BMW R1200GS Installation and maintenance manual

Rider's Manual
R 1200 GS
BMW Motorrad
The Ultimate
Riding Machine

Vehicle data/dealership details
Vehicle 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 vehicle 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 8 558 951
*01418558951*
*01418558951*
*01418558951*

Table of Contents
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 . . . . . . . 19
Warning and telltale
lights ........................ 20
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 22
Warning symbols in the
display ...................... 24
Warnings.................... 25
Ambient temperature. . . . . . . . 39
Fuel reserve................. 39
Oil level ..................... 40
Service-due indicator . . . . . . . . 41
Tyre pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Recommendation to up-
shift ......................... 42
4 Operation................ 43
Ignition ...................... 44
Ignition with Key-
less Ride .................... 46
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 50
Anti-theft alarm (DWA) . . . . . . 56
Emergency off switch (kill
switch) ...................... 58
Headlight.................... 59
Lights ....................... 60
Daytime riding light . . . . . . . . . . 61
Turn indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Hazard warning flashers . . . . . 63
BMW Motorrad Integ-
ral ABS...................... 63
Automatic Stability Control
ASC......................... 64
Riding mode ................ 65
Cruise-control system . . . . . . . 69
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Damping .................... 72
Dynamic ESA, electronic
suspension adjustment . . . . . . 73
Clutch....................... 75
Brakes ...................... 76
Tyres........................ 76
Handlebars.................. 77
Heated handlebar grips . . . . . 77
Mirrors ...................... 78
Windscreen ................. 79
Front and rear seats . . . . . . . . . 79
5 Riding.................... 83
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . 84
Checklist .................... 86
Starting...................... 87
Runningin .................. 89
Shifting gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Brakes ...................... 90
Parking your motorcycle . . . . 91
Off-roading.................. 92
Refuelling ................... 93

Securing motorcycle for
transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
6 Engineering details.. . . . 99
Riding mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Shift assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Brake system with
BMW Motorrad Integral
ABS....................... 102
Electronic engine manage-
ment with BMW Motorrad
ASC....................... 105
Tyre pressure monitoring
RDC....................... 107
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
Air filter.................... 132
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Battery .................... 134
Fuses ..................... 138
8 Accessories .. .. .. .. .. . 141
General instructions . . . . . . . 142
Power sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Navigation system . . . . . . . . . 143
Cases ..................... 147
Topcase................... 150
9 Care.................... 155
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Washing the vehicle . . . . . . . 156
Cleaning easily damaged
components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Paint care ................. 157
Laying up the motor-
cycle ...................... 158
Protective wax coating . . . . 158
Restoring motorcycle to
use........................ 158
10 Technical data . . . . . . 159
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . 160
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . 161
Engine .................... 163
Fuel....................... 164
Engine oil ................. 165
Clutch..................... 165
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . 166
Running gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Brakes .................... 169
Wheels and tyres. . . . . . . . . . 169
Electrics................... 171
Frame..................... 172
Anti-theft alarm. . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Weights ................... 174
Riding specifications . . . . . . 174
11 Service ............... 175
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 176
BMW Motorrad Mobility
services ................... 176
Maintenance work . . . . . . . . . 176
Confirmation of mainten-
ance work................. 178
Confirmation of service . . . . 183
12 Appendix. . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Certificate ................. 186
13 Index ................. 189

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 vehicle is documented
in Chapter 11. This record of
the maintenance work you have
had performed on your vehicle
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 extras.
The vehicles are as-
sembled complete with
all the BMW Motorrad
optional extras originally
ordered.
1
6
z General instructions

OA Optional accessories.
You can obtain
BMW Motorrad
optional accessories
through your authorised
BMW Motorrad dealer;
optional accessories have
to be retrofitted to the
vehicle.
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.
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). This explains why
the manual may also contain de-
scriptions of equipment which
you have not ordered. Please
note, too, that your motorcycle
might not be exactly as illus-
trated 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
1with daytime riding
lightsOE
Daytime riding lights
( 61)
2Fuel filler neck ( 94)
3Seat lock ( 79)
4Setting the rear damping
(down at the spring strut)
( 72)
2
11
z General views

2
12
z General views

General view, right side
1Adjuster for spring preload,
rear ( 71)
2Air filter (underneath the
centre trim panel) ( 132)
3Brake-fluid reservoir, front
( 114)
4Height adjustment of the
windscreen ( 79)
5Power socket ( 142)
6VIN (on steering-head
bearing)
Type plate (on the frame,
front right)
7Coolant-level indicator
( 116)
Coolant reservoir ( 117)
8Oil filler neck ( 112)
9Engine oil level indicator
( 111)
10 Battery (behind the side
trim panel) ( 134)
Battery support point (be-
hind the side trim panel)
( 133)
11 Brake-fluid reservoir, rear
( 115) 2
13
z General views

Underneath the seat
1Standard toolkit ( 110)
2Rider's Manual
3Table of tyre pressures
4Payload table
5Adjusting the front seat
height ( 80)
6Fuses ( 138)
2
14
z General views

Multifunction switch,
left
1High-beam headlight and
headlight flasher ( 60)
2with speed controlOE
Cruise-control system
( 69)
3Hazard warning flashers
( 63)
4ABS ( 63)
ASC ( 64)
5with Dynamic ESAOE
ESA ( 73)
6with LED auxiliary head-
lightOA
LED auxiliary headlights
( 60)
7Turn indicators ( 63)
8Horn
9Multifunction display
( 50)
2
15
z General views

10 with preparation for nav-
igation systemOE
Navigation system
( 144)
11 with daytime riding
lightsOE
Daytime riding lights
( 61)
2
16
z General views

Multifunction switch,
right
1with heated handlebar
gripsOE
Heated handlebar grips
( 77)
2Riding mode ( 65)
3Emergency off switch (kill
switch) ( 58)
4Start engine ( 87)
2
17
z General views

Instrument panel
1Speedometer
2Rev. counter
3Ambient-light brightness
sensor (for adapting the
brightness of the instru-
ment lighting)
with anti-theft alarmOE
Anti-theft alarm telltale light
with Keyless RideOE
Telltale light for the radio-
operated key
4Warning and telltale lights
( 20)
5Multifunction display
( 22)
2
18
z General views