01418520391*
*01418520391*
*01418520391*

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 information
on maintenance and care to help
you maintain your motorcycle'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.

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
Handlebar fitting, left ........ 14
Handlebar fitting, right....... 16
Underneath the seat ........ 17
Instrument panel ............ 18
Headlight.................... 19
3 Status indicators ....... 21
Standard status indicat-
ors .......................... 22
Status indicators with on-
board computer . . . . . . . . ..... 23
Status indicators with
tyre pressure monitoring
(RDC) ....................... 24
Standard warnings ....... . . . 24
Warnings issued by the on-
board computer . . . . . . . . ..... 29
ABS warnings . . . . . . ......... 31
ASC warnings . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 33
RDC warnings.. . . . . ......... 37
Anti-theft alarm warnings.. . . 42
4 Operation................ 45
Ignition switch and steering
lock ......................... 46
Electronic immobiliser
EWS ........................ 47
Clock........................ 48
Odometer and
tripmeters................... 49
On-board computer ........ . 51
Tyre pressure monitoring
RDC......................... 54
Lights....................... 55
Turn indicators . . . . . . . ....... 56
Hazard warning flashers .. . . . 56
Emergency off switch (kill
switch) ...................... 57
Operating grip heating ...... 58
BMW Motorrad Integral
ABS......................... 59
Automatic Stability Control
ASC......................... 60
Seatheight.................. 61
Windscreen ................. 62
Clutch....................... 62
Brakes ...................... 63
Mirrors ...................... 63
Handlebars.................. 64
Spring preload ........... . . . 64
Damping.................... 66
Electronic Suspension Ad-
justment ESA ....... . . . . . . . . 68
Tyres........................ 70
Headlight.................... 70

Front and rear seats......... 71
Helmet holder .... . . . . . . ..... 73
5 Riding.................... 75
Safety instructions . . ........ 76
Checklist.................... 78
Starting...................... 79
Runningin .................. 81
Off-roading.................. 82
Brakes ...................... 83
Parking your motorcycle .... 85
Refuelling ................... 85
Secure the motorcycle for
transportation ............... 87
6 Engineering details..... 89
Brake system with BMW
Motorrad Integral ABS ..... . 90
Electronic engine manage-
ment with BMW Motorrad
ASC......................... 92
Tyre pressure monitoring
RDC......................... 94
Electronic Suspension Ad-
justment ESA ....... . . . . . . . . 95
7 Accessories ............. 97
General instructions . . . . ..... 98
Power sockets ...... . . . . . . . . 98
Case ........................ 99
Topcase................... 102
Luggage carrier . . . ........ 105
8 Maintenance .......... 107
General instructions . . . . ... 108
Toolkit..................... 108
Engineoil ................. 109
Brake system ............. 111
Clutch..................... 116
Rims and tyres ............ 117
Wheels.................... 118
Front-wheel stand......... 124
Bulbs...................... 125
Airfilter.................... 131
Jump starting ............. 133
Battery.................... 135
9 Care.................... 139
Care products . .. .. .. ...... 140
Washing motorcycle... . . . . 140
Cleaning easily damaged
components. .............. 141
Paintcare................. 142
Protective wax coating ... . 142
Laying up motorcycle .... . 142
Restoring motorcycle to
use........................ 143
10 Technical data ...... 145
Troubleshooting chart... . . 146
Threaded fasteners .. ..... 147
Engine .................... 149
Fuel....................... 150
Engineoil ................. 151
Clutch..................... 152
Transmission..... . . . . . . . . . 152
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . ..... 153
Running gear.............. 153
Brakes .................... 154
Wheels and tyres....... . . . 155
Electrics................... 156
Frame..................... 157
Dimensions ............... 158
Weights................... 159
Riding specifications ...... 159

11 Service............... 161
BMW Motorrad service.... 162
BMW Motorrad service
quality..................... 162
BMW Motorrad mobility
services - roadside assist-
ance....................... 162
BMW Motorrad service
network ................... 163
Maintenance work......... 163
Confirmation of mainten-
ancework................. 164
Confirmation of service.... 169

General instructions
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 Manu-
al will provide you with an initial
overview of your motorcycle. All
maintenance and repair work on
the motorcycle is documented in
Chapter 11. This record of the
maintenance work you have had
performed on your motorcycle 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 Manu-
al; it is an important part of the
motorcycle.
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
motorcycle 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.
Item of technical data.
OE Optional extra
The motorcycles are as-
sembled complete with
all the BMW optional ex-
tras originally ordered.
OA Optional accessory
You can obtain option-
al accessories through
your authorised BMW
Motorrad dealer; optional
accessories 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
Electronic Suspension
Adjustment.
RDC Tyre pressure control
(ReifenDruck-Control)
Equipment
When you ordered your BMW
motorcycle, you chose various
items of custom equipment. This
Rider's Manual describes option-
al extras (OE) offered by BMW
and selected optional accessor-
ies (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 BMW was supplied with
equipment not described in
this Rider's Manual, you will
find these features described in
separate manuals.
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
standards of BMW motorcycles
are maintained by constant
development work on designs,
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 views
General view, left side... . . ....... . .. 11
General view, right side ...... . . ..... 13
Handlebar fitting, left..... . ....... . .. 14
Handlebar fitting, right ..... . ....... . 16
Underneath the seat ...... . ........ . 17
Instrumentpanel.................... 18
Headlight........................... 19
2
9
z General views

2
10
z General views

General view, left side
1Adjuster, spring preload,
front ( 64)
2Adjustment of windscreen
( 62)
3Adjuster for headlight
beam throw (underneath
the instrument panel)
( 71)
4Clutch-fluid reservoir
( 116)
5Type plate (on frame, be-
hind side cover)
6Seat lock ( 71)
7Power socket ( 98)
8Adjuster for damping char-
acteristic, rear suspension
( 66)
9Engine oil level indicator
( 109)
2
11
z General views

2
12
z General views

General view, right side
1Adjuster for spring preload,
rear ( 64)
2Fuel filler neck ( 85)
3Brake-fluid reservoir, front
( 114)
4Vehicle Identification Num-
ber (VIN) (on steering-head
bearing)
5Air filter (behind right side
panel) ( 131)
6Engine-oil filler neck
( 110)
7Brake-fluid reservoir, rear
( 115)
2
13
z General views

Handlebar fitting, left
1Control for the odometer
( 49)
Operation of the clock
( 48)
with on-board com-
puterOE
Operating the on-board
computer ( 51)
2with BMW Motorrad In-
tegral ABS IIOE
Operating the ABS
( 59)
with Automatic Stability
ControlOE
Operating ASC ( 60)
3with Electronic Suspen-
sion Adjustment (ESA)OE
Operating ESA ( 68)
4Horn
5Flashing turn indicators,
left ( 56)
Hazard warning flashers
( 56)
2
14
z General views

6Headlight flasher and high-
beam headlight ( 55) 2
15
z General views

Handlebar fitting, right
1Emergency off switch (kill
switch) ( 57)
2Starter button ( 79)
3with heated handlebar
gripsOE
Grip heating control
( 58)
4Flashing turn indicators,
right ( 56)
Hazard warning flashers
( 56)
5Cancel button, flashing
turn indicators ( 56)
Pushbutton, cancel hazard
warning flashers ( 56)
2
16
z General views