BMW R 1250RS Installation and maintenance manual

Rider's Manual (US Model)
R 1250 RS
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 9 446 757
*01409446757*
*01409446757*
*01409446757*

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
Traction control (ASC/
DTC)........................ 69
Electronic chassis and
suspension adjustment (D-
ESA) ........................ 70
Riding mode ................ 73
PRO riding mode . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Cruise-control system . . . . . . . 76
Hill Start Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Anti-theft alarm system
(DWA)....................... 81
Tire Pressure Monitor
(TPM) ....................... 83
Heated handlebar grips . . . . . 84
Rider and passenger
seats ........................ 84
5 TFT display . . . . . . . . . . .. . 87
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Principle..................... 89
Pure Ride view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
General settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Bluetooth.................... 98
My vehicle ................ 102
Navigation................. 105
Media ..................... 107
Phone..................... 107

Display software
version .................... 108
Display license informa-
tion........................ 108
6 Setting................. 109
Mirrors .................... 110
Windshield ................ 110
Headlight.................. 111
Clutch..................... 112
Gearshift lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Brakes .................... 114
Footrests.................. 115
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Damping .................. 118
7 Riding.................. 119
Safety information . . . . . . . . . 120
Observe checklist . . . . . . . . . 122
Before every journey:. . . . . . 122
At every third refueling
stop....................... 122
Starting.................... 123
Breakingin................ 126
Shifting gears . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Brakes .................... 128
Parking your motorcy-
cle......................... 130
Refueling.................. 130
Securing motorcycle for
transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
8 Technology in de-
tail...................... 137
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Antilock Braking System
(ABS)...................... 138
Traction control (ASC/
DTC)...................... 141
Dynamic ESA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Riding mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Dynamic Brake Control . . . . 145
Tire pressure control (TPC/
RDC)...................... 146
Shift assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Hill Start Control . . . . . . . . . . 149
ShiftCam.................. 151
9 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . 153
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Onboard tool set . . . . . . . . . . 154
Service tool set . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Front wheel stand . . . . . . . . . 155
Rear-wheel stand . . . . . . . . . 156
Engine oil ................. 157
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Clutch..................... 163
Coolant.................... 163
Tires ...................... 164
Wheel rims and tires . . . . . . 165
Wheels.................... 165
Muffler .................... 172
Light sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Battery .................... 178
Fuses ..................... 182
Data link connector . . . . . . . 183
10 Accessories .. . . . . . . . 185
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Onboard power
sockets.................... 186
Case ...................... 187
Topcase................... 189
Navigation system . . . . . . . . . 192

11 Care .................. 199
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Washing your motorcy-
cle......................... 200
Cleaning sensitive motorcy-
cle parts................... 201
Paint care ................. 202
Protective wax coating . . . . 202
Store motorcycle . . . . . . . . . . 202
Return motorcycle to
use........................ 203
12 Technical data . . . . . . 205
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . 206
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . 209
Fuel....................... 212
Engine oil ................. 213
Engine .................... 213
Clutch..................... 214
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . 215
Frame..................... 215
Suspension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Brakes .................... 216
Wheels and tires . . . . . . . . . . 217
Electrical system . . . . . . . . . . 218
Anti-theft alarm system . . . 219
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Weights ................... 221
Performance data . . . . . . . . . 221
13 Service ............... 223
Reporting safety
defects.................... 224
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 225
BMW Motorrad Service
History .................... 225
BMW Motorrad Mobility
Services................... 226
Maintenance proce-
dures...................... 226
BMW Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Maintenance schedule . . . . 229
Maintenance confirma-
tions....................... 230
Service confirmations . . . . . 244
14 Appendix... . . . . . . . . . . 247
Certificate for Electronic
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Certificate for Key-
less Ride .................. 250
Certificate for Tire Pressure
Control.................... 252
Certificate for TFT instru-
ment cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
15 Index ................. 256

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 infor-
mation has been provided in the
Overview chapter. All mainte-
nance and repair work carried out
on your motorcycle will be doc-
umented in the Service chap-
ter. Documentation confirm-
ing 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/RDC
Tire Pressure Control
(TPC/RDC).
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 rider or
1
8
z General instructions