BMW R 1200 GS 2014 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
Congratulations on choosing a
motorcycle from BMW Motorrad
and welcome to the community
of BMW motorcycle owners and
riders. Familiarize yourself with
your new motorcycle so that you
can ride it safely and confidently
in all highway 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
get the most benefit from your
BMW's advanced technical fea-
tures.
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 complaints
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 on your
BMW
BMW Motorrad.
01 41 8 558 957
*01418558957*
*01418558957*
*01418558957*

Table of Contents
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
Underneath seat . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Multifunction switch, left . . . . 15
Multifunction switch,
right......................... 17
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3 Displays ................. 19
Warning and indicator
lights ........................ 20
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 22
Warning symbols in the
display panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Warning lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Outside temperature . . . . . . . . 38
Fuel reserve................. 38
Oil level indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Service display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Tire inflation pressures . . . . . . 40
Upshift recommendation . . . . 40
4 Operation................ 43
Ignition ...................... 44
Ignition with Key-
less Ride .................... 46
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 50
Anti-theft alarm system
(DWA)....................... 56
Emergency on/off switch (kill
switch) ...................... 58
Headlight.................... 59
Lights ....................... 60
Turn indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Hazard warning flashers . . . . . 61
BMW Motorrad Integral
ABS......................... 62
ASC Automatic Stability
Control...................... 63
Riding mode ................ 64
Cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Damping .................... 70
Dynamic ESA, Electronic
Suspension Adjustment . . . . . 71
Clutch....................... 73
Brakes ...................... 74
Tires ........................ 74
Handlebars.................. 75
Heated handlebar grips . . . . . 75
Mirrors ...................... 76
Windshield .................. 77
Rider and passenger
seats ........................ 77
5 Riding.................... 81
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . 82
Checklist .................... 84
Starting...................... 84
Breakingin.................. 87
Shifting gears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Brakes ...................... 89
Parking your motorcycle . . . . 90
Off-road riding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Refueling.................... 91
Secure motorcycle for trans-
port ......................... 94
6 Technology in
detail..................... 97
Riding mode ................ 98
Gearshift assistant . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Brake system with
BMW Motorrad Integral
ABS....................... 100
Engine management with
BMW Motorrad ASC . . . . . . 103
Tire Pressure Control TCP/
RDC....................... 104
7 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . 107
General instructions . . . . . . . 108
Onboard tool kit . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Engine oil ................. 109
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Coolant.................... 114
Clutch..................... 116
Wheel rims and tires . . . . . . 116
Wheels.................... 117
Front wheel stand . . . . . . . . . 122
Bulbs...................... 124
Air filter.................... 128
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Battery .................... 131
Fuses ..................... 134
8 Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . 137
General instructions . . . . . . . 138
Onboard power
sockets.................... 138
Navigation system . . . . . . . . . 139
Case ...................... 144
Topcase................... 146
9 Care.................... 151
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Washing your motorcy-
cle......................... 152
Cleaning sensitive motorcy-
cle parts................... 153
Paint care ................. 153
Storing the motorcycle . . . . 154
Protective wax coating . . . . 154
Returning motorcycle to
use........................ 154
10 Technical data . . . . . . 155
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . 156
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . 157
Engine .................... 159
Fuel....................... 160
Engine oil ................. 161
Clutch..................... 162
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . 163
Suspension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Brakes .................... 164
Wheels and tires . . . . . . . . . . 165
Electrical system . . . . . . . . . . 166
Alarm system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Frame..................... 167
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Weights ................... 169
Performance data . . . . . . . . . 169
11 Service ............... 171
Reporting safety
defects.................... 172
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 173
BMW Motorrad Mobility
Services................... 173

Maintenance proce-
dures...................... 173
Confirmation of mainte-
nance work................ 175
Confirmation of service . . . . 180
12 Appendix... . . . . . . . . . . 183
Certificate ................. 184
13 Index ................. 187

General instructions
Overview ............................ 6
Abbreviations and symbols . . . . . . . . . . 6
Equipment........................... 7
Technicaldata....................... 7
Notice concerning current status . . . . 7
1
5
z General instructions

