R 1200 GS 2014
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*
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
Running in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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
Instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2
9
z
General views
2
10
z
General views
General view, left side
1 with daytime riding
lights
OE
Daytime riding lights
( 61)
2 Fuel filler neck ( 94)
3 Seat lock ( 79)
4 Setting the rear damping
(down at the spring strut)
( 72)
2
11
z
General views
2
12
z
General views
General view, right side
1 Adjuster for spring preload,
rear ( 71)
2 Air filter (underneath the
centre trim panel) ( 132)
3 Brake-fluid reservoir, front
( 114)
4 Height adjustment of the
windscreen ( 79)
5 Power socket ( 142)
6 VIN (on steering-head
bearing)
Type plate (on the frame,
front right)
7 Coolant-level indicator
( 116)
Coolant reservoir ( 117)
8 Oil filler neck ( 112)
9 Engine 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
1 Standard toolkit ( 110)
2 Rider's Manual
3 Table of tyre pressures
4 Payload table
5 Adjusting the front seat
height ( 80)
6 Fuses ( 138)
2
14
z
General views
Multifunction switch,
left
1 High-beam headlight and
headlight flasher ( 60)
2 with speed control
OE
Cruise-control system
( 69)
3 Hazard warning flashers
( 63)
4 ABS ( 63)
ASC ( 64)
5 with Dynamic ESA
OE
ESA ( 73)
6 with LED auxiliary head-
light
OA
LED auxiliary headlights
( 60)
7 Turn indicators ( 63)
8 Horn
9 Multifunction display
( 50)
2
15
z
General views
10 with preparation for nav-
igation system
OE
Navigation system
( 144)
11 with daytime riding
lights
OE
Daytime riding lights
( 61)
2
16
z
General views
Multifunction switch,
right
1 with heated handlebar
grips
OE
Heated handlebar grips
( 77)
2 Riding mode ( 65)
3 Emergency off switch (kill
switch) ( 58)
4 Start engine ( 87)
2
17
z
General views
Instrument panel
1 Speedometer
2 Rev. counter
3 Ambient-light brightness
sensor (for adapting the
brightness of the instru-
ment lighting)
with anti-theft alarm
OE
Anti-theft alarm telltale light
with Keyless Ride
OE
Telltale light for the radio-
operated key
4 Warning and telltale lights
( 20)
5 Multifunction display
( 22)
2
18
z
General views
Status indicators
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 upshift . . . . . . . . 42
3
19
z
Status indicators
Warning and telltale
lights
1 with speed control
OE
Cruise-control system
( 69)
2 Neutral
3 ASC ( 64)
4 Turn indicators, left
5 ABS ( 63)
6 Turn indicators, right
7 General warning light (in
combination with warn-
ing symbols in the display)
( 25)
8 DWA
with anti-theft alarm
OE
Alarm ( 57)
Telltale light for the radio-
operated key
with Keyless Ride
OE
Keys ( 46)
9 High-beam headlight
( 60)
3
20
z
Status indicators
10 with daytime riding
lights
OE
Daytime riding light
( 61)
11 with LED auxiliary head-
light
OA
Auxiliary headlights ( 60)
12 Fuel reserve ( 39)
The ABS symbol might dif-
fer, depending on the spe-
cifics of national regulations.
3
21
z
Status indicators
Multifunction display
1 Fuel level
2 Recommendation to up-
shift ( 42)
3 Gear indicator; "N" indic-
ates neutral
4 with daytime riding
lights
OE
Automatic daytime running
light ( 61)
5 with heated handlebar
grips
OE
Heating stages, handlebar
grips ( 77)
6 Odometer and tripmeters
( 50)
7 Service-due indicator
(maintenance interval)
( 176)
8 Warning symbols ( 25)
9 On-board computer
10 with Dynamic ESA
OE
ESA setting ( 73)
11 Riding mode ( 65)
12 Clock ( 53)
3
22
z
Status indicators
13 Outside temperature warn-
ing ( 39)
3
23
z
Status indicators
Warning symbols in the
display
1 with tyre pressure monit-
oring (RDC)
OE
Tyre pressure ( 33)
2 EWS ( 30)
3 Coolant temperature
( 31)
4 Engine oil level ( 38)
5 Engine electronics ( 31)
6 Battery charge ( 135)
7 Warnings ( 25)
3
24
z
Status indicators
Warnings
Mode of presentation
Warnings are indicated by the
corresponding warning lights.
Warnings that do not have warn-
ing lights of their own are indic-
ated by 'General' warning light 1
showing in combination with a
warning symbol at 2 or a text
warning at 3. The 'general' warn-
ing light shows yellow or red, de-
pending on the urgency of the
warning.
The status of the 'General' warn-
ing light matches the most ur-
gent warning.
The possible warnings are listed
on the next pages.
3
25
z
Status indicators
Warnings, overview
Warning and telltale
lights
Warning symbols in the
display
Meaning
appears on the
display
Outside temperature warning ( 30)
lights up yellow appears on the
display
Electronic immobiliser active ( 30)
lights up yellow appears on the
display
Radio-operated key out of range ( 30)
lights up yellow
Replace the battery of the radio-oper-
ated key ( 31)
lights up red appears on the
display
Coolant temperature too high ( 31)
lights up yellow appears on the
display
Engine in emergency-operation mode
( 31)
lights up yellow
!LAMP_ appears
on the display
Bulb faulty ( 32)
!LAMPF appears
on the display
3
26
z
Status indicators
Warning and telltale
lights
Warning symbols in the
display
Meaning
DWALO ! appears
on the display
Anti-theft alarm battery weak ( 32)
lights up yellow
DWA ! appears on
the display
Anti-theft alarm battery flat ( 33)
lights up yellow is displayed with
one or two arrows
and the critical tyre
pressure reading
flashes
Tyre pressure close to limit of permitted
tolerance ( 33)
flashes red
is displayed with
one or two arrows
and the critical tyre
pressure reading
flashes
Tyre pressure outside permitted toler-
ance ( 33)
lights up yellow is displayed with
one or two arrows
Sensor defective or system error
( 34)
"--" or "-- --"
is displayed
"--" or "-- --"
is displayed
Signal transmission disrupted ( 35)
3
27
z
Status indicators
Warning and telltale
lights
Warning symbols in the
display
Meaning
lights up yellow
RDC! appears on
the display
Battery of tyre-pressure sensor weak
( 35)
flashes ABS self-diagnosis not completed
( 36)
lights up
ABS fault ( 36)
lights up
ABS deactivated ( 36)
quick-flashes ASC intervention ( 36)
slow-flashes ASC self-diagnosis not completed
( 36)
lights up
ASC deactivated ( 37)
lights up
ASC fault ( 37)
3
28
z
Status indicators
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