BMW R 1200 GS 2013 Owner's manual
Rider's Manual
R 1200 GS
BMW Motorrad
The Ultimate
Riding Machine
Motorcycle data/dealership details
Motorcycle 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 (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.
Familiarise 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 vehicle's
reliability and safety, as well as its
value.
If you have questions concerning
your motorcycle, your authorised
BMW Motorrad dealer will gladly
provide advice and assistance.
We hope that you will enjoy riding your BMW and that all your
journeys will be pleasant and safe
BMW Motorrad.
01 41 8 550 201
*01418550201*
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
Currency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . 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 dis-
play . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . .. . . . . . . . . 24
Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . 25
Ambient temperature. . . . . . . . 38
Fuel reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 39
Service-due indicator .. . . . . . . 40
Tyre pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Recommendation to up-
shift . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
4 Operation . .. . .. .. .. .. .. . . 43
Ignition switch/steering
lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 44
Ignition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Electronic immobiliser
EWS . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 45
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 46
Anti-theft alarm (DWA) . . . . . . 52
Emergency off switch (kill
switch) . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Daytime riding lights . . . . . . . . 57
Turn indicators . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 59
Hazard warning flashers . . . . . 59
BMW Motorrad Integ-
ral ABS . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . 60
Automatic Stability Control
ASC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 61
Riding mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 62
Cruise-control system . . . . . . . 65
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Damping . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 68
Dynamic ESA, electronic
suspension adjustment . . . . . . 69
Clutch . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 71
Brakes . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 72
Tyres . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Handlebars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Heated handlebar grips . . .. . 73
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 74
Windscreen . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . 75
Front and rear seats .. . . . . . . . 75
5 Riding .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . 79
Safety instructions . . . . . . .. . . 80
Checklist . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Starting. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . 83
Running in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 85
Brakes . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 86
Parking your motorcycle . . . . 87
Off-roading . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 87
Refuelling . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 89
Secure motorcycle for trans-
portation . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
6 Engineering details . .. . . 93
Riding mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 94
Brake system with
BMW Motorrad Integral
ABS . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Electronic engine management with BMW Motorrad
ASC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 98
Tyre pressure monitoring
RDC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 100
7 Maintenance . . . .. .. .. . 103
General instructions . . . . . . . 104
Toolkit. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . 104
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Coolant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Clutch . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 112
Rims and tyres . . . .. . . . . . . . 112
Wheels . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 113
Front-wheel stand . . . . . .. . . 119
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Air filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 126
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . .. . . . 127
Battery . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. 128
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
8 Accessories . .. .. .. . .. . 135
General instructions . . . . . . . 136
Power sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Navigation system .. . . . . . . . 137
Cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Topcase. . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 143
9 Care ... . . .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. 147
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Washing motorcycle. . . . . . . 148
Cleaning easily damaged
components .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . 148
Paint care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Laying up the motor-
cycle . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Protective wax coating . . . . 150
Restoring motorcycle to
use . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 150
10 Technical data . . .. . . 151
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . 152
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . 153
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 155
Fuel . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. 156
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Clutch . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 157
Transmission . . .. . . . . . . . .. . 158
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . 158
Running gear . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Brakes . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 160
Wheels and tyres . . . . . . . . . . 161
Electrics . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 162
Frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Anti-theft alarm. . . .. . . . . . . . 164
Dimensions . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 164
Weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 165
Riding specifications . . . . . . 165
11 Service . . .. . .. .. .. .. .. 167
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 168
BMW Motorrad Mobility
services . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . 168
Maintenance work . . . . .. . . . 168
Confirmation of mainten-
ance work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Confirmation of service . . . . 175
12 Appendix . .. .. .. .. . .. . 177
Certificate . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 178
13 Index .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 179
General instructions
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Abbreviations and symbols . . . . . . . . . . 6
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Currency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1
5
z
General instructions
Overview
1
An important aspect of this
Rider's Manual is that it can
6
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 motorcycle is documented
in Chapter 11. This record of the
maintenance work you have had
performed on your motorcycle
is a precondition for generous
z
General instructions
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 motorcycle.
