R 1200 RT 2018
Table of contents
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Rider's Manual (US Model)
R 1200 RT
BMW Motorrad
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 8 403 467
*01408403467*
Table of Contents
1 General instructions . ... 5
Overview .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Abbreviations and
symbols .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Notice concerning current status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2 Overviews . .. .. .. .. ... .. .. 9
General view, left side . . . . . . . 11
General view, right side . . . . . 13
Underneath seat . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Multifunction switch, left . . . . 15
Multifunction switch,
right . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3 Displays . ... ... .. ... .. ... 19
Indicator and warning
lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Meaning of symbols. . . . . . . . . 21
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 23
Warning lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Service display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Cruising range. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Oil level indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Ambient temperature. . . . . . . . 42
tire pressures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
4 Operation ... . .. .. .. .. .. .. 45
Steering and ignition
lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Ignition with Keyless Ride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Emergency on/off switch (kill
switch) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Hazard warning lights system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Turn indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 56
Onboard computer . . . . . . . . . . 61
Trip odometer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Automatic Stability Control
(ASC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Dynamic Traction Control
(DTC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Electronic chassis and
suspension adjustment
(DESA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Riding mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Hill Start Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Anti-theft alarm (DWA) . . . . . . 70
Heating. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Rider's seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Passenger seat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Storage compartment . . . . . . . 79
Central locking system . . . . . . 80
5 Setting .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. 85
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Windshield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Damping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
6 Riding .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . 93
Safety information . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Observe checklist . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Always before riding off . . . . . 96
At every third refueling
stop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Starting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Running in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Shifting gears . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Parking your motorcycle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Refueling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Securing motorcycle for
transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
7 Technology in de-
tail . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . 111
General instructions . . . . . . . 112
Antilock Brake System
(ABS). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Automatic Stability Control
(ASC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Dynamic Traction Control
(DTC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Electronic chassis and
suspension adjustment
(DESA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Riding mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Tire pressure control
(RDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Shift assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Hill Start Control . . . . . . . . . . 123
8 Maintenance . . . .. .. .. . 125
General instructions . . . . . . . 126
Standard tool kit . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Service tool kit . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Front wheel stand . . . . . . . . . 127
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Coolant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Wheel rims and tyres. . . . . . 136
Muffler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Light sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Diagnostic connector. . . . . . 158
9 Accessories . .. .. .. . .. . 161
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Onboard power
sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Topcase. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Navigation system. . . . . . . . . 168
10 Care . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 173
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Washing your motorcycle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Cleaning sensitive motorcycle parts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Paint care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Protective wax coating . . . . 176
Store motorcycle . . . . . . . . . . 176
Return motorcycle to
use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
11 Technical data . .. .. . 177
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . 178
Screw connections . . . . . . . . 179
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . 184
Frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Chassis and
suspension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Wheels and tires . . . . . . . . . . 187
Electrical system . . . . . . . . . . 189
Alarm system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Performance data . . . . . . . . . 192
12 Service . . .. .. .. .. . .. .. 193
Reporting safety
defects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 195
BMW Motorrad Mobility
Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Maintenance procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
BMW Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Maintenance schedule . . . . 199
Maintenance confirmations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Service confirmations . . . . . 214
13 Appendix . .. .. .. .. .. .. 217
Certificate for Electronic
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Certificate for Remote
Key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Certificate for Keyless Ride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Certificate for Tire Pressure
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
14 Index . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 227
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.
D-
Electronic chassis and
ESA
suspension adjustment.
DTC Dynamic Traction Con-
trol (optional equipment
only in combination with
Pro riding modes).
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 . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2
9
z
Overviews
2
10
z
Overviews
General view, left side
1 Clutch fluid reservoir
( 133)
2 Fuel filler opening
( 105)
3 Seat lock ( 75)
4 Passenger seat heater
( 74)
5 2nd power socket
6 Left-hand stow compart-
ment ( 79)
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 ( 162)
3 Brake-fluid reservoir, front
( 131)
4 Right storage compartment
( 79)
5 Vehicle Identification Num-
ber (at fork bearing)
Data plate (at fork bearing)
6 Coolant level indicator (be-
hind side panel) ( 133)
7 Oil fill location ( 128)
8 Behind the engine spoiler:
Battery ( 153)
Positive battery connection
point ( 151)
Diagnostic connector
( 158)
9 Rear brake fluid reser-
voir (behind side fairing)
( 132)
2
13
z
Overviews
Underneath seat
2
1 Adjuster for the rider's seat
14
z
Overviews
height ( 76)
2 Standard tool kit ( 126)
3 Tool for adjusting spring
load ( 89)
4 Fuses ( 156)
Multifunction switch, left
1 High beam and headlight
flasher ( 54)
2 Cruise control ( 67)
3 Hazard warning lights sys-
tem ( 55)
4 Windshield adjustment
( 86)
5 Additional headlight
( 55)
6 Turn indicators ( 56)
7 Horn
2
15
z
Overviews
8 Multi-Controller and MENU
2
16
z
Overviews
button
Multifunction display
( 56)
ASC ( 63)
with riding modes Pro
DTC ( 63)
with Dynamic ESA
D-ESA ( 64)
with audio system
Audio system (see corresponding rider's manual)
9 Menu Favorite ( 60).
OE
OE
OE
Multifunction switch, right
1 with central locking sys-
2 Riding mode ( 65)
3 Emergency on/off switch
4 Starting engine ( 96)
OE
tem
Locking ( 80).
