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BMW R1200GS

LC wethead201420152017
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BMW R1200GS LC wethead — 2014
Image: BMW Group PressClub Global — BMW Motorrad Press Kit

Vitals

Wet weight
238 kg
Seat height
850 / 870 mm
Fuel capacity
20 L
Real world range
300364 km
Front tyre
120/70 R19
Rear tyre
170/60 R17
Tyre pressures
2.5 / 2.9 bar solo
Payload capacity
212 kg
TerrainTarmacGravel — easyGravel — technical

Field repair

Fuse box
Underneath the seat
Fuses
3
OBD port
Diagnostic socket, accessed by removing the battery cover (behind battery cover area) · BMW proprietary via GS-911 / K+DCAN or ENET
Battery access
AGM battery located under the seat, accessed after removing seat and battery cover

Side-stand switch bypass (temporary field workaround)

  1. 01Locate the side-stand switch wiring connector (typically under the left side of the seat/fairing, following the wires from the side stand).
  2. 02Identify the two switch wires (commonly white and red on this platform, but verify with a wiring diagram for your exact VIN).
  3. 03Disconnect the switch connector and join the two wires directly together (twist and insulate, or use a bypass connector).
  4. 04This permanently signals 'side stand up' to the DME, defeating the stall-prevention interlock — use only as an emergency measure to get the bike running, and have the switch properly replaced at a dealer as soon as possible.

Data sheet

Dimensions & weights

Wet weight
238 kg
Seat height
850 / 870 mm
Suspension travel
190 / 200 mm
Payload capacity
212 kg

Engine & drivetrain

Engine
1170 cc · Boxer twin
Cooling
Liquid cooled
Output
125 hp · 125 Nm
Transmission
6-speed
Final drive
Shaft
Fuelling
Electronic fuel injection

Fuel & range

Fuel capacity
20 L
Real world range
300364 km

Electronics & rider aids

Ride modes
Rain/Road/Dynamic/Enduro
Cruise control
Yes
Traction control
Yes · defeatable
ABS
Yes · fully defeatable
Heated grips
No
Heated seat
No

Service intervals

Service interval
10,000 km
Valve check
20,000 km

Protection

Bash plate
None
Radiator guard
No
Oil cooler guard
No
Hand guards
No

Consumables & service specs

Every value carries its source.

Tyres

Front
120/70 R19BMW OM R1200GS 2014 · official
Rear
170/60 R17BMW OM R1200GS 2014 · official

Tyre pressures

Front — solo
2.5 barTyre cold; BMW does not publish a separate solo pressure — this is the single stated front pressureBMW OM R1200GS 2014 · official
Rear — solo
2.9 barTyre cold; BMW does not publish a separate solo pressure — this is the single stated rear pressureBMW OM R1200GS 2014 · official

Engine oil

Viscosity
SAE 5W-40API SL / JASO MA2; BMW recommends BMW Motorrad ADVANTEC Ultimate oil; molybdenum-based additives not permitted (coated engine components)BMW OM R1200GS 2014 · official
Capacity
4.0 lMax, with filter change; MIN-to-MAX top-up difference approx. 0.95 lBMW OM R1200GS 2014 · official

Brakes

Fluid type
DOT 4Front and rearBMW OM R1200GS 2014 · official

Final drive

Shaft oil grade
Shaft drive with bevel gears (cardan), single-sided BMW EVO Paralever swingarm, gear ratio 2.91 (32/11 teeth)BMW OM R1200GS 2017 · official
Shaft oil capacity
180 ml180 ml for oil change on 2010+ wethead-era final drives (fill via dedicated fill hole, not speed sensor hole); community-sourced corroborationADVrider final drive capacity thread

Spark plugs

Type
NGK LMAR8D-JBMW OM R1200GS 2014 · official
Gap
0.8 mm0.8±0.1 mm when new; 1.0 mm wear limitBMW OM R1200GS 2014 · official
Quantity
2One per cylinder, boxer twinBMW OM R1200GS 2014 · official

Battery

Type
AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat), 12V 12Ah maintenance-freeBMW OM R1200GS 2014 · official

Fuel

Minimum octane
91 RON / 87 AKI (regular unleaded, power/consumption restricted); 95 RON / 89 AKI recommended (premium unleaded)BMW OM R1200GS 2014 · official
Ethanol tolerance
Max. 10% ethanol (E10)E85/Flex Fuel not permittedBMW OM R1200GS 2014 · official

What breaks first and where.

