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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i
Introduction
34
Starting – Riding – Parking
Your first journey ........... 58-59
Important notes ............. 60-61
Side stand ..................... 62-63
Center stand ................. 64-65
Running in ..................... 66-67
Before you start ............. 68-69
Starting ......................... 70-71
Warning lights................ 72-73
Rider Information Display 
(RID) .............................. 74-75
Riding, gear change ...... 76-77
Brake system - general . 78-79
Brake system - 
with BMW Integral ABS . 80-87
BMW Integral ABS
Troubleshooting ............ 88-89Arrive safely!
Reliable operation ..........90-91
Service worldwide ............... 92
Protecting the environment . 93
BMW rider’s equipment ....... 94
BMW motorcycle 
accessories ......................... 95
Training means extra safety. 96
Concluding thoughts ........... 97
Contents
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8
General information and controls
132456
879
1Rider Information Display 
(RID) (
b74)
2 Rotary reset knob for trip 
meter
3 Speedometer
4 Odometer
5 Trip meter 6
Revolution counter (
b66)
7 Telltale and warning lights 
(
b9)
8 Switch for fog light
(GS Adventure only)
9 Ignition switch and steering 
lock (
b10)
( ) Figures in brackets bpage number 
for description
Cockpit
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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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11
General information and controls
Key positions
d Warning:
Never turn the key to OFF or 
I while riding the 
motorcycle!
ON Operating position,
ignition, lights and all 
electrical circuits 
switched on
R * Ignition and lights off, 
steering lock disengaged 
(handlebars can be turned 
freely to left or right)
* The key can be removed in these 
positions
 Turn the handlebars to full left lock.
e Attention:
Engage the steering lock with 
the handlebars in this position 
only.
OFF* Ignition and lights off,
steering locked
I**Parking light on,
steering locked
L Note:
Switch the parking light on 
only for limited periods. Note 
state of battery charge.
Ignition switch and steering lock
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12
General information and controls
Hazard warning lights
L Note:
You cannot activate the hazard 
warning flashers if the ignition is 
switched off.
Do not use the hazard warning 
flashers for longer than abso-
lutely necessary.
Note state of battery charge.
Switching on the hazard 
warning lights
 Switching on the ignition
– Hazard warning lights  switch 1 up  Operate hazard warning lights 
switch 1
– Hazard warning lights in oper- ation
– The left/right flashing turn  indicator repeater on the tell-
tale light panel (
b9) flashes
 Switch off the ignition
– The hazard warning lights  continue to operate
– The light in the hazard warn- ing flasher switch goes out
Switching off the hazard 
warning lights
 Operate hazard warning lights switch 1
– Hazard warning lights switch  off
– Left/right flashing turn indica- tor repeater on the telltale 
light panel (
b9) off
Hazard warning lights
1
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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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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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