Page 44 of 92
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42
Safety check
2
1
d Warning:
Before riding off, always set
spring preload to suit total
weight. For safety reasons,
never attempt to alter spring
preload while the motorcycle
is being ridden. Always halt
the motorcycle before
adjusting.
Adjusting suspension
spring preload
Support the motorcycle on its
side stand (
b 52)
Adjust spring preload at
knob 1 Basic setting,
one-up:
1 as far as it will go
counter-clockwise as indi-
cated by the “LOW” arrow
1 a few turns
clockwise as indicated by the
“HIGH” arrow
Setting for two-up and
luggage:
1 fully clockwise as
indicated by the “HIGH”
arrow
Suspension spring preload
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Safety check
Wheels
Checking wheel rims
d Warning:
Have damaged wheel rims
checked and, if necessary,
replaced by a specialist work-
shop, preferably an author-
ised BMW motorcycle dealer.
Checking tyre treads
d Warning:
Comply with statutory legal
requirements concerning
minimum tread depth. Worn
tyres can impair handling.
Measure tread depth at the centre of the tyre tread
BMW's minimum tread depth
recommendation:
Front.................. 2 mm (0.08 in)
Rear .................. 3 mm (0.12 in)
Screw valve caps on
tightly
d Warning:
At high road speeds, tyre
valves have a tendency to
open as a result of centrifugal
force.
Use only metal valve caps
with rubber seals.
Valve caps that are screwed
on well prevent air from esca-
ping suddenly.
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Safety check
2
Wheels
Checking tyre pressures
d Warning:
Incorrect tyre pressures have
a considerable influence on
handling and on tyre life.
Adjust tyre pressures to suit
total weight. Never exceed
either the motorcycle's gross
weight or the individual wheel
load limits (b 46). –Tyres cold:
Remove valve caps
Check/correct tyre pressure
Tyre pressures:
Front Rear
One-up 2.2 bar 2.5 bar
(31.3 psi) (35.5 psi)
Two-up 2.5 bar 2.7 bar (35.5 psi) (38.4 psi)
Two-up with
luggage 2.5 bar 2.9 bar (35.5 psi) (41.2 psi)
Screwing on valve caps
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Safety check
d Warning:
BMW cannot examine or test
every product of outside
origin to ensure that it does
not represent a safety risk if
used on or in connection with
your BMW motorcycle. Even
approval by an official inspec-
tion authority or an official
permit (General Operating
Permit) cannot always pro-
vide this guarantee. Tests
conducted by these instanc-
es cannot make provision for
all operating conditions expe-
rienced by BMW motorcycles
and consequently, they are
not sufficient in some circum-
stances.
L Note:
BMW accessories and other
products approved by BMW
can be obtained from your
BMW motorcycle dealer.
Accessories and loads
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Safety check
2
Correct loading
d Warning:
Overloading can impair
handling.
Make sure that the weight is uniformly distributed between
right and left
Pack heavy items at the bottom
Max. load in each case* (left and right): 10 kg
(approx. 22 lbs)
Max. load in tank-top ruck- sack*: 5 kg (approx. 11 lbs)
Check that fastenings are correctly positioned and tight
d Warning:
When cases are fitted,do not
exceed 130 km/h (80 mph).
e Caution:
Do not exceed the gross weight
limit of 450 kg (992 lbs).
Do not exceed the wheel load
limits of 180 kg (397 lbs) at the
front and 260 kg (573 lbs) at the
rear.
Adjust the front/rear shock
absorbers, the rear suspension
spring and tyre pressures to
suit the gross weight of the
motorcycle (
b 40-43).
The gross weight consists of:
– Motorcycle with full tank
–Rider
–Passenger
– Luggage
* Accessories
Accessories and loads
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Starting – Riding – Parking
Handling your motorcycle
safely
Every motorcycle has a “char-
acter all its own” . It's time now
for you to familiarise yourself
with the way your own motor-
cycle behaves:
– Acceleration
– Roadholding
– Cornering
–Braking …
These are all things you need to
become familiar with.Please remember too that if the
motorcycle has not yet covered
1,000 km (approx. 600 miles),
the engine is not yet fully run in.
e Caution:
BMW Integral ABS* incorpo-
rates a brake booster, so brak-
ing efficiency is significantly
higher than with conventional
brake systems.
d Warning:
The tyres need to cover a
certain distance before they
acquire their full road grip
(b 57).
* Optional extra
Your first journey
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Starting – Riding – Parking
3
Your first journey
Safe motorcycling doesn't
depend on the motorcycle
alone.
Your own skill and common-
sense are needed too.
The key to genuine safety on
the road is a sensible balance
between the motorcycle's tech-
nical features and the rider's
skill, so that together they form
a single efficient unit. Riding
safely in traffic calls for a sense
of responsibility to your pillion
passenger and to other road
users.
d Warning:
Do not ride the motorcycle
after drinking alcoholic
beverages. Even small
amounts of alcohol or drugs,
particularly if taken in con-
junction with medicines, will
adversely affect your percep-
tion and your ability to assess
situations and make deci-
sions, and also slow down
your reflexes.
Take to the road now by all
means, but think carefully about
everything you do.
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Starting – Riding – Parking
Important notes
BMW Integral ABS*
Motorcycle equipped with
BMW Integral ABS* (
b 68)
d Warning:
When the ignition is switched
off or if the BMW Integral ABS
fails, only a “RESIDUAL BRA-
KING FUNCTION” is available
(
b 71).
Under these circumstances
you must apply CONSIDER-
ABLY higher pressure to the brake levers in order to apply
the brakes, and lever travel is
longer.
*Optional extra
Risk of fireHigh temperatures occur at the
exhaust system, particularly if a
catalytic converter is installed.
d Warning:
Make sure that whether riding
or standing still or when the
motorcycle is parked, no easi-
ly flammable material (for
example hay, grass, leaves, clothing or luggage etc.) can
come into contact with the hot
exhaust system.
CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65
WARNING
d Warning:
Engine exhaust, some of its
constituents, and certain
vehicle components contain
or emit chemicals known to
the State of California to
cause cancer and birth
defects or other reproductive
harm.
Battery posts, terminals, and
related accessories contain
lead and lead compounds.
Wash hands after handling.
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