BMW R 1200 RT 2016 Owner's manual
Rider's Manual (US Model)
R 1200 RT
BMW Motorrad
bmw‑motorrad.com
The Ultimate
Riding Machine
Motorcycle/Retailer Data
Motorcycle Data
Model
Vehicle identification number
Color number
Initial registration
License plate
Retailer Data
Contact in Service
Ms./Mr.
Phone number
Retailer's address/phone number (company stamp)
Welcome to BMW
Congratulations on choosing a
motorcycle from BMW Motorrad
and welcome to the community
of BMW motorcycle owners and
riders. Familiarize yourself with
your new motorcycle so that you
can ride it safely and confidently
in all highway 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
get the most benefit from your
BMW's advanced 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.
Documentation confirming performance of scheduled maintenance is a precondition for generous handling of out-of-warranty
claims and goodwill warranty
treatment.
Should you want to sell your
BMW one day, please also remember to turn over the Ride's
Manual to the new owner. it is
an important part of your motorcycle.
Suggestions and complaints
If you have any questions concerning your motorcycle, your authorized BMW Motorrad retailer
is always happy to provide advice
and assistance.
We wish you many miles of safe
and enjoyable riding on your
BMW
BMW Motorrad.
01 40 8 358 117
*01408358117*
Table of Contents
1 General instructions . ... 5
Overview .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Abbreviations and
symbols .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Notice concerning current sta-
tus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2 Overviews . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. 9
General view, left side . . . . . . . 11
General view, right side . . . . . 13
Underneath seat . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Multifunction switch, left . . . . 15
Multifunction switch,
right . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3 Displays . . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. 19
Indicator and warning
lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Meaning of symbols. . . . . . . . . 21
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 23
Warning lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Service display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Cruising range. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Oil level indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Ambient temperature. . . . . . . . 40
Tire inflation pressures . . . . . . 40
4 Operation . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. 43
Steering and ignition
lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Ignition with Key-
less Ride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Emergency on/off switch (kill
switch) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Hazard warning lights sys-
tem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Turn indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 54
Onboard computer . . . . . . . . . . 59
Tripmeter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Automatic Stability Control
(ASC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Electronic suspension ad-
justment (ESA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Riding mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Cruise-control system . . . . . . . 64
Start-off assistance. . . . . . . . . . 66
Anti-theft alarm (DWA) . . . . . . 67
Heating. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Rider's seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Pillion seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Storage compartment . . . . . . . 75
Central locking system . . . . . . 75
5 Setting .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. 81
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Windshield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Damping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
6 Riding .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . 89
Safety information . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Observe checklist . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Always before riding off . . . . . 92
At every third refueling
stop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Starting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Running in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Shifting gears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Parking your motorcycle . . . . 99
Refueling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Securing motorcycle for
transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
7 Technology in de-
tail . . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. . 105
General instructions . . . . . . . 106
Antilock Brake System
(ABS). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Automatic Stability Control
(ASC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Electronic suspension ad-
justment (ESA) . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Riding mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Tire pressure control
(RDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Shift assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Hill start assistant . . . . . . . . . 115
8 Maintenance . . . .. .. .. . 117
General instructions . . . . . . . 118
Standard tool kit . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Service tool kit . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Front wheel stand . . . . . . . . . 119
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Coolant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Wheel rims and tyres. . . . . . 128
Muffler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Light sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Diagnostic connector. . . . . . 150
9 Accessories . .. .. .. . .. . 153
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Onboard power
sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Topcase. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Navigation system. . . . . . . . . 160
10 Care . . .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . 165
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Washing your motorcy-
cle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Cleaning sensitive motorcy-
cle parts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Paint care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Protective wax coating . . . . 168
Store motorcycle . . . . . . . . . . 168
Return motorcycle to
use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
11 Technical data . .. .. . 169
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . 170
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . 171
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . 176
Frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Suspension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Wheels and tyres . . . . . . . . . . 179
Electrical system . . . . . . . . . . 181
Alarm system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Performance data . . . . . . . . . 184
12 Service . . .. .. . .. .. .. .. 185
Reporting safety
defects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 187
BMW Motorrad Mobility
Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Maintenance proce-
dures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
BMW Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Maintenance schedule . . . . 191
Confirmation of mainte-
nance work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Confirmation of service . . . . 206
13 Appendix . .. .. .. .. . .. . 209
Certificate for Electronic
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Certificate for Remote
Key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Certificate for Key-
less Ride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Certificate for Tyre Pres-
sure Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
14 Index . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 219
General instructions
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Abbreviations and symbols . . . . . . . . . . 6
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Notice concerning current status . . . . 7
1
5
z
General instructions
Overview
1
This Rider's Manual has been
designed to provide quick and ef-
6
ficient orientation. The quickest
way for you to find information
on specific topics is to consult
the comprehensive index at the
back of the manual. If you would
like to start with a quick overview
of your motorcycle, this information has been provided in chapter
2. All maintenance and repair
work carried out on your motorcycle will be documented in
chapter 11. Documentation confirming performance of scheduled
maintenance is a precondition
z
General instructions
for generous handling of out-ofwarranty claims and goodwill warranty treatment.
