BMW R 1200 GS Adventure 2006 Owner's Manual
Rider's Manual
R 1200 GS Adventure
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.
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
Handlebar fitting, left . . . . . 15
Handlebar fitting, right . . . 16
Instrument cluster . . . . . .. 17
Headlight . .............. 18
3 Status indicators . . . . . 19
Multifunction display . . . . . 20
Warning and telltale
lights . . . . . .............. 20
ABS warning light
OE
..... 20
Function indicators . . . . . . 20
Warnings, general . . . . . . . 21
Warnings issued by the
tyre pressure monitoring
system (RDC)
ABS warnings
ASC warnings
OE
......... 28
OE
......... 33
OE
......... 35
4 Operation . . . .......... 39
Ignition switch and
steering lock . . .......... 40
Electronic immobiliser
(EWS) . . . . . .............. 41
Hazard warning
flashers . . . .............. 42
Odometer and
tripmeters . .............. 43
Tyre pressure monitoring
OE
RDC
.................. 44
Clock . . . . . .............. 45
On-board computer
BMW Motorrad Integral
OE
ABS
.................. 50
Automatic Stability Control
OE
ASC
.................. 51
OE
... 46
Emergency off switch (kill
switch) . . . . .............. 53
Grip heating
OE
........... 54
Clutch . . . . .............. 54
Brakes . . . . .............. 55
Shift lever . .............. 56
Lights . . . . . .............. 57
Headlight . .............. 59
Turn indicators .......... 60
Front and rear seats . . . . . 61
Helmet holder . .......... 63
Mirrors . . . . .............. 63
Adjusting windscreen . . . . 64
Spring preload .......... 64
Shock absorbers . . . . . . . . 66
Tyres . . . . . .............. 67
5 Riding . . . . . . .......... 69
Safety instructions . . . . . . . 70
Checklist . . . . . . .......... 72
Starting ................. 72
Running in . . . . .......... 75
Riding off-road .......... 76
Park your motorcycle . . . . 77
Refuelling . . . . . .......... 78
Tyre pressure monitoring
OE
RDC
.................. 80
Brake system, general . . . 81
Brake system with BMW
Motorrad Integral
OE
ABS
.................. 82
Electronic engine
management with BMW
Motorrad ASC
OE
......... 85
6 Accessories .......... 89
General instructions . . . . . 90
Power socket . .......... 90
Luggage . . . . . . .......... 91
OA
Case
Topcase
................. 92
OA
.............. 95
7 Maintenance . . . ...... 99
General instructions . . . . 100
Toolkit . ................ 100
Engine oil . . . . . ......... 102
Brake system,
general ................ 103
Brake pads. . . . ......... 104
Brake fluid . .. . ......... 106
Clutch . ................ 108
Tyres . . ................ 109
Rims . . . ................ 109
Wheels. ................ 110
Front-wheel stand . ..... 116
Bulbs . . ................ 117
Air filter ................ 126
Removing right side
panel . . ................ 129
Installing right side
panel . . ................ 129
Jump start . . . . ......... 129
Battery . ................ 131
8 Care . ................ 135
Care products . ......... 136
Washing the
motorcycle . . . . ......... 136
Cleaning easily damaged
components. . . ......... 137
Paint care . . . . . ......... 138
Protective wax
coating ................ 138
Laying up the
motorcycle . . . . ......... 138
Restoring motorcycle to
use .................... 139
9 Technical data . . ..... 141
Troubleshooting
chart . . . ................ 142
Threaded fasteners ..... 143
Engine . ................ 144
Riding specifications . . . . 147
Clutch . ................ 147
Transmission . . ......... 147
Final drive . . . . . ......... 148
Running gear . . ......... 148
Brakes . ................ 149
Wheels and tyres . . ..... 149
Electrics . . ............. 150
Frame. . . . . ............. 152
Dimensions . . . ......... 153
Weights . . . ............. 153
10 Service ............. 155
BMW Motorrad
service . . . . ............. 156
BMW Motorrad service
quality . . . . ............. 156
BMW Motorrad Service
Card: on-the-spot
breakdown
assistance ............. 157
BMW Motorrad service
network . . . ............. 157
Maintenance work . .. . . . 157
Maintenance
schedules . ............. 158
Confirmation of
maintenance work . . . . .. 159
Confirmation of
service . . . . ............. 164
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
6
an initial overview of your
motorcycle. All maintenance
and servicing work on the
motorcycle is documented in
Chapter 10. 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
z
General instructions
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 pro-
tect 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
Your motorcycle was
assembled complete
with all the BMW
optional extras you
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
(Elektronische Wegfahrsicherung).
