BMW R 1200 GS 4th Edition 2012 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 motorcycle'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 8 525 771
*01418525771*
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
Multifunction switch, left . . .. 14
Handlebar fitting, right . . . . . . . 15
Underneath the seat . . . . . . . . 16
Instrument panel . . . . . . . .. . . . 17
3 Status indicators . . .. . . . 19
Multifunction display . . . . . .. . 20
Meanings of the status in-
dicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 21
Warning and telltale
lights . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . 21
Service-due indicator . . .. . . . . 22
Range . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 22
Ambient temperature. . . . . . . . 23
Tyre pressures . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 23
Oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 24
Warnings . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
4 Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Ignition switch/steering
lock . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Electronic immobiliser
EWS . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Clock . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . 43
Lights . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Turn indicators . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 46
Hazard warning flashers . . . . . 46
Emergency off switch (kill
switch) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 47
Grip heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
BMW Motorrad Integral
ABS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . 49
Automatic Stability Control
ASC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 50
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . 51
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 52
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . 53
Windscreen . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . 53
Handlebars . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 54
Spring preload . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 54
Damping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 56
Electronic Suspension Ad-
justment ESA . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . 57
Tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 59
Headlight . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Front and rear seats. . . . . .. . . 61
Helmet holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
5 Riding .. .. . . .. . . . .. . . .. . . . 65
Safety instructions . . . . .. . .. . 66
Checklist . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 68
Starting. . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . 69
Running in . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Off-roading . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . 72
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 73
Parking your motorcycle . . . . 74
Refuelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 75
Securing motorcycle for
transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
6 Engineering details..... 79
Brake system with BMW
Motorrad Integral ABS . . . . . . 80
Electronic engine management with BMW Motorrad
ASC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 82
Tyre pressure monitoring
RDC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 84
Electronic Suspension Ad-
justment ESA . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . 85
7 Accessories . . . .. . . . .. . . . 87
General instructions . . . . . . . .. 88
Power sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 88
Cases . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 89
Topcase. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Luggage carrier . . . . . . .. . .. . . 95
8 Maintenance . .. .. .. .. . .. 97
General instructions . . . . . . . .. 98
Toolkit. . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . 98
Engine oil . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Brake system . . . . .. . . . . . . . 100
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . 105
Rims and tyres . . . . . . . .. . .. 106
Wheels . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . 107
Front-wheel stand . . . . . . . . . 113
Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 114
Air filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 120
Jump starting . . . . .. . .. . . . . 122
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
9 Care .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. 129
Care products . . .. . .. . . . . . . 130
Washing motorcycle. . . . . . . 130
Cleaning easily damaged
components . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 131
Paint care . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . 132
Protective wax coating . . . . 132
Laying up motorcycle . . . . . 132
Restoring motorcycle to
use . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 132
10 Technical data .. .. .. 133
troubleshooting chart . . . . . . 134
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . 135
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 137
Fuel . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 138
Engine oil . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . 140
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 140
Rear-wheel drive . . . .. . . . . . 141
Running gear .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 142
Wheels and tyres. . . . . . . . .. 143
Electrics . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . 144
Frame . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Weights . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . 147
Riding specifications . . . . . . 147
11 Service . .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 149
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 150
BMW Motorrad Mobility
services . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 150
Maintenance work . . . . . . . . . 150
Confirmation of mainten-
ance work . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 152
Confirmation of service . . . . 157
12 Index . .. .. . .. . . .. . . . .. 159
General instructions
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Abbreviations and symbols . . . . . . . . . . 6
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Currency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1
5
z
General instructions
Overview
1
Chapter 2 of this Rider's Manual
will provide you with an initial
6
overview of your motorcycle. All
maintenance and repair 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 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.
z
General instructions
Abbreviations and 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.
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.
Item of technical data.
OE Optional extra
The motorcycles are assembled complete with
all the BMW 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
Electronic Suspension
Adjustment.
Tyre pressure monitoring
RDC
(ReifenDruck-Control)
Equipment
When you ordered your BMW
motorcycle, you chose various
items of custom equipment.
This Rider's Manual describes
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 BMW was supplied with
equipment not described in
this Rider's Manual, you will
find these features described in
separate manuals.
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
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.
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
Multifunction switch, left . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Handlebar fitting, right . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Underneath the seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2
9
z
General views
2
10
z
General views
General view, left side
1 Adjuster, spring preload,
front ( 54)
2 Adjustment of windscreen
( 53)
3 Adjuster for headlight
beam throw (underneath
the instrument panel)
( 60)
4 Clutch-fluid reservoir
( 105)
5 Type plate (on frame, be-
hind side cover)
6 Seat lock ( 61)
7 Power socket ( 88)
8 Adjuster for damping char-
acteristic, rear suspension
( 56)
9 Engine oil level indicator
( 99)
2
11
z
General views
2
12
z
General views
General view, right side
1 Adjuster for spring preload,
rear ( 54)
2 Fuel filler neck ( 75)
3 Brake-fluid reservoir, front
( 103)
4 Vehicle Identification Num-
ber (VIN) (on steering-head
bearing)
5 Air filter (behind right side
panel) ( 120)
6 Engine-oil filler neck
( 100)
7 Brake-fluid reservoir, rear
( 104)
2
13
z
General views
Multifunction switch,
2
left
14
1 Selecting readings ( 43).
with on-board com-
OE
puter
Reset the average values
( 44).
