2008 BMW MOTORRAD K 1200 R ABS

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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 Status indicators . . . . . 21
Multifunction display . . . . . 22
Warning and telltale
lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
ABS warning light
OE
..... 22
Function indicators . . . . . . 22
Warnings, general . . . . . . . 23
ABS warning
indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
4 Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Ignition switch and
steering lock . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Electronic immobiliser
(EWS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Hazard warning
flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Tripmaster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
On-board computerOE
... 43
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Emergency off switch (kill
switch) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Grip heating
OE
........... 47
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Turn indicators . . . . . . . . . . 50
Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Helmet holder . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Luggage loops . . . . . . . . . . 54
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . 55
Shock absorbers . . . . . . . . 56
Electronic Suspension
Adjustment ESA
OE
....... 57
Tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
5 Riding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Safety instructions . . . . . . . 62
Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Pulling away with BMW
Integral ABS
OE
.......... 67
Running in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Parking your
motorcycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Refuelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Brake system, general . . . 79
Brake system with BMW
Integral ABS
OE
.......... 79

DWA Anti-theft alarm (Diebs-tahlwarnanlage)
ABS Anti-lock brake systemEquipmentWhen you ordered your BMW
motorcycle, you chose vari-
ous items of custom equip-
ment. This Rider's Manual
describes optional extras (OE)
offered by BMW and selec-
ted optional accessories (OA).
This explains why the manual
may also contain descriptions
of equipment which you have
not ordered. Please note, too,
that your motorcycle might
not be exactly as illustrated
in this manual on account of
country-specific differences.
If your BMW was supplied
with equipment not described
in this Rider's Manual, you will
find these features described
in separate manuals.
Technical dataAll dimensions, weights and
power ratings stated in the
Rider's Manual are quoted
to the standards and comply
with the tolerance require-
ments of the Deutsche Institut
für Normung e.V. (DIN). Ver-
sions for individual countries
may differ.CurrencyThe high safety and quality
standards of BMW motor-
cycles are maintained by con-
stant development work on
designs, equipment and ac-
cessories. Because of this,
your motorcycle may differ
from the information supplied
in the Rider's Manual. Nor
can errors and omissions be
entirely ruled out. We hope
you will appreciate that no
claims can be entertained on the basis of the data, illustra-
tions or descriptions in this
manual.
17zGeneral instructions

General view, left side1Clutch-fluid reservoir
( 100)
2 Adjuster, spring preload,
rear ( 55)
3 Seat lock, beneath rear
light ( 51)
4 Rear shock absorber ad-
juster ( 56)
5 Power socket ( 84)
211zGeneral views

Status indicators
Multifunction display . .......... 22
Warning and telltale lights . . .... 22
ABS warning light
OE
........... 22
Function indicators . . . ......... 22
Warnings, general ............. 23
ABS warning indicators ........ 30
321zStatus indicators

Multifunction display1Clock
2 Panel for warnings
( 23)
3 Panel for the on-board
computer's status indic-
ators
4 Gear indicator ( 22)
5 Coolant temperature
readout ( 23)
6 Panel for ESA status in-
dicators ( 57)
7 Tripmaster display ( 41)
8 Fuel gauge ( 22)
Warning and telltale
lights1Telltale light, left turn in-
dicator
2 Telltale light, high-beam
headlight
3 Warning light, general
4 Telltale light, neutral
5 ABS warning light
6 Telltale light, right turn
indicator
ABS warning light
OE
The way in which the ABS
warning light indicates status
can differ in some countries.
Alternative for the ABS
warning light.
Function indicatorsFuel capacity
The horizontal bars be-
low the fuel-pump sym-
bol indicate the remaining
quantity of fuel.
Gear
Shows which gear is en-
gaged.
If no gear is engaged, the
gear indicator displays 0;
the 'neutral' telltale light also
lights up.
322zStatus indicators

Seek the advice of a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW Motor-
rad dealer.
Anti-theft alarm battery flat General warning light
lights up yellow.
Battery symbol appears
on the display, accom-
panied by the letters
DWA
.
The integral battery in the
anti-theft alarm has lost its
entire original capacity. There
is no assurance that the anti-
theft alarm will be operational
if the motorcycle's battery is
disconnected. Seek the advice of a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW Motor-
rad dealer.
ABS warning indicat-
orsMode of presentation
ABS warnings are indicated
by a combination of the
'General' warning light and
the ABS warning light. Both
warning lights can light up
continuously or flash at a rate
of one or four flashes per
second.
There are two country-
dependent versions of the
ABS warning light:
Country-dependent ver-
sion 1.
Country-dependent ver-
sion 2.
Country-dependent version
1 is used as the basis for the
description of the warnings in
this section.
330zStatus indicators

Warnings, overview
Mode of presentation Meaning
Lights up redBrake switch defective ( 32)
Flashes once per
second Pull-away test not completed ( 32)
Flashes four
times per second Self-diagnosis not completed ( 32)
Lights up red Lights upABS warning indicators defective
( 33)
Lights up red Flashes once per
second ABS function not available ( 33)
Lights up red Flashes four
times per second Residual braking function active
( 34)
Flashes red once
per second Flashes once per
secondBrake fluid level in wheel brake cir-
cuit too low ( 34)
Flashes red four
times per second Flashes four
times per secondABS fault ( 35)
331zStatus indicators

Brake switch defectiveGeneral warning light
lights up red.
There is a defect in
the brake system and
it could result in delayed
braking response and,
consequently, accidents.
Brake in good time as
delayed braking response can
be expected.
The brake switch is defective
or incorrectly adjusted. The
increase in pressure when the
lever is pulled or the pedal
depressed is the signal in-
dicating to the BMW Integral
ABS that the rider wants to
apply the brakes. There may
be an unusual response from
the brakes.
You can continue to ride.
Bear in mind, however, that
the brakes might respond in a manner to which you are
not accustomed.
Have the fault rectified as
soon as possible by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW Motor-
rad dealer.
Pull-away test not com-
pleted ABS warning light
flashes once per
second.
Without the assistance
of the ABS function, the
wheels could lock when the
brakes are applied hard, and
this could result in accidents.
Avoid hard braking if pos-
sible.
The ABS function is not avail-
able because the pull-away
test has not been completed.
You can continue to ride.
However, the ABS function is not available until the pull-
away test has completed.
If possible, do not use
emergency braking until
the pull-away test has been
completed.
Self-diagnosis not com-
pleted ABS warning light
flashes four times per
second.
Without the assistance
of the ABS function, the
wheels could lock when the
brakes are applied hard. You
have to apply considerably
more force to the brake
levers to brake without
servo-assisted brakes. The
changed braking response
can cause accidents.
Avoid hard braking if possible.
Apply brakes in good time as
increased effort is required.
332zStatus indicators