(kill switch) ( 53)
2
17
z
Overviews
Instrument cluster
2
1 Speedometer
2 Indicator and warning lights
18
z
Overviews
( 20)
3 Navigation system
( 168)
4 Ambient light sensor (for
brightness adjustment of
instrument lighting)
5 Tachometer
6 Release for navigation slot
( 168)
7 Multifunction display
( 23)
8 Tripmeter ( 62)
NOTICE
The brightness of the indicator
and warning lights, the display
and the instrument needle and
gage lighting is adapted automatically to suit ambient brightness.
Displays
Indicator and warning lights . . . . . . . . . 20
Meaning of symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Warning lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Service display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Cruising range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Oil level indicator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Ambient temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
tire pressures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
3
19
z
Displays
Indicator and warning
3
lights
20
1 ABS ( 37)
2 ASC ( 37)
with riding modes Pro
DTC ( 38)
3 Turn indicator, left
4 Fuel reserve ( 40)
5 High beam
6 Turn indicator, right
z
Displays
7 DWA ( 71)
Indicator light for radiooperated key ( 48)
8 Additional headlight
( 55)
9 Cruise control ( 67)
10 General warning light, in
conjunction with warning symbols on display
( 24)
OE
Meaning of symbols
Average speed since last
reset ( 61)
Ambient temperature ( 42)
with Tire Pressure Monitor
OE
(TPM)
Tire pressures ( 43)
Oil level ( 42)
Vehicle voltage
3
21
Meaning of the symbols at position 1:
Average fuel consumption
since last reset ( 61)
Current fuel consumption
Range with fuel quantity
currently on board ( 42)
Stopwatch ( 61)
Travel times ( 62)
Date (display mode depends on the time format
selected) ( 60)
1 Heated grips turned on
with seat heating
2 Rider's seat heating turned on
3 Passenger seat heating turned
on
OE
z
Displays
with Dynamic ESA
3
22
1 Damping
z
Displays
2 Load
OE
Multifunction display
1 Trip odometer ( 62)
2 Warning symbols ( 24)
3 Menu panel ( 56)
Audio system
4 Seat heating ( 73)
Heated handlebar grips
( 73)
with Dynamic ESA
Dynamic ESA Adjustment
options ( 64)
5 Onboard computer ( 61)
with Tire Pressure Moni-
tor (TPM)
Tire pressure
6 Clock ( 60)
7 Odometer
8 Riding mode ( 65)
9 Hill Start Control ( 69)
10 Gear indicator display, "N"
indicates "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
Display text Meaning
lights
appears in the
display
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
display
display
ing turns red.
appears on the
display
display
appears on the
display
Outside temperature warning ( 30)
EWS active ( 30)
Radio-operated key outside reception
range ( 30)
Replace battery of radio-operated key
( 31)
Coolant temperature too high ( 31)
Engine-oil level too low ( 31)
Engine fault ( 31)
Severe engine fault ( 32)
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
Display text Meaning
display
display
display
appears on the
display
display
appears on the
display.
display.
display.
Front light failure ( 32)
Rear light failure ( 33)
Light failure ( 33)
DWA battery charge level low ( 33)
DWA battery drained ( 33)
Onboard system voltage low ( 34)
Onboard system voltage critical ( 34)
Battery charging voltage insufficient
( 34)
Indicator and warning
Display text Meaning
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 ( 37)
flashes rapidly DTC intervention ( 38)
+ tire pressure in
red
"-- --" is
indicated
+ "--" or
"-- --" is
indicated
display.
Tire pressure is outside the approved
tolerance range ( 35)
Sensor faulty or system fault ( 35)
Transmission fault ( 36)
Battery of the tire pressure sensor weak
( 37)
pleted ( 37)
ABS error ( 37)
3
27
z
Displays
Indicator and warning
3
lights
28
flashes slowly ASC self-diagnosis not completed
flashes slowly DTC self-diagnosis not completed
lights up
Display text Meaning
( 38)
( 38)
ASC switched off ( 39)
z
Displays
lights up
lights up
lights up
lights up yellow appears on the
display
appears on the
display
DTC switched off ( 39)
ASC error ( 39)
DTC error ( 39)
DESA fault ( 39)
Central locking locked ( 40)
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