BMW R 1200 RT 4th Edition 2013 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 vehicle'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.
01 41 8 551 001
*01418551001*
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
Actuality . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 7
2 General views . .. .. .. .. .. . 9
General view, left side . . . . . . . 11
General view, right side . . . . . 13
Underneath the seat . . . . . .. . 15
Multifunction switch, left . . . . 16
Multifunction switch,
right . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 18
Instrument panel . . . . . . . .. . . . 19
3 Status indicators . .. .. .. 21
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 22
Warning and telltale
lights . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. 23
Telltale light of cruise con-
trol . . . . . .. . .. . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . 23
Service-due indicator .. . . . . . . 24
Range . . . . . .. . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . 24
Ambient temperature. . . . . . . . 25
Tyre pressures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 26
4 Operation . .. . .. .. .. .. .. . . 41
Ignition switch/steering
lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 42
Electronic immobiliser
EWS . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 43
Clock . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . 43
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . 46
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Turn indicators . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 47
Hazard warning flashers . . . . . 48
Emergency off switch (kill
switch) . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Heated handlebar grips . . .. . 49
Seat heating . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 50
Automatic Stability Control
ASC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 51
Cruise-control system . . . . . . . 52
Stowage compartment . . . . . . 54
Clutch . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 54
Brakes . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 55
Shift mechanism . . . . . . . . . . .. 56
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 56
Windscreen . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . 56
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Damping . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 57
Electronic Suspension Ad-
justment ESA . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . 58
Tyres . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Front and rear seats .. . . . . . . . 62
Helmet holder . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 64
5 Riding .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . 67
Safety instructions . . . . . . .. . . 68
Checklist . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Starting. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . 70
Running in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 73
Brakes . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 73
Parking your motorcycle . . . . 74
Refuelling . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 75
Securing motorcycle for
transportation . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 77
6 Engineering details . .. . . 79
Brake system with
BMW Motorrad Integral
ABS . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Electronic engine management with BMW Motorrad
ASC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 82
Tyre pressure monitoring
RDC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 84
Electronic Suspension Ad-
justment ESA II . . .. . . . . . . . .. 85
7 Accessories . .. .. .. . .. .. . 87
General instructions . . . . . . . . . 88
Power sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Topcase. . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 91
8 Maintenance . . . .. .. .. . .. 95
General instructions . . . . . . . . . 96
Toolkit. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 96
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Clutch . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 103
Rims and tyres . . . .. . . . . . . . 103
Wheels . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 104
Front-wheel stand . . . . . .. . . 111
Bulbs . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Body panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . .. . . . 119
Battery . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. 120
9 Care ... . . .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. 125
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Washing the motor-
cycle . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Cleaning easily damaged
components .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . 126
Paint care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Protective wax coating . . . . 128
Laying up the motor-
cycle . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Restoring motorcycle to
use . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 128
10 Technical data . . .. . . 129
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . 130
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . 131
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 133
Fuel . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. 134
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Clutch . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 135
Transmission . . .. . . . . . . . .. . 136
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . 136
Running gear . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Brakes . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 139
Wheels and tyres . . . . . . . . . . 139
Electrics . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 140
Frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Dimensions . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 142
Weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 143
Riding specifications . . . . . . 143
11 Service . . .. . .. .. .. .. .. 145
BMW Motorrad Service . . . 146
BMW Motorrad Mobility
services . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . 146
Maintenance work . . . . .. . . . 146
Confirmation of mainten-
ance work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Confirmation of service . . . . 153
12 Appendix . .. .. .. .. . .. . 155
Certificate . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 156
13 Index .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 157
General instructions
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Abbreviations and symbols . . . . . . . . . . 6
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Actuality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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
product 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.
Technical data.
OE Optional extra.
The motorcycles are assembled complete with
all the BMW Motorrad
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.
Tyre pressure monitoring
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.
Actuality
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
Underneath the seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Multifunction switch, left . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Multifunction switch, right . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
2
9
z
General views
2
10
z
General views
General view, left side
1 Headlight beam-throw ad-
justment ( 61)
2 Brake-fluid reservoir, front
( 101)
3 On-board socket (OE/OA)
( 88)
4 Adjuster for damping char-
acteristic, rear suspension
( 57)
5 adjustable shift lever
( 56)
6 Engine oil level indicator
( 97)
7 Power socket ( 88)
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 ( 62)
2 with seat heating
Control for rear-seat heating (underneath rear seat)
( 50)
3 Tank bag adapter
4 Fuel filler neck ( 75)
5 Clutch-fluid reservoir
6 electrically adjustable wind-
screen ( 56)
7 Storage compartment
( 54)
8 Engine-oil filler neck
( 98)
OE
2
13
z
General views
2
14
z
General views
Underneath the seat
1 Front-seat height adjust-
ment ( 64)
2 Battery ( 120)
3 Brake-fluid reservoir, rear
( 102)
4 Rider's Manual
5 Toolkit
6 Helmet holder ( 64)
7 Payload table
8 Table of tyre pressures
9 Adjuster for spring preload,
rear ( 56)
2
15
z
General views
Multifunction switch,
2
left
16
1 Operation of the audio sys-
tem (OE, see separate instructions for use)
2 High-beam headlight and
headlight flasher ( 47)
3 with cruise-control sys-
4 Hazard warning flashers
z
General views
5 Windscreen control
6 Operation of the turn indic-
7 Horn
8 with Electronic Suspen-
OE
tem
Cruise control system control ( 52)
( 48)
( 56)
ators ( 47)
sion Adjustment (ESA
OE
II)
Operating ESA ( 58)
9 with Automatic Stability
Control (ASC)
Operating the ASC
( 51)
10 Select display ( 44)
OE
2
17
z
General views
Multifunction switch,
2
right
18
1 with heated handlebar
2 with seat heating
3 Emergency off switch (kill
4 Starter button ( 70)
z
General views
OE
grips
Operation of the heated
handlebar grips ( 49)
Front seat heating control
( 50)
switch) ( 48)
OE
Instrument panel
1 Speedometer
2 Warning and telltale lights
( 23)
3 Multifunction display
( 22)
4 Rev. counter
5 Anti-theft alarm telltale light
(OE, see separate instructions for use)
6 Operation of the clock
( 43)
Adjust the dimmer
( 46).
