BMW R 1200 RT 4th Edition (US) 2007 Owner's manual
Rider's Manual (US Model)
R 1200 RT
BMW Motorrad
The Ultimate Riding
Machine
Motorcycle/Retailer Data
Motorcycle data
Model
Vehicle Identification Number
Color number
First registration
Registration number
Retailer Data
Contact in Service
Ms./Mr.
Phone number
Retailer's 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.
Familiarize 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 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
BMW Motorrad.
Table of Contents
You can also use the index at the
end of this Rider's Manual to find
a specific topic.
1 General instructions . ... . 5
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Abbreviations and symbols . . . . 6
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Currentness of this manual . . . . 7
2 Overviews . . .. ...... .. ..... 9
General view, left side . . . . . . . . 11
General view, right side . . . . . . 13
Underneath seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Left handlebar fitting . . . . . . . . . 16
Handlebar fitting, right . . . . . . . . 17
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3 Status indicators . .... .. 21
Standard displays . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Displays with onboard com-
OE
puter
Displays with radio
...................... 23
OE
........ 24
Displays with Tire Pressure
Control TPC
Displays with seat
heater
Indicator light with cruisecontrol system
OE
............... 24
OE
..................... 25
OE
............. 25
Standard warning indica-
tors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Warning indicators of onboard computer
OE
........... 30
ABS warning indicators . . . . . . 32
ASC warning indica-
OE
tors
........................ 35
TPC warning indica-
OE
tors
........................ 37
Anti-theft alarm warning indi-
OE
cators
..................... 42
4 Operation .. ....... .. ..... 45
Ignition switch and steering
lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Electronic immobilizer
EWS ......................... 47
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Odometer and tripmeters . . . . 48
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . . 50
Onboard computer
Tire Pressure Control
OE
TPC
....................... 54
OE
........ 51
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Turn indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Hazard warning flashers . . . . . . 57
Emergency ON/OFF
switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Heated hand grips
Seat heating
Automatic Stability Control
OE
ASC
....................... 61
OE
OE
......... 59
............... 59
Seat height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Windshield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Cruise control
OE
............. 63
Storage compartment . . . . . . . . 65
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Damping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Electronic suspension adjustment ESA
OE
................. 69
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Front and rear seats. . . . . . . . . . 72
Locking helmet on motorcy-
cle............................ 75
5 Riding .. ... .. ........ .. ... 77
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Starting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Running in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Parking your motorcycle . . . . . 85
Refueling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
6 Technology in detail . .. 89
Brake system with BMW Mo-
torrad Integral ABS . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Engine management with
BMW Motorrad ASC
Tire Pressure Control
OE
TPC
....................... 93
OE
...... 92
7 Accessories . .. ... .. ..... 95
General instructions . . . . . . . . . . 96
Onboard socket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Luggage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Topcase
OA
................. 100
8 Maintenance . .. ....... . 103
General instructions . . . . . . . . 104
Onboard toolkit. . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
General brake system . . . . . . 107
Brake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Front wheel stand . . . . . . . . . . 118
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
9 Care ....... .. ........ . .. . 133
Care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Washing your motorcy-
cle.......................... 134
Cleaning sensitive motorcy-
cle parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Paint care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Protective wax coating . . . . . 136
Storing motorcycle . . . . . . . . . 136
Returning motorcycle to
use ......................... 136
10 Technical data . ... .. . 137
Troubleshooting chart . . . . . . 138
Threaded fasteners . . . . . . . . 139
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Rear-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Running gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Wheels and tires . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Electrical system . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Riding specifications . . . . . . . 151
11 Service . ......... .. .... 153
BMW Motorrad Service . . . . 154
BMW Motorrad Service
Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
BMW Motorrad Service
Card - On-the-spot break-
down assistance . . . . . . . . . . . 154
BMW Motorrad Service
Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Maintenance work. . . . . . . . . . 155
Confirmation of mainte-
nance work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Confirmation of service . . . . . 161
Reporting
.
Safety Defects.........
168
General instructions
Overview ............................. 6
Abbreviations and symbols ........... 6
Equipment ............................ 7
Technical data ........................ 7
Currentness of this manual ........... 7
1
z
5
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 carried out on your motorcycle will
be documented in Chapter 11.
Proof of the maintenance work
performed is a prerequisite for
generous treatment of 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
z
General instructions
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.
Special information on op-
erating 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 equipment
The motorcycles are assembled complete with
all the BMW optional extras originally ordered.
