BMW R 1200 GS 2017 Owner's Manual
Rider's Manual (US Model)
R 1200 GS
BMW Motorrad
bmw‑motorrad.com
The Ultimate
Riding Machine
Motorcycle/Retailer Data
Motorcycle Data
Model
Vehicle identification number
Color number
Initial registration
License plate
Retailer Data
Contact in Service
Ms./Mr.
Phone number
Retailer'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.
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 motorcycle's
reliability and safety, as well as its
value.
Documentation confirming performance of scheduled maintenance is a precondition for generous handling of out-of-warranty
claims and goodwill warranty
treatment.
Should you want to sell your
BMW one day, please also remember to turn over the Ride's
Manual to the new owner. it is
an important part of your motorcycle.
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
BMW Motorrad.
01 40 8 358 057
*01408358057*
Table of Contents
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
Multifunction switch, left . . . . 15
Multifunction switch,
right . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3 Displays . . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. 19
Indicator and warning
lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 22
Warning symbols in the
display panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Warning lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Service display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Fuel reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Oil level indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Outside temperature . . . . . . . . 40
Tire inflation pressure . . . . . . . 41
Upshift recommendation . . . . 41
4 Operation . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. 43
Steering and ignition
lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Ignition with Key-
less Ride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Emergency on/off switch (kill
switch) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Hazard warning lights sys-
tem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Turn indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 53
Antilock Brake System
(ABS). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Automatic Stability Control
(ASC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Electronic suspension ad-
justment (ESA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Riding mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Cruise-control system . . . . . . . 67
Anti-theft alarm (DWA) . . . . . . 69
Heated handlebar grips . . . . . 71
Rider and passenger
seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
5 Setting .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. 75
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Windshield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Handlebars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Damping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
6 Riding .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . 83
Safety information . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Observe checklist . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Before every journey: . . . . . . . . 86
At every third refueling
stop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Starting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Running in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Off-road riding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Shifting gears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Parking your motorcycle . . . . 94
Refueling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Secure motorcycle for trans-
port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
7 Technology in de-
tail . . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. . 101
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Antilock Brake System
(ABS). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Automatic Stability Control
(ASC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Riding mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Tire pressure control
(RDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Shift assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
8 Maintenance . . . .. .. .. . 113
General instructions . . . . . . . 114
Standard tool kit . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Service tool kit . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Front wheel stand . . . . . . . . . 115
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Coolant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Wheel rims and tires . . . . . . 124
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Air filter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Light sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Diagnostic connector. . . . . . 144
9 Accessories . .. .. .. . .. . 147
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Onboard power
sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Topcase. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Navigation system. . . . . . . . . 158
10 Care . . .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . 163
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Washing your motorcy-
cle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Cleaning sensitive motorcy-
cle parts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Paint care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Protective wax coating . . . . 166
Store motorcycle . . . . . . . . . . 166
Return motorcycle to
use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
11 Technical data . .. .. . 167
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . 168
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . 169
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . 175
Frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Suspension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Wheels and tires . . . . . . . . . . 178
Electrical system . . . . . . . . . . 180
Alarm system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Performance data . . . . . . . . . 183
12 Service . . .. .. . .. .. .. .. 185
Reporting safety
defects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 187
BMW Motorrad Mobility
Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Maintenance proce-
dures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
BMW Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Maintenance schedule . . . . 191
Confirmation of mainte-
nance work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Confirmation of service . . . . 206
13 Appendix . .. .. .. .. . .. . 209
Certificate for Electronic
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Certificate for Key-
less Ride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Certificate for Tire Pressure
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
14 Index . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 215
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
This Rider's Manual has been
designed to provide quick and ef-
6
ficient 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 a quick overview
of your motorcycle, this information has been provided in chapter
2. All maintenance and repair
work carried out on your motorcycle will be documented in
chapter 11. Documentation confirming performance of scheduled
maintenance is a precondition
z
General instructions
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
CAUTION Hazard with
low risk. Failure to avoid
this hazard can result in minor or
moderate injury.
WARNING Hazard with
moderate risk. Failure to
avoid this hazard can result in
death or serious injury.
DANGER Hazard with high
risk. Failure to avoid this
hazard results in death or serious
injury.
ATTENTION Special in-
structions and precautionary measures. Non-compliance
can cause damage to the vehicle or accessories and warranty
claims may be denied as a result.
