weight BMW MOTORRAD K 1200 GT 2006 Rider's Manual (in English)

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

ESA Electronic SuspensionAdjustment
Electronic Suspension
Adjustment.
DWA Anti-theft alarm (Diebs-
tahlwarnanlage)
ABS Anti-lock brake system
RDC Tyre pressure control
(ReifenDruck-Control)
ASC Automatic Stability Control.EquipmentWhen 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

indicators until the parking
lights are ON.Switching off parking
lightsSwitch the ignition on and
then off again.
Parking lights switched off.HeadlightAdjusting headlight for
driving on left/driving on
right
Commercially available
adhesive tape will dam-
age the plastic lens of the
light.
Consult a specialist work-
shop, preferably an author-
ised BMW Motorrad dealer, in
order to avoid damaging the
plastic lens of the light.
If the motorcycle is ridden in
a country where the oppos-
ite rule of the road applies, its asymmetric low-beam head-
light will tend to dazzle on-
coming traffic.
Have the headlight set
accordingly by a specialist
workshop, preferably an
authorised BMW Motorrad
dealer.
Headlight beam throw
and spring preloadHeadlight beam throw is gen-
erally kept constant when
spring preload is adjusted to
suit load.
Spring preload adjustment
might not suffice only if
the motorcycle is very
heavily loaded. Under these
circumstances, headlight
beam throw has to be
adjusted to suit the weight
carried by the motorcycle.
Consult a specialist
workshop, preferably an
authorised BMW Motorrad
dealer, if you are unsure
whether the headlight basic
setting is correct.
Headlight beam-throw
adjustment1 Adjuster for headlight
beam throw underneath
the instrument cluster
Spring preload adjustment
might not suffice if the motor-
cycle is very heavily loaded.
Moving the pivot lever adjusts
461zOperation

WindscreenAdjusting windscreenSwitch on the ignition.
Press the top section of
button1.
Windscreen higher
Press the bottom section of
button 1.
Windscreen lower
Spring preloadSpring preload and
weightIt is essential to set spring
preload to suit the load
carried by the motorcycle.
Increase spring preload when
the motorcycle is heavily
loaded and reduce spring
preload accordingly when the
motorcycle is lightly loaded.Adjusting spring preload
for rear wheel
Your motorcycle's hand-
ling will suffer if you do
not match the spring-preload
and damping-characteristic
settings.
Adjust the damping
characteristic to suit spring
preload. Adjusting spring preload
while the motorcycle is
being ridden can lead to acci-
dents.
Do not attempt to adjust
spring preload unless the
motorcycle is at a standstill.
The knob can be pulled
out and angled down for
easier accessibility.
Make sure the ground is
level and firm and place the
motorcycle on its stand.
If you want to increase
spring preload, turn knob 1
469zOperation

Safety instructionsRider's equipmentDo not ride without the cor-
rect clothing. Always wear:Helmet
Motorcycling jacket and
trousers
Gloves
Boots
This applies even to short
journeys, and to every sea-
son of the year. Your author-
ised BMW Motorrad dealer
will be glad to advise you on
the correct clothing for every
purpose.SpeedIf you ride at high speed, al-
ways bear in mind that vari-
ous boundary conditions can
adversely affect the handling
of your motorcycle: Mismatched settings of the
spring-strut and shock-
absorber system
Imbalanced load
Loose clothing
Insufficient tyre pressure
Poor tyre tread
Etc.
Correct loading
Overloading and imbal-
anced loads can ad-
versely affect the motorcycle's
handling.
Do not exceed the permiss-
ible gross weight and be sure
to comply with the instruc-
tions on loading.
Alcohol and drugs
Even small amounts of
alcohol or drugs will ad-
versely affect your percep-
tion and your ability to as-
sess situations and make de-
cisions, and slow down your reflexes. Medication can ex-
acerbate these effects.
Do not ride your motorcycle
after consuming alcohol,
drugs and/or medication.
Risk of poisoningExhaust fumes contain car-
bon monoxide, which is col-
ourless and odourless but
highly toxic.
Inhaling the exhaust
fumes therefore
represents a health hazard
and can even cause loss
of consciousness with fatal
consequences.
Do not inhale exhaust fumes.
Do not run the engine in an
enclosed space.
576zRiding

TyresNew tyres have a smooth
surface. This must be
roughened by riding in a
restrained manner at various
heel angles until the tyres
are run in. This running in
procedure is essential if the
tyres are to achieve maximum
grip.Tyres do not have their
full grip when new and
there is a risk of accidents at
extreme angles of heel.
Avoid extreme angles of
heel.Parking your
motorcyclePlace the motorcycle on
side stand
If the ground is soft or
uneven, there is no guar- antee that the motorcycle will
rest firmly on the stand.
Always check that the ground
under the stand is level and
firm.
Switch off the engine.
Pull the handbrake lever.
Hold the motorcycle upright
and balanced.
Use your left foot to extend
the side stand fully. The side stand is de-
signed to support only
the weight of the motorcycle.
Do not lean or sit on the mo-
torcycle with the side stand
extended.
Slowly lean the motorcycle
to the side until its weight
is taken by the stand and
dismount to the left. If the motorcycle is on
the side stand, the sur-
face of the ground will de-
termine whether it is better to turn the handlebars to the
left or right. However, the mo-
torcycle is more stable on a
level surface with the handle-
bars turned to the left than
with the handlebars turned to
the right.
On level ground, always turn
the handlebars to the left to
set the steering lock.
Turn the handlebars to full
left or right lock.
Check that the motorcycle
is standing firmly. On a gradient, the mo-
torcycle should always
face uphill; select 1st gear.
Lock the steering lock.
Remove the motorcycle
from side standUnlock the steering lock.
From the left, grip the
handlebars with both hands.
582zRiding

