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21
Safety check
Checklist
For this reason, check the
details in the following Chapters
before you start the journey:
– Engine oil level
– Fuel level
– Positions of the handlebar-lever fittings
– Brake fluid level
– Clutch fluid level
–Brakes
– Warning lights and telltale lights
–Lights
– Front/rear shock absorber setting and spring preload
– Condition of wheels and
tyres, tread depth and tyre
pressures
– Load, gross weight – Check at regular intervals as
described in the following
sections
(each time you stop for refuel-
ling):
– Engine oil level
(every second or third time
you stop for refuelling):
– Brake pads
If you encounter any problems
or difficulties, it is always best to
contact your authorised BMW
Motorrad dealer.
He will provide the necessary
advice and assistance.
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23
Safety check
1
MAX
2
MIN
Check oil level at sight glass:MAX Upper edge
Ring marking
MIN Lower edge
Ring marking
– The difference between the
two marks is approx. 0.5 litres
(0.88 Imp. pints)
If necessary, unscrew the oil filler screw 2 and top up the
engine oil through the engine
oil filler 1
Then retighten the oil filler
screw 2
e Caution:
The engine oil pressure warning
light displaying a red
p (b 7)
indicates that there is no oil
pump output or that the output
is too low. This does not fulfil
the function of an oil level
check. Oil pressure builds up
after 1-2 seconds and the
warning light goes out – the en-
gine oil pressure warning light
red
p should remain off while
the engine is running
Engine oil
BMW recommends Castrol
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25
Safety check
1
– Refuel only with super (premium) grade fuel to
DIN 51607 standard or
equivalent, minimum octane
number 95 (RON) or
85 (MON)
Close the fuel filler cap
Quantity
L Note:
The fuel gauge does not oper-
ate unless the ignition is
switched on.
– Maximum refuelling quantity 18 litres (3.9 Imp. gal)
– When the reserve fuel quantity is reached
(approx. 5 litres/1. 1 Imp. gal),
the yellow warning light 1
comes on
Fuel
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38
Safety check
2
Checking lights
e Caution:
Check that all lights are operati-
onal at the start of each journey.
L Note:
If turn indicator repeater flashes
at twice the usual speed:
Defective flasher bulb.
BMW Integral ABS:
General warning light ON (
b 62):
Check brake light or tail light.
If the tail light is defective the
brake light is dimmed and acts
as a tail light. When you apply the
brakes the brake light shines at
full brightness. To change bulbs in parking
lights, headlight (dipped and
main beams), rear/brake lights,
turn indicators and the number-
plate light:
(
b
Service and Technical
Booklet, Chapter 2)
Headlight setting RHD/
LHD traffic
If the motorcycle is ridden in a
country where the opposite rule
of the road applies, its asym-
metric dipped beam will tend to
dazzle oncoming traffic.
Adjust the headlight according-
ly (Service and Technical
Booklet,
b Chapter 2).
Your BMW motorcycle dealer
will be glad to provide any
assistance you may require.
Lights
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57
Starting – Riding – Parking
Running in
Running in new tyres
d Warning:
New tyres have a smooth
surface. This must be rough-
ened 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.
Bedding down new brake
pads
d Warning:
New brake pads must “bed
down” and therefore do not
achieve their optimum friction
levels during the first 500 km
(300 miles).
This slight initial reduction in
braking efficiency can be
compensated for by exerting
greater pressure on the lever.
Try to avoid all unnecessary
hard braking during this initial
period.
e Caution:
Comply with the notes on BMW
Integral ABS (b 68-75).
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Page 64 of 92
62
Starting – Riding – Parking
3
Battery charge currentWarning light1 goes out above
idle speed.
e Caution:
If warning light 1 comes on
during the journey: Immediately
consult a specialist workshop,
preferably an authorised BMW
motorcycle dealer.
Warning light, general General warning light 3 lights
up if the BMW Integral ABS*
develops a fault (
b 75), or if the
tail light or brake light is
defective.
ABS warning/brake failure
light*
The ABS warning/brake failure
light 2 ligh ts up if th e BM W I nt e-
gral ABS develops a fault
(
b 75)
* Optional extra
Telltale and warning lights
2314
5
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63
Starting – Riding – Parking
Fuel levelWhen the warning light4
comes on, there are still
approx. 5 litres (1.1 Imp. gal) of
fuel in the tank
Engine oil pressureTelltale light 5 goes out above
idle speed.
e Caution:
If it comes on again during the
journey, take the following
action as soon as the surround-
ing traffic permits:
Operate the kill switch (
b 58)
Bring the motorcycle safely to a halt
Check engine oil level (
b 22)
If the oil level is correct, always
consult a specialist workshop
without delay, preferably a
BMW motorcycle dealer.
Telltale and warning lights
4
5
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Starting – Riding – Parking
3
Self-diagnosis with
pull-away test
The BMW Integral ABS per-
forms self-diagnosis and a pull-
away test to ensure its opera-
bility.
Self-diagnosis is performed
automatically when you switch
on the ignition.
d Warning:
Self-diagnosis is not perfor-
med unless both brake levers
are in their fully released posi-
tions. Only the RESIDUAL
BRAKING FUNCTION is avail-
able until self-diagnosis is
completed (b 71). Release the brake levers, if
necessary.
Switch on the ignition
Initially:
– ABS warning/brake failure light 1:
flashes at 4 Hz (
b 58)
– General warning light 2:
ON
bSelf-diagnosis is in
progress
Then:
– ABS warning/brake failure light 1:
flashes at 1 Hz
– General warning light 2:
OFF
bSelf-diagnosis successfully
completed
* Optional extra
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABS*
21
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