BMW R 1200 RT 2008 Owner's manual
Rider's Manual
R 1200 RT
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 . . . . . . . . . 15
Handlebar fitting, left . . . . . . . . . 16
Handlebar fitting, right . . . . . . . . 17
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3 Status indicators . .. .. .. 21
Standard status
indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Status indicators with onboard computer
Status indicators with ra-
OE
dio
......................... 24
OE
........... 23
Status indicators with
tyre pressure monitoring
OE
(RDC)
Status indicators with seat
heating
Telltale light of cruise control
...................... 24
OE
.................... 24
OE
........................ 25
Standard warnings . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Warnings issued by the onboard computer
ABS warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
ASC warnings
RDC warnings
Anti-theft alarm
warnings
OE
........... 30
OE
............. 34
OE
............. 36
OE
................... 42
4 Operation .. . .. ... ... ... .. 45
Ignition switch and steering
lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Electronic immobiliser
(EWS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Odometer and tripmeters . . . . 49
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . . 51
On-board computer
Tyre pressure monitoring
OE
RDC
....................... 55
OE
....... 51
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Turn indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Hazard warning flashers . . . . . . 57
Emergency off switch (kill
switch) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Automatic Stability Control
OE
ASC
....................... 59
Grip heating
Seat heating
OE
............... 60
OE
............... 60
Seat height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Windscreen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Cruise-control system
OE
..... 63
Stowage compartment . . . . . . . 65
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Damping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Electronic Suspension Adjustment ESA
OE
............. 69
Tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Front and rear seats . . . . . . . . . . 73
Helmet holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
5 Riding .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 77
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Starting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Lowered suspension
OE
...... 82
Running in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Parking your motorcycle . . . . . 85
Refuelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Securing motorcycle for
transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
6 Engineering details .. . .. 91
Brake system with BMW Mo-
torrad Integral ABS . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Electronic engine management with BMW Motorrad
OE
ASC
....................... 94
Tyre pressure monitoring
OE
RDC
....................... 96
7 Accessories . .. .. .. .. .. .. 99
General instructions . . . . . . . . 100
Power socket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Luggage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Topcase
OA
................. 104
8 Maintenance . . .. .. .. .. . 107
General instructions . . . . . . . . 108
Toolkit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Brake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Front-wheel stand . . . . . . . . . . 123
Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Jump starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
9 Care . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 139
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Washing motorcycle . . . . . . . . 140
Cleaning easily damaged
components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Paint care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Protective wax coating . . . . . 142
Laying up motorcycle . . . . . . 142
Restoring motorcycle to
use......................... 142
10 Technical data . .. . .. . 143
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . . 144
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . . 145
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Running gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Wheels and tyres . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Electrics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Riding specifications . . . . . . . 156
11 Service . .. ... ... .. . .. .. 157
BMW Motorrad service . . . . . 158
BMW Motorrad service
quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
BMW Motorrad Service
Card: on-the-spot break-
down assistance . . . . . . . . . . . 158
BMW Motorrad service net-
work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Maintenance work . . . . . . . . . . 159
Confirmation of mainten-
ance work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Confirmation of service . . . . . 165
General instructions
Overview ............................. 6
Abbreviations and symbols ........... 6
Equipment ............................ 7
Technical data ........................ 7
Currency .............................. 7
1
z
5
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
(Elektronische Wegfahrsicherung).
DWA
Anti-theft alarm (Diebstahlwarnanlage)
Anti-lock brake system
ABS
ASC Automatic Stability Con-
trol.
ESA Electronic Suspension
Adjustment
Electronic Suspension
Adjustment.
