BMW R 1200 RT 2017 Owner's Manual
Rider's Manual
R 1200 RT
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 8 358 111
*01408358111*
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
Meaning of symbols . . . . . . . . . 21
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 23
Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Service-due indicator . . . . . . . . 39
Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Ambient temperature. . . . . . . . 40
Tyre pressures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
4 Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Ignition switch/steering
lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Ignition with Key-
less Ride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Emergency off switch (kill
switch) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Daytime riding light . . . . . . . . . . 54
Hazard warning lights sys-
tem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Turn indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 57
On-board computer . . . . . . . . . 61
Trip distance recorder . . . . . . . 63
Automatic Stability Control
(ASC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Electronic Suspension Ad-
justment (ESA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Riding mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Cruise-control system . . . . . . . 67
Hill Start Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Anti-theft alarm (DWA) . . . . . . 70
Heating. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Front seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Rear seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Stowage compartment . . . . . . 78
Central locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
5 Adjustment .. .. .. .. . . . . . . 83
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Windscreen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Damping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
6 Riding .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . 91
Safety instructions .. . . . . . . . . 92
Comply with checklist . . . . . . . 94
Always before riding off . . . . . 94
Every 3rd refuelling stop . . . . 94
Starting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Running in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Shifting gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Parking your motor-
cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Refuelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Securing motorcycle for
transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
7 Engineering
details . .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . 107
General instructions . . . . . . . 108
Anti-lock brake system
(ABS). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Automatic Stability Control
(ASC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Electronic Suspension Ad-
justment (ESA) . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Riding mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Tyre pressure monitoring
(RDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Shift assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
drive-off assistant . . . . . . . . . 118
8 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . 119
General instructions . . . . . . . 120
Standard toolkit . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Service toolkit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Front-wheel stand . . . . . . . . . 121
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Coolant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Rims and tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Silencer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Light source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Diagnostic connector . . . . . . 153
9 Accessories . .. .. .. . . . . 155
General instructions . . . . . . . 156
Power sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Topcase. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Navigation system . . . . . . . . . 162
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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Final drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Chassis and
suspension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Wheels and tyres . . . . . . . . . . 181
Electrical system . . . . . . . . . . 183
Anti-theft alarm. . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Dimensions .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Riding specifications . . . . . . 186
12 Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 188
BMW Motorrad Mobility
services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Maintenance work . . . . . . . . . 188
BMW Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Maintenance schedule . . . . 191
Confirmation of mainten-
ance work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Confirmation of service . . . . 206
13 Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Certificate for electronic
immobiliser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Certificate for remote con-
trol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Certificate for Key-
less Ride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Certificate for tyre pressure
control (RDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
14 Index . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 219
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 servicing work
on the vehicle is documented
in Chapter 11. 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.
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). You may find
that it contains descriptions of
items of equipment that you did
not select. 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.
Consequently no claims can be
derived from the information,
graphics or descriptions.
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 Clutch-fluid reservoir
( 128)
2 Fuel filler neck ( 102)
3 Seat lock ( 74)
4 Rear-seat heating ( 73)
5 2nd socket
6 Stowage compartment, left
( 78)
7 Payload table
Table of tyre pressures
2
11
z
General views
2
12
z
General views
General view, right side
1 Rider's Manual
2 Power socket ( 156)
3 Brake-fluid tank, front
( 126)
4 Stowage compartment,
right ( 78)
5 VIN (on steering-head
bearing)
Type plate (on steeringhead bearing)
6 Coolant level indicator (be-
hind side panel) ( 128)
7 Oil filler neck ( 122)
8 To the rear of the engine
spoiler:
Battery ( 147)
Positive battery connection
point ( 146)
Diagnostic connector
( 153)
9 Rear brake-fluid reser-
voir (behind side panel)
( 127)
2
13
z
General views
Underneath the seat
2
1 Adjusting the driver seat
14
z
General views
height ( 75)
2 Standard toolkit ( 120)
3 Tool for adjusting spring
preload ( 87)
4 Fuses ( 151)
Multifunction switch, left
1 High-beam headlight and
headlight flasher ( 53)
2 Daytime riding light
( 54)
3 Cruise-control system
( 67)
4 Hazard warning lights sys-
tem ( 56)
5 Windscreen adjustment
( 84)
6 Auxiliary headlights ( 53)
7 Turn indicators ( 56)
8 Horn
2
15
z
General views
9 Multi-Controller and MENU
2
16
z
General views
button
Multifunction display
( 57)
ASC ( 63)
With Dynamic ESA
D-ESA ( 64)
with audio system
Audio system (see the appropriate operating instructions)
10 Favourite menu ( 60).
OE
OE
Multifunction switch, right
1 Central locking ( 78)
2 Riding mode ( 65)
3 Emergency off switch (kill
switch) ( 52)
4 Start engine ( 95)
2
17
z
General views
Instrument panel
2
1 Speedometer
2 Indicator and warning lights
18
z
General views
( 20)
3 Navigation system
( 162)
4 Ambient-light brightness
sensor (for adapting the
brightness of the instrument lighting)
5 Engine speed display
6 Release for navigation slot
( 162)
7 Multifunction display
( 23)
8 Trip distance recorder
( 63)
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.
