Page 4 of 104

i
2
Introduction
12
General information and 
controls
General view, left side
R 1150 GS ............................ 4
General view, right side
R 1150 GS ............................ 5
General view, left side
R 1150 GS Adventure ........... 6
General view, right side
R 1150 GS Adventure ........... 7
Cockpit ................................. 8
Telltale and warning lights ..... 9
Ignition switch and steering 
lock ................................ 10-11
Hazard warning lights .......... 12
Power socket ...................... 13
Left handlebar fitting ........... 14
Right handlebar fitting ......... 15
Dualseat R 1150 GS  ..... 16-18
Seat 
R 1150 GS Adventure .... 19-20
System case .................. 21-23
Aluminium case .............. 24-26
Adjusting the windscreen .... 27Safety check
Checklist ........................ 28-29
Engine oil ....................... 30-31
Fuel ................................ 32-33
Handlebar levers ............ 34-35
Brake system - general .. 36-37
Brake system - without 
BMW Integral ABS ......... 38-40
Brake system - with 
BMW Integral ABS ......... 41-44
Clutch ................................. 45
Lights ............................. 46-49
Suspension spring 
preload .......................... 50-51
Shock absorber .................. 52
Wheels ........................... 53-55
Accessories and tyres......... 56
Accessories and loads ... 56-57
Contents
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2
29
Safety check
Checklist
For this reason, check the 
details in the following sections 
before you start the journey: 
– Fuel level
– Positions of the handlebar-lever fittings
–Brakes
– Brake fluid level 
– Clutch fluid level 
– Warning lights and telltale  lights
–Lights
– Shock absorber settings and  spring preload
– Wheel rim and tyre condition, 
tread depth and tyre 
pressures
– Load, gross weight  – Check regularly (every time 
you stop for fuel),
on the basis of the following 
section:
– Engine oil level
(every second/third stop for 
fuel):
– brake pads
If you encounter any problems 
or difficulties, it is always best to 
contact your authorised BMW 
motorcycle dealer. He will pro-
vide the necessary advice and 
assistance.
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31
Safety check
1
MAXMIN2
 Check the oil level at the sight  glass:
MAX Top edge 
of marking ring
MIN Bottom edge 
of marking ring
– The difference between the 
two marks is approx. 0.5 litre 
(0.88 pint)
 If necessary, remove oil filler  plug 2 and top up the engine 
oil through engine oil filler 1.
 Reinstall oil filler plug 2e Attention:
Warning light, engine oil pres-
sure  red
p (b 9) indicates no 
(or very little) oil pressure in 
the lube-oil system; this light 
m u s t  n o t  b e  r e g a r d e d  a s  a n  o i l  
level check. Oil pressure 
builds up after 1-2 seconds 
and the warning light goes out 
– the  redengine oil pressure 
warning light 
p should remain 
off while the engine is running.
Engine oil
BMW recommends Castrol
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73
Starting – Riding – Parking
5
Engine oil pressureWarning light5 goes out above 
idle speed.
e  Attention:
If warning light 5 comes on dur-
ing the journey, take the follow-
ing action as soon as traffic 
conditions permit: 
Declutch
 Operate the kill switch
 Bring the motorcycle safely to  a halt
 Check engine oil level 
(b 31)
e  Attention:
If the warning light comes on 
even though the oil level is cor-
rect, you must consult a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably an 
authorised 
BMW motorcycle dealer.
Warning lights
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98
Index
i
AAnti-lock braking systemnotes,  88,  89
switching off,  86
BBMW Integral ABS,  60Changing brake fluid,  41
Checking brake fluid level,  41
CCatalytic convertersafety instructions,  61
Checking brake fluid level,  38
Checking brake pads,  37
Checking front brake fluid  level,  39,  43
Checking rear brake fluid 
level,  40,  44
Checking the brake system,  36
Choke cold start lever,  14
Choke lever
position,  14
Clock (RID),  75
DDipswitch,  14
Dualseat lock,  4
EEngine oil,  31 level check,  4
oil filler,  31 Engine oil filler,  4
Engine oil temperature indicator 
(RID),  74
Engine-oil pressure
telltale light,  9
FFront brakebrake fluid reservoir,  5
Front spring preload,  50
Fuel octane number,  33
Fuel cap,  5
Fuel gauge (RID),  74
Fuel tank capacity,  33
Fuse box,  5
GGear shifts,  76,  77
General view left side,  6
Right side,  5,  7
General view, left side,  4
HHandlebar fitting, left,  14
Handlebar fitting, right,  15
Handlebar levers
Clutch lever,  34
handbrake,  35
Hazard warning lights,  12
Heated handlebar grips,  12,  15
Helmet holder,  5
A - H
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99
Index
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High/low (dipped) headlight switch,  14
Horn,  14
Hydraulic fluid clutch,  45
IIgnition switch and steering lock,  8
function,  10
Instrumente Cockpit,  8
KKatalysator,  61
Key positions,  11
Kill switch,  15
LLights
general instructions,  46,  47
headlight beam throw,  46,  47
MMain (centre) stand,  64,  65
Motorcycle equipment,  95
NNeutral,  69
OOctane number, fuel,  33
Odometer,  8
Oil filler,  4,  31 Oil level
checking,  31
engine oil pressure,  9
Oil level sight glass,  4
PPartially integral brakes,  82
Power socket,  4,  13
RRear brake fluid reservoir,  5
Refuelling,  32,  33
Residual braking function,  42,  83
Revolution counter,  8
Rider Information Display Fuel gauge,  75
Gear indicator,  75
Rider Information Display (RID),  8
clock,  75
engine oil temperature,  74
Rider’s equipment,  94
Riding,  76,  77
Risk of fire,  61
Risk of overheating,  61,  70
Risk of poisoning,  60
Running in new brake pads,  67
Running in new tyres,  67
SSafety checklist,  28
Safety instructions
braking,  78,  79
catalytic converter,  61
general,  60
H - S
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100
Index
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Seat,  19,  20
Seat, single,  18
Service worldwide,  92
Shock,  52
Shock-absorber adjustment,  52
Side stand,  62,  63
Speedometer,  8
Spokes,  53
Spring preload, rear,  51
Spring strut,  4
Starter button,  15
Switching on the ignition,  68
TTank capacity,  33
Telltale and warning lightsABS check,  9
battery charge current,  9,  73
engine oil pressure,  9
fuel level,  9
general,  9
high-beam headlight,  9
neutral,  9
turn indicator repeater, left,  9
turn indicator repeater, right,  9
Telltale lights
ABS check,  9
Tool box,  18
Toolkit,  5
Topcase,  26
Trip meter,  8
Turn indicator switch left,  14
right,  15 Turn indicators
repeaters,  9
Turn-indicator cancel switch,  15
Type plate,  5
Tyre pressures,  54
Tyre tread,  55
VValve caps,  54
WWarning lights ABS warning light,  72
Battery charge current,  72
Engine oil pressure,  73
Low fuel level,  72
Warning light, general,  72
Wheel rims,  53
Windscreen, adjusting,  27
S - Z
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