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. (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
z
7
General instructions
1
z
8
General instructions
General views
General view, left side................ 11
General view, right side . . ............ 13
Underneath the seat ................. 15
Handlebar fitting, left ................. 16
Handlebar fitting, right . . . ............ 17
Instrument cluster ................... 18
Headlight ............................ 19
2
z
9
General views
2
10
z
General views
General view, left side
1 Adjuster for headlight beam
throw (underneath the instrument panel) ( 72)
2 Brake-fluid reservoir, front
( 113)
3 Radio operating panel (OE)
(see instructions for use for
radio)
4 Power socket ( 100)
5 Extra socket (OE) ( 100)
6 Adjuster for damping char-
acteristic, rear suspension
( 68)
7 Engine oil level indicator
( 109)
8 Engine-oil filler neck
( 110)
2
11
z
General views
2
12
z
General views
General view, right side
1 Seat lock ( 73)
2 Rear-seat heating
(underneath the rear
OE
seat)
3 Tank rucksack adapter
4 Fuel filler neck ( 87)
5 Clutch-fluid reservoir
6 Windscreen ( 62)
7 Stowage compartment
( 65)
Radio compartment ( 65)
( 61)
with radio with CD
OE
drive
2
13
z
General views
2
14
z
General views
Underneath the seat
1 Front-seat height adjust-
ment ( 62)
2 Battery ( 135)
3 Brake-fluid reservoir, rear
( 114)
4 Adjuster for spring preload,
rear ( 67)
5 Toolkit
6 Type plate
7 Helmet holder ( 76)
8 Table of tyre pressures
9 Payload table
2
15
z
General views
Handlebar fitting, left
2
1 Cruise-control system
16
z
( 63)
2 Operating ESA
3 Radio operating unit (OE)
4 Operating ASC
5 Windscreen adjustment
( 62)
6 Horn
7 Flashing turn indicators,
left ( 57), Hazard warning flashers ( 57)
8 High-beam headlight and
General views
headlight flasher ( 56)
OE
OE
OE
( 69)
( 59)
Handlebar fitting, right
1 Control of the on-board
computer
2 Emergency off switch (kill
switch) ( 58)
3 Starter button ( 80)
4 Grip heating
5 Flashing turn indicators,
right ( 57), Hazard warning flashers ( 57)
6 Cancel button, flashing turn
indicators ( 57), Pushbutton, cancel hazard warning
flashers ( 58)
7 Front-seat heating
( 60)
OE
( 51)
OE
( 60)
OE
2
17
z
General views
Instrument cluster
2
1 Speedometer
2 Telltale lights ( 22)
18
3 Multifunction display
( 22)
4 Rev. counter
5 Anti-theft alarm telltale light
(OE) (see the instructions
for use for the anti-theft
alarm)
6 Operation of the clock
( 49)
z
Adjust the dimmer ( 51)
General views
7 Operating the odometer
( 49)
8 Ambient-light brightness
sensor (for adapting the
brightness of the instrument
lighting)
Headlight
1 High-beam headlight
2 Low-beam headlight
3 Side light
2
19
z
General views
2
20
z
General views
Status indicators
Standard status indicators ........... 22
Status indicators with on-board com-
puterOE.............................. 23
Status indicators with radioOE....... 24
Status indicators with tyre pressure
monitoring (RDC)OE................. 24
Status indicators with seat heat-
OE
................................ 24
ing
Telltale light of cruise control
Standard warnings ................... 25
Warnings issued by the on-board
computerOE......................... 30
ABS warnings ....................... 32
ASC warningsOE..................... 34
RDC warningsOE.................... 36
Anti-theft alarm warningsOE......... 42
OE
..... 25
3
21
z
Status indicators
Standard status
3
indicators
22
Multifunction display
1 Fuel capacity ( 22)
2 Gear indicator ( 22)
z
Status indicators
3 Engine temperature ( 22)
4 Clock ( 49)
5 Odometer
6 Trip meter ( 49)
Telltale lights
1 Flashing turn indicators, left
2 High-beam headlight
3 Idle
4 Flashing turn indicators,
right
Fuel capacity
The column below the fuel-
pump symbol indicates the
remaining quantity of fuel.
When the fuel in the tank is
topped up the gauge briefly
shows the original level, before
the reading is updated.
Gear indicator
The gear engaged or N
for neutral appears on the
display.
If no gear is engaged, the
'neutral' telltale light also
lights up.
Engine temperature
The column below the temperature symbol indicates
the engine temperature.