OA Optional accessories
BMW 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
Electronic suspension
adjustment.
TPC Tire Pressure Control.
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). 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 is equipped with
options or accessories not described in this Rider's Manual,
then this equipment is described
in a separate operating manual.
Technical data
All dimensions, weights and outputs in the Rider's Manual refer
to the Deutsche Institut für Normung e. V. (DIN) and comply with
its tolerance regulations. Versions for individual countries may
differ.
Currentness of this manual
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. In addition,
BMW Motorrad cannot guarantee
the total absence of errors. We
hope you will appreciate that no
claims can be entertained on the
basis of the data, illustrations or
descriptions in this manual.
1
z
7
General instructions
1
z
8
General instructions
Overviews
General view, left side ................ 11
General view, right side . . ............ 13
Underneath seat ..................... 15
Left handlebar fitting ................. 16
Handlebar fitting, right . . . ............ 17
Instrument cluster ................... 18
Headlight ............................ 19
2
9
z
Overviews
2
10
z
Overviews
General view, left side
1 Headlight range adjustment
(below instrument cluster)
( 72)
2 Brake-fluid reservoir, front
( 109)
3 Radio operating unit (OE),
see radio operating manual
4 Onboard socket ( 96)
5 Onboard socket (OE)
6 Adjustment of rear damping
( 68)
7 Oil sight glass ( 105)
8 Engine oil fill location
( 106)
2
11
z
Overviews
2
12
z
Overviews
General view, right side
1 Seat lock ( 72)
2 Passenger seat heater,
under passenger seat
( 60)
3 Tank rucksack mount
4 Fuel filler opening ( 86)
5 Clutch fluid reservoir
6 Windshield ( 62)
7 Storage or radio compart-
ment ( 65)
OE
2
13
z
Overviews
2
14
z
Overviews
Underneath seat
1 Driver's seat height adjust-
ment ( 62)
2 Battery ( 130)
3 Brake-fluid reservoir, rear
( 110)
4 Adjuster for spring preload,
rear ( 67)
5 Onboard toolkit ( 104)
6 Type plate
7 Helmet holder ( 75)
8 Table of tire pressures
9 Payload information
2
15
z
Overviews
Left handlebar fitting
2
1 Cruise-control system
16
z
( 63)
2 Operating ESA
3 Radio operating unit (OE)
4 Operating ASC
5 Windshield adjustment
( 62)
6 Horn
7 Flashing turn indicators,
left ( 56), Hazard warning flashers ( 57)
Overviews
8 High-beam headlight and
headlight flasher ( 55)
OE
OE
OE
( 69)
( 61)
Handlebar fitting, right
1 Operation of onboard com-
2 Emergency ON/OFF switch
3 Starter button ( 80)
4 Heated hand grips
5 Flashing turn indicators,
6 Turn indicators off ( 57),
7 Driver's seat heater
OE
puter
( 58)
( 59)
right ( 56), Hazard warning flashers ( 57)
Hazard warning flashers off
( 58)
( 59)
( 51)
OE
OE
2
17
z
Overviews
Instrument cluster
2
1 Speedometer
2 Indicator lights ( 22)
18
3 Multifunction display
( 22)
4 Tachometer
5 Anti-theft alarm indicator
light (OE)
6 Setting clock ( 48)
Adjusting dimming ( 50)
7 Selecting odometer ( 48)
z
Resetting tripmeter ( 49)
Overviews
8 Sensor for instrument light-
ing
The instrument-cluster
lighting has automatic day
and night switchover.
Headlight
1 High-beam headlight
2 Low-beam headlight
3 Side lights
2
19
z
Overviews
2
20
z
Overviews
Status indicators
Standard displays .................... 22
Displays with onboard comput-
erOE................................. 23
Displays with radioOE................ 24
Displays with Tire Pressure Control
TPCOE.............................. 24
Displays with seat heaterOE.......... 25
Indicator light with cruise-control sys-
temOE............................... 25
Standard warning indicators ......... 25
Warning indicators of onboard com-
puterOE.............................. 30
ABS warning indicators . . ............ 32
ASC warning indicatorsOE........... 35
TPC warning indicatorsOE........... 37
Anti-theft alarm warning indica-
torsOE............................... 42
3
21
z
Status indicators
Standard displays
3
Multifunction display
22
1 Fuel capacity ( 22)
2 Gear indicator ( 22)
3 Engine temperature ( 22)
4 Clock ( 48)
z
Status indicators
5 Odometer
6 Trip meter ( 48)
Indicator lights
1 Flashing turn indicators, left
2 High-beam headlight
3 Idling
4 Flashing turn indicators,
right
Fuel capacity
The vertical bar under the
gas pump symbol indicates
the remaining fuel quantity.
