BMW R 1200 RT - 2006 Installation and maintenance manual

Rider's Manual (US Model)
R 1200 RT
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 8 559 017
*01418559017*
*01418559017*
*01418559017*

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 ................. 21
Warning and indicator
lights ........................ 22
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 24
Meaning of symbols . . . . . . . . . 25
Warning lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Ambient temperature. . . . . . . . 40
Cruising range. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Oil level indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Service display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Tire inflation pressures . . . . . . 42
4 Operation................ 43
Ignition ...................... 45
Ignition with Key-
less Ride .................... 47
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 53
Onboard computer . . . . . . . . . . 57
Tripmeter ................... 59
Emergency on/off switch (kill
switch) ...................... 60
Headlight.................... 60
Lights ....................... 61
Turn indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Hazard warning flashers . . . . . 62
ASC......................... 63
Riding mode ................ 63
Cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Damping .................... 68
Electronic suspension ad-
justment..................... 69
Clutch....................... 70
Brakes ...................... 71
Hill Start Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Tires ........................ 72
Heating...................... 72
Adjusting the instrument
cluster....................... 75
Mirrors ...................... 75
Windshield .................. 75
Storage compartment . . . . . . . 76
Central locking system . . . . . . 77
DWA ........................ 80
Rider's seat ................. 84
Pillion seat .................. 85
5 Riding.................... 89
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . 90
Checklist .................... 91
Starting...................... 92
Breakingin.................. 94
Shifting gears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Brakes ...................... 96
Parking your motorcycle . . . . 97

Refueling.................... 98
Fastening motorcycle for
transport .................. 101
6 Technology in de-
tail...................... 103
Riding mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Gear Shift Assistant
Pro........................ 105
Hill Start Control . . . . . . . . . . 106
BMW Motorrad Integral
ABS....................... 106
BMW Motorrad ASC . . . . . . 109
TPC/RDC ................. 110
ESA....................... 112
7 Maintenance . .. .. .. .. . 113
General instructions . . . . . . . 114
Onboard tool kit . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Engine oil ................. 115
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Coolant.................... 120
Clutch..................... 122
Wheel rims and tires . . . . . . 122
Wheels.................... 123
Muffler .................... 129
Front wheel stand . . . . . . . . . 130
Bulbs...................... 131
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Battery .................... 139
Fuses ..................... 143
8 Accessories .. .. .. .. .. . 145
General instructions . . . . . . . 146
Onboard power
sockets.................... 146
Navigation system . . . . . . . . . 147
Case ...................... 150
Topcase................... 152
9 Care.................... 155
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Washing your motorcy-
cle......................... 156
Cleaning sensitive motorcy-
cle parts................... 157
Paint care ................. 157
Storing the motorcycle . . . . 158
Protective wax coating . . . . 158
Returning motorcycle to
use........................ 158
10 Technical data . .. .. . 159
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . 160
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . 161
Engine .................... 163
Fuel....................... 164
Engine oil ................. 164
Clutch..................... 165
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . 166
Suspension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Brakes .................... 167
Wheels and tires . . . . . . . . . . 168
Electrical system . . . . . . . . . . 169
Frame..................... 171
Alarm system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Weights ................... 173
Performance data . . . . . . . . . 173
11 Service ............... 175
Reporting safety
defects.................... 176
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 177
BMW Motorrad Mobility
Services................... 177

Maintenance proce-
dures...................... 177
Confirmation of mainte-
nance work................ 179
Confirmation of service . . . . 184
12 Appendix. .. .. .. .. .. .. 187
Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
RDC certificate . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
13 Index ................. 195

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). It may also describe equip-
ment options that you have not
chosen. 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
1Clutch fluid reservoir
( 122)
2Fuel filler opening ( 98)
3Seat lock ( 84)
4with seat heatingOE
Passenger seat heater
( 73)
52nd power socket
6Left-hand stow compart-
ment ( 76)
7Payload table
Tire inflation pressure table
2
11
z Overviews

2
12
z Overviews

General view, right side
1Rider's Manual (US Model)
2Onboard power socket
( 146)
3Brake-fluid reservoir, front
( 118)
4with audio systemOE
Right storage compartment
( 76)
5Vehicle Identification Num-
ber (at fork bearing)
Data plate (at fork bearing)
6Coolant level indicator (be-
hind side panel) ( 120)
7Oil fill location ( 115)
8Rear brake fluid reser-
voir (behind side fairing)
( 119)
2
13
z Overviews

Underneath seat
1Adjuster for the rider's seat
height ( 85)
2Standard tool kit ( 114)
3Tool for adjusting spring
load ( 67)
4Fuses ( 143)
2
14
z Overviews

Multifunction switch,
left
1High-beam headlight and
headlight flasher ( 61)
2with cruise controlOE
Cruise control ( 65)
3Hazard warning flashers
( 62)
4Windshield adjustment
( 75)
5with additional LED
headlightOA
Auxiliary headlight ( 61)
6Turn indicator ( 62)
7Horn
2
15
z Overviews

8Multi-Controller and MENU
button
Multifunction display
( 53)
ASC ( 63)
with dynamic ESAOE
D-ESA ( 69)
with audio systemOE
Audio system (see audio
system manual)
9Menu Favorite ( 56).
2
16
z Overviews

Multifunction switch,
right
1with central lockingOE
Central locking ( 77)
2Riding mode ( 63)
3Emergency on/off switch
(kill switch) ( 60)
4Starting the engine
( 92)
2
17
z Overviews

Instrument cluster
1Speedometer
2Warning and indicator
lights ( 22)
3with navigation systemOA
with preparation for navi-
gation systemOE
Navigation system
( 147)
4Ambient light sensor (for
brightness adjustment of
instrument lighting)
5Tachometer
6with navigation systemOA
with preparation for navi-
gation systemOE
Release for navigation slot
( 147)
7Multifunction display
( 24)
8Tripmeter ( 59)
The brightness of the warn-
ing lights and telltale lights,
the display and the instrument
needle and gauge lighting is
2
18
z Overviews