BMW R 1200 RT 1st Edition (US) 2005 Owner's manual
Rider's Manual (US Model)
R 1200 RT
BMW Motorrad
Freude am Fahren
Motorcycle/Retailer Data
Motorcycle data
Model
Vehicle identification number
Color number
First registration
Registration number
Retailer Data
Contact in Service
Ms./Mr.
Phone number
Retailer's 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.
Familiarize 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 any questions
concerning your motorcycle,
your authorized BMW motorcycle retailer will gladly provide advice and assistance.
We wish you many miles of
safe and enjoyable riding
BMW Motorrad.
Table of Contents
You can also use the index at
the end of this Rider's Manual
to find a specific topic.
1 General instructions . . . 5
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Abbreviations and
symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Equipment . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 7
Technical data. . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Currency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2 Overviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
General view, left side . . . 11
General view, right
side. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Underneath seat . . . . . . . . . 15
Left handlebar fitting . . . . . 16
Handlebar fitting, right . .. 17
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . 18
Headlight . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . 19
3 Status indicators . . . . . 21
Multifunction display . .. . . 22
Warning and indicator
lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
ABS warning light . . .. . . . 23
Function indicators . . . . . . 23
General warning
indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
ABS warning
indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
4 Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Ignition switch and
steering lock . . .. . . . . . . . . 38
Electronic immobilizer
EWS.................... 39
Hazard warning
flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 40
Odometer and
tripmeters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . 42
Multifunction display . .. . . 42
Onboard computer
Cruise control
OE
OE
.... 43
......... 46
Emergency ON/OFF
switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
OE
Heated hand grips
Seat heating
OE
..... 49
.......... 49
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 51
Brakes . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . 52
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Headlight . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . 54
Turn indicators . . . .. . . . . . 55
Storage compartment . . . . 56
Front and rear seats . . .. . 57
Helmet holder . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 60
Windshield . . . . . .. . . . .. . . 61
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . 61
Shock absorbers . . . . .. . . 62
Electronic suspension
adjustment ESA
OE
....... 63
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
5 Riding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Safety instructions . . . . . . . 68
Checklist . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . 70
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 70
Starting off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Running in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Parking your
motorcycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Refueling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
General brake system . . . . 83
Brake system with BMW
Integral ABS . . . . .. . . . .. . . 84
6 Accessories . . . . . . . . . . 87
General instructions . .. . . 88
Onboard socket . . . . . . . . . 88
Luggage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Case. . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 92
Topcase
OA
.............. 94
7 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . 97
General instructions . .. . . 98
Toolkit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Overview of toolkit . . . . . . . 98
Supplemental set
OA
...... 98
Overview of supplemental
set...................... 99
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
General brake
system . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Brake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Clutch . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . 105
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Wheels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 106
Front wheel stand . . . . . . 112
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Jump starting . . . . . . . . . . 121
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
8 Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Care products . . . . . . . . . . 128
Washing your
motorcycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Cleaning sensitive
motorcycle parts . . . . . . . 129
Paint care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Protective wax
coating . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 130
Storing motorcycle . . . . . 130
Returning motorcycle to
use .................... 131
9 Technical data . . . . . . . 133
Troubleshooting
chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Threaded fasteners . .. . . 135
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Riding specifications . . . . 138
Clutch . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . 139
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . .. 140
Running gear . .. . . . . . . . . 140
Brakes . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . 141
Wheels and tires . . . . . . . . 142
Electrical system . . . . . . . 143
Frame. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 145
Dimensions . .. . . . .. . . . . 145
Weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
10 Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
BMW Motorrad
service . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . 148
BMW Motorrad service
quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
BMW Motorrad Service
Card - On-the-spot
breakdown
assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
BMW Motorrad service
network . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . 149
Maintenance work . . . . . . 149
Maintenance
schedules . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 150
Confirmation of
maintenance work . . . . . . 151
Confirmation of
service . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . 156
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
6
initial overview of your motorcycle. All maintenance and
repair work carried out on
your motorcycle will be documented in Chapter 10. For
generous treatment of claims
submitted after the warranty
period has expired, proof of
the maintenance performed is
essential.
Should you want to sell your
BMW one day, please also remember to turn over the Rider's Manual to the new owner;
it is an important part of your
z
General instructions
motorcycle.
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.
Special information 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.
OE Optional equipment
BMW equipment available only as a factory
installed option.
OA Optional accessories
BMW optional accessories can be purchased and retrofitted
at your authorized
BMW motorcycle retailer.
EWS Electronic immobilizer.
DWA Anti-theft alarm.
ABS Anti-Lock Brake Sys-
tem.
ESA Electronic Suspension
Adjustment
Electronic suspension
adjustment.
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 BMW is equipped with
options or accessories not
described in this Rider's Manual, then this equipment is
described in a separate operating manual.
