BMW R 1200 RS 2017 Owner's Manual
Rider's Manual
R 1200 RS
BMW Motorrad
bmw‑motorrad.com
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 (company 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 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.
This record of the maintenance
work you have had performed on
your vehicle is a precondition for
generous treatment of goodwill
claims.
If the time comes to sell your
BMW, please remember to hand
over this Rider's Manual to the
new owner. It is an important
part of the vehicle.
Suggestions and criticism
If you have questions concerning your vehicle, your authorised
BMW Motorrad dealer will gladly
provide advice and assistance.
We hope you will enjoy riding
your BMW and that all your journeys will be pleasant and safe
BMW Motorrad.
01 40 8 358 171
*01408358171*
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
Indicator and warning
lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Multifunction display (Full
view) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Multifunction display (Sport
view) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Multifunction display (Tour-
ing view) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Service-due indicator . . . . . . . . 42
Fuel reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Ambient temperature. . . . . . . . 44
Tyre pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Recommendation to up-
shift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Red rpm range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
4 Operation . .. . .. .. .. .. .. . . 47
Ignition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Ignition with Key-
less Ride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Emergency off switch (kill
switch) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Daytime riding light . . . . . . . . . . 57
Hazard warning lights sys-
tem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Turn indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 60
Anti-theft alarm (DWA) . . . . . . 67
Anti-lock brake system
(ABS). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Automatic Stability Control
(ASC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Electronic Suspension Ad-
justment (ESA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Riding mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Cruise-control system . . . . . . . 76
Heated handlebar grips . . . . . 78
Front and rear seats . . . . . . . . . 79
5 Adjustment .. .. .. .. . .. .. . 81
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Windscreen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Damping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
6 Riding .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . 87
Safety instructions .. . . . . . . . . 88
Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Starting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Running in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Shifting gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Parking your motorcycle . . . . 97
Refuelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Securing motorcycle for
transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
7 Engineering
details . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. . 103
General instructions . . . . . . . 104
Anti-lock brake system
(ABS). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Automatic Stability Control
(ASC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Dynamic Traction Control
(DTC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Electronic Suspension Ad-
justment (ESA) . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Riding mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Tyre pressure monitoring
(RDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Shift assistant Pro . . . . . . . . . 114
8 Maintenance . . . .. .. . .. 117
General instructions . . . . . . . 118
Toolkit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Front-wheel stand . . . . . . . . . 118
Rear-wheel stand . . . . . . . . . 120
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Coolant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Rims and tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Silencer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Light source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Diagnostic connector . . . . . . 151
9 Accessories . .. .. .. . .. . 153
General instructions . . . . . . . 154
Power sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Topcase. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Navigation system . . . . . . . . . 161
10 Care . . .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. . 167
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Washing the vehicle . . . . . . . 168
Cleaning easily damaged
components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Paint care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Protective wax coating . . . . 170
Laying up the motor-
cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Restoring motorcycle to
use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
11 Technical data . . . .. . 171
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . 172
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . 173
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Final drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Chassis and
suspension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Wheels and tyres . . . . . . . . . . 180
Electrical system . . . . . . . . . . 182
Anti-theft alarm. . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Dimensions .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Riding specifications . . . . . . 185
12 Service . . .. . .. .. .. .. .. 187
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 188
BMW Motorrad Mobility
services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Maintenance work . . . . . . . . . 188
Maintenance schedule . . . . 191
Confirmation of mainten-
ance work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Confirmation of service . . . . 206
13 Appendix . .. .. .. .. . .. . 209
Certificate for electronic
immobiliser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Certificate for Key-
less Ride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Certificate for tyre pressure
control (RDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
14 Index . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 215
General instructions
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Abbreviations and symbols . . . . . . . . . . 6
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Actuality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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 repair work on
the motorcycle is documented
in Chapter 12. This record of
the maintenance work you have
had performed on your vehicle
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
CAUTION Low-risk hazard.
Non-avoidance can lead to
slight or moderate injury.
WARNING Medium-risk
hazard. Non-avoidance can
lead to fatal or severe injury.
DANGER High-risk hazard. Non-avoidance leads
to fatal or severe injury.
