BMW R1200 / R1250 / R1300 (liquid cooled) — Example photo: San Andreas, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Have this bike? Send a photo or the manual's service chart

BMW · BMW liquid-cooled boxer (2013-)

R1200 / R1250 / R1300 (liquid cooled)

Library entry covers 2013-2026

27 factory 48 guideline

Published source

BMW Motorrad Rider's Manual R 1250 GS (R_0M01_RM_0620), Service chapter

Factory owner's handbook. Covers R 1250 GS (rider's manual 06/2020).

75 items for a 2013 model, grouped by interval the way a factory chart is laid out.

How this bike is built (what the schedule is based on)

Engine cycle: Four-stroke
Engine lubrication: Wet sump (oil in crankcase)
Oil filtration: Replaceable cartridge or spin-on filter
Valve gear: Overhead cam, shim adjusted (incl. desmo)
Ignition: Electronic (CDI / transistor / ECU)
Charging: Alternator / stator with rectifier
Battery: Wet cell (flooded lead-acid, needs topping up)
Fuel system: Fuel injection
Cooling: Liquid cooled
Primary drive: Gear or chain inside engine, shares engine oil
Gearbox oil: Shares engine oil
Clutch control: Hand lever, hydraulic
Final drive: Shaft
Front suspension: Telescopic fork
Rear suspension: Swingarm, single shock / cantilever
Front brake: Disc, hydraulic
Rear brake: Disc, hydraulic
Wheels: Cast / alloy, tubeless
Sidecar: No sidecar

Maintenance schedule

2013 BMW R1200 / R1250 / R1300 (liquid cooled)

On the road: every 200 mi

1 item

Check engine oil level

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

Each fuel stop on old machines. Dry sump: check the tank hot, engine idling or just stopped, per your manual.

On the road: every 300 mi

2 items

Check lights, horn, brake light switches

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline
Check tire pressures

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

On the road: every 500 mi

1 item

Check coolant level

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

Every 1,000 mi or 6 months

1 item

Inspect tire tread, sidewalls and date codes

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Every 3,000 mi or 12 months

7 items

Check throttle cable(s) free play and return

Fuel and air

Guideline
Check steering head bearing adjustment

Front end

Guideline
Inspect fork seals, stanchions and fork boots

Front end

Guideline
Check footrests, pegs, rear brake and gear lever pivots

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Grease and check center / side stand and springs

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Check brake pads and discs

Brakes

Guideline
Check wheel bearings for play

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Every 4,000 mi or 12 months

1 item

Inspect, clean and gap spark plugs

Engine

Guideline

Every 5,000 mi or 12 months

2 items

Change engine oil

Engine

Guideline

Pre-1970 machines: many owners run non-detergent or classic-spec oil with no filter, so short intervals matter. Dry sump: drain the tank and the crankcase/sump, flush the tank and clean the feed and return screens.
Replace oil filter

Engine

Guideline

Every 6,000 mi or 12 months

10 items

Check or replace air-filter element

Engine

Factory

Factory: Every 10000 km column; 12-month mark applies if the vehicle is used off-road (annually or every 10000 km) Re-read from BMW R 1250 GS rider's manual (R_0M01_RM_0620) page 256 maintenance schedule
Engine-oil change, with filter

Engine

Factory

Factory: Every 10000 km column; annually or every 10000 km, whichever comes first Re-read from BMW R 1250 GS rider's manual (R_0M01_RM_0620) page 256 maintenance schedule
Inspect coolant hoses and clamps

Engine

Guideline
Clean / inspect air filter

Fuel and air

Guideline

Mesh or oiled foam: clean and re-oil. Paper: blow out or replace. Some very early machines have no filter at all.
Check charging voltage and regulator / cut-out

Ignition and electrics

Guideline
Check final drive for leaks and bearing play

Final drive

Guideline
Check swingarm bushes for play

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Inspect rear shocks for leaks and damping

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Lubricate control cables and lever pivots

Controls and cables

Guideline
Lubricate speedometer / tachometer cables, check drive

Controls and cables

Guideline

A dry speedo cable whips the needle and eventually kills the instrument.

Every 10,000 mi or 2 years

1 item

Compression test (or leak-down)

Engine

Guideline

Every 12,000 mi or 2 years

6 items

Oil change in bevel gears rear

Engine

Factory

Factory: 20000 km columns; every 2 years or every 20000 km, whichever comes first Re-read from BMW R 1250 GS rider's manual (R_0M01_RM_0620) page 256 maintenance schedule
Replace air filter element

Fuel and air

Guideline
Synchronize throttle bodies

Fuel and air

Guideline
Change final drive (rear drive) oil

Final drive

Guideline
Clean and grease rear suspension linkage

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Grease swingarm pivot

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline

Every 12,000 mi

3 items

Check valve clearance

Engine

Factory

Factory: Marked at 20000, 40000, 60000, 80000, 100000 km Re-read from BMW R 1250 GS rider's manual (R_0M01_RM_0620) page 256 maintenance schedule
Replace all spark plugs

Engine

Factory

Factory: Marked at 20000, 40000, 60000, 80000, 100000 km Re-read from BMW R 1250 GS rider's manual (R_0M01_RM_0620) page 256 maintenance schedule
Replace air filter element

Fuel and air

Factory

Factory: Marked at 20000, 40000, 60000, 80000, 100000 km Re-read from BMW R 1250 GS rider's manual (R_0M01_RM_0620) page 256 maintenance schedule

Every 15,000 mi or 3 years

1 item

Change fork oil

Front end

Guideline

Some early telescopic forks are grease filled or use very small oil quantities. Check your manual.