NOTICE Special informa-
tion on operating 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.
ABS Anti-Lock Brake System.
ASC Automatic Stability Con-
trol.
ESA Electronic Suspension
Adjustment.
TPC Tire Pressure Control
(RDC).
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 motorcycle comes with
equipment not described here,
you can find the descriptions in a
separate manual.
Technical data
All dimensions, weights and outputs in the Rider's Manual relate
to the German DIN standards
and comply with their tolerance
specifications. Versions for individual countries may differ.
Notice concerning current status
The outstanding levels of safety
and quality furnished by every
BMW motorcycle are the result
of ongoing advanced development focusing on continuous
improvement in design and engineering as well as equipment
and accessories. For this reason,
some aspects of your motorcycle
may vary from the descriptions in
this Rider's Manual. In addition,
BMW Motorrad cannot guarantee
the total absence of errors. For
this reason BMW is unable to
recognize any claims stemming
1
7
z
General instructions
from the information, illustrations
and descriptions in this manual.
1
8
z
General instructions
Overviews
General view, left side. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
General view, right side . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Underneath seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Multifunction switch, left . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Multifunction switch, right . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2
9
z
Overviews
2
10
z
Overviews
General view, left side
1 Fuel filler opening ( 95)
2 Seat lock ( 72)
3 Adjuster for rear damp-
ing (at the bottom on the
spring strut) ( 80)
2
11
z
Overviews
2
12
z
Overviews
General view, right side
1 without Dynamic ESA
Adjuster for spring preload,
rear ( 79).
2 Air cleaner (under center
fairing panel) ( 131)
3 Brake-fluid reservoir, front
( 119)
4 Height adjuster for wind-
shield ( 77)
5 Power socket ( 148)
6 Vehicle Identification Num-
ber (at fork bearing)
Type plate (on frame at
front right)
7 Coolant level indicator
( 121)
Coolant tank ( 122)
8 Oil fill location ( 117)
9 Engine oil level indicator
( 116)
OE
10 Behind the side panel:
Battery ( 138)
Positive battery connection
point ( 137)
Diagnostic connector
( 144)
11 Brake-fluid reservoir, rear
( 120)
2
13
z
Overviews
Underneath seat
2
1 Standard tool kit ( 114)
2 Rider's Manual (US Model)
14
3 Tire inflation pressure table
4 Load capacity table
5 Adjuster for the rider's seat
height ( 73)
6 Fuses ( 142)
z
Overviews
Multifunction switch, left
1 Headlight flasher and high-
beam headlight ( 50)
2 with cruise control
Cruise-control system
( 67).
3 Hazard warning lights sys-
tem ( 52)
4 ABS ( 59)
ASC ( 60)
5 with Dynamic ESA
Dynamic ESA Adjustment
options ( 62)
6 with additional LED
headlight
Additional headlight
( 51).
7 Turn indicators ( 52)
8 Horn
9 Multifunction display
( 53)
OA
OE
OE
2
15
z
Overviews
10 with preparation for navi-
2
16
z
Overviews
gation system
Operating the navigation
system ( 159)
Multi-Controller
OE
Multifunction switch, right
1 with heated handlebar
2 Riding mode ( 64)
3 Emergency on/off switch
4 Starter button
OE
grips
Heated handlebar grips
( 71).
(kill switch) ( 50)
Starting engine ( 87).
2
17
z
Overviews
Instrument cluster
2
1 Speedometer
2 Tachometer
18
3 Photosensor (for adjusting
brightness of instrument
lighting)
with anti-theft alarm system (DWA)
Alarm system LED
with Keyless Ride
Indicator light for radio-
z
Overviews
operated key
Switching on ignition
( 47).
4 Indicator and warning lights
( 20)
5 Multifunction display
( 22)
OE
OE
Displays
Indicator and warning lights . . . . . . . . . 20
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Warning symbols in the display
panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Warning lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Service display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Fuel reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Oil level indicator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Outside temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Tire inflation pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Upshift recommendation . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
3
19
z
Displays
Indicator and warning
3
lights
20
1 with cruise control
Cruise-control system
( 67).