Service-due indicator
If the next service is due in less
than one month, the date for
the next service is shown briefly
after the Pre-Ride Check completes. The month and year
show, accompanied by the wording
SERVICE; in this example
the next service is due in March
2007.
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 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
in advance of the actual due date
or if the word "Service" does not
show permanently even though
a service is overdue, the date
stored in memory in the instrument panel is incorrect and must
be set. 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.
Status indicators with
on-board computer
1 Status-indicator panel of
the on-board computer
( 51)
2 The tripmeter readings al-
ternate with the odometer
reading.
OE
OE
3
23
z
Status indicators
Status indicators with
radio
OE
3
24
Status indicators with tyre pressure monitoring (RDC)
OE
Status indicators with
seat heating
OE
1 Panel for audio-system dis-
plays (see the instructions
for use for the radio)
z
Status indicators
1 Tyre-pressure readout
( 55)
with onboard computer
"RDC" is replaced by "BC".
The figures shown in the
tyre-pressure readings are
temperature-compensated (see
the section entitled "Engineering
details").
OE
OE
1 Indicator for active heating
stages
OE
( 60)
Telltale light of cruise
control
OE
Standard warnings
Mode of presentation
The possible warnings are listed
on the next page.
3
25
1 Telltale light of cruise con-
OE
trol
( 63)
Warnings are indicated by 'General' warning light 1 showing
in combination with one of the
warning symbols 2. The 'General' warning light shows red or yellow, depending on the urgency of
the warning.
If two or more warnings occur at
the same time, all the appropriate
warning lights and warning symbols appear. The status of the
'General' warning light matches
the most urgent warning.
z
Status indicators
Warnings, overview
3
Telltale lights Status indicators Meaning
26
Lights up yellow
Lights up yellow Flashes Fuel down to reserve ( 27)
EWS ! appears on
the display
Electronic immobiliser active ( 27)
Lights up yellow Appears on the dis-
Flashes red Appears on the dis-
Lights up red Appears on the dis-
z
Status indicators
Lights up yellow Appears on the dis-
Lights up yellow Appears on the dis-
play
play
play
play
Appears on the display
play
Engine in emergency-operation mode
( 27)
Insufficient engine oil pressure ( 28)
Insufficient battery charge current
( 28)
Rear light bulb defective ( 28)
Front light bulb defective ( 29)
Bulbs defective ( 29)
Electronic immobiliser
active
General warning light shows
yellow.
EWS ! appears on the display.
Possible cause:
The key being used is not au-
thorised 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 shows
yellow.
Reserve fuel level symbol
flashes.
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.
Possible cause:
The fuel tank contains no more
than the reserve quantity of fuel.
Reserve fuel
≥4l
Refuelling ( 87)
Engine in emergencyoperation mode
General warning light shows
yellow.
Engine symbol appears on
the display.
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.
Possible cause:
The engine control unit has dia-
gnosed 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
3
27
z
Status indicators
an authorised BMW Motorrad
dealer.
3
28
Insufficient engine oil
pressure
General warning light
flashes red.
Oil-can symbol appears on
the display.
The oil pressure in the lube-oil
system is too low. Stop immediately and switch off the engine.
The insufficient oil pres-
z
Status indicators
sure 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.
Possible cause:
The engine-oil level is too low.
Check the engine oil level
( 109)
If the oil level is too low:
Top up the engine oil.
Possible cause:
The engine-oil pressure is insuffi-
cient.
Riding when engine-oil
pressure is low can result
in engine damage.
Do not continue your journey.
Have the fault rectified as
quickly as possible by a
specialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW Motorrad
dealer.
Insufficient battery charge
current
General warning light shows
red.
Battery symbol appears on
the display.
A discharged battery can
render various systems unavailable, for example the lights,
the engine or the ABS. This can
result in dangerous situations.
If possible, do not continue your
journey.
Possible cause:
Alternator or alternator drive belt
defective
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 shows
yellow.
Bulb symbol with arrow
pointing to the rear appears
on the display.
A defective bulb places
your safety at risk because
it is easier for other users to
oversee the motorcycle.
Replace defective bulbs as
soon as possible; always carry a
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