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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