Status indicators
Indicator and warning lights . . . . . . . . . 20
Meaning of symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Service-due indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Ambient temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Tyre pressures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
3
19
z
Status indicators
Indicator and warning
3
lights
20
1 ABS ( 36)
2 ASC ( 37)
3 Turn indicators
4 Fuel reserve ( 38)
5 Daytime riding light
( 54)
6 High-beam headlight
7 Turn indicators
8 - with EU market export
Malfunction indicator lamp
Emissions warning ( 30)
9 DWA ( 70)
z
Status indicators
Telltale light for the radiooperated key ( 46)
10 Auxiliary headlights ( 53)
11 Cruise-control system
( 67)
12 General warning light, in
combination with warning symbols on the display
( 24)
NV
Meaning of symbols
Meanings of the symbols at position 1:
Average fuel consumption
since last reset ( 62)
Current consumption
Range with fuel now on
board ( 39)
Average speed since last
reset ( 62)
Ambient temperature
( 40)
with tyre pressure monitoring
OE
(RDC)
Tyre pressures ( 40)
Stopwatch ( 62)
Travel times ( 62)
Date (display mode depends on the time format
selected) ( 60)
Oil level ( 40)
On-board voltage
1 Heated handlebar grips ON
with seat heating
2 Front-seat heating ON
3 Rear-seat heating ON
OE
3
21
z
Status indicators
with Dynamic ESA
3
22
1 Damping
2 Vehicle load
z
Status indicators
OE
Multifunction display
1 Trip distance recorder
( 63)
2 Warning symbols ( 24)
3 Menu area ( 57)
Audio system
4 Automatic daytime riding
light ( 55)
5 Seat heating ( 72)
Heated handlebar grips
( 72)
with Dynamic ESA
Dynamic ESA range of adjustment ( 64)
6 On-board computer
( 61)
with tyre pressure monit-
oring (RDC)
Tyre pressure
7 Clock ( 60)
8 Odometer
9 Riding mode ( 65)
10 Hill Start Control ( 69)
11 Gear indicator; "N" indic-
ates neutral
OE
OE
3
23
z
Status indicators
12 Coolant temperature
3
24
Fuel level
Warnings
Mode of presentation
Warnings are indicated by the
corresponding warning lights.
Up to four warning symbols can
be displayed at any given time.
The status of the 'General' warning light matches the most urgent warning.
The possible warnings are listed
on the next pages.
z
Status indicators
Warnings for which there is no
dedicated warning light are indicated by 'General' warning light 1
showing in combination with a
warning symbol such as, for example, 2 appearing in the multifunction display. The 'general'
warning light shows yellow or
red, depending on the urgency of
the warning.
Warnings, overview
Telltale and warning
lights
lights up yellow appears on the
lights up yellow appears on the
lights up yellow
lights up red Temperature read-
Malfunction indicator lamp lights up
lights up yellow appears on the
Warning symbols in the
display
appears on the
display
display
display
ing turns red
appears on the
display
display
Meaning
Outside temperature warning ( 29)
EWS active ( 29)
Radio-operated key out of range ( 29)
Replace the battery of the radio-operated key ( 30)
Coolant temperature too high ( 30)
Engine-oil level too low ( 30)
Emissions warning ( 30)
Engine fault ( 31)
3
25
z
Status indicators
Telltale and warning
3
lights
26
z
Status indicators
flashes yellow
lights up yellow appears on the
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
display
display
display
appears on the
display
display
appears on the
display
display
Meaning
Severe engine fault ( 31)
Front light failure ( 32)
Rear light failure ( 32)
Light failure ( 32)
DWA battery weak ( 32)
DWA battery flat ( 33)
On-board system voltage low ( 33)
On-board system voltage critical ( 33)
Telltale and warning
lights
lights up red appears on the
flashes red
lights up yellow + "--" or
lights up yellow appears on the
flashes ABS self-diagnosis not completed
lights up
quick-flashes ASC intervention ( 36)
Warning symbols in the
display
display
+ tyre pressure in
red
"-- --" appears
on the display
+ "--" or
"-- --" appears
on the display
display
Meaning
Battery charge voltage insufficient
( 34)
Tyre pressure outside permitted tolerance ( 34)
Sensor defective or system error
( 34)
Signal transmission disrupted ( 35)
Battery of tyre-pressure sensor weak
( 36)
( 36)
ABS fault ( 36)
3
27
z
Status indicators
Telltale and warning
3
lights
28
slow-flashes ASC self-diagnosis not completed
lights up
Warning symbols in the
display
Meaning
( 37)
ASC switched off ( 37)
lights up
lights up yellow appears on the
z
Status indicators
briefly shows yellow
lights up Fuel-level reading
display
appears on the
display
The gear indicator
flashes
appears on the
display
turns yellow
ASC fault ( 37)
ESA fault ( 37)
Central locking locked ( 38)
Gear not calibrated ( 38)
Service overdue ( 38)
Fuel down to reserve ( 38)
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