DWA
Anti-theft alarm (Diebstahlwarnanlage)
Anti-lock brake system
ABS
ASC Automatic Stability
Control.
Tyre pressure control
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 Deutsche Institut
für Normung e.V. 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
Underneath the seat . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Handlebar fitting, left . . . . . . . . . . 15
Handlebar fitting, right . . . . . . . . . 16
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2
9
z
General views
2
10
z
General views
General view, left side
1 Clutch-fluid reservoir
( 108)
2 Adjuster for headlight
beam throw underneath
the instrument cluster
( 59)
3 Adjuster, damping, rear
( 66)
4 Seat lock ( 61)
5 Power socket ( 90)
6 Filler neck, engine oil
( 103)
7 Oil sight glass ( 102)
8 Adjuster, spring preload,
front ( 65)
9 Socket (OA) ( 90)
10 Adjustable windscreen
( 64)
2
11
z
General views
2
12
z
General views
General view, right side
1 Filler neck, fuel ( 78)
2 Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN) on
steering-head bearing
3 Brake-fluid reservoir,
front ( 106)
4 Air filter (underneath tank
cover) ( 126)
5 Adjustable footbrake
lever ( 55)
6 Adjuster, spring preload,
rear ( 64)
7 Brake-fluid reservoir, rear
( 107)
2
13
z
General views
Underneath the seat
2
1 Battery ( 133)
2 Rider's Manual
14
3 Toolkit ( 100)
4 Puncture repair lit (OA)
underneath toolkit
5 Helmet holder ( 63)
z
General views
Handlebar fitting, left
1 Control, odometer
( 43), Control,
on-board computer
( 46)
2 Pushbutton, ASC
( 51)
3 Pushbutton, ABS
( 50)
4 Pushbutton, horn
5 Pushbutton, left flashing
turn indicators ( 60),
Pushbutton, hazard
warning flashers ( 42)
6 Switch, high-beam head-
light ( 57), Switch for
headlight flasher
OE
OE
OE
2
15
z
General views
Handlebar fitting, right
2
1 Emergency off switch (kill
16
z
switch) ( 53)
2 Pushbutton, starter
( 72)
3 Pushbutton, right flashing
turn indicators ( 60),
Pushbutton, hazard
warning flashers ( 42)
4 Cancel button, flashing
turn indicators ( 61),
Pushbutton, cancel
hazard warning flashers
( 43)
General views
5 Grip heating switch
( 54)
OE
Instrument cluster
1 Speedometer
2 Rev. counter
3 Warning and telltale
lights ( 21)
4 Multifunction display
( 21)
5 Telltale light for anti-theft
alarm (OE) and sensor for
instrument cluster lighting
6 Adjuster, clock ( 45),
Control, odometer
( 43)
2
17
z
General views
Headlight
2
1 Low-beam headlight
2 High-beam headlight
18
3 Side lights
z
General views
Status indicators
Multifunction display. . . . . . . . . . . 20
Warning and telltale lights . . . . . . 20
ABS warning light
OE
........... 20
Function indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Warnings, general . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Warnings issued by the tyre
pressure monitoring system
OE
(RDC)
ABS warnings
ASC warnings
....................... 28
OE
............... 33
OE
.............. 35
3
19
z
Status indicators
Multifunction display
3
20
1 Clock ( 45), Panel for
RDC status indicators
( 44), Panel for oil-level
information
2 Panel for warnings
z
Status indicators
( 21)
3 Panel for the on-board
computer's status indic-
OE
ators
4 Gear indicator ( 20)
5 Engine-oil temperature
display ( 21)
6 Odometer reading
( 43)
7 Fuel gauge ( 20)
( 46)
OE
( 49)
Warning and telltale lights
OE
1 Telltale light, left turn in-
dicator
2 Telltale light, high-beam
headlight
3 Warning light, general
4 Telltale light, neutral
5 Warning light, ABS (OE)
6 Telltale light, right turn
indicator
ABS warning light
The way in which the ABS
warning light indicates status
can differ in some countries.
Possible national variant.
OE
Function indicators
Fuel capacity
The horizontal bars be-
low the fuel-pump symbol indicate the remaining
quantity of fuel.
Gear
Shows which gear is en-
gaged.
If no gear is engaged, the
gear indicator shows N and
the 'neutral' telltale light also
lights up.
Engine temperature
The horizontal bars
below the temperature
symbol indicate the engine
temperature.
ASC intervention (OE)
General warning light
quick-flashes yellow.