Pull the handbrake lever.
Swing your right leg over
the seat and lift the motor-
cycle to the upright position.
Hold the motorcycle upright
and balanced.An extended side stand
can catch on the ground
when the motorcycle is mov-
ing and lead to a fall.
Retract the side stand before
moving the motorcycle.
Sit on the motorcycle and
use your left foot to retract
the side stand.Place the motorcycle on
centre stand
If the ground is soft or
uneven, there is no guar-
antee that the motorcycle will
rest firmly on the stand.
Always check that the ground
under the stand is level and
firm. Switch off the engine.
Dismount and keep your left
hand on the left handlebar
grip.
With your right hand, grip
the rear grab handle or the
rear frame.
Place your right foot on the
pin of the centre stand, and
press the stand down un-
til its curved feet touch the
ground.
Place your full body weight
on the centre stand and at
the same time pull the mo-
torcycle to the rear.
Excessive movements
could cause the centre
stand to retract, and the mo-
torcycle would topple in con-
sequence.
Do not lean or sit on the mo-
torcycle with the centre stand
extended. Check that the motorcycle
is standing firmly.
Lock the steering lock.
Remove the motorcycle
from centre standUnlock the steering lock.
Place your left hand on the
left handlebar grip.
With your right hand, grip
the rear grab handle or the
rear frame.
Push the motorcycle for-
ward off the centre stand.
Check that the centre stand
has fully retracted.Refuelling
Fuel is highly flammable.
A naked flame close to
the fuel tank can cause a fire
or explosion.
Do not smoke. Never bring
a naked flame near the fuel
tank.
583zRiding

Take care when cornering.
When you apply the brakes
on a corner, the motorcycle's
weight and momentum take
over and even BMW Motor-
rad Integral ABS is unable to
counteract their effects.Electronic engine
management with
BMW Motorrad ASC
OE
How does BMW
Motorrad ASC work?The BMW Motorrad ASC
compares the speed of rota-
tion of the front wheel and the
rear wheel. The differential
is used to compute slip as
a measure of the reserves
of stability available at the
rear wheel. If slip exceeds
a certain limit the electronic
engine management system
intervenes, adapting engine
torque accordingly.
What is the design
baseline for BMW
Motorrad ASC?BMW Motorrad ASC is de-
signed as an assistant system
for the rider and for use on
public roads. The extent to
which the rider affects ASC
control can be considerable
(weight shifts when cornering,
items of luggage loose on the
motorcycle), especially when
style of riding takes rider and
machine close to the limits
imposed by physics. The sys-
tem is not optimised for spe-
cial requirements that apply
under extreme competitive
situations off-road or on the
track. You have the option
of deactivating the BMW Mo-
torrad ASC for these circum-
stances.
Special situationsIn accordance with the laws
of physics, the ability to ac-
celerate is restricted more
and more as the angle of heel
increases. Consequently,
there can be a perceptible
lag in acceleration out of very
tight bends.
The speeds of the front and
rear wheels are compared
as one means of detecting a
wheel's incipient tendency to
lock. If the system registers
implausible values for a
lengthy period the ASC
function is deactivated
for safety reasons and
an ASC fault message is
issued. Self-diagnosis has
to complete before fault
messages can be issued.
The BMW Motorrad ASC can
shut down automatically un-
590zRiding

switched off. In order to en-
sure that the drain on the on-
board power supply system is
minimised, the supply to the
power socket is cut off ap-
proximately 15 minutes after
the ignition is switched off,
and it is also temporarily in-
terrupted during the start pro-
cedure.Cable routingThe cables from the power
socket to the auxiliary device
must be routed in such a way
that they:Do not impede the rider
Do not restrict or obstruct
the steering angle and
handling characteristics
Cannot be trapped
Incorrectly routed cables
can impede the rider.
Route the cables as
described above.
LuggageCorrect loading
Overloading and imbal-
anced loads can ad-
versely affect the motorcycle's
handling.
Do not exceed the permiss-
ible gross weight and be sure
to comply with the instruc-
tions on loading.
The maximum speed recom-
mended for riding with loaded
cases is 180 km/h. If a top-
case (OA) is fitted, the max-
imum permissible speed is
180 km/h.
Set spring preload, damping
characteristic and tyre pres-
sures to suit total weight.
Make sure that the weight
is uniformly distributed
between right and left. Pack heavy items at the
bottom and toward the in-
board side.
Max. load in each case (left
and right): 10 kg.
Max. load in tank rucksack
5 kg.
CaseOpening casesTurn the key to the OPEN
position in the case lock.
The case is unlocked.
695zAccessories

Technical data
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
9139zTechnical data