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BMW Motorrad
The Ultimate RidingMachine
Rider's Manual
K 1200 GT
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Motorcycle data/dealership detailsMotorcycle dataModel
Vehicle identification number
Colour code
Date of first registration
Registration number
Dealership detailsPerson to contact in Service depart-
ment
Ms/Mr
Phone number
Dealership address/phone number
(company stamp)
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Welcome to BMWWe congratulate you on your
choice of a motorcycle from
BMW and welcome you to the
community of BMW riders.
Familiarise yourself with your
new motorcycle so that you
can ride it safely and confid-
ently 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 inform-
ation on maintenance and
care to help you maintain your
motorcycle's reliability and
safety, as well as its value.
If you have questions con-
cerning your motorcycle, yourauthorised BMW Motorrad
dealer will gladly provide ad-
vice and assistance.
We hope that you will enjoy
riding your BMW and that all
your journeys will be pleasant
and safe.
BMW Motorrad.
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Table of ContentsYou can also consult the in-
dex at the end of this Rider's
Manual if you want to find a
particular topic or item of in-
formation.
1 General instructions . . . 5
Overview . ................ 6
Abbreviations and
symbols . . . ............... 6
Equipment ............... 7
Technical data ........... 7
Currency . . ............... 7
2 General views . . . . . .... 9
General view, left side . . . 11
General view, right
side ..................... 13
Underneath the seat . . . . . 15
Handlebar fitting, left . . . . . 16
Handlebar fitting, right . . . 17
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . 18
Headlight . .............. 19 3 Status indicators . . . . . 21
Multifunction display . . . . . 22
Warning and telltale
lights . . . . .
.............. 23
ABS warning light . . . . . . . 23
Telltale light, cruise
control
OE
................ 23
Function indicators . . . . . . 23
Warnings, general . . . . . . . 24
Warnings issued by the
tyre pressure monitoring
system (RDC)
OE
......... 32
ABS warnings . .......... 36
ASC warnings
OE
......... 38
4 Operation . . . .......... 41
Ignition switch and
steering lock . . .......... 43
Electronic immobiliser . . . 44
Hazard warning
flashers . . . .............. 45
Odometer and
tripmeters . .............. 46
Multifunction display . . . . . 47 Clock . . . . .
.............. 47
Tyre pressure control
RDC
OE
.................. 48
Residual range .......... 49
On-board computer
OE
... 49
Cruise-control
system
OE
............... 53
Emergency off switch (kill
switch) . . . . .............. 55
Grip heatingOE
........... 56
Seat heatingOE
.......... 57
Clutch . . . . .............. 58
Brakes . . . . .............. 59
Handlebars .............. 59
Lights . . . . . .............. 60
Headlight . .............. 61
Turn indicators .......... 62
Stowage compartment . . . 63
Automatic Stability Control
ASC
OE
.................. 64
Front and rear seats . . . . . 65
Helmet holder . .......... 68
Mirrors . . . . .............. 68
Windscreen . . . .......... 69
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Spring preload.......... 69
Shock absorbers . . . . . . . . 70
Electronic Suspension
Adjustment ESA
OE
....... 71
Tyres . . ................. 73
5 Riding . . . . . . .......... 75
Safety instructions . . . . . . . 76
Checklist . . . . . . .......... 78
Starting ................. 78
Running in . . . . .......... 81
Parking your
motorcycle . . . . .......... 82
Refuelling . . . . . .......... 83
Tyre pressure control
RDC
OE
.................. 85
Brake system, general . . . 85
Brake system with BMW
Motorrad Integral ABS . . . 86
Electronic engine
management with BMW
Motorrad ASC
OE
......... 90
6 Accessories .......... 93
General instructions . . . . . 94
Power socket . .......... 94
Luggage . . . . . . .......... 95 Case . . .
................. 95
Topcase
OA
.............. 98
7 Maintenance . . . ..... 101
General instructions . . . . 102
Toolkit . ................ 102
Engine oil . . . . . ......... 103
Brake system,
general ................ 105
Brake pads . . . . ......... 105
Brake fluid . . . . ......... 107
Clutch . ................ 109
Tyres . . ................ 109
Rims . . . ................ 110
Wheels . ................ 110
Front-wheel stand . ..... 117
Bulbs . . ................ 119
Jump start . . . . ......... 127
Battery . ................ 128
8 Care . ................ 133
Care products . ......... 134
Washing motorcycle . . . . 134
Cleaning easily damaged
components . . . ......... 135
Paint care . . . . . ......... 136 Protective wax
coating
................ 136
Laying up the
motorcycle . . . . ......... 136
Restoring motorcycle to
use .................... 137
9 Technical data . . ..... 139
Troubleshooting
chart . . . ................ 140
Threaded fasteners ..... 141
Engine . ................ 142
Riding specifications . . . . 145
Clutch . ................ 145
Transmission . . ......... 145
Final drive . . . . . ......... 147
Running gear . . ......... 147
Brakes . ................ 148
Wheels and tyres . . ..... 148
Electrics . . . . . . ......... 149
Frame . . ................ 151
Dimensions . . . ......... 151
Weights ................ 152
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10 Service............. 153
BMW Motorrad
service . . . . ............. 154
BMW Motorrad service
quality . . . . ............. 154
BMW Motorrad Service
Card - On-the-spot
breakdown
assistance ............. 155
BMW Motorrad service
network . . . ............. 155
Maintenance work . . . . . . 155
Maintenance
schedules . ............. 156
Confirmation of
maintenance work . . . . . . 157
Confirmation of
service . . . . ............. 162
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General instructions
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Abbreviations and symbols . . . . . . 6
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Currency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
15zGeneral instructions
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OverviewChapter 2 of this Rider's
Manual will provide you with
an initial overview of your
motorcycle. All maintenance
and servicing work on the
motorcycle is documented in
Chapter 10. This record of
the maintenance work you
have had performed on your
motorcycle is a precondition
for generous treatment of
goodwill claims.
When the time comes to sell
your BMW, please remem-
ber to hand over this Rider's
Manual; it is an important part
of the motorcycle.Abbreviations and
symbols
Indicates warnings that
you must comply with for
reasons of your safety and the
safety of others, and to pro- tect your motorcycle against
damage.
Specific instructions on
how to operate, control,
adjust or look after items of
equipment on the motorcycle.
Indicates the end of an
item of information.
Instruction.
Result of an activity.
Reference to a page
with more detailed in-
formation.
Indicates the end of
a passage relating to
specific accessories or
items of equipment.
Tightening torque. Item of technical data.
OE Optional extra Your motorcycle was
assembled complete
with all the BMW
optional extras you
ordered.
OA Optional accessory You can obtain option-
al accessories through
your authorised BMW
Motorrad dealer; op-
tional accessories
have to be retrofitted
to the motorcycle.
EWS Electronic immobiliser
(Elektronische Weg-
fahrsicherung).
16zGeneral instructions