Technical data
All dimensions, weights and
performance specifications
in the Rider's Manual refer
to the standards of the
Deutsche Institut für Normung
e.V. (DIN) and comply with
its tolerance specifications.
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. BMW
Motorrad is also unable to ensure that no errors occur. 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
Overviews
General view, left side ......... 11
General view, right side ........ 13
Underneath seat .............. 15
Left handlebar fitting . . ......... 16
Handlebar fitting, right ......... 17
Instrument cluster ............. 18
Headlight . .................... 19
2
9
z
Overviews
2
10
z
Overviews
General view, left side
1 Headlight adjustment
(vertical) beneath instrument panel ( 54)
2 Brake-fluid reservoir
( 103)
3 Radio operating unit (OE)
4 Onboard socket ( 88)
5 Onboard socket (OE)
( 88)
6 Adjuster, rear shock ab-
sorber ( 62)
7 Oil sight glass ( 99)
8 Filler neck, engine oil
( 100)
2
11
z
Overviews
2
12
z
Overviews
General view, right side
1 Seat lock ( 57)
2 Switch for passenger
seat heating (OE) under
passenger seat ( 50)
3 Mounting for tank ruck-
sack (OA)
4 Filler neck, fuel tank
( 82)
5 Front clutch fluid reser-
voir
6 Electrically adjustable
windshield ( 61)
7 Storage or radio com-
partment ( 56)
2
13
z
Overviews
2
14
z
Overviews
Underneath seat
1 Height adjuster, front
seat ( 58)
2 Battery ( 122)
3 Brake-fluid reservoir, rear
( 104)
4 Adjuster, spring preload,
rear ( 61)
5 Toolkit ( 98)
6 Type plate
7 Helmet holder ( 60)
8 Table of tire pressures
9 Label, payload
2
15
z
Overviews
Left handlebar fitting
2
1 Switch for cruise control
16
z
(OE) ( 46)
2 Radio operating unit (OE)
3 ESA button (OE) ( 63)
4 Button for windshield ad-
justment ( 61)
5 Horn button
6 Button for left turn indi-
cator and hazard warning
flashers ( 55) ( 40)
7 Switch, high-beam head-
Overviews
light and headlight flasher ( 53)
Handlebar fitting, right
1 Onboard computer but-
ton (OE) ( 43)
2 Emergency ON/OFF
switch ( 48)
3 Starter button
4 with OE Heated handle-
bar grips:
Heated hand grips
( 49)
5 Button for right turn indi-
cator and hazard warning
flashers ( 55) ( 40)
6 Turn indicators off button
( 56)
7 Switch for driver's seat
heating ( 50)
2
17
z
Overviews
Instrument cluster
2
1 Speedometer
2 Warning and indicator
18
z
lights ( 23)
3 Multifunction display
4 Rev. counter
5 Anti-theft alarm indicator
light
6 Setting for clock and
display dimming ( 42)
( 42)
7 Control, odometer ( 41)
Overviews
8 Sensor for lighting of in-
strument panel
The instrument-cluster
lighting has automatic
day and night switchover.
Headlight
1 High-beam headlight
2 Low-beam headlight
3 Side lights
2
19
z
Overviews
2
20
z
Overviews
Status indicators
Multifunction display . . ......... 22
Warning and indicator lights.... 23
ABS warning light ............. 23
Function indicators . . . ......... 23
General warning indicators. .... 23
ABS warning indicators ........ 29
3
21
z
Status indicators
Multifunction display
3
1 Fuel gauge ( 23)
2 Area for radio display
22
z
(see radio operating
manual)
3 Area for warning symbols
( 23)
4 Gear indicator ( 23)
5 Engine temperature indi-
cator ( 23)
6 Tripmeter or area for dis-
plays of onboard computer (OE) ( 41) ( 43)
7 Display area for clock,
seat heating (OE), display
Status indicators
dimming and ESA (OE)
( 42) ( 49) ( 42)
( 63)
8 Odometer and tripmeters
( 41)
Warning and indicator lights
1 Indicator light, left turn
indicator
2 Indicator light, high-beam
headlight
3 Indicator light, neutral
4 ABS warning light
5 Indicator light, right turn
indicator
6 Warning light, general
7 Indicator light, cruise
control
ABS warning light
In some countries a different
display of the ABS warning
light is possible.
Alternative display of
ABS warning light.
Function indicators
Fuel capacity
The horizontal bars un-
der the gas pump symbol indicated the remaining
fuel quantity.
Gear
Engaged gear is indicat-
ed.
If no gear is engaged, the
gear indicator displays 0; the
'neutral' indicator light also
lights up.
Engine temperature
The lateral bars under
the temperature symbol
show the engine temperature
level.
General warning indicators
Display
General warnings are displayed by means of texts and
symbols in the multifunction
display. In some cases, an
additional general warning
light lights up red or yellow.