2 with no BMW Motorrad
Integral ABS Generation
OE
II
Operating the ABS
( 49)
with Automatic Stability
z
General views
Operating ASC ( 50)
3 with Electronic Suspen-
Operating ESA ( 57)
4 Horn
5 Flashing turn indicators,
left ( 46)
Hazard warning flashers
( 46)
6 Headlight flasher and high-
beam headlight ( 45)
OE
Control
sion Adjustment (ESA)
OE
Handlebar fitting, right
1 Emergency off switch (kill
switch) ( 47)
2 Starter button ( 69)
3 with heated handlebar
4 Flashing turn indicators,
5 Cancel button, flashing
OE
grips
Grip heating control
( 48)
right ( 46)
Hazard warning flashers
( 46)
turn indicators ( 46)
Pushbutton, cancel hazard
warning flashers ( 46)
2
15
z
General views
Underneath the seat
2
1 Rider's Manual
2 Battery ( 124)
16
3 Standard toolkit ( 98)
Payload table (in tool tray)
Tyre pressures table (in
tool tray)
4 Helmet holder ( 63)
z
General views
Instrument panel
1 Speedometer
2 Rev. counter
3 Warning and telltale lights
( 21)
4 Multifunction display
( 20)
5 Ambient-light brightness
sensor (for adapting the
brightness of the instrument lighting)
with anti-theft alarm
OE
(DWA)
Anti-theft alarm telltale light
(see the instructions for
use for the anti-theft alarm)
6 Control for the odometer
( 43)
Operation of the clock
( 42)
2
17
z
General views
2
18
z
General views
Status indicators
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Meanings of the status indicat-
ors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Warning and telltale lights . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Service-due indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Ambient temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Tyre pressures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
3
19
z
Status indicators
Multifunction display
3
1 The horizontal bars indic-
20
z
Status indicators
ate the quantity of fuel left
in the tank.
2 Gear indicator; "N" indic-
ates neutral.
3 Panel for warnings ( 25)
4 with Automatic Stability
ASC warnings and status
indicators ( 34)
5 Warnings ( 25)
6 The horizontal bars indic-
ate the level of the engine
temperature.
7 with on-board com-
On-board computer readings ( 21)
8 with Electronic Suspen-
ESA setting ( 57)
9 Odometer and tripmeters
( 43)
OE
Control
OE
puter
sion Adjustment (ESA)
OE
10 Clock ( 42)
with on-board com-
OE
puter
Values area of the onboard computer ( 43)
Meanings of the status indicators
with on-board computer
OE
CLOCK: Time
TEMP: Ambient temperature
( 23)
Ø SPEED: Average speed since
the last reset
Warning and telltale lights
3
21
Ø FUEL: Average fuel con-
sumption since the last reset
RANGE: Range with fuel re-
maining in the fuel tank ( 22)
OIL: Oil level ( 24)
with tyre pressure monitoring
OE
(RDC)
RDC P: Tyre pressures
( 23)
1 Telltale light for left turn
indicators
2 High-beam headlight tell-
tale light
3 General warning light, in
combination with warnings
in the display ( 25)
4 Telltale light for neutral
5 with no BMW Motorrad
Integral ABS Generation
OE
II
ABS warning light ( 33)
z
Status indicators
6 Telltale light for right turn
3
22
indicators
The ABS symbol might differ, depending on the spe-
cifics of national regulations.
Service-due indicator
z
Status indicators
If the next service is due in less
than one month, the date for the
next service 1 is shown briefly
after the Pre-Ride Check completes. In this example the reading means "March 2012".
If the motorcycle covers long distances in the course of the year,
under certain circumstances it
might be necessary to have it
serviced at a date in advance
of the forecast due date. If the
countdown distance to the odometer reading at which a service
will be due is less than 1000 km,
the distance is counted down in
steps of 100 km 2 and is shown
briefly after the Pre-Ride Check
completes.
If service is overdue, the
due date or the odometer
reading at which service was due
is accompanied by the 'General' warning light showing yellow.
The word "Service" remains permanently visible.
If the service-due indicator
appears more than a month
before the service date, the date
saved in the instrument cluster
must be adjusted. This situation
can occur if the battery was disconnected for a prolonged period
of time.
If you want to have the date set
consult a specialist workshop,
preferably an authorised BMW
Motorrad dealer.
Range
The range readout indicates how
far you can ride with the fuel remaining in the tank. This distance is calculated on the basis
of fuel level and average consumption.
When refuelling after running on
reserve, make sure that you top
up the tank to a level above reserve, as otherwise the sensor
will not be able to register the
new level. If the sensor cannot
register the new level the range
readout cannot be updated.
