BMW F 800 GS Adventure 2015 Owner's Manual
Rider's Manual (US Model)
F 800 GS Adventure
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.
Suggestions and complaints
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 on your
BMW
About this Rider's Manual
Please read this Rider's Manual
carefully before starting to use
your new BMW. It contains important information on how to
operate the controls and how to
get the most benefit from your
BMW's advanced technical features.
In addition, it contains information on maintenance and care to
help you maintain your vehicle's
reliability and safety, as well as its
value.
BMW Motorrad.
Table of Contents
1 General instructions . ... 5
Overview .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Abbreviations and
symbols .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Notice concerning current sta-
tus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2 Overviews . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. 7
General view, left side . . . . . . . . 8
General view, right side . . . . . 10
Underneath seat . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Under fairing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Multifunction switch, left . . . . 13
Multifunction switch,
right . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3 Displays . . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. 18
Warning and indicator
lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 20
Warning lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Onboard computer
display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Fuel level. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Fuel reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Service display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Outside temperature . . . . . . . . 30
4 Operation . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. 32
Steering and ignition
lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Electronic immobilizer
(EWS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Stopwatch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Turn indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Hazard warning flashers . . . . . 39
Emergency on/off switch (kill
switch) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Heated grips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
BMW Motorrad ABS . . . . . . . . 41
BMW Motorrad ASC . . . . . . . . 42
Riding mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Damping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
ESA Electronic Suspension
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Helmet holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
5 Anti-theft alarm sys-
tem DWA . . .. .. . .. .. .. .. . 54
Overview .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Activation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Alarm function. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Deactivation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Logging on remote con-
trol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Synchronizing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
6 Riding .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . 63
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . 63
Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Starting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Breaking in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Off-road riding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Parking your motorcycle . . . . 71
Refueling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Fuel quality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Fastening motorcycle for
transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
7 Technology in
detail .. . .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. . 75
Riding mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Brake system with
BMW Motorrad ABS . . . . . . . . 76
Engine management with
BMW Motorrad ASC . . . . . . . . 77
8 Maintenance . . . .. .. .. . .. 80
General instructions . . . . . . . . . 80
Onboard tool kit .. . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Coolant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Wheel rims and tires . . . . . . . . 88
Chain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Front wheel stand . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Fairings and panels . . . . . . . 107
Air filter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
9 Accessories . .. .. .. . .. . 113
General instructions . . . . . . . 113
Onboard sockets . . . . . . . . . . 113
Luggage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Aluminum case. . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Aluminum Top Case . . . . . . 117
10 Care . . .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . 119
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Washing your motorcy-
cle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Cleaning sensitive motorcy-
cle parts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Paint care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Protective wax coating . . . . 121
Storing the motorcycle . . . . 121
Returning motorcycle to
use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
11 Technical data . .. .. . 122
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . 122
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . 123
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . 129
Suspension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Wheels and tires . . . . . . . . . . 130
Electrical system . . . . . . . . . . 132
Frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Performance data . . . . . . . . . 134
12 Service . . .. .. . .. .. .. .. 135
Reporting safety
defects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 136
BMW Motorrad Mobility
Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Maintenance proce-
dures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Confirmation of mainte-
nance work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Confirmation of service . . . . 143
13 Index . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 145
Overview
This Rider's Manual has been
designed to provide quick and efficient 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 an introductory
overview of your motorcycle, you
can find the desired information
in Chapter 2. Chapter 12 records
all of the maintenance and repair operations that have been
performed. Documentation confirming performance of scheduled
maintenance is a precondition
for generous handling of out-ofwarranty claims and goodwill warranty 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 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 extra.
BMW Motorrad optional
extras are already completely installed during
motorcycle production.
OA Optional accessory.
BMW Motorrad optional
accessories can be
purchased and installed
at your authorized
BMW Motorrad retailer.
Electronic immobilizer.
EWS
DWA
Anti-theft alarm.
1
5
z
General instructions
ABS Anti-Lock Brake System.
1
ASC Automatic Stability Con-
6
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
z
General instructions
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 comes with
equipment not described here,
you can find the descriptions in a
separate manual.