ASC symbol shows.
The ASC has detected a degree of instability at the rear
wheel and has intervened to
reduce torque. The warning
light flashes for one second
longer than ASC intervention
lasts. This affords the rider
visual feedback on control intervention even after the critical situation has been dealt
with.
Off-road ASC
intervention (OE)
General warning light
quick-flashes yellow.
Off-road ASC symbol
shows.
The off-road ASC has detected a degree of instability at
the rear wheel and has intervened to reduce torque. The
warning light flashes for one
second longer than ASC intervention lasts. This affords
the rider visual feedback on
control intervention even after
the critical situation has been
dealt with.
Warnings, general
Mode of presentation
General warnings are
displayed by means of
texts and symbols in the
multifunction display. In some
cases, they are accompanied
by the 'General' warning light
showing red or yellow. If two
or more warnings occur at the
same time, all the appropriate
telltale lights and warning
symbols appear. Warnings in
text form alternate.
3
21
z
Status indicators
Warnings, overview
3
Mode of presentation Meaning
22
z
Status indicators
Lights up yellow The EWS! warn-
Lights up yellow The
Lights up yellow Appears on the
Flashes red Appears on the
ing appears on
the display.
FUEL!
warning appears
on the display.
display
display
Shows accompanied by the
CHECK OIL
warning
Lights up red Appears on the
Lights up yellow The
display
LAMPR!
warning appears
on the display.
Electronic immobiliser active ( 24)
Fuel down to reserve ( 24)
Engine electronics ( 24)
Insufficient engine oil pressure
( 25)
Engine-oil level too low ( 25)
Insufficient battery charge current
( 26)
Rear light bulb defective ( 26)
Mode of presentation Meaning
The LAMPF!
warning appears
on the display.
Lights up yellow The
warning appears
on the display.
Appears on the
display
The
warning appears
on the display.
Lights up yellow The
ing appears on
the display.
LAMPS!
DWALO!
DWA! warn-
Front light bulb defective ( 26)
Bulbs defective ( 27)
Ice warning (OE) ( 27)
Battery of anti-theft alarm (OE) weak
( 27)
Anti-theft alarm battery flat (OE)
( 28)
3
23
z
Status indicators
Electronic immobiliser
active
3
24
z
Status indicators
General warning light
lights up yellow.
The
EWS! warning appears
on the display.
The key being used is not authorised for starting, or communication between key and
engine electronics is disrupted.
Remove all other vehicle
keys from the same ring as
the ignition key.
Use the reserve key.
Have the defective key replaced, preferably by an
authorised BMW Motorrad
dealer.
Fuel down to reserve
General warning light
lights up yellow.
The
FUEL! warning appears
on the display.
Lack of fuel can result
in the engine misfiring
and cutting out unexpectedly.
Misfiring can damage the
catalytic converter; a hazardous situation can result if the
engine cuts out unexpectedly.
Do not run the fuel tank dry.
The estimated residual
range appears on the
display.
The fuel tank contains no
more than the reserve quantity of fuel.
Reserve fuel
4l
Refuelling ( 78)
Engine electronics
General warning light
lights up yellow.
Engine electronics symbol appears on the dis-
play.
The engine is running
in emergency operating
mode. Engine power might
be reduced and this can
cause hazardous situations,
particularly if you attempt to
overtake other road users.
Engine power level might be
lower than normal: adapt your
style of riding accordingly.
The engine electronics control
unit has diagnosed a fault. In
exceptional cases, the engine
stops and refuses to start.
Otherwise, the engine runs in
emergency operating mode.
You can continue to ride,
but bear in mind that the
usual engine power might
not be available.
Have the fault rectified as
quickly as possible by a
specialist workshop, preferably an authorised BMW
Motorrad dealer.
Insufficient engine oil
pressure
General warning light
flashes red.
Engine oil pressure symbol appears on the dis-
play.
The oil pressure in the lubeoil system is too low. Stop
immediately and switch off
the engine if the warning light
shows.
The insufficient oil
pressure warning does
not fulfil the function of an
oil gauge. The only way of
checking whether the oil level
is correct is to check the oil
sight glass.
A low oil level is one reason
why a warning indicating insufficient oil pressure is issued.
Checking engine oil level
( 102)
If the oil level is too low:
Top up the engine oil.
If the warning indicating insufficient engine oil level is
issued and a check indicates
that the engine oil level is correct:
Other engine problems
besides a low oil level
can cause the insufficient engine oil pressure warning to
be issued. Continuing to ride
in these cases can cause engine damage.
