BMW F 800 GS 2012 Owner's Manual
Rider's Manual (US Model)
F 800 GS
BMW Motorrad
The Ultimate
Riding Machine
Motorcycle/Retailer Data
Motorcycle data
Model
Vehicle Identification Number
Color number
First registration
Registration number
Retailer Data
Contact in Service
Ms./Mr.
Phone number
Retailer's address/phone number (company stamp)
Welcome to BMW
We congratulate you on your
choice of a motorcycle from
BMW and welcome you to the
community of BMW riders.
Familiarize yourself with your new
motorcycle so that you can ride it
safely and confidently in all traffic
situations.
Please read this Rider's Manual
carefully before starting to use
your new BMW motorcycle. It
contains important 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 information
on maintenance and care to help
you maintain your motorcycle's
reliability and safety, as well as its
value.
If you have any questions concerning your motorcycle, your authorized BMW Motorrad retailer
is always happy to provide advice
and assistance.
We wish you many miles of safe
and enjoyable riding
BMW Motorrad.
01 41 8 533 827
*01418533827*
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
Notice concerning current sta-
tus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2 Overviews . .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . 9
General view, left side . . . . . . . 11
General view, right side . . . . . 13
Underneath seat . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Under fairing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Multifunction switch, left . . . . 16
Multifunction switch,
right . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3 Status indicators . . . . . . . 21
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 22
Meaning of symbols . . . . . . . . . 23
Warning and indicator
lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Fuel level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Fuel reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Service display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Ambient temperature. . . . . . . . 26
Warning indicators . . . . . . . . . . 27
4 Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Steering and ignition
lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
EWS Electronic immobi-
lizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Stopwatch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Turn indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Hazard warning flashers . . . . . 42
Emergency-off switch (kill
switch) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Heated handlebar grips . . . . . 43
BMW Motorrad ABS . . . . . . . . 44
BMW Motorrad ASC . . . . . . . . 45
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Damping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
ESA Electronic Suspension
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Helmet holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Rider's Manual (US
Model) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
5 Riding .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . 55
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . 56
Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Starting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Breaking in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Offroad riding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Parking your motorcycle . . . . 64
Refueling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Securing motorcycle for
transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
6 Technology in
detail .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Brake system with BMW
Motorrad ABS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Engine management with
BMW Motorrad ASC . . . . . . . . 71
7 Accessories . .. .. .. . . . . . . 75
General instructions . . . . . . . . . 76
Onboard sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Luggage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Auxiliary headlight . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Topcase. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Aluminum case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Aluminum Topcase . . . . . . . . . 86
8 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
General instructions . . . . . . . . . 90
Onboard tool kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Coolant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Rims and tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Chain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Front wheel stand . . . . . . . . . 108
Lamps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Fairings and Panels . . . . . . . 115
Air filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
9 Care .................... 121
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Washing your motorcy-
cle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Cleaning sensitive vehicle
parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Paint care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Protective wax coating . . . . 124
Storing motorcycle . . . . . . . . 124
Returning motorcycle to
use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
10 Technical data . . . . . . 125
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . 126
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . 127
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . 132
Running gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Wheels and tires .. . . . . . . . . 134
Electrical system . . . . . . . . . . 136
Frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Riding specifications . . . . . . 139
11 Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Reporting safety
defects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 143
BMW Motorrad Mobility
Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Maintenance work . . . . . . . . . 143
Confirmation of mainte-
nance work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Confirmation of service . . . . 150
12 Index .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 152
General instructions
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Abbreviations and symbols . . . . . . . . . . 6
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Notice concerning current status . . . . 7
1
5
z
General instructions
Overview
1
Chapter 2 of this Rider's Manual will provide you with an ini-
6
tial overview of your motorcycle.
All maintenance and repair work
carried out on your vehicle will
be documented in Chapter 11.
Proof of the maintenance work
performed is a prerequisite for
generous treatment of 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 motorcycle.
Abbreviations and
z
General instructions
symbols
Indicates warnings that
you must comply with for
reasons of your safety and the
safety of others, and to protect
your motorcycle against damage.
Special information on op-
erating and inspecting 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 information.
Indicates the end of accessory or equipmentdependent information.
Tightening torque.
Technical data.
OE Optional equipment
The motorcycles are assembled complete with
all the BMW optional extras originally ordered.
OA Optional accessory
BMW optional accessories can be purchased
and installed at your authorized BMW Motorrad
retailer.
Electronic immobilizer.
EWS
DWA
Anti-theft alarm.
ABS Anti-Lock Brake System.
ASC Automatic Stability Con-
trol.