01

Cam chain tensioner (left-side) wear / oil leak

CatastrophicOccasional

The left-side camshaft timing chain tensioner spring can weaken over time, and the tensioner assembly is a documented leak/rattle point on early wethead engines. Separately, some early-production 2014 engines have experienced complete cam chain failure at low mileage (reported case: right-side cam chain snapped at 7,240 miles, locking the engine).

Symptoms

  • Oil leak from left engine casing
  • Rattling noise (~2 sec) on cold start
  • In severe cases: sudden engine lock-up, no warning

Field repairableNo — Minor tensioner leaks can be addressed by retightening/replacing the tensioner and washer gasket (BMW part 07 11 9 963 342) with basic tools; catastrophic chain failure requires an engine rebuild/replacement and is not field-repairable.

ADVrider Cam Chain 2014
02

Cam chain tensioner spring wear / leak (left side)

ModerateCommon

Documented tensioner spring wear (shortened ~10mm after ~90,000km) causing intermittent oil leaks and cold-start rattle from the left side of the engine. Chain tension is still maintained hydraulically by oil pressure even as the spring weakens, so this is a lower-severity variant of the tensioner issue distinct from the catastrophic failure case.

Symptoms

  • Oil leak from left-side engine casing
  • Rattle/clack for ~2 seconds on cold start, especially with old oil

Typical failure point90,000 km

Field repairableYes — Tighten tensioner with a 15mm ring spanner; replace washer gasket (BMW P/N 07 11 9 963 342) each time the component is removed; full tensioner/spring replacement available (spring not sold separately).

PistonJunky Cam Chain Tensioner
03

Transmission output shaft seal leak (oil onto rear tyre)

CatastrophicRare

On certain 2012-2013 production R1200GS units, transmission oil pressure spikes during load-cycle shifts can push the output shaft sealing ring out of its seat, allowing gearbox oil to leak onto the rear tyre and reduce traction. BMW issued two successive recalls (an oil restrictor fix in early 2013, followed by a retention bracket fix in mid-2014 after the restrictor proved insufficient).

Symptoms

  • Oil leak at transmission output/driveshaft area
  • Oil visible on rear tyre
  • Reduced rear-wheel traction

Field repairableNo

Asphalt & Rubber 2013 Recall
04

Side-stand switch water ingress causing stall/no-start

SeriousOccasional

A production sealing fault on the side-stand switch allowed water ingress on certain 2013-model-year units built before September 20, 2013, which could cause the switch to malfunction and the engine to shut down while riding (or fail to start). Subject to a formal NHTSA recall (14V-065) covering R1200GS and several other BMW models.

Symptoms

  • Engine will not start (thinks side stand is down)
  • Engine stalls unexpectedly while riding

Field repairableYes — Dealer replaces the side-stand switch under recall free of charge; as a temporary field workaround, some owners bridge/bypass the switch wiring, but this defeats a safety interlock and is not an official BMW-sanctioned repair.

NHTSA Recall 14V-065 · official
05

Fuel level strip (sender) failure / erratic fuel gauge

ModerateCommon

The resistive fuel-level strip sender in the tank can fail or give erratic readings — showing empty when full, full when empty, or drifting inaccurately over the course of a tank. Long documented across R1200GS generations, frequently attributed anecdotally to US ethanol-blended fuel attacking the strip, though this exact causal link is not confirmed in an official BMW source.

Symptoms

  • Fuel gauge reads empty when tank is full, or vice versa
  • Erratic/inconsistent range and fuel-level readings
  • BMW 'FUEL' warning triggers incorrectly

Field repairableNo — Replacement fuel strip and recalibration typically requires a GS-911/HEX diagnostic tool; not a simple roadside field repair.

R1200GS.info Fuel Strip