Overview
This Rider's Manual has been
designed to provide quick and ef-
ficient orientation. The quickest
way for you to find information
on specific topics is to consult
the comprehensive index at the
back of the manual. If you would
like to start with a quick overview
of your motorcycle, this informa-
tion has been provided in chapter
2. All maintenance and repair
work carried out on your mo-
torcycle will be documented in
chapter 11. Documentation con-
firming performance of scheduled
maintenance is a precondition
for generous handling of out-of-
warranty claims and goodwill war-
ranty treatment.
When the time comes to sell
your BMW, remember to hand
over this Rider's Manual; it is an
important part of the motorcycle.
Abbreviations and
symbols
Indicates warnings that are
imperative to observe for
your own 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 extra.
BMW Motorrad optional
extras are already com-
pletely installed during
motorcycle production.
OA Optional accessory.
BMW Motorrad optional
accessories can be
purchased and installed
at your authorized
BMW Motorrad retailer.
EWS Electronic immobilizer.
DWA Anti-theft alarm.
1
6
z General instructions

ABS Anti-Lock Brake System.
ASC Automatic Stability Con-
trol.
ESA Electronic Suspension
Adjustment.
TPC Tire Pressure Control
(TPC).
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 motorcycle comes with
equipment not described here,
you can find the descriptions in a
separate manual.
Technical data
All dimensions, weights and out-
puts in the Rider's Manual relate
to the German DIN standards
and comply with their tolerance
specifications. Versions for indi-
vidual countries may differ.
Notice concerning
current status
The outstanding levels of safety
and quality furnished by every
BMW motorcycle are the result
of ongoing advanced develop-
ment focusing on continuous
improvement in design and en-
gineering as well as equipment
and accessories. For this reason,
some aspects of your motorcycle
may vary from the descriptions in
this Rider's Manual. In addition,
BMW Motorrad cannot guarantee
the total absence of errors. For
this reason BMW is unable to
recognize any claims stemming
from the information, illustrations
and 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
Underneathseat.................... 14
Multifunction switch, left . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Multifunction switch, right . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2
9
z Overviews

2
10
z Overviews

General view, left side
1Fuel filler opening ( 92)
2Seat lock ( 77)
3Adjuster for rear damp-
ing (at the bottom on the
spring strut) ( 70)
2
11
z Overviews

2
12
z Overviews

General view, right side
1Adjuster for spring preload,
rear ( 70)
2Air cleaner (under center
fairing panel) ( 128)
3Brake-fluid reservoir, front
( 112)
4Height adjuster for wind-
shield ( 77)
5Onboard power socket
( 138)
6Vehicle Identification Num-
ber (at fork bearing)
Type plate (on frame at
front right)
7Coolant level indicator
( 114)
Coolant tank ( 115)
8Oil fill location ( 110)
9Engine oil level indicator
( 109)
10 Battery (behind side panel)
( 131)
Auxiliary terminal for jump
starting (behind side panel)
( 130)
11 Brake-fluid reservoir, rear
( 113)
2
13
z Overviews

Underneath seat
1Standard tool kit ( 108)
2Rider's Manual (US Model)
3Tire inflation pressure table
4Load capacity table
5Adjuster for the rider's seat
height ( 78)
6Fuses ( 134)
2
14
z Overviews

Multifunction switch,
left
1Headlight flasher and high-
beam headlight ( 60)
2with cruise controlOE
Switch on cruise control
( 67).
3Hazard warning flashers
( 61)
4ABS ( 62)
ASC ( 63)
5with dynamic ESAOE
Adjustment options
( 71)
6with additional LED
headlightOA
Auxiliary headlight ( 60).
7Turn indicators ( 61)
8Horn
9Multifunction display
( 50)
2
15
z Overviews

10 with preparation for navi-
gation systemOE
Operating the navigation
system ( 140)
2
16
z Overviews

Multifunction switch,
right
1with heated handlebar
gripsOE
Heated handlebar grips
( 75)
2Riding mode ( 64)
3Emergency on/off switch
(kill switch) ( 58)
4Starting the engine
( 84)
2
17
z Overviews

Instrument cluster
1Speedometer
2Tachometer
3Ambient light sensor (for
brightness adjustment of
instrument lighting)
with anti-theft alarmOE
Anti-theft alarm indicator
light
with Keyless RideOE
Indicator light for radio-
operated key
4Warning and indicator
lights ( 20)
5Multifunction display
( 22)
2
18
z Overviews