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' indicator light also
lights up.
Engine temperature
The vertical bar under the
temperature symbol shows
the engine temperature level.
Service display
If the time remaining until the
next service lies within a month,
the service date is briefly displayed following the pre-ride
check. The month and year are
shown with the
tering; in this example the display
means "March 2007".
If the motorcycle is driven long
distances annually, it is possible
that earlier service is required. If
the odometer reading for the earlier service lies within 600 miles
(1,000 km), the remaining miles
(kilometers) are counted down
in 60-mile (100-km) steps and
briefly displayed following the
pre-ride check.
SERVICE let-
If the service interval has been
exceeded, the general warning
light also lights up yellow in addition to the date or mileage display. The Service lettering is displayed continuously.
If the service display already
more than one month before the service date, or if the
Service lettering does not stop
after the service date is exceeded, then the date stored in the
instrument cluster must be set.
This situation can occur if the
battery has been disconnected
for a longer time.
Consult a certified workshop,
preferably an authorized BMW
Motorrad retailer, for setting of
the date.
Displays with onboard
OE
OE
( 51)
computer
1 Onboard computer display
area
2 The tripmeters are shown
alternately with the odometer.
3
23
z
Status indicators
Displays with radio
3
24
OE
Displays with Tire
Pressure Control
OE
TPC
Motorcycles without
onboard computer
Motorcycles with onboard
computer
1 Audio system display area
z
Status indicators
1 Tire pressures as addi-
tional value of tripmeter
( 54)
1 Tire pressures as additional
value of onboard comput-
OE
er
( 54)
OE
Displays with seat
heater
OE
Indicator light with
cruise-control
system
OE
Standard warning indicators
Display
3
25
1 Display of activated heating
levels
OE
( 59)
1 Indicator light of cruise-con-
trol system
Warnings are indicated with the
general warning light 1 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 several warnings are active,
all corresponding warning lights
and warning symbols are displayed. The general warning light
is shown in accordance with the
most urgent warning.
z
Status indicators
The possible warnings are listed
on the next page.
3
26
z
Status indicators
Overview of warning indicators
Meaning
Lights up yellow EWS ! appears on
the display.
Lights up yellow Flashes Fuel down to reserve ( 28)
Electronic immobilizer is active ( 28)
3
27
Lights up yellow Is indicated Engine in emergency-operation mode
Flashes red Is indicated
Lights up red Is indicated
Lights up yellow Is indicated
Is indicated
Lights up yellow Is indicated
( 28)
Engine oil pressure insufficient ( 28)
Battery charge current insufficient
( 29)
Rear bulb defective ( 29)
Front bulb defective ( 30)
Bulbs defective ( 30)
z
Status indicators
Electronic immobilizer is
active
3
28
General warning light shows
yellow.
EWS ! appears on the display.
The key being used is not authorized for starting, or communication between the key and engine
electronics is disrupted.
Remove other motorcycle keys
from the ignition key ring.
Use the reserve key.
Have the defective key replaced, preferably by an authorized BMW Motorrad retailer.
z
Status indicators
Fuel down to reserve
General warning light shows
yellow.
Fuel reserve symbol flashes.
A fuel shortage can lead to
misfiring and to the engine
dying unexpectedly. Misfiring can
damage the catalytic converter,
and the engine dying unexpected
can lead to accidents.
Do not drive until the fuel tank is
completely empty.
At the most, the fuel tank still
contains the reserve fuel quantity.
Reserve fuel quantity
≥1.1 gal (≥4l)
Refueling ( 86)
Engine in emergencyoperation mode
General warning light shows
yellow.
Engine symbol appears on
the display.
The engine is in the emer-
gency operating mode. Only reduced engine performance
may be available, which can lead
to danger driving situations, es-
pecially during passing maneuvers.
Adapt your driving style to
the possibly reduced engine
performance.
The engine control unit has diagnosed a fault. In exceptional
cases, the engine stops and can
no longer be started. Otherwise,
the engine runs in the emergency operating mode.
Continued driving is possible,
however the accustomed engine performance may not be
available.
Have the malfunction corrected
as soon as possible by a specialized workshop, preferably
an authorized BMW Motorrad
retailer.
Engine oil pressure
insufficient
General warning light flashes red.
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