ESA Electronic Suspension
Adjustment.
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). 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 BMW is equipped with
options or accessories not described in this Rider's Manual,
then this equipment is described
in a separate set of instructions.
Technical data
All dimensions, weights and outputs in the Rider's Manual refer
to the Deutsches Institut für Normung e. V. (DIN) and comply with
its tolerance regulations. Versions for individual countries may
differ.
Notice concerning current status
The high safety and quality standards of BMW motorcycles are
maintained by constant development work on designs, equipment and accessories. Because
of this, your motorcycle may differ from the information supplied
in the Rider's Manual. In addition,
BMW Motorrad cannot guarantee
the total absence of errors. We
hope you will appreciate that no
claims can be entertained on the
basis of the data, illustrations or
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
Underneath seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Under fairing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Multifunction switch, left . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Multifunction switch, right . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2
9
z
Overviews
2
10
z
Overviews
General view, left side
1 Onboard socket ( 76)
2 Seat lock ( 52)
3 Engine oil fill location and
oil dipstick ( 91)
2
11
z
Overviews
2
12
z
Overviews
General view, right side
1 Fuel filler opening ( 65)
2 Adjusting spring preload
( 48)
3 Brake-fluid reservoir, rear
( 95)
4 Brake-fluid reservoir, front
( 94)
5 Vehicle Identification
Number, type plate (on
steering-head bearing)
6 Coolant level indicator (be-
hind side panel) ( 96)
7 Adjusting damping ( 49)
2
13
z
Overviews
Underneath seat
2
1 Storage space
14
z
Overviews
with first-aid kit
Storing first-aid kit
2 Standard tool kit ( 90)
3 Payload table
4 Tire inflation pressure table
5 Helmet holder ( 53)
6 Rider's Manual (in vehicle
rear)
with anti-theft alarm
Rider's Manual (under the
control unit) ( 53)
7 Tools for adjusting spring
preload ( 48)
OA
OE
Under fairing
1 Battery ( 118)
2 Air filter housing ( 116)
2
15
z
Overviews
Multifunction switch,
2
left
16
1 Headlight high beam and
flasher ( 41)
2 Selecting display readings
( 38).
with onboard
computer
Resetting average data
( 39).
3 Hazard warning flashers
z
Overviews
( 42)
4 with LED auxiliary head-
light
Operating auxiliary headlights ( 77)
5 Turn indicators ( 42)
6 Horn
7 with ESA
ESA control ( 50)
8 ABS operation ( 44)
with ASC
ASC control ( 45)
OE
OA
OE
OE
Multifunction switch, right
1 with heated handlebar
2 Starter button ( 58)
3 Emergency-off switch (kill
OE
grips
Heated hand grip ( 43)
switch) ( 43)
2
17
z
Overviews
Instrument cluster
2
1 Warning and indicator
18
z
Overviews
lamps ( 24)
2 Speedometer
3 Setting clock ( 37).
with onboard
computer
Operation of stopwatch
( 39)
4 Multifunction display
( 22)
5 Selecting display readings
( 38).
Resetting tripmeter
( 39).
OE
6 Ambient light sensor (for
brightness adjustment of
instrument lighting)
with anti-theft alarm
Anti-theft alarm indicator
light (see anti-theft alarm
operating instructions)
with onboard
computer
Engine speed warning
( 62)
7 Tachometer
OE
OE
2
19
z
Overviews
2
20
z
Overviews
Status indicators
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Meaning of symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Warning and indicator lamps . . . . . . . . 24
Fuel level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Fuel reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Service display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Ambient temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Warning indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
3
21
z
Status indicators
Multifunction display
3
1 Warning for electronic en-
22
z
Status indicators
gine management ( 31)
2 with heated handlebar
3 with onboard
4 Time ( 37)
5 Coolant-temperature warn-
6 Service is due ( 26)
7 Reading display range
8 with onboard
9 Coolant temperature dis-
OE
grips
Display of the selected
heated handlebar grip setting ( 43)
computer
Stopwatch ( 39)
ing indicator ( 30)
( 38)
computer
Symbols for illustrating display reading ( 23)
play
OE
OE
10 – With onboard computer
(OE)
Gear indicator, "N" is
shown for Neutral
11 Fuel level ( 25)
12 – With onboard computer
(OE)
Reading display range
( 38)
13 A warning appears in the
reading display range
( 27)
14 Trip odometer ( 38)
Meaning of symbols
with onboard computer
Distance driven after reaching reserve quantity in mls
( 25)
Average consumption in
mpg
Average speed in mph
Current consumption in
mpg
Ambient temperature in °F
( 26)
OE
3
23
z
Status indicators
Warning and indicator
3
lamps
24
1 ABS warning lamp ( 32)
2 with ASC
ASC warning lamp ( 33)
3 Fuel-reserve warning lamp
( 25) ( 30)
4 Universal warning lamp,
appears together with
warnings in display panel
( 27)
5 Headlight high beam indi-
cator lamp
6 Indicator lamp for right turn
z
Status indicators
indicator
7 with LED auxiliary head-
light
Telltale light for the auxiliary headlights ( 77)
8 Neutral indicator lamp
9 Indicator lamp for left turn
indicator
OE
OA
The ABS symbol can be
shown differently depend-
ing on the country.