When the motorcycle is propped
on its side stand the slight angle
of inclination means that the
sensor cannot register the fuel
level correctly. This is the reason
why the range is calculated only
when the side stand is in the retracted position.
The calculated range is only
an approximate reading.
Consequently, BMW Motorrad
recommends that you should not
try to use the full range before
refuelling.
without on-board computer
The range reading does not appear until the fuel is down to the
reserve level.
OE
with on-board computer
The figure for average consumption used to calculate range is
not shown and might not be the
same as the average-consumption reading that appears on the
display.
OE
Ambient temperature
with on-board computer
When the motorcycle is at a
standstill the heat of the engine
can falsify the ambient-temperature reading. If the effect of the
engine's heat becomes excessive, -- temporarily appears on
the display.
If ambient temperature
drops below 3 °C the temperature display flashes to draw
your attention to the risk of black
ice forming. The display automatically switches from any other
mode to the temperature read-
OE
ing when the temperature drops
below this threshold for the first
time.
Tyre pressures
with tyre pressure monitoring
OE
(RDC)
The tyre-pressure readings are
based on a reference tyre temperature of 20 °C. The front
tyre pressure is on the left 1;
the reading on the right 2 is
the rear tyre pressure. -- -appears directly after the ignition is switched on, because
3
23
z
Status indicators
the sensors do not transmit tyre
pressures until the first time the
3
motorcycle accelerates to more
24
than 30 km/h.
If symbol 3 also shows, the
reading is a warning. The
critical tyre pressure flashes.
If the critical value is close to the
limit of the permissible tolerance
range, the reading is accompanied by the 'General' warning light
showing yellow. If the tyre pressure registered by the sensor is
outside the permissible tolerance
range, the 'General' warning light
z
Status indicators
flashes red.
The detailed description of BMW
Motorrad RDC starts on page
( 84).
Oil level
with on-board computer
Oil-level indicator 1 gives you
an indication of the engine oil
level. You can call up this reading only when the motorcycle is
at a standstill.
The preconditions for the oil level
check are as follows:
Engine at operating temperature.
Engine idling for at least ten
seconds.
Side stand retracted.
OE
Make sure the motorcycle is
upright.
The readings mean:
OK: Oil level is correct.
CHECK: Check the oil level the
next time you stop for fuel.
---: Oil level cannot be meas-
ured (conditions as stated above
not satisfied).
If you call up another read-
ing on the on-board computer, this symbol remains visible
until the sensor again registers a
correct oil level.
The most recently measured
level is displayed for five seconds
when you next switch on the ignition.
Warnings
Mode of presentation
Warnings are indicated by the
corresponding warning lights.
If two or more warnings occur at
the same time, all the appropriate warning lights and warning
symbols appear, alternating with
warning words as applicable.
The possible warnings are listed
on the next page.
3
25
Warnings for which there is no
dedicated warning light are indicated by 'General' warning light 1
showing in combination with a
warning text such as 2 or a warning symbol such as 3 appearing
in the multifunction display. The
'General' warning light shows red
or yellow, depending on the urgency of the warning.
z
Status indicators
Warnings, overview
3
Warning light Status indicators Meaning
26
Lights up yellow
Lights up yellow
Lights up yellow Appears on the dis-
Flashes red Appears on the dis-
z
Status indicators
Lights up red Appears on the dis-
Lights up yellow
EWS ! appears on
the display
FUEL ! appears
on the display
play
play
play
LAMPR ! appears
on the display
LAMPF ! appears
on the display
Lights up yellow
LAMPS ! appears
on the display
Electronic immobiliser active ( 30)
Fuel down to reserve ( 30)
Engine in emergency-operation mode
( 30)
Insufficient engine oil pressure ( 31)
Insufficient battery charge current
( 31)
Rear light defective ( 31)
Headlight or turn indicator bulb defective
( 32)
Bulbs defective ( 32)
Warning light Status indicators Meaning
Appears on the display
Engine-oil level too low ( 32)
Check Oil ap-
pears on the display
Appears on the display
Flashes
Lights up
Lights up
Ice warning ( 33)
ABS self-diagnosis not completed
( 33)
ABS deactivated ( 33)
ABS fault ( 33)
3
27
z
Status indicators
Quick-flashes yellow
Appears on the display
Appears on the display
ASC intervention ( 34)
Off-road ASC intervention ( 34)
Warning light Status indicators Meaning
3
28
Lights up yellow Appears on the dis-
Lights up yellow Appears on the dis-
z
Status indicators
Flashes red Appears on the dis-
Slow-flashes ASC self-diagnosis not completed
Slow-flashes ASC self-diagnosis in off-road mode not
Appears on the display
play
play
The critical tyre
pressure flashes.
play
The critical tyre
pressure flashes.
"--" or "-- --"
is displayed.
( 34)
completed ( 34)
ASC deactivated ( 35)
ASC fault ( 35)
Tyre pressure close to limit of permitted
tolerance ( 35)
Tyre pressure outside permitted tolerance ( 36)
Signal transmission disrupted ( 36)
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