2 Neutral position (idling)
3 ASC ( 60)
4 Turn indicators
5 ABS ( 59)
6 Universal warning light, ap-
z
Displays
pears together with warning symbols in display
panel ( 24)
7 with anti-theft alarm sys-
tem (DWA)
Alarm signal ( 69)
with Keyless Ride
Indicator light for radiooperated key
Switching on ignition
( 47).
8 High-beam headlamp
( 50)
OE
OE
OE
9 with additional LED
headlight
Additional headlight
( 51).
10 Fuel reserve ( 39)
NOTICE
The ABS symbol can be shown
differently depending on the
country.
OA
3
21
z
Displays
Multifunction display
3
1 Fuel fill level indicator
2 Upshift recommendation
22
z
Displays
( 41)
3 Gear indicator display, "N"
indicates "neutral".
4 with heated handlebar
5 Odometer ( 53)
6 Service display (mainte-
7 Warning symbols ( 24)
8 Onboard computer
9 with Dynamic ESA
10 Use of the riding modes
11 Clock ( 56)
12 Outside temperature warn-
OE
grips
Heated handlebar grips
( 71).
nance interval) ( 187)
Dynamic ESA Adjustment
options ( 62)
( 64)
ing ( 40)
OE
Warning symbols in the display panel
1 with Tire Pressure Con-
trol (TPC/RDC)
Tire inflation pressure
( 41)
2 EWS ( 29)
3 Coolant temperature
( 30)
4 Engine oil level ( 38)
5 Electronic engine manage-
ment ( 30)
6 Battery charging ( 139)
7 Warnings ( 24)
OE
3
23
z
Displays
Warning lights
3
Displays
24
Warnings are displayed with appropriate warning lights.
z
Displays
Warnings for which no separate
warning light is provided are signaled by the general warning
light 1 and are accompanied by
a warning symbol in area 2 or by
a warning notice in area 3. The
universal warning light shows red
or yellow, depending on the urgency of the warning.
The universal warning light lights
up for the most urgent warning.
You will find an overview of the
potential warnings on the following pages.
Overview of warning indicators
Indicator and warning
lights
lights up yellow appears on the
lights up yellow appears on the
lights up yellow
lights up red appears on the
lights up yellow appears on the
lights up yellow
Warning symbols in the
display panel
appears on the
display
display
display
display
display
!LAMP_ is indi-
cated
DWALO ! is indi-
cated
Meaning
Outside temperature warning ( 29)
Electronic immobilizer is active ( 29)
Radio-operated key outside reception
range ( 29)
Replace battery of radio-operated key
( 30)
Coolant temperature too high ( 30)
Engine in emergency-operation mode
( 30)
Light source defect ( 31)
Anti-theft alarm battery low charge
( 31)
3
25
z
Displays
Indicator and warning
3
lights
26
z
Displays
lights up yellow
lights up yellow indicated by one
flashes red
lights up yellow appears with one or
lights up yellow
flashes ABS self-diagnosis not completed
Warning symbols in the
display panel
DWA ! is indicated
or two arrows and
critical tire pressure
also flashes
indicated by one
or two arrows and
critical tire pressure
also flashes
two arrows
"--" or "-- --"
is indicated
RDC! is indicated
Meaning
Anti-theft alarm system battery
discharged ( 32)
Tire inflation pressure is at limit of approved range ( 32)
Tire inflation pressure is outside approved range ( 33)
Sensor defective or system error
( 33)
Transmission error ( 34)
Battery of tire-inflation pressure sensor
weak ( 34)
( 35)
Indicator and warning
lights
lights up
Warning symbols in the
display panel
Meaning
ABS error ( 35)
3
27
lights up
flashes rapidly ASC intervention ( 35)
flashes slowly ASC self-diagnosis not completed
lights up
lights up
lights up yellow
ESA! is indicated
The gear indicator
flashes.
ABS deactivated ( 35)
( 35)
ASC deactivated ( 36)
ASC error ( 36)
ESA error ( 36)
Gear not programmed ( 36)
z
Displays
Indicator and warning
3
lights
28
lights up Fuel down to reserve ( 37)
Warning symbols in the
display panel
Meaning
z
Displays
flashes yellow
Flashes
appears on the
display
OILLVL CHECK
is indicated
lights up red appears on the
display
Severe fault in the engine management
system ( 37)
Engine oil level too low ( 38)
Battery charging voltage insufficient
( 38)
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