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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        Page 6 of 104
11
4
General information and controls
391256784
1011
R 1150 GS1Suspension strut,
adjustment, front (
b50)
2 Oil level sight glass, 
engine (
b31)
3 Engine oil filler (
b31)
4 Reservoir for clutch fluid 
(
b45)
5 Power socket, 12 VOA
Provision for connecting 
additional equipment – max. 
load 5 A
OAOptional accessories
6Suspension strut,
adjustment, rear (
b51)
7 Lifting handle
8 Suspension strut, adjusting 
shock absorber (
b52)
9 Dualseat lock (
b 16-18)
10 Primary spark plug, left 
11 Secondary spark plug, left 
( ) Figure in bracketsbpage number for 
description
General view, left side
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        Page 11 of 104
111
9
General information and controls
1Telltale light, left turn 
indicator repeater  green 
s 
2 Warning light, battery 
charge current  red 
r 
3 Warning light, fuel tank 
content approx. 4 litres 
(0.9 gal) orange  
m (b33)
4 Telltale light, neutral  green 
k (b69)
5 Warning light,
ABS 
l red  OE
OEOptional extra
6Warning light, engine oil 
pressure  red 
p  
7Telltale light, right turn 
indicator repeater  green 
t 
8 Warning light, general
red  
e (b 84-89)
9 Telltale light, high (main) 
beam blue 
q 
( ) Figures in brackets bpage number 
for description
*
n depending on national-market 
specification
Telltale and warning lights
124637
9
5*
8
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        Page 16 of 104
11
14
General information and controls
1
23
4
5
d Warning:
To prevent air from entering 
the clutch system: 
 do not turn the fitting on the 
handlebar.
 do not turn the handlebars 
in the clamping blocks.
1 Choke lever (increased 
engine speed) (
b71)
2 Hazard warning lights 
switch (
b12) 3
Headlight switch
FHigh (main) beam
GLow (dipped) beam
FHeadlight flasher
4 Horn button
5 Left turn indicator switch
Press
–Turn indicators flash
To switch off:
 Press turn-indicator 
cancel switch 9
Left handlebar fitting
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        Page 31 of 104
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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        Page 32 of 104

2
30
Safety check
Engine oil
Checking oil levelCheck the oil level at regular 
intervals.
Always check the oil level when 
the engine is at operating tem-
perature, because the differ-
ence between the oil level 
indicated when the engine is at 
operating temperature and the 
oil level indicated when the 
engine is very cold due to 
extremely low outdoor temper-
atures (-10 °C/14 °F) can be as 
much as 10 mm (0.393 in). 
After switching off the engine at 
operating temperature, wait at 
least 5 minutes for the oil to 
drain back into the sump.Checking the oil level after the 
engine has been run only briefly 
or when it is not properly warm 
will falsify the reading and could 
lead to the engine being oper-
ated with the wrong quantity of 
oil, because cold oil is viscous 
and takes longer to drain back 
into the sump. At extremely low 
outdoor temperatures (-10 °C/ 
14 °F), this can take as long as 
12 hours.
e 
Attention:
To avoid damage to the engine: 
– Never exceed the maximum  oil level. 
– Always keep the oil level  above the minimum mark.
Always check the oil level with 
the motorcycle upright.
 Check the oil level with the  engine at its regular operating 
temperature
 Check the oil level after the  engine has been stopped for 
at least 5 minutes
 Make sure that the motorcy-
cle is upright
– Make sure the ground is level and firm
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2
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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        Page 34 of 104
2
32
Safety check
Fuel
Refuelling
d Warning:
Fuel is flammable and explo-
sive. Do not smoke. Never 
bring a naked flame near the 
fuel tank.
The fuel expands when hot 
(for instance if the fuel tank is 
in the sun). For this reason, 
only fill as far as the lower 
edge of the filler neck.
e  Attention:
Leaded fuel will destroy the cat-
alytic converter.
Do not run the fuel tank dry or 
you may damage the engine or 
the catalytic converter.
Wipe off plastic parts immedi-
ately if they are wetted with fuel.
 Place motorcycle on centre  stand
– Make sure the ground is level  and firm.
 Open fuel filler cap
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