Abbreviations and symbols
Indicates warnings that you
must comply with for reasons of your safety and the safety
of others, and to protect your
product against damage.
Specific instructions on
how to operate, control, adjust or look after items of equipment on the motorcycle.
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 a
passage relating to specific accessories or items
of equipment.
Tightening torque.
Technical data.
OE Optional extra
The motorcycles are assembled complete with
all the BMW Motorrad
optional extras originally
ordered.
OA Optional accessory
You can obtain optional
accessories through
your authorised
BMW Motorrad dealer;
optional accessories have
to be retrofitted to the
motorcycle.
Electronic immobiliser.
EWS
DWA
Anti-theft alarm (Diebstahlwarnanlage).
Anti-lock brake system.
ABS
ASC Automatic Stability Con-
trol.
ESA Electronic Suspension
Adjustment.
Tyre pressure monitoring
RDC
(ReifenDruck-Control).
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 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 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.
Currency
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. 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
General views
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
2
9
z
General views
2
10
z
General views
General view, left side
1 with daytime riding
2 Fuel filler neck ( 89)
3 Seat lock ( 75)
4 Setting the rear damping
OE
lights
Daytime riding lights
( 57)
(down at the spring strut)
( 68)
2
11
z
General views
2
12
z
General views
General view, right side
1 Adjuster for spring preload,
rear ( 67)
2 Air filter (underneath the
centre trim panel) ( 126)
3 Brake-fluid reservoir, front
( 109)
4 Height adjustment of the
windscreen ( 75)
5 Power socket ( 136)
6 Vehicle Identification Num-
ber (VIN) (on steering-head
bearing)
Type plate (on steeringhead bearing)
7 Coolant-level indicator
( 111)
Coolant reservoir ( 111)
8 Engine-oil filler neck
( 106)
9 Engine oil level indicator
( 105)
10 Battery (behind the side
trim panel) ( 128)
Battery support point (behind the side trim panel)
( 127)
11 Brake-fluid reservoir, rear
( 110)
2
13
z
General views
Underneath the seat
2
1 Standard tool kit ( 104)
2 Rider's Manual
14
3 Table of tyre pressures
4 Payload table
5 Adjusting the driver seat
height ( 76)
z
General views
Multifunction switch, left
1 High-beam headlight and
headlight flasher ( 56)
2 with speed control
Cruise-control system
( 65)
3 Hazard warning flashers
( 59)
4 ABS ( 60)
ASC ( 61)
5 with Dynamic ESA
ESA ( 69)
6 with LED auxiliary head-
7 Turn indicators ( 59)
8 Horn
9 Multifunction display
OA
light
LED auxiliary headlights
( 56)
( 46)
OE
OE
2
15
z
General views
10 with preparation for nav-
2
16
z
General views
igation system
Navigation system
( 138)
11 with daytime riding
OE
lights
Daytime riding lights
( 57)
OE
Multifunction switch, right
1 with heated handlebar
2 Riding mode ( 62)
3 Emergency off switch (kill
4 Start engine ( 83)
OE
grips
Heated handlebar grips
( 73)
switch) ( 54)
2
17
z
General views
Instrument panel
2
1 Speedometer
2 Rev. counter
18
3 Ambient-light brightness
sensor (for adapting the
brightness of the instrument lighting)
with daytime riding
OE
lights
Ambient brightness sensor
for the automatic mode of
the daytime riding light
with anti-theft alarm
z
General views
Anti-theft alarm telltale light
4 Warning and telltale lights
( 20)
5 Multifunction display
( 22)
OE
Status indicators
Warning and telltale lights . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Warning symbols in the display . . . . . 24
Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Ambient temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Fuel reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Service-due indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Tyre pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Recommendation to upshift . . . . . . . . 41
3
19
z
Status indicators
Warning and telltale
3
lights
20
1 with speed control
Cruise-control system
( 65)
2 Neutral
3 ASC ( 61)
4 Turn indicators, left
5 ABS ( 60)
6 Turn indicators, right
7 General warning light (in
combination with warning symbols in the display)
( 25)
8 DWA
z
Status indicators
9 High-beam headlight
( 56)
10 with daytime riding
11 with LED auxiliary head-
OE
lights
Daytime riding lights
( 57)
OA
light
Auxiliary headlights ( 56)
OE
12 Fuel reserve ( 38)
The ABS symbol might differ, depending on the spe-
cifics of national regulations.