Technical data
All dimensions, weights and performance data contained this
Rider's Manual refer to the German DIN standards and comply
with their tolerance specifications.
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.
2
7
z
Overviews
General view, left side
2
1 Onboard power socket
8
z
Overviews
( 113)
2 Seat lock ( 51)
3 Engine oil fill location and
oil dipstick ( 81)
2
9
z
Overviews
General view, right side
2
1 Fuel filler cap ( 72)
2 Adjusting spring preload
10
z
Overviews
( 47)
3 Brake-fluid reservoir, rear
( 85)
4 Brake-fluid reservoir, front
( 84)
5 Vehicle identification
number, type plate (on
steering-head bearing)
6 Coolant level indicator (be-
hind side fairing) ( 86)
7 Adjusting damping ( 48)
Underneath seat
1 Storage space
with first-aid kit
Storing first-aid kit
2 Standard tool kit ( 80)
3 Rider's Manual (US Model)
4 Payload table
5 Tire inflation pressure table
6 Helmet holder ( 52)
7 Tools for adjusting spring
preload ( 47)
OA
2
11
z
Overviews
Under fairing
2
1 Battery ( 110)
2 Air cleaner housing
12
z
Overviews
( 108)
Multifunction switch, left
1 High-beam headlight and
headlight flasher ( 38)
2 Select display readings
( 34).
with onboard
computer
Resetting average data
( 35).
3 Hazard warning flashers
( 39)
4 Not included in standard
equipment
with additional LED
headlight
Auxiliary headlight ( 38)
5 Turn indicator ( 39)
6 Horn
7 Not included in standard
equipment
with Electronic
Suspension Adjustment
(ESA)
ESA ( 49)
OE
OE
OE
2
13
z
Overviews
8 ABS ( 41)
2
14
z
Overviews
with Automatic Stability
Control (ASC)
ASC ( 42)
OE
Multifunction switch, right
1 Not included in standard
equipment
with heated handlebar
OE
grips
Heated grips ( 40).
2 Not included in standard
equipment
with off-road mode ABS
and ASC
Off-road mode ( 43)
3 Starter ( 65)
4 Emergency on/off switch
(kill switch) ( 40)
OE
2
15
z
Overviews
Instrument cluster
2
1 Warning and indicator
16
z
Overviews
lamps ( 18)
2 Speedometer
3 Set the clock ( 33).
with onboard
computer
Operation of stopwatch
( 36)
4 Multifunction display
( 20)
5 Select display readings
( 34).
Resetting trip odometer
( 35).
OE
6 Ambient light sensor (for
instrument lighting control)
with anti-theft alarm system (DWA)
Anti-theft alarm system indicator lamp (see anti-theft
alarm system operating instructions)
with onboard
computer
Engine speed warning
( 68)
7 Tachometer
OE
OE
2
17
z
Overviews
Warning and indicator
3
lamps
18
1 ABS ( 27)
2 Not included in standard
equipment
with Automatic Stability
Control (ASC)
ASC ( 28)
3 Fuel reserve ( 29)
( 25)
4 Universal warning lamp
z
Displays
(appears together with
warnings in display panel)
( 21)
5 High-beam headlight
6 Turn indicator, right
7 Not included in standard
equipment
with additional LED
headlight
Auxiliary headlight ( 38)
8 Idle
9 Turn indicator, left
OE
OE
The ABS symbol can be
shown differently depend-
ing on the country.
3
19
z
Displays
Multifunction display
3
1 Warning lamp for elec-
20
z
Displays
tronic engine management
( 26)
2 Not included in standard
equipment
with heated handlebar
OE
grips
Display of the selected
heated handlebar grip setting ( 40)
3 Not included in standard
equipment
with onboard
computer
Stopwatch ( 36)
4 Time ( 33)
5 Coolant-temperature warn-
ing indicator ( 25)
6 Service is due ( 30)
7 Reading display area of the
odometer ( 34)
OE
8 Not included in standard
equipment
with onboard
computer
Onboard computer displays ( 34)
Onboard computer symbols ( 29)
9 Coolant temperature
display
10 Not included in standard
equipment
with onboard
computer
Gear indicator, "N" is
shown for Neutral
11 Fuel level ( 29)
12 Not included in standard
equipment
with off-road mode ABS
and ASC
Setting riding mode
( 43)
OE
OE
OE
13 A warning appears in the
reading display area of the
odometer ( 21)
14 A trip odometer is dis-
played ( 34)
Warning lamps
Displays
Warnings are displayed with the
corresponding warning lamps.
