BMW R 1250GS Adventure Installation and maintenance manual

Rider's Manual (US Model)
R 1250 GS Adventure
BMW Motorrad

Motorcycle/Retailer Data
Motorcycle Data
Model
Vehicle identification number
Color number
Initial registration
License plate
Retailer Data
Contact in Service
Ms./Mr.
Phone number
Retailer's address/phone number (com-
pany 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 information
on maintenance and care to help
you maintain your motorcycle's
reliability and safety, as well as its
value.
Documentation confirming per-
formance of scheduled mainte-
nance is a precondition for gen-
erous handling of out-of-warranty
claims and goodwill warranty
treatment.
Should you want to sell your
BMW one day, please also re-
member to turn over the Ride's
Manual to the new owner. it is
an important part of your motor-
cycle.
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 40 9 899 687
*01409899687*
*01409899687*
*01409899687*

Table of Contents
1 General instructions ... . 5
Overview..................... 6
Abbreviations and
symbols...................... 6
Equipment ................... 7
Technical Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Notice concerning current sta-
tus ........................... 8
Additional sources of informa-
tion........................... 8
Certificates and operating per-
mits .......................... 8
Data memory................. 8
2 Overviews ............... 13
General view, left side . . . . . . . 15
General view, right side . . . . . 17
Underneath the seat . . . . . . . . 18
Multifunction switch, left . . . . 19
Multifunction switch,
right......................... 21
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . 22
3 Displays ................. 23
Indicator and warning
lights ........................ 24
TFT display in Pure Ride
view......................... 25
TFT display in the View
menu........................ 27
Warning lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
4 Operation................ 57
Steering and ignition
lock ......................... 58
Ignition with Key-
less Ride .................... 60
Emergency on/off switch (kill
switch) ...................... 64
Lights ....................... 64
Hazard warning flashers . . . . . 66
Turn indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Antilock Braking System
(ABS)........................ 67
Automatic Stability Control
(ASC) ....................... 69
Dynamic Traction Control
(DTC) ....................... 71
Electronic chassis and
suspension adjustment (D-
ESA) ........................ 72
Riding mode ................ 75
PRO riding mode . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Cruise-control system . . . . . . . 80
Hill Start Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Anti-theft alarm system
(DWA)....................... 85
Tire Pressure Monitor
(TPM) ....................... 88
Heated handlebar grips . . . . . 88
Onboard computer . . . . . . . . . . 89
Rider and passenger
seats ........................ 89
Storage compartment . . . . . . . 92
5 TFT display . . . . . . . . . . .. . 93
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Principle..................... 95
Pure Ride view . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
General settings . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Bluetooth.................. 104
My vehicle ................ 108
Navigation................. 111

Media ..................... 113
Phone..................... 113
Display software
version .................... 114
Display license informa-
tion........................ 114
6 Setting................. 115
Mirrors .................... 116
Headlight.................. 117
Windshield ................ 118
Clutch..................... 118
Brakes .................... 119
Shifting.................... 122
Footrests.................. 123
Handlebars................ 124
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Damping .................. 126
7 Riding.................. 127
Safety information . . . . . . . . . 128
Observe checklist . . . . . . . . . 130
Before every journey:. . . . . . 130
At every third refueling
stop....................... 130
Starting.................... 131
Breakingin................ 134
Off-road use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Shifting gears . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Brakes .................... 137
Parking your motorcy-
cle......................... 139
Refueling.................. 139
Securing motorcycle for
transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
8 Technology in de-
tail...................... 145
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Antilock Braking System
(ABS)...................... 146
Automatic Stability Control
(ASC) ..................... 149
Dynamic Traction Control
(DTC) ..................... 150
Dynamic ESA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Riding mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Dynamic Brake Control . . . . 155
Tire pressure control
(TPC/RDC)................ 156
Shift assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Hill Start Control . . . . . . . . . . 158
9 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . 161
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Onboard tool set . . . . . . . . . . 162
Service tool set . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Front wheel stand . . . . . . . . . 163
Engine oil ................. 164
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Clutch..................... 170
Coolant.................... 170
Tires ...................... 171
Wheel rims and tires . . . . . . 172
Wheels.................... 173
Air filter.................... 179
Light sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Battery .................... 183
Fuses ..................... 187
Data link connector . . . . . . . 189
10 Accessories .. . . . . . . . 191
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Onboard power
sockets.................... 192
Case ...................... 193
Topcase................... 195
Navigation system . . . . . . . . . 197

