Data sheet
Dimensions & weights
- Wet weight
- 256 kg
- Seat height
- 890 / 910 mm
- Wheelbase
- 1511 mm
- Suspension travel
- 190 / 200 mm
- Payload capacity
- 219 kg
Engine & drivetrain
- Engine
- 1170 cc · Boxer twin
- Cooling
- Air/oil cooled
- Output
- 105 hp · 115 Nm
- Transmission
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Shaft
- Fuelling
- Electronic fuel injection
Fuel & range
- Fuel capacity
- 33 L
- Real world range
- 500600 km
Electronics & rider aids
- Ride modes
- Rain/Road
- Cruise control
- Yes
- ABS
- Yes · fully defeatable
- Heated grips
- No
- Heated seat
- No
Service intervals
- Service interval
- 10,000 km
- Valve check
- 10,000 km
Protection
- Bash plate
- None
- Radiator guard
- No
- Oil cooler guard
- No
- Hand guards
- Yes
Consumables & service specs
Every value carries its source.
Tyres
- Front
- 110/80 R19 M/C 59V TLBMW OM R1200GSA 2008 · official
- Rear
- 150/70 R17 M/C 69V TLBMW OM R1200GSA 2008 · official
Tyre pressures
- Front — solo
- 2.2 barOne-up, tyre coldBMW OM R1200GSA 2008 · official
- Rear — solo
- 2.5 barOne-up, tyre coldBMW OM R1200GSA 2008 · official
- Front — loaded
- 2.5 barTwo-up and/or with luggage, tyre coldBMW OM R1200GSA 2008 · official
- Rear — loaded
- 2.9 barTwo-up and/or with luggage, tyre coldBMW OM R1200GSA 2008 · official
Engine oil
- Viscosity
- SAE 20W-50API SF or higher, ACEA A2 or higher; BMW recommends not using synthetic oil during first 10,000 kmBMW OM R1200GSA 2008 · official
- Capacity
- 4.0 lMax, with filter change; top-up difference between MIN/MAX is max 0.5 lBMW OM R1200GSA 2008 · official
Brakes
- Fluid type
- DOT4BMW OM R1200GSA 2008 · official
Forks
- Oil viscosity
- SAE 10W hydraulic fork oilFrom official BMW repair manual data (6th edition, 03/2011) reproduced via third-party technical spec compilation; not independently confirmed in the rider's manual text extractedctoonari.fi tech data
- Oil capacity
- 650 mlPer fork leg; sourced from BMW repair manual data reproduced via third-party technical compilationctoonari.fi tech data
Final drive
- Shaft oil grade
- Shaft drive with bevel gears, 22 teeth; final drive ratio 32/11 = 2.91:1, BMW final drive p/n 33 11 7 726 889 (replacement is Gen 2 vented); shaft p/n 26 11 7 706 394; GSA 2008-09 produced Nov. 2006 to Sept. 2009Ratio and part numbers changed from earlier 2006-07 GSA (20 teeth, 2.82:1 ratio)ADVrider final drive guide
- Shaft oil capacity
- 180 ml180 ml for oil change (200 ml initial filling), applicable through the 2009 model year per ADVrider technical guide; BMW reduced this from an original 220 ml recommendationADVrider final drive capacity thread
Spark plugs
- Type
- Bosch YR5LDE or NGK DCPR 8 EKCPrimary and secondary plug positions use the same typeBMW OM R1200GSA 2008 · official
- Gap
- 0.8 mm±0.1 mm when new; 1 mm wear limitBMW OM R1200GSA 2008 · official
- Quantity
- 42 cylinders x primary + secondary spark plug per cylinder (BMS-K dual-plug head)BMW OM R1200GSA 2008 · official
Battery
- Type
- AGM (Absorptive Glass Mat), BMW EXT 14 BS, 12V 14AhBMW OM R1200GSA 2008 · official
Fuel
- Minimum octane
- 91 RON (regular unleaded, usable with power/consumption restrictions); 95 RON recommended RONBMW OM R1200GSA 2008 · official
What breaks first and where.
Fuel strip (film-type fuel level sender) failure
ModerateCommonThe film-type fuel level sender ("fuel strip") in the fuel tank can degrade and give inaccurate or erratic fuel level readings. BMW Motorrad USA issued a customer notification extending the limited warranty on this component to 12 years without mileage limitation for MY2005-2013 R and K series motorcycles.
Symptoms
- Erratic or incorrect fuel gauge reading
- Fuel warning light triggers prematurely or not at all
- Gauge stuck at full or empty
Field repairableNo — Requires fuel strip replacement and recalibration via BMW diagnostic tool (GS-911 or dealer equipment); not a roadside-repairable fault
Integral ABS servo pump motor brush wear/failure
SeriousOccasionalThe BMW Motorrad Integral ABS hydraulic servo pump used on the pre-2010 hexhead GS/GSA models can suffer pump motor brush wear or sticking, causing ABS fault codes and loss of servo-assisted braking. 2008 models could be optioned with ASC (traction control) alongside the same servo ABS system.
Symptoms
- ABS/brake failure warning light
- Reduced or lost servo brake assist
- Grinding or failing pump motor noise
- ABS fault codes 24048/24049 on diagnostic scan
Field repairableYes — Some owners have disassembled the pump motor to clean/free stuck brushes; others perform a full 'servo-ectomy' bypass converting the system to conventional non-integral hydraulic brakes. Both are community-documented workarounds, not BMW-sanctioned repairs.
Driveshaft/final drive water intrusion and spline wear
ModerateOccasionalWater can accumulate inside the swingarm/driveshaft area on hexhead GS models, contributing to rust and accelerated wear of the driveshaft and final drive splines. BMW acknowledged this issue in 2022 across GS models from 2004 onward and recommends drilling a drain hole plus periodic driveshaft inspection.
Symptoms
- Surface or severe rust on driveshaft
- Binding or notchy movement at shaft knuckle
- Grinding noise, especially at low speed turning right
- Play in final drive when rocking rear wheel
- Metal flakes in final drive gear oil
Field repairableYes — Owners can drill a small drain hole in the swingarm boot area to prevent water accumulation; full spline/bearing wear requires final drive or driveshaft replacement