Warnings for which no separate
warning lamp is available are indicated by the 'universal' warning lamp 1 in conjunction with a
warning notice or a warning symbol in the multifunction display.
The universal warning lamp lights
up in either yellow or red depending on the urgency of the
warning.
3
21
z
Displays
3
22
Adjacent to the numerical data
display 2 a warning triangle 3
z
Displays
may also appear. These warnings alternate with the odometers
( 34).
The universal warning lamp lights
up for the most urgent warning.
The following page contains a list
of potential warnings.
Overview of warning indicators
Warning and indicator
lamps
lights up yellow + "EWS" is indi-
lights up Fuel down to reserve ( 25)
Warning symbols in the
display panel
cated
Meaning
Electronic immobilizer is active ( 25)
3
23
lights up red
lights up yellow appears on the
lights up yellow + "LAMP" is indi-
lights up yellow
flashes ABS self-diagnosis not completed
flashes Coolant temperature too high ( 25)
display
cated
"x.x °F" flashes
+ "dWA" is indicated
Engine in emergency-operation mode
( 26)
Bulb defective ( 26)
Outside temperature warning ( 26)
DWA Battery drained ( 27)
( 27)
z
Displays
Warning and indicator
3
lamps
24
lights up
Warning symbols in the
display panel
Meaning
ABS deactivated ( 27)
z
Displays
lights up
flashes rapidly ASC intervention ( 28)
flashes slowly ASC self-diagnosis not completed
lights up
lights up
ABS error ( 27)
( 28)
ASC deactivated ( 28)
ASC error ( 28)
Electronic immobilizer is
active
General warning lamp
shows yellow.
+ "EWS" is indicated.
Possible cause:
The key being used is not autho-
rized for starting, or communication between the key and engine
electronics is disrupted.
Remove other motorcycle keys
from the ignition key ring.
Use the reserve key.
Have the malfunction corrected
as soon as possible at an authorized workshop, preferably
an authorized BMW Motorrad
retailer.
Fuel down to reserve
Fuel-reserve warning lamp
lights up.
A fuel shortage can cause
irregular engine operation
or engine shut-off (accident hazard) and the catalytic converter
can be damaged.
Do not drive to the extent that
the fuel tank is completely
empty.
Possible cause:
At the most, the fuel tank still
contains the reserve fuel quantity.
Reserve fuel quantity
min 2.9 quarts (min 2.7 l)
Refueling ( 72).
Coolant temperature too
high
General warning lamp
shows red.
The temperature symbol
flashes.
Driving with an overheated
engine can result in engine
damage.
Be sure to observe the measures
listed below.
Possible cause:
Coolant level is too low.
Check coolant level ( 86).
If coolant level is too low:
Top up coolant ( 87).
Have the coolant system
checked at an authorized
workshop, preferably an
authorized BMW Motorrad
retailer.
Possible cause:
The coolant temperature is too
high.
If possible, continue driving
in the part-load range to cool
down the engine.
Should the coolant temperature
frequently be too high, have
the coolant system checked
as quickly as possible by an
3
25
z
Displays
authorized workshop, preferably
an authorized BMW Motorrad
3
retailer.
26
Engine in emergencyoperation mode
General warning lamp
shows yellow.
Engine symbol appears on
the display.
z
Displays
The engine is in the emer-
gency operating mode. Unusual engine response is a possibility.
Adapt your style of riding accordingly. Avoid accelerating sharply
and overtaking.
Possible cause:
The engine control unit has di-
agnosed a fault. In exceptional
cases, the engine stops and can
no longer be started. Otherwise,
the engine runs in the emergency operating mode.