7 Control for the odometer
( 44)
8 Ambient-light brightness
sensor (for adapting the
brightness of the instrument lighting)
2
19
z
General views
2
20
z
General views
Status indicators
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Warning and telltale lights . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Telltale light of cruise control . . . . . . . 23
Service-due indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Ambient temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Tyre pressures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
3
21
z
Status indicators
Multifunction display
3
1 The height of the column
22
z
Status indicators
indicates the quantity of
fuel left in the tank.
2 Warnings ( 26)
3 - with audio system (OE)
Audio-system readings
4 Gear indicator; "N" indic-
ates neutral.
5 The height of the column
indicates engine temperature.
6 with seat heating
Seat-heating indicator
( 50)
7 Clock ( 43)
8 with heated handlebar
9 Odometer
OE
grips
Grip-heating indicator
( 49)
with on-board com-
OE
puter
Odometer reading and tripmeter reading ( 45)
OE
10 Trip meter ( 45)
with on-board com-
OE
puter
On-board computer readings ( 44)
with tyre pressure monitoring (RDC)
RDC status indicators
( 25)
OE
Warning and telltale lights
1 Telltale light for left turn
indicators
2 High-beam headlight tell-
tale light
3 Telltale light for neutral
4 ABS warning light ( 35)
5 Telltale light for right turn
indicators
6 with Automatic Stability
Control (ASC)
ASC warning light ( 36)
OE
7 General warning light, in
combination with warnings
in the display ( 26)
The ABS symbol might differ, depending on the spe-
cifics of national regulations.
Telltale light of cruise control
with cruise-control system
1 Telltale light of cruise con-
trol ( 52)
OE
3
23
z
Status indicators
Service-due indicator
3
24
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 completes. In this example the read-
z
Status indicators
ing means "March 2012".
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 service-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.
Range
RANGE
The range readout indicates how
far you can ride with the fuel remaining in the tank. This distance is calculated on the basis
of fuel level and average consumption.
When refuelling after running on
reserve, make sure that you top
up the tank to a level above reserve, as otherwise the sensor
will not be able to register the
new level. If the sensor cannot
register the new level the range
readout cannot be updated.
When the motorcycle is propped
on its side stand the slight angle
of inclination means that the
sensor cannot register the fuel
level correctly. This is the reason
why the range is calculated only
when the side stand is in the retracted position.
The calculated range is
only an approximate figure.
Consequently, BMW Motorrad
recommends that you should not
try to use the full range before
refuelling.
without on-board computer
The range reading does not appear until the fuel is down to the
reserve level.
with on-board computer
The figure for average consumption used to calculate range is
not shown and might not be the
same as the average-consumption reading that appears on the
display.
OE
OE
Ambient temperature
with on-board computer
When the motorcycle is at
a standstill the heat of the
engine can falsify the ambienttemperature reading. If the effect
of the engine's heat becomes excessive, -- temporarily appears
on the display.
OE
If ambient temperature drops below 3 °C the temperature display flashes to draw your attention to the risk of black ice forming. The display automatically
switches from any other mode
to the temperature reading when
the temperature drops below this
threshold for the first time.
Tyre pressures
with tyre pressure monitoring
OE
(RDC)
3
25
z
Status indicators
3
26
Warnings
Mode of presentation
The tyre-pressure readings are
based on a reference tyre temperature of 20 °C. The front
tyre pressure is on the left 1;
the reading on the right 2 is
the rear tyre pressure. -- -appears directly after the ig-
z
Status indicators
nition is switched on, because
the sensors do not transmit tyre
pressures until the first time the
motorcycle accelerates to more
than 30 km/h.
If warning symbol 2 also shows,
the reading is a warning. The
critical tyre pressure flashes.
If the critical value is close to the
limit of the permissible tolerance
range, 'General' warning light 1
also comes on and shows yellow.
If the tyre pressure registered by
the sensor is outside the permissible tolerance range, the
general warning light 1 flashes
red.
The detailed description of
BMW Motorrad RDC starts on
page ( 84).
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 and telltale
28
lights
Lights up yellow
Lights up yellow Flashes Fuel down to reserve ( 32)
Warning symbols on
the display
EWS ! appears on
the display
Meaning
Electronic immobiliser active ( 32)
Lights up yellow Appears on the dis-
Flashes red Appears on the dis-
z
Status indicators
Lights up red Appears on the dis-
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
( 32)
Insufficient engine oil pressure ( 33)
Insufficient battery charge current
( 33)
Rear light bulb defective ( 33)
Front light bulb defective ( 34)
Bulbs defective ( 34)
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