ATTENTION Special
notes and precautionary
measures. Non-compliance can
lead to damage to the vehicle or
accessory and, consequently, to
voiding of the warranty.
NOTICE Specific instruc-
tions on how to operate,
control, adjust or look after items
of equipment on the vehicle.
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 extras.
The vehicles are assembled complete with
all the BMW Motorrad
optional extras originally
ordered.
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.
Electronic immobiliser.
EWS
DWA
Anti-theft alarm (Diebstahlwarnanlage).
Anti-lock brake system.
ABS
ASC Automatic Stability Con-
trol.
DTC Dynamic Traction Con-
trol (optional extra only
in combination with Pro
riding modes).
ESA Electronic Suspension
Adjustment.
Tyre pressure monitor-
RDC
ing.
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.
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. 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 running
2 Clutch-fluid reservoir
3 Fuel filler neck ( 98)
4 Seat lock ( 79)
5 Setting the rear damping
OE
light
Manual daytime riding light
( 57).
( 126)
(down at the spring strut)
( 86)
2
11
z
General views
2
12
z
General views
General view, right side
1 Adjuster for spring preload,
rear ( 85)
2 Brake-fluid tank, front
( 124)
3 Vehicle identification num-
ber (VIN) (on steering head,
right)
Type plate (on steering
head, left)
4 Coolant-level indicator
( 126)
Coolant expansion tank
( 127)
5 Tyre pressure table
6 Oil filler neck ( 121)
7 Engine oil level indicator
( 120)
8 Behind the side trim panel:
Battery ( 145)
Positive battery connection
point ( 144)
Diagnostic connector
( 151)
9 Brake-fluid reservoir, rear
( 125)
10 Power socket ( 154)
2
13
z
General views
Underneath the seat
2
1 Fuses ( 149)
2 Rider's Manual
14
3 Standard toolkit ( 118)
4 Payload table
z
General views
Multifunction switch, left
1 High-beam headlight and
headlight flasher ( 55)
2 with cruise control
Cruise-control system
( 76).
3 Hazard warning lights sys-
tem ( 59)
4 ABS ( 69)
ASC ( 70)
with Dynamic Traction
Control (DTC)
DTC ( 70)
5 with Dynamic ESA
Dynamic ESA range of adjustment ( 72)
6 with LED auxiliary head-
7 Turn indicators ( 59)
8 Horn
OA
lights
LED auxiliary headlights
( 56).
OE
OE
OE
2
15
z
General views
9 Multifunction display
2
16
z
General views
( 60)
10 with preparation for nav-
igation system
Operating navigation system ( 162)
Multi-Controller
11 with daytime running
OE
light
Manual daytime riding light
( 57).
OE
Multifunction switch, right
1 with heated handlebar
2 Riding mode ( 73)
3 Emergency off switch (kill
4 Starter button
OE
grips
Operating the heated
handlebar grips ( 78).
switch) ( 54)
Start engine ( 91).
2
17
z
General views
Instrument panel
2
1 Speedometer
2 Photosensor (for adapting
18
z
General views
the brightness of the instrument lighting)
with daytime running
OE
light
Photosensor for automatic
daytime riding light
with alarm system
OE
(DWA)
Alarm system LED
with Keyless Ride
Telltale light for the radiooperated key
3 Indicator and warning lights
( 20)
4 Multifunction display
There is a choice of 3 different display views:
Full view ( 22)
Sport view ( 23)
Touring view ( 24)
OE
Status indicators
Indicator and warning lights . . . . . . . . . 20
Multifunction display (Full view) . . . . . 22
Multifunction display (Sport
view) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Multifunction display (Touring
view) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Service-due indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Fuel reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Ambient temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Tyre pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Recommendation to upshift . . . . . . . . 45
Red rpm range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
3
19
z
Status indicators
Indicator and warning
3
lights
20
1 General warning light (in
combination with warning
symbols on the display)
( 25)
2 Neutral
3 with LED auxiliary head-
4 High-beam headlight
5 ASC ( 70)
z
Status indicators
6 Turn indicators, right
7 - with EU market export
8 ABS ( 69)
OA
lights
LED auxiliary headlights
( 56).