Continued driving is possible,
however the accustomed engine performance may not be
available.
Have the malfunction corrected
as soon as possible at an authorized workshop, preferably
an authorized BMW Motorrad
retailer.
Bulb defective
General warning lamp
shows yellow.
+ "LAMP" is indicated.
Failure of a bulb on the
motorcycle is a safety risk
because it potentially makes the
motorcycle less noticeable to
other road users.
Replace defective bulbs as soon
as possible; it is best always to
carry a complete set of spare
bulbs on the motorcycle.
Possible cause:
Bulb defective.
Locate defective bulb with visual check.
Replacing low and high-beam
bulbs in headlight ( 101).
Replacing parking light bulb
( 102).
Replace the LED for brake and
rear light ( 104).
Removing bulbs in front and
rear turn indicators ( 104).
with additional LED
headlight
Replace auxiliary driving light
( 106).
OE
Outside temperature
warning
with onboard computer
"x.x °F" (outside temperature)
flashes.
OE
Possible cause:
The outside temperature mea-
sured at the vehicle is lower than
37 °F (3 °C).
The outside temperature
warning does not mean that
there is no risk of black ice forming at measured temperatures
above 37 °F (3 °C).
At low outside temperatures, icy
conditions must especially be expected on bridges and in shady
road areas.
Think well ahead when driving.
DWA Battery drained
with anti-theft alarm system
OE
(DWA)
General warning lamp
shows yellow.
+ "dWA" is indicated.
This fault message is only
shown for a short time immediately following the Pre-RideCheck.
Possible cause:
The anti-theft alarm system bat-
tery has no capacity. The operation of the anti-theft alarm system is no longer ensured with
the vehicle battery disconnected.
Contact an authorized workshop, preferably an authorized
BMW Motorrad retailer.
ABS self-diagnosis not
completed
ABS warning lamp flashes.
Possible cause:
The ABS is not available because
the self-diagnosis has not been
completed. To check the wheel
sensors, the motorcycle must be
driven a few yards.
Ride off slowly. It must be
noted that the ABS function
is not available until the selfdiagnosis has been completed.
ABS deactivated
ABS warning lamp lights
up.
Possible cause:
The ABS system has been deac-
tivated by the rider.
Activating ABS function
( 42).
ABS error
ABS warning lamp lights
up.
Possible cause:
The ABS control unit has de-
tected an error.
It remains possible to continue
riding. It must be noted that
the ABS function is not available. Observe additional information on special situations
3
27
z
Displays
which can lead to ABS fault
codes ( 77).
3
Have the malfunction corrected
28
as soon as possible at an authorized workshop, preferably
an authorized BMW Motorrad
retailer.
ASC intervention
with Automatic Stability Control
OE
(ASC)
z
Displays
ASC warning lamp flashes
rapidly.
ASC has detected instability at
the rear wheel and responded by
reducing the torque. The warning lamp flashes longer than the
duration of the ASC intervention. This feature continues to
furnish the rider with visual feedback confirming that the system
has initiated active closed-loop
intervention even after the critical
situation has passed.
ASC self-diagnosis not
completed
with Automatic Stability Control
OE
(ASC)
ASC warning lamp flashes
slowly.
Possible cause:
The self-diagnosis was not com-
pleted; the ASC function is not
available. So that the ASC selfdiagnosis can be completed, the
engine must be running and the
motorcycle must be moved at a
speed of at least 3.1 mph (5 km/
h).
Ride off slowly. It must be
noted that the ASC function
is not available until the selfdiagnosis has been completed.
ASC deactivated
with Automatic Stability Control
OE
(ASC)
ASC warning lamp lights
up.
Possible cause:
The ASC system has been deac-
tivated by the driver.
Switch on ASC.
ASC error
with Automatic Stability Control
OE
(ASC)
ASC warning lamp lights
up.
Possible cause:
The ASC control unit has de-
tected an error.
It remains possible to continue riding. Please be aware
that ASC functionality is no
longer available. Observe additional information on situations
which can lead to an ASC error
( 78).
Have the malfunction corrected
as soon as possible at an au-
Loading...