When the time comes to sell
your BMW, remember to hand
over this Rider's Manual; it is an
important part of the motorcycle.
Abbreviations and symbols
CAUTION Hazard with
low risk. Failure to avoid
this hazard can result in minor or
moderate injury.
WARNING Hazard with
moderate risk. Failure to
avoid this hazard can result in
death or serious injury.
DANGER Hazard with high
risk. Failure to avoid this
hazard results in death or serious
injury.
ATTENTION Special in-
structions and precautionary measures. Non-compliance
can cause damage to the vehicle or accessories and warranty
claims may be denied as a result.
NOTICE Special informa-
tion 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.
Indicates the end of accessory or equipmentdependent information.
Tightening torque.
Technical data.
OE Optional extra.
BMW Motorrad optional
extras are already completely installed during
motorcycle production.
OA Optional accessory.
BMW Motorrad optional accessories can
be purchased and installed at your authorized BMW Motorrad
retailer.
Electronic immobilizer.
EWS
DWA
Anti-theft alarm.
ABS Anti-Lock Brake System.
ASC Automatic Stability Con-
trol.
ESA Electronic Suspension
Adjustment.
TPC Tire Pressure Control
(TPC/RDC).
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). It may also describe equipment options that you have not
chosen. Please note, too, that
your motorcycle might not be exactly as illustrated in this manual
on account of country-specific
differences.
If your motorcycle comes with
equipment not described here,
you can find the descriptions in a
separate manual.
Technical data
All dimensions, weights and outputs in the Rider's Manual relate
to the German DIN standards
and comply with their tolerance
specifications. Versions for individual countries may differ.
Notice concerning current status
The outstanding levels of safety
and quality furnished by every
BMW motorcycle are the result
of ongoing advanced development focusing on continuous
improvement in design and engineering as well as equipment
and accessories. For this reason,
some aspects of your motorcycle
may vary from the descriptions in
this Rider's Manual. In addition,
BMW Motorrad cannot guarantee
the total absence of errors. For
this reason BMW is unable to
recognize any claims stemming
1
7
z
General instructions
from the information, illustrations
and descriptions in this manual.
1
8
z
General instructions
Overviews
General view, left side. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
General view, right side . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Underneath seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Multifunction switch, left . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Multifunction switch, right . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2
9
z
Overviews
2
10
z
Overviews
General view, left side
1 Clutch fluid reservoir
( 125)
2 Fuel filler opening
( 100)
3 Seat lock ( 71)
4 Passenger seat heater
( 70)
5 2nd power socket
6 Left-hand stow compart-
ment ( 75)
7 Payload table
Tire inflation pressure table
2
11
z
Overviews
2
12
z
Overviews
General view, right side
1 Rider's Manual (US Model)
2 Power socket ( 154)
3 Brake-fluid reservoir, front
( 123)
4 Right storage compartment
( 75)
5 Vehicle Identification Num-
ber (at fork bearing)
Data plate (at fork bearing)
6 Coolant level indicator (be-
hind side panel) ( 125)
7 Oil fill location ( 120)
8 Behind the engine spoiler:
Battery ( 145)
Positive battery connection
point ( 143)
Diagnostic connector
( 150)
9 Rear brake fluid reser-
voir (behind side fairing)
( 124)
2
13
z
Overviews
Underneath seat
2
1 Adjuster for the rider's seat
14
z
Overviews
height ( 72)
2 Standard tool kit ( 118)
3 Tool for adjusting spring
load ( 85)
4 Fuses ( 148)
Multifunction switch, left
1 High-beam headlight and
headlight flasher ( 52)
2 Cruise control ( 64)
3 Hazard warning lights sys-
tem ( 53)
4 Windshield adjustment
( 82)
5 Additional headlight
( 53)
6 Turn indicators ( 54)
7 Horn
8 Multi-Controller and MENU
button
Multifunction display
( 54)
ASC ( 61)
With Dynamic ESA
D-ESA ( 61)
with audio system
Audio system (see audio
system manual)
9 Menu Favorite ( 58).
OE
OE
2
15
z
Overviews
Multifunction switch,
2
right
16
1 Central locking ( 75)
2 Riding mode ( 63)
3 Emergency on/off switch
(kill switch) ( 51)
4 Starting the engine
( 92)
z
Overviews
Instrument cluster
1 Speedometer
2 Indicator and warning lights
( 20)
3 Navigation system
( 160)
4 Ambient light sensor (for
brightness adjustment of
instrument lighting)
5 Tachometer
6 Release for navigation slot
( 160)
7 Multifunction display
( 23)
8 Tripmeter ( 60)
NOTICE
The brightness of the warning
lights and telltale lights, the
display and the instrument
needle and gauge lighting is
adapted automatically to suit
ambient brightness.