( 55)
with Dynamic Traction
Control (DTC)
DTC ( 70)
Malfunction indicator lamp
Emissions warning ( 34)
OE
NV
9 with daytime running
10 Fuel reserve ( 43)
11 with cruise control
12 Turn indicators, left
OE
light
Manual daytime riding light
( 57).
OE
Cruise-control system
( 76).
3
21
z
Status indicators
Multifunction display
3
(Full view)
22
1 Clock ( 64)
2 Engine speed display
3 On-board computer read-
ings ( 60)
4 Dynamic ESA setting
( 72)
5 Red rpm range ( 45)
6 Fuel level
7 Outside temperature warn-
ing ( 44)
8 Riding mode ( 73)
9 On-board computer read-
z
Status indicators
ings ( 60)
10 Automatic daytime riding
light ( 57)
11 Heating stages, handlebar
grips ( 78)
12 Gear indicator; "N" indic-
ates neutral
Multifunction display (Sport view)
1 Clock ( 64)
2 Engine rpm bar
3 Red rpm range ( 45)
4 Engine rpm
5 Fuel level
6 Automatic daytime riding
light ( 57)
7 Heating stages, handlebar
grips ( 78)
8 Outside temperature warn-
ing ( 44)
9 Riding mode ( 73)
10 On-board computer read-
ings ( 60)
11 Gear indicator; "N" indic-
ates neutral
3
23
z
Status indicators
Multifunction display
3
(Touring view)
24
1 Clock ( 64)
2 Speedometer
3 Fuel level
4 Outside temperature warn-
ing ( 44)
5 Riding mode ( 73)
6 On-board computer read-
ings ( 60)
7 Automatic daytime riding
light ( 57)
8 Heating stages, handlebar
grips ( 78)
9 Gear indicator; "N" indic-
z
Status indicators
ates neutral
Warnings
Mode of presentation
Warnings are indicated by the
corresponding warning lights.
pending on the urgency of the
warning.
If multiple warnings are active at
the same time the three highestpriority warnings are shown. The
possible warnings are listed on
the next pages.
3
25
Warnings for which there is no
dedicated warning light are indicated by 'General' warning light 1
showing along with up to three
warning symbols at position 2
appearing in succession from
right to left. These warning symbols appear in their order of priority. The highest priority is on
the right. The 'general' warning
light shows red or yellow, de-
z
Status indicators
Warnings, overview
3
Telltale and warning
26
lights
lights up yellow appears on the
lights up yellow appears on the
lights up yellow appears on the
z
Status indicators
flashes red
lights up yellow appears on the
flashes yellow
Warning symbols in the
display
appears on the
display
display
display
display
appears on the
display
appears on the
display
display
appears on the
display
Meaning
Outside temperature warning ( 31)
EWS active ( 31)
Radio-operated key out of range ( 31)
Replace the battery of the radio-operated key ( 32)
Coolant temperature too high ( 32)
Engine has not yet warmed up to operating temperature ( 32)
Engine in emergency-operation mode
( 33)
Severe fault in the engine control unit
( 33)
Telltale and warning
lights
Malfunction indicator lamp lights up
flashes red
lights up yellow appears on the
lights up yellow appears on the
lights up yellow appears on the
lights up yellow appears on the
Warning symbols in the
display
appears on the
display
appears on the
display
display
"--" or "-- --"
is displayed.
"--" or "-- --"
is displayed.
display
display
display
Meaning
Emissions warning ( 34)
Engine-oil level too low ( 34)
Tyre pressure outside permitted tolerance ( 34)
Sensor defective or system error
( 35)
Signal transmission disrupted ( 35)
Battery of tyre-pressure sensor weak
( 36)
Light failure ( 36)
Front light failure ( 37)
3
27
z
Status indicators
Telltale and warning
3
lights
28
z
Status indicators
lights up yellow appears on the
lights up yellow appears on the
lights up red appears on the
lights up yellow appears on the
shows yellow briefly
flashes ABS self-diagnosis not completed
Warning symbols in the
display
display
appears on the
display
display
display
appears on the
display
display
appears on the
display
Meaning
Rear light failure ( 37)
On-board system voltage low ( 38)
On-board system voltage critical ( 38)
Battery charge voltage insufficient
( 38)
DWA battery weak ( 39)
DWA battery flat ( 39)
Service overdue ( 39)
( 40)
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