Fuel level
Due to the complex fuel tank geometry, the fill level cannot be
determined in the upper filling
range. For this reason, the fuel
level indicator only details the
lower half of the filling range.
If the fill level indicator reaches
the 1/2-mark 1, the fuel tank is
still half full. Now, the fill level is
exactly displayed.
If the reserve quantity is reached,
the fuel warning lamp is switched
on.
Fuel reserve
The fuel level in the fuel tank,
when the fuel warning lamp
switches on, depends on the
driving dynamics. The more
the fuel is moved within the
tank (due to frequently changing
inclined positions, frequent
braking and accelerating), the
more difficult it is to determine
the reserve quantity. For this
reason, the reserve quantity
cannot be accurately indicated.
with onboard computer
After the fuel warning lamp
is switched on, the distance
driven since this point in time is
indicated.
The distance, which can still be
driven with the reserve quantity,
depends on the driving style (on
the consumption) and on the fuel
level, when the warning lamp was
switched on.
OE
3
25
z
Status indicators
The odometer for the fuel re-
3
serve is reset, if the fuel level is
greater than the reserve quantity
26
after refueling.
Service display
z
Status indicators
If the time remaining until the
next service will elapse within
one month, the service date 1
appears briefly following the preride check. The month and year
are shown with two and four digits respectively separated by a
colon. In this example the display
means "June 2013".
If the vehicle covers high annual
mileages then shorter service intervals may be required. When
the odometer reading for the recalculated early service falls to
within 621 miles (1000 km), the
remaining miles (kilometers) 2
are counted down in 62-mile
(100 km) increments and briefly
displayed following the pre-ride
check.
When a service date
elapses without service, the
universal warning lamp lights up
in yellow, appearing together with
the date and mileage (kilometer)
display. The "Service" message
is displayed continuously.
If the service display
appears more than a month
before the service date, the
stored date must be adjusted
in the instrument cluster. This
situation can occur if the battery
has been disconnected for a
longer time.
Consult a certified workshop,
preferably an authorized BMW
Motorrad retailer, for setting of
the date.
Ambient temperature
with onboard computer
Engine heat can lead to
spurious readings of ambient temperature when the motorcycle is stationary. When the
effects of engine heat on the
monitored temperature become
excessive the display responds
OE
by temporarily reverting to -- as
the display reading.
When ambient temperatures
drop below 37°F (3°C) the temperature display responds by
flashing a warning indicating possible ice formation on the road
surface. The display automatically switches from any other
mode to the temperature reading when the temperature drops
below this threshold for the first
time.
Warning indicators
Display
Warnings are displayed with the
corresponding warning lamps.
Warnings for which no separate
warning light is available, are indicated with the 'General' warning light 1 in conjunction with a
warning or a warning symbol in
the multifunction display. The
universal warning lamp lights up
in either red or yellow depending
on the urgency of the warning.
If the display in the value area 2
shows a warning, then this is
symbolized with the warning triangle 3. These warnings can be
displayed in alternation with the
odometers ( 38).
The 'General' warning light is
shown in accordance with the
most urgent warning.
The following page contains a list
of potential warnings.
3
27
z
Status indicators
Overview of warning indicators
3
Warning light Displays Meaning
28
Lights up yellow + "EWS" is indi-
Lights up Fuel down to reserve ( 30)
cated
Electronic immobilizer is active ( 30)
Lights up red Flashes
Lights up yellow appears on the dis-
z
Status indicators
Lights up yellow + "LAMP" is indi-
Lights up yellow
Flashes
play
cated
"x.x °F" flashes
+ "dWA" is indicated
Coolant temperature too high ( 30)
Engine in emergency-operation mode
( 31)
Bulb defective ( 31)
Ice warning ( 31)
Anti-theft alarm battery drained ( 32)
ABS self-diagnosis not completed
( 32)
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