If this warning is issued even
though the engine oil level is
correct: do not continue to
ride.
Do not continue your journey.
Have the fault rectified as
quickly as possible by a
specialist workshop, preferably an authorised BMW
Motorrad dealer.
Engine-oil level too low
Symbol for oil level
shows, accompanied by
the
CHECK OIL warning.
The electronic oil-level sensor
has registered an excessively
low oil level.
The only exact way of checking whether the oil level is
correct is to check the oil
sight glass. The next time you
stop for fuel:
Checking engine oil level
( 102)
If the oil level is too low:
Topping up the engine oil
( 103)
3
25
z
Status indicators
The oil sensor might be
3
defective if the "Check oil
level" message appears even
26
though a check at the oil sight
glass reveals that the oil level
is correct.
Checking engine oil level
( 102)
If the oil level is too low:
Seek the advice of a specialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW Motorrad dealer.
Insufficient battery charge
current
z
Status indicators
General warning light
lights up red.
Battery charge current
symbol is displayed.
A discharged battery can
cause the engine to die
suddenly, and this could result in a dangerous situation in
traffic.
Have faults rectified as soon
as possible.
If the battery is not char-
ging, continuing to ride
can cause it to discharge
completely, in which case it
will suffer irreparable damage.
If possible, do not continue
your journey.
Battery is not being charged.
You can continue to
ride until the battery is
discharged. Bear in mind,
however, that the engine
could cut out suddenly
and that the battery could
discharge until completely
flat, in which case it might
have suffered irreparable
damage.
Have the fault rectified as
quickly as possible by a
specialist workshop, preferably an authorised BMW
Motorrad dealer.
Rear light bulb defective
General warning light
lights up yellow.
The
LAMPR! warning ap-
pears on the display.
A defective bulb places
your safety at risk because it is easier for other
users to oversee you and
your motorcycle.
Replace defective bulbs as
soon as possible; always
carry a complete set of spare
bulbs if possible.
Rear light or brake light bulb
defective.
Replacing brake light and
rear light bulb ( 121)
Front light bulb defective
The
LAMPF! warning ap-
pears on the display.
A defective bulb places
your safety at risk because it is easier for other
users to oversee you and
your motorcycle.
Replace defective bulbs as
soon as possible; always
carry a complete set of spare
bulbs if possible.
Low-beam headlight, highbeam headlight, side-light or
turn-indicator bulb defective.
Replace the low-beam and
high-beam headlight bulb
( 118)
Replacing parking-light bulb
( 120)
Replacing turn indicator
bulbs, front and rear
( 122)
Bulbs defective
General warning light
lights up yellow.
The
LAMPS! warning ap-
pears on the display.
A defective bulb places
your safety at risk because it is easier for other
users to oversee you and
your motorcycle.
Replace defective bulbs as
soon as possible; always
carry a complete set of spare
bulbs if possible.
A combination of the bulb defects described above has
occurred.
See the fault descriptions
above.
Ice warning (OE)
Ice warning symbol ap-
pears on the display.
The air temperature measured
at the motorcycle is lower
than 3 °C.
The ice warning does
not mean that there is
no risk of black ice forming
at measured temperatures
above 3 °C.
Always take extra care and
think well ahead when temperatures are low; remember
that the danger of black ice
is particularly high on bridges
and where the road is in the
shade.
Ride carefully and think well
ahead.
Battery of anti-theft alarm
(OE) weak
The
DWALO! warning ap-
pears on the display.
This error message
appears only briefly
after the pre-ride check
completes.
3
27
z
Status indicators
The integral battery in the
3
anti-theft alarm has lost a significant proportion of its ori-
28
ginal capacity. There is no
assurance of how long the
anti-theft alarm can remain
operational if the motorcycle's
battery is disconnected.
Seek the advice of a specialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW Motorrad dealer.
Anti-theft alarm battery flat
(OE)
z
Status indicators
General warning light
lights up yellow.
The
DWA! warning appears
on the display.
This error message
appears only briefly
after the pre-ride check
completes.
The integral battery in the
anti-theft alarm has lost its
entire original capacity. There
is no assurance that the antitheft alarm will be operational
if the motorcycle's battery is
disconnected.
Seek the advice of a specialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW Motorrad dealer.
Warnings issued by the tyre pressure monitoring system (RDC)
Display mode for RDC
warnings
The tyre pressure for the front
wheel 1 and the tyre pressure for the rear wheel 2 appear in the panel for the clock
or the on-board computer,
accompanied by the letters
OE
RDC. The critical tyre pres-
sure flashes
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