BMW R 1200 RT 2010 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
Handlebar fitting, left . . . . . .. . 14
Handlebar fitting, right . .. . . . . 16
Underneath the seat . . . .. .. . 19
Instrument panel . . .. . . . . . . . . 20
Headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 21
3 Status indicators . . . .... 23
Standard status indicat-
ors . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 24
Status indicators with on-
board computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Status indicators with
tyre pressure monitoring
(RDC) . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Status indicators with grip
heating . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Status indicators with seat
heating . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Telltale light of cruise con-
trol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . 26
Standard warnings . . . . . .. . . . 27
Warnings issued by the on-
board computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
ABS warnings . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . 34
ASC warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
RDC warnings . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Anti-theft alarm warnings . . . . 43
4 Operation .... .. .. .. .. .. .. 47
Ignition switch and steering
lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 49
Electronic immobiliser
EWS . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 51
Odometer and
tripmeters . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Multifunction display . .. . . . . . 53
On-board computer . . .. . . . . . 54
Tyre pressure monitoring
RDC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 57
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 58
Turn indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Hazard warning flashers . . . . . 59
Emergency off switch (kill
switch) . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Grip heating . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 60
Seat heating . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 61
Automatic Stability Control
ASC . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Seat height . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Windscreen . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . 64
Cruise-control system . . . . .. . 64
Stowage compartment . . . . . . 67
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . 67
Brakes . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Shift mechanism . . .. .. . . . . . . 68
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . 68
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . .. .. 68
Damping . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Electronic Suspension Ad-
justment ESA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Tyres . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 73
Front and rear seats . . . . . . . . . 74
Helmet holder . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. 76
5 Riding .. .. . . .... .. .. .. .. .. 79
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . 80
Checklist . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Starting. . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Running in . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . 84
Brakes . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Parking your motorcycle . . . . 86
Refuelling . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Secure the motorcycle for
transportation . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 88
6 Engineering details... .. 91
Brake system with BMW
Motorrad Integral ABS . .. .. . 92
Electronic engine management with BMW Motorrad
ASC . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Tyre pressure monitoring
RDC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 96
Electronic Suspension Ad-
justment ESA II . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
7 Accessories . . . .... .. .. .. 99
General instructions . . . . . . . 100
Power sockets . . . . . .. .. . . . 100
Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 101
topcase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 103
8 Maintenance . .. .. .. .. . 107
General instructions . . . . . . . 108
Toolkit. . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . 108
Engine oil . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 109
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . .. . 110
Brake pads . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . 111
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 113
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . 115
Tyres . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Rims . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . 117
Front-wheel stand . .. .. . . . . 124
Bulbs .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 125
Body panels . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 132
Jump starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
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 . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Fuel . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Engine oil . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 149
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . 150
Transmission . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 150
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . 151
Running gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Brakes . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Wheels and tyres .. . . . . . . . . 153
Electrics . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . 154
Frame . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 155
Dimensions . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . 156
Weights . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . 157
Riding specifications . . . . . . 157
11 Service . .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 159
BMW Motorrad service . . .. 160
BMW Motorrad service