A number of warnings may be
issued simultaneously.
3
23
z
Status indicators
Overview of warning indicators
3
Display Meaning
24
lights up yellow The warning
EWS! is
indicated
lights up yellow is indicated Fuel down to reserve ( 26)
lights up yellow is indicated Engine electronics ( 26)
Electronic immobilizer is active
( 26)
lights up red is indicated Engine oil pressure insufficient
lights up red is indicated Battery charge current insufficient
z
Status indicators
lights up yellow is indicated Rear bulb defective ( 28)
is indicated Front bulb defective ( 28)
lights up yellow is indicated Bulbs defective ( 28)
is indicated Ice warning ( 29)
( 27)
( 27)
Display Meaning
is displayed with note
Anti-theft alarm battery weak ( 29)
DWA
lights up yellow is dis-
played with note
Anti-theft alarm battery drained
( 29)
DWA
3
25
z
Status indicators
Electronic immobilizer is
active
3
26
z
Status indicators
General warning light
lights up yellow.
The warning
ed.
The key being used is not authorized for starting, or communication between the key
and engine electronics is disrupted.
Remove other ignition keys
located on the ignition key.
Use the reserve key.
Have the defective key replaced, preferably by an authorized BMW motorcycle
retailer.
Fuel down to reserve
General warning light
lights up yellow.
Fuel reserve symbol is
displayed and flashes 10
times.
EWS! is indicat-
A fuel shortage can lead
to misfiring and to the
engine dying unexpectedly.
Misfiring can damage the catalytic converter, and the engine dying unexpected can
lead to accidents.
Do not drive until the fuel tank
is completely empty.
The Tripmaster indicates
the probable residual
operating range.
At the most, the fuel tank
still contains the reserve fuel quantity.
Reserve fuel quantity
1.1 gal
Refueling ( 82)
Engine electronics
General warning light
lights up yellow.
Engine electronics sym-
bol is displayed.
The engine is running
in emergency operating
mode. Engine power may be
reduced, and this can cause
hazardous situations, particularly if you attempt to overtake
other road users.
Adapt your style of riding to
the reduced level of engine
power.
The engine-electronics control unit has diagnosed a fault.
In exceptional cases, the engine stops and can no longer
be started. Otherwise, the
engine runs in emergency operating mode.
Continued driving is possible, however the accustomed engine performance
may not be available.
Have the fault rectified as
soon as possible by a specialized workshop, preferably an authorized BMW
motorcycle retailer.
Engine oil pressure insufficient
General warning light
lights up red.
Engine oil pressure symbol is displayed.
The oil pressure in the lubricating oil circuit is too low.
The warning on insuffi-
cient engine oil pressure
is no substitute for the function of an oil-level indicator.
The correct engine oil level
can only be checked at the oil
sight glass.
The cause of the warning on
insufficient engine oil pressure can be an insufficient
engine oil level.
Checking engine oil level
( 99)
Topping up engine oil
( 100)
If the warning on insufficient
engine oil pressure appears
despite a correct engine oil
level:
In addition to an insuf-
ficient engine oil level,
other problems in the engine
can lead to the warning on insufficient engine oil pressure.
Continuing to ride in these
cases can cause engine damage.
If this warning appears despite a correct engine oil level: Do not continue driving.
Do not continue driving.
Have the fault rectified as
soon as possible by a specialized workshop, preferably an authorized BMW
motorcycle retailer.
Battery charge current insufficient
General warning light
lights up red.
Battery charge current
symbol is displayed.
A discharged battery can
result in the engine cutting out unexpectedly, causing a hazardous situation.
Have faults eliminated as
soon as possible.
If the battery is no longer
charged, continued
driving can lead to deep
discharging, and therefore to
the destruction of the battery.
If possible, do not continue
driving.
The battery is not being
charged.
Continued driving is possible until the battery is discharged. However, the en-
3
27
z
Status indicators
gine can die suddenly and
the battery can be exhaus-
3
tively discharged and there-
28
fore destroyed.
Have the fault rectified as
soon as possible by a specialized workshop, preferably an authorized BMW
motorcycle retailer.
Rear bulb defective
General warning light
lights up yellow.
Defective bulb symbol
with arrow pointing to
the rear is displayed.
z
Status indicators
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.
Tail light or brake light bulb
defective.
Replacing rear brake, tail
light or rear turn indicator
bulbs ( 120)
Front bulb defective
Defective bulb symbol
with arrow pointing to
the front is displayed.
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.
Replacing high-beam bulb
( 114)
Replacing left low-beam
bulb ( 115)
Replacing right low-beam
bulb ( 116)
Replacing side light bulb
( 117)
Replacing front turn indicator bulb ( 120)
Bulbs defective
General warning light
lights up yellow.
Defective bulb symbol
with two arrows is dis-
played.
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.
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