BMW R 1200 RT - 2006 Installation and maintenance manual

Rider's Manual
R 1200 RT
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 vehicle from
BMW Motorrad 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.
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 8 543 801
*01418543801*
*01418543801*
*01418543801*

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
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 . . . . . . . 21
Warning and telltale
lights ........................ 22
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 24
Meaning of symbols . . . . . . . . . 25
Warnings.................... 26
Ambient temperature. . . . . . . . 40
Range....................... 40
Oil level ..................... 40
Service-due indicator . . . . . . . . 41
Tyre pressures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
4 Operation................ 43
Ignition switch/steering
lock ......................... 45
Ignition ...................... 46
Electronic immobiliser
EWS ........................ 46
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 47
On-board computer . . . . . . . . . 51
Trip meter................... 53
Emergency off switch (kill
switch) ...................... 54
Headlight.................... 54
Lights ....................... 55
Daytime running light . . . . . . . 56
Turn indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Hazard warning flashers . . . . . 58
ASC......................... 59
Riding mode ................ 59
Cruise-control system . . . . . . . 60
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Damping .................... 64
Electronic Suspension Ad-
justment..................... 65
Clutch....................... 66
Brakes ...................... 67
Hill Start Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Tyres........................ 68
Heating...................... 68
Adjusting instrument
panel........................ 71
Mirrors ...................... 71
Windscreen ................. 71
Stowage compartment . . . . . . 72
Central locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
DWA ........................ 76
Front seat................... 80
Rear seat.................... 81

5 Riding.................... 85
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . 86
Checklist .................... 88
Starting...................... 88
Runningin .................. 91
Shifting gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Brakes ...................... 92
Parking your motorcycle . . . . 93
Refuelling ................... 94
Securing motorcycle for
transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
6 Engineering details.. . . . 97
Riding mode ................ 98
Shift assistant Pro . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Hill Start Control . . . . . . . . . . 100
BMW Motorrad Integral
ABS....................... 100
BMW Motorrad ASC . . . . . . 103
RDC....................... 105
ESA....................... 106
7 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . 109
General instructions . . . . . . . 110
Toolkit..................... 110
Engine oil ................. 111
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Coolant.................... 116
Clutch..................... 118
Rims and tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Wheels.................... 119
Front-wheel stand . . . . . . . . . 125
Lighting ................... 127
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Battery .................... 134
Fuses ..................... 138
8 Accessories .. .. .. .. .. . 141
General instructions . . . . . . . 142
Power sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Navigation system . . . . . . . . . 143
Cases ..................... 146
Topcase................... 148
9 Care.................... 151
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Washing the motor-
cycle ...................... 152
Cleaning easily damaged
components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Paint care ................. 153
Laying up the motor-
cycle ...................... 154
Protective wax coating . . . . 154
Restoring motorcycle to
use........................ 154
10 Technical data . . . . . . 155
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . 156
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . 157
Engine .................... 158
Fuel....................... 159
Engine oil ................. 159
Clutch..................... 160
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . 161
Running gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Brakes .................... 162
Wheels and tyres. . . . . . . . . . 163
Electrics................... 164
Frame..................... 165
Anti-theft alarm. . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Weights ................... 167
Riding specifications . . . . . . 167
11 Service ............... 169
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 170
BMW Motorrad Mobility
services ................... 170
Maintenance work . . . . . . . . . 170

Confirmation of mainten-
ance work................. 172
Confirmation of service . . . . 177
12 Appendix. . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
RDC certificate . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
13 Index ................. 185

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 motorcycle is documented
in Chapter 11. This record of the
maintenance work you have had
performed on your motorcycle
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
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 Motorrad dealer;
optional accessories have
to be retrofitted to the
motorcycle.
1
6
z General instructions

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 monitoring
(Reifendruck-Control).
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). You may find
that it contains descriptions of
items of equipment that you did
not select. 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 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

General views
General view, left side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
General view, right side . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Underneath the seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Multifunction switch, left . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Multifunction switch, right . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Instrumentpanel.................... 18
2
9
z General views

2
10
z General views

General view, left side
1Clutch-fluid reservoir
( 118)
2Fuel filler neck ( 94)
3Seat lock ( 80)
4Rear seat heating control
(on rear seat) ( 70)
52nd socket
6Stowage compartment, left
( 72)
7Payload table
Table of tyre pressures
2
11
z General views

2
12
z General views

General view, right side
1Rider's Manual
2Power socket ( 142)
3Brake-fluid reservoir, front
( 114)
4with audio systemOE
Stowage compartment,
right ( 72)
5VIN (on steering-head
bearing)
Type plate (on steering-
head bearing)
6Coolant level indicator (be-
hind side panel) ( 116)
7Engine-oil filler neck
( 111)
8Rear brake-fluid reser-
voir (behind side panel)
( 115)
2
13
z General views

Underneath the seat
1Adjusting the driver seat
height ( 81)
2Standard toolkit ( 110)
3Tool for adjusting spring
preload ( 63)
4Fuses ( 138)
2
14
z General views

Multifunction switch,
left
1High-beam headlight and
headlight flasher ( 55)
2with daytime running
lightOE
Daytime running light
( 56)
3with cruise controlOE
Cruise-control system
( 61)
4Hazard warning flashers
( 58)
5Windscreen adjustment
( 71)
6with LED auxiliary head-
lightsOA
Auxiliary headlights ( 55)
7Turn indicators ( 58)
8Horn
2
15
z General views

9Multi-Controller and MENU
key
Multifunction display
( 47)
ASC ( 59)
with Dynamic ESAOE
D-ESA ( 65)
with audio systemOE
Audio system (see the ap-
propriate instructions for
use)
10 Selecting favourite menu
( 50).
2
16
z General views

Multifunction switch,
right
1with central lockingOE
Central locking ( 73)
2Riding mode ( 59)
3Emergency off switch (kill
switch) ( 54)
4Start engine ( 88)
2
17
z General views

Instrument panel
1Speedometer
2Warning and telltale lights
( 22)
3with navigation systemOA
with preparation for nav-
igation systemOE
Navigation system
( 143)
4Ambient-light brightness
sensor (for adapting the
brightness of the instru-
ment lighting)
5Rev. counter
6with navigation systemOA
with preparation for nav-
igation systemOE
Release for navigation slot
( 143)
7Multifunction display
( 24)
8Trip meter ( 53)
2
18
z General views