Every 15,000 mi or 4 years

1 item

Check valve clearances (shim adjusted)

Engine

Guideline

Every 16,000 mi or 4 years

1 item

Replace spark plugs

Engine

Guideline

Every 20,000 mi or 4 years

3 items

Lubricate drive shaft splines / check U-joint

Final drive

Guideline
Repack / replace steering head bearings

Front end

Guideline

Many old machines use loose balls in cups and cones. Taper roller conversions are common.
Repack / replace wheel bearings

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Cup-and-cone and taper roller hubs need periodic repacking and adjustment.

Every 24,000 mi or 4 years

1 item

Replace fuel filter

Fuel and air

Guideline

Every 25,000 mi or 6 years

1 item

Replace swingarm bushes / bearings

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline

Every 30,000 mi or 6 years

1 item

Rebuild forks: seals, bushes, springs

Front end

Guideline

Every 6 months

1 item

Clean battery terminals, check charge and strap

Ignition and electrics

Guideline

Every 12 months

19 items

BMW Service

Engine

Factory

Factory: "carried out once a year"; running-in check between 500 km and 1200 km. Per-item chart marks unreadable via WebFetch
Check lighting and signalling system

Engine

Factory

Factory: As printed: BMW Service standard scope (p.257); 'The BMW Service is carried out once a year.'
Checking coolant level

Engine

Factory

Factory: As printed: BMW Service standard scope (p.257); 'The BMW Service is carried out once a year.'
Confirming BMW service in on-board literature

Engine

Factory

Factory: As printed: BMW Service standard scope (p.257); 'The BMW Service is carried out once a year.'
Final inspection and check for road safety

Engine

Factory

Factory: As printed: BMW Service standard scope (p.257); 'The BMW Service is carried out once a year.'
Function test, engine start suppression

Engine

Factory

Factory: As printed: BMW Service standard scope (p.257); 'The BMW Service is carried out once a year.'
Performing vehicle test with BMW Motorrad diagnosis system

Engine

Factory

Factory: As printed: BMW Service standard scope (p.257); 'The BMW Service is carried out once a year.'
Setting service-due date and countdown distance with BMW Motorrad diagnosis system

Engine

Factory

Factory: As printed: BMW Service standard scope (p.257); 'The BMW Service is carried out once a year.'
Checking battery state of charge

Ignition and electrics

Factory

Factory: As printed: BMW Service standard scope (p.257); 'The BMW Service is carried out once a year.'
Visual inspection of clutch system

Primary and gearbox

Factory

Factory: As printed: BMW Service standard scope (p.257); 'The BMW Service is carried out once a year.'
Check the side stand's ease of movement

Rear suspension and frame

Factory

Factory: As printed: BMW Service standard scope (p.257); 'The BMW Service is carried out once a year.'
Checking ease of movement of the center stand

Rear suspension and frame

Factory

Factory: As printed: BMW Service standard scope (p.257); 'The BMW Service is carried out once a year.'
Checking brake-fluid level, front wheel brake

Brakes

Factory

Factory: As printed: BMW Service standard scope (p.257); 'The BMW Service is carried out once a year.'
Checking brake-fluid level, rear wheel brake

Brakes

Factory

Factory: As printed: BMW Service standard scope (p.257); 'The BMW Service is carried out once a year.'
Checking front brake pads and brake discs for wear

Brakes

Factory

Factory: As printed: BMW Service standard scope (p.257); 'The BMW Service is carried out once a year.'
Checking rear brake pads and brake disc for wear

Brakes

Factory

Factory: As printed: BMW Service standard scope (p.257); 'The BMW Service is carried out once a year.'
Visual inspection of the brake lines, brake hoses and connections

Brakes

Factory

Factory: As printed: BMW Service standard scope (p.257); 'The BMW Service is carried out once a year.'
Checking spoke tension, adjusting if necessary

Wheels and tires

Factory

Factory: As printed: BMW Service standard scope (p.257); 'The BMW Service is carried out once a year.'
Checking tire pressure and tread depth

Wheels and tires

Factory

Factory: As printed: BMW Service standard scope (p.257); 'The BMW Service is carried out once a year.'

Every 2 years

6 items

Replace coolant

Engine

Guideline
Inspect wiring, bullet connectors and ground points

Ignition and electrics

Guideline
Replace hydraulic clutch fluid

Primary and gearbox

Guideline
Inspect frame, welds and lugs for cracks

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Change brake fluid, entire system

Brakes

Factory

Factory: For the first time after one year, then every two years Re-read from BMW R 1250 GS rider's manual (R_0M01_RM_0620) page 256 maintenance schedule
Replace brake fluid

Brakes

Guideline

Every 4 years

3 items

Replace fuel lines

Fuel and air

Guideline

Old rubber and modern ethanol fuel do not mix well.
Inspect brake hoses; replace old rubber

Brakes

Guideline
Rebuild calipers and master cylinders (seals)

Brakes

Guideline

Every 6 years

1 item

Replace tires on age (regardless of tread)

Wheels and tires

Guideline

No interval set

1 item

BMW running-in check (including oil change)

Engine

Factory

Factory: As printed: has to be performed when the motorcycle has covered between 500 km and 1200 km

Guideline lines: Intervals here are general guidelines for the machine's era and layout, compiled for this app. They are not factory manual figures. Check your workshop manual, and edit any interval in the bike's Schedule tab.