2
17
z
Overviews
2
18
z
Overviews
Displays
Indicator and warning lights . . . . . . . . . 20
Meaning of symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Warning lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Service display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Cruising range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Oil level indicator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Ambient temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Tire inflation pressures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
3
19
z
Displays
Indicator and warning
3
lights
20
1 ABS ( 35)
2 ASC ( 36)
3 Turn indicator, left
4 Fuel reserve ( 38)
5 High-beam headlamp
6 Turn indicator, right
7 Alarm system ( 67)
z
Displays
Indicator light for radiooperated key ( 46)
8 Additional headlight
( 53)
9 Cruise control ( 64)
10 Universal warning light, ap-
pears together with warning symbols in display
panel ( 24)
Meaning of symbols
Average speed since last
reset ( 59)
Ambient temperature
( 40)
Oil level ( 39)
Electrical system voltage
3
21
Meanings of the symbols at position 1:
Average fuel consumption
since last reset ( 59)
Current fuel consumption
Range with fuel now on
board ( 39)
with Tire Pressure Control
(TPC/RDC)
selected) ( 58)
OE
Tire inflation pressures
( 40)
Stopwatch ( 59)
Travel times ( 60)
Date (display mode depends on the time format
1 Heated handlebar grips
switched on
with seat heating
2 Rider`s-seat heating ON
3 Rear-seat heating ON
OE
z
Displays
With Dynamic ESA
3
22
1 Damping
z
Displays
2 Vehicle load
OE
Multifunction display
1 Tripmeter ( 60)
2 Warning symbols ( 24)
3 Menu panel ( 54)
Audio system
4 Seat heating ( 69)
Heated handlebar grips
( 69)
With Dynamic ESA
Dynamic ESA range of adjustment ( 61)
5 Onboard computer ( 59)
with Tire Pressure Con-
trol (TPC/RDC)
Tire inflation pressure
6 Clock ( 58)
7 Odometer
8 Riding mode ( 63)
9 Hill Start Control ( 66)
10 Gear indicator, "N" appears
in neutral
11 Coolant temperature
Fuel level
OE
OE
3
23
z
Displays
Warning lights
3
Display
24
Warnings are displayed with appropriate warning lamps.
z
Displays
Warnings for which there is no
specific individual warning lamp
are indicated by the universal
warning lamp 1 in conjunction
with a warning symbol such
as 2 shown on the multifunction
display. The universal warning
lamp lights up in either yellow or
red depending on the urgency of
the warning.
Up to four warning symbols can
be displayed at any given time.
The universal warning lamp lights
up for the most urgent warning.
You will find an overview of the
potential warnings on the following pages.
Overview of warning indicators
Indicator and warning
lights
lights up yellow appears on the
lights up yellow appears on the
lights up yellow
lights up red Temperature read-
lights up yellow appears on the
flashes yellow
Warning symbols in the
display panel
appears in the
display
display
display
ing turns red.
appears on the
display
display
appears on the
display
Meaning
Outside temperature warning ( 29)
EWS active ( 29)
Radio-operated key outside reception
range ( 29)
Replace battery of radio-operated key
( 29)
Coolant temperature too high ( 30)
Engine-oil level too low ( 30)
Engine fault ( 30)
Severe engine fault ( 31)
3
25
z
Displays
Indicator and warning
3
lights
26
z
Displays
lights up yellow appears in the
lights up yellow appears in the
lights up yellow appears in the
lights up yellow appears on the
lights up yellow appears on the
lights up red appears on the
Warning symbols in the
display panel
display
display
display
appears on the
display
display
appears on the
display
display
display
Meaning
Front light failure ( 31)
Rear light failure ( 31)
Light failure ( 31)
DWA battery charge level low ( 32)
DWA battery drained ( 32)
Onboard system voltage low ( 32)
Onboard system voltage critical ( 33)
Battery charging voltage insufficient
( 33)
Indicator and warning
lights
flashes red
lights up yellow + "--" or
lights up yellow appears on the
flashes ABS self-diagnosis routine not com-
lights up
flashes rapidly ASC intervention ( 36)
Warning symbols in the
display panel
+ tire pressure in
red
"-- --" is
indicated
+ "--" or
"-- --" is
indicated
display
Meaning
Tire inflation pressure is outside approved range ( 33)
Sensor defective or system error
( 34)
Transmission error ( 34)
Battery of tire-inflation pressure sensor
weak ( 35)
pleted ( 35)
ABS error ( 36)
3
27
z
Displays
flashes slowly ASC self-diagnosis not completed
( 36)
Indicator and warning
3
lights
28
lights up
Warning symbols in the
display panel
Meaning
ASC switched off ( 37)
z
Displays
lights up
lights up yellow appears on the
briefly shows yellow
lights up Fuel-level reading
display
appears on the
display
The gear indicator
flashes.
appears on the
display
turns yellow
ASC error ( 37)
ESA error ( 37)
Central locking locked ( 37)
The gear has not been programmed
( 37)
Service overdue ( 38)
Fuel down to reserve ( 38)
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