11 Care .................. 203
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Washing your motorcy-
cle......................... 204
Cleaning sensitive motorcy-
cle parts................... 205
Paint care ................. 206
Protective wax coating . . . . 206
Store motorcycle . . . . . . . . . . 206
Return motorcycle to
use........................ 207
12 Technical data . . . . . . 209
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . 210
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . 213
Fuel....................... 215
Engine oil ................. 216
Engine .................... 216
Clutch..................... 217
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . 218
Frame..................... 219
Suspension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Brakes .................... 220
Wheels and tires . . . . . . . . . . 221
Electrical system . . . . . . . . . . 223
Anti-theft alarm system . . . 224
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Weights ................... 227
Performance data . . . . . . . . . 227
13 Service ............... 229
Reporting safety
defects.................... 230
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 231
BMW Motorrad Service
History .................... 231
BMW Motorrad Mobility
Services................... 232
Maintenance proce-
dures...................... 232
BMW Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Maintenance schedule . . . . 235
Maintenance confirma-
tions....................... 236
Service confirmations . . . . . 250
14 Appendix... . . . . . . . . . . 253
Certificate for Electronic
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Certificate for Key-
less Ride .................. 256
Certificate for Tire Pressure
Control.................... 258
Certificate for TFT instru-
ment cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
15 Index ................. 262

General instructions
Overview ............................ 6
Abbreviations and symbols . . . . . . . . . . 6
Equipment........................... 7
TechnicalData....................... 7
Notice concerning current status . . . . 8
Additional sources of information . . . . 8
Certificates and operating permits . . . 8
Datamemory ........................ 8
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 12. 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
CAUTION Hazard with
low risk. Failure to avoid
this hazard can result in minor or
moderate injury.
WARNING Hazard with
moderate risk. Failure to
avoid this hazard can result in
death or serious injury.
DANGER Hazard with high
risk. Failure to avoid this
hazard results in death or serious
injury.
ATTENTION Special in-
structions and precaution-
ary measures. Non-compliance
can cause damage to the vehi-
cle or accessories and warranty
claims may be denied as a result.
NOTICE Special informa-
tion on operating and in-
specting your motorcycle as well
as maintenance and adjustment
procedures.
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.
NV National-market version.
1
6
z General instructions

OE Optional extra.
BMW Motorrad optional
extras are already com-
pletely installed during
motorcycle production.
OA Optional accessory.
BMW Motorrad op-
tional accessories can
be purchased and in-
stalled at your autho-
rized BMW Motorrad
retailer.
ABS Anti-Lock Brake System.
ASC Automatic Stability Con-
trol.
D-
ESA
Electronic chassis and
suspension adjustment.
DTC Dynamic Traction Con-
trol (optional equipment
only in combination with
Pro riding modes).
DWA Anti-theft alarm.
EWS Electronic immobilizer.
TPC Tire Pressure Control
(TPC).
Equipment
When you ordered your
BMW motorcycle, you chose
various custom equipment items.
This Rider's Manual describes
optional equipment (OE) offered
by BMW and selected 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 exactly as illustrated
in this manual on account of
country-specific differences.
If your motorcycle features
equipment that is not described
here, you can find these features
described in a separate manual.
Technical Data
All dimensions, weights and per-
formance data contained this
Rider's Manual refer to the Ger-
man DIN standards and comply
with their tolerance specifications.
The technical data and speci-
fications in this Rider's Manual
serve as points of reference. The
vehicle-specific data may vary,
for instance due to the selected
optional equipment, national-mar-
ket version or country-specific
measuring procedures. Detailed
values can be obtained from the
registration documents and the
signs on the vehicle or from your
authorized BMW Motorrad re-
tailer or other qualified service
partner or specialist workshop.
The information on the vehicle
documents always takes prece-
dence over the information in this
Rider's Manual.
1
7
z General instructions

Notice concerning
current status
The high safety and quality stan-
dards of BMW motorcycles are
maintained by consistent, on-
going development efforts em-
bracing their design, equipment
and accessories. For this reason,
some aspects of your motorcycle
may vary from the descriptions
in these operating instructions.
In addition, BMW Motorrad can-
not guarantee the total absence
of errors. We hope you will ap-
preciate that no claims can be
recognized based on the data, il-
lustrations or descriptions in this
manual.
Additional sources of
information
BMW Motorrad retailers
Your BMW Motorrad retailer is
always happy to answer any of
your questions.
Internet
The Rider's Manual for your
vehicle, the operating and
installation instructions for
optional accessories and general
BMW Motorrad information
related to the technology or
other features are available at
www.bmw-motorrad.com/
service.
Certificates and
operating permits
The certificates for the vehicle
and the official operating per-
mits for possible accessories
are available at www.bmw-
motorrad.com/certification.
Data memory
General
Electronic control units are in-
stalled in the vehicle. Electronic
control units process data re-
ceived from vehicle sensors,
self-generated data or data ex-
changed between control units,
for example. Some control units
are required for safe vehicle op-
eration or provide driving assis-
tance, such as driver assistance
systems. Control units also make
comfort and infotainment func-
tions possible.
Information about the stored or
exchanged data can be obtained
from the vehicle manufacturer,
such as in the form of a separate
booklet.
Personal references
Every vehicle is marked with a
unique vehicle identification num-
ber. Depending on the country,
the vehicle owner can be iden-
tified using the vehicle identifi-
cation number and license plate
and with the help of the relevant
authorities. There are also other
ways to trace data obtained from
the vehicle back to the driver or
1
8
z General instructions