3
21
z
Status indicators
Multifunction display
3
1 Fuel level
2 Recommendation to up-
22
z
Status indicators
shift ( 41)
3 Gear indicator; "N" indic-
ates neutral
4 with daytime riding
5 with heated handlebar
6 Odometer and tripmeters
7 Service-due indicator
8 Warning symbols ( 25)
9 On-board computer
10 with Dynamic ESA
11 Riding mode ( 62)
12 Clock ( 49)
OE
lights
Automatic daytime riding
light ( 57)
OE
grips
Heating stages, handlebar
grips ( 73)
( 46)
(maintenance interval)
( 168)
ESA setting ( 69)
OE
13 Outside temperature warn-
ing ( 38)
3
23
z
Status indicators
Warning symbols in the
3
display
24
1 with tyre pressure monit-
oring (RDC)
Tyre pressure ( 32)
2 EWS ( 30)
3 Coolant temperature
( 30)
4 Engine oil level ( 37)
5 Engine electronics ( 31)
6 Battery charge ( 129)
7 Warnings ( 25)
z
Status indicators
OE
Warnings
Mode of presentation
Warnings are indicated by the
corresponding warning lights.
The status of the 'General' warning light matches the most urgent warning.
The possible warnings are listed
on the next page.
3
25
Warnings that do not have warning lights of their own are indicated by 'General' warning light 1
showing in combination with a
warning symbol at 2 or a text
warning at 3. The 'general' warning light shows yellow or red, depending on the urgency of the
warning.
z
Status indicators
Warnings, overview
3
Warning and telltale
26
lights
lights up yellow appears on the dis-
lights up red appears on the dis-
lights up yellow appears on the dis-
z
Status indicators
lights up yellow
lights up yellow
Warning symbols on
the display
appears on the display
play
play
play
LAMP_ ! appears
on the display
LAMPF ! appears
on the display
DWALO ! appears
on the display
DWA ! appears on
the display
Meaning
Outside temperature warning ( 30)
Electronic immobiliser active ( 30)
Coolant temperature too high ( 30)
Engine in emergency-operation mode
( 31)
Bulb faulty ( 31)
Anti-theft alarm battery weak ( 32)
Anti-theft alarm battery flat ( 32)
Warning and telltale
lights
lights up yellow is displayed with
flashes red
lights up yellow is displayed with
lights up yellow
flashes ABS self-diagnosis not completed
Warning symbols on
the display
one or two arrows
and the critical tyre
pressure reading
flashes
is displayed with
one or two arrows
and the critical tyre
pressure reading
flashes
one or two arrows
"--" or "-- --"
is displayed
"--" or "-- --"
is displayed
RDC! appears on
the display
Meaning
Tyre pressure close to limit of permitted
tolerance ( 32)
Tyre pressure outside permitted tolerance ( 33)
Sensor defective or system error
( 34)
Signal transmission disrupted ( 34)
Battery of tyre-pressure sensor weak
( 35)
( 35)
3
27
z
Status indicators
Warning and telltale
3
lights
28
lights up
Warning symbols on
the display
Meaning
ABS fault ( 35)
lights up
quick-flashes ASC intervention ( 36)
slow-flashes ASC self-diagnosis not completed
lights up
z
Status indicators
lights up
lights up Fuel down to reserve ( 37)
flashes yellow flashes Severe fault in the engine control unit
ABS deactivated ( 35)
( 36)
ASC deactivated ( 36)
ASC fault ( 36)
( 37)
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