quality . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 160
BMW Motorrad mobility
services - roadside assist-
ance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 160
BMW Motorrad service
network . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . 161
Maintenance work . . . . . . . . . 161
Confirmation of mainten-
ance work . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . 162
Confirmation of service . . . . 167
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 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
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
Handlebar fitting, left . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Handlebar fitting, right . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Underneath the seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
2
9
z
General views
2
10
z
General views
General view, left side
1 Headlight beam-throw ad-
justment ( 74)
2 Brake-fluid reservoir, front
( 113)
3 On-board socket (OE/OA)
( 100)
4 Adjuster for damping char-
acteristic, rear suspension
( 69)
5 adjustable shift lever
( 68)
6 Engine oil level indicator
( 109)
7 Power socket ( 100)
8 Vehicle Identification Num-
ber (VIN) (on steering-head
bearing)
2
11
z
General views
2
12
z
General views
General view, right side
1 Seat lock ( 74)
2 with seat heating
Control for rear-seat heating (underneath rear seat)
( 62)
3 Tank rucksack adapter
4 Fuel filler neck ( 87)
5 Clutch-fluid reservoir
6 electrically adjustable wind-
screen ( 64)
7 Storage compartment
( 67)
8 Engine-oil filler neck
( 110)
OE
2
13
z
General views
Handlebar fitting, left
2
1 Operation of the audio sys-
14
z
General views
tem (optional extra, see
separate instructions for
use)
2 High-beam headlight and
headlight flasher ( 58)
3 with cruise-control sys-
4 Hazard warning flashers
5 Windscreen control
6 Operation of the flashing
7 Horn
8 With Electronic Suspen-
9 with Automatic Stability
OE
tem
Cruise control system control ( 65)
( 59)
( 64)
turn indicators ( 58)
sion Adjustment (ESA
OE
II)
Operating ESA ( 70)
Control (ASC)
Operating ASC ( 63)
OE
10 Control for the odometer
( 51)
with on-board com-
OE
puter
Operating the on-board
computer ( 54)
2
15
z
General views
Handlebar fitting, right
2
1 with heated handlebar
16
2 with seat heating
3 Emergency off switch (kill
4 Starter button ( 82)
z
General views
OE
grips
Grip heating control
( 60)
Front seat heating control
( 61)
switch) ( 60)
OE
2
17
z
General views
2
18
z
General views
Underneath the seat
1 Front-seat height adjust-
ment ( 64)
2 Battery ( 134)
3 Brake-fluid reservoir, rear
( 114)
4 Rider's Manual
5 Toolkit
6 Helmet holder ( 76)
7 Payload table
8 Table of tyre pressures
9 Adjuster for spring preload,
rear ( 68)
2
19
z
General views
Instrument panel
2
1 Speedometer
2 Telltale lights ( 24)
20
3 Multifunction display
( 24)
4 Rev. counter
5 Anti-theft alarm telltale light
(OE, see separate instructions for use)
6 Operation of the clock
( 51)
Adjust the dimmer
z
General views
( 53).
7 Control for the odometer
( 51)
8 Ambient-light brightness
sensor (for adapting the
brightness of the instrument lighting)
Headlight
1 High-beam headlight
2 Side light
3 Low-beam headlight
2
21
z
General views
2
22
z
General views
Status indicators
Standard status indicators . . . . . . . . . . 24
Status indicators with on-board
computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Status indicators with tyre pressure
monitoring (RDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Status indicators with grip heat-
ing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Status indicators with seat heat-
ing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Telltale light of cruise control . . . . . . . 26
Standard warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Warnings issued by the on-board
computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
ABS warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
ASC warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
RDC warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Anti-theft alarm warnings . . . . . . . . . . . 43
3
23
z
Status indicators
Standard status
3
indicators
24
Multifunction display
1 Fuel capacity ( 24)
2 Gear indicator ( 24)
z
Status indicators
3 Engine temperature
( 24)
4 Clock ( 51)
5 Odometer
6 Trip meter ( 51)
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 1 is shown briefly
after the Pre-Ride Check com-
pletes. In this example the reading means "March 2010".
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 sevice-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.
Status indicators with on-board computer
with on-board computer
1 Status-indicator panel of
the on-board computer
( 54)
2 The tripmeter readings al-
ternate with the odometer
reading.
OE
3
25
z
Status indicators
Status indicators
3
with tyre pressure
monitoring (RDC)
26
with tyre pressure monitoring
OE
(RDC)
z
Status indicators
1 Tyre-pressure readout
( 57)
The figures shown in the
tyre-pressure readings are
temperature-compensated (see
the section entitled "Engineering
details").
Status indicators with grip heating
with heated handlebar grips
1 Status indicator for heating
stage ( 60)
Status indicators with seat heating
with seat heating
OE
OE
1 Status indicator for heating
stages ( 61)
Telltale light of cruise control
with cruise-control system
OE
1 Telltale light of cruise con-
trol ( 65)
Standard warnings
Mode of presentation
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.
The possible warnings are listed
on the next page.
3
27
z
Status indicators
Warnings, overview
3
Warning light Status indicators Meaning
28
Lights up yellow
Lights up yellow Flashes Fuel down to reserve ( 29)
EWS ! appears on
the display
Electronic immobiliser active ( 29)
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
( 29)
Insufficient engine oil pressure ( 30)
Insufficient battery charge current
( 30)
Rear light bulb defective ( 30)
Front light bulb defective ( 31)
Bulbs defective ( 31)
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