Page 4 of 92

i
Introduction
12
2
12
i
General information and
controls
General view, left side ........... 4
General view, right side ......... 5
Cockpit ................................. 6
Telltale and warning lights ..... 7
Ignition switch and
steering lock ...................... 8-9
Handlebar fittings ........... 10-11
Hazard warning flashers ...... 12
Dualseat cover ............... 13-14
Dualseat .........................15-16
System case .................. 17-19 Safety check
Checklist ........................ 20-21
Engine oil ...................... 22-23
Fuel ................................ 24-25
Handlebar levers ............ 26-27
Brake system - general.... 28-29
Brake system - without
BMW Integral ABS ......... 30-32
Brake system - with
BMW Integral ABS ......... 33-36
Clutch ................................ 37
Lights ............................ 38-39
Shock absorbers ........... 40-41
Suspension spring
preload ............................... 42
Wheels ........................... 43-44
Accessories and
loads ............................. 45-46
Contents
10sbkg4.bk Seite 2 Dienstag, 29. Juni 2010 9:21 09
Page 23 of 92
2
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.
10sbkg4.bk Seite 21 Dienstag, 29. Juni 2010 9:21 09
Page 45 of 92
2
43
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.
10sbkg4.bk Seite 43 Dienstag, 29. Juni 2010 9:21 09
Page 46 of 92
2
44
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
10sbkg4.bk Seite 44 Dienstag, 29. Juni 2010 9:21 09
Page 48 of 92
2
46
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
10sbkg4.bk Seite 46 Dienstag, 29. Juni 2010 9:21 09
Page 70 of 92
68
Starting – Riding – Parking
3
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABS*
Sensitive electronic
control
It takes skill and sensitive con-
trol of the brakes to pull up
safely on a motorcycle. If the
front wheel brake locks and the
wheel skids, the necessary lon-
gitudinal and lateral stabilising
forces are lost, and a fall can
result.
For this reason, the rider sel-
dom makes full use of available
braking performance in an
emergency.
* Optional extra
BMW Integral ABS is the latest-
generation BMW ABS develop-
ment: by preventing both
wheels from locking and opti-
mising braking-force distribu-
tion by means of the integral
function, it offers much
improved braking performance
(
b 70). Full use is made of tech-
nical braking capacity to mini-
mise braking distances, even
when road conditions are poor.
When the motorcycle is ridden
in a straight line, the
BMW Integral ABS is able to
handle emergency braking
safely.
10sbkg4.bk Seite 68 Dienstag, 29. Juni 2010 9:21 09
Page 72 of 92

70
Starting – Riding – Parking
3
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABS*
Partially integral brakesThe integral brake function
interlinks the front and rear
brakes, so both wheels are
braked when you operate the
brake lever.
The electronic controller in the
BMW Integral ABS* computes
the braking-force distribution
between front and rear wheels,
and applies the brakes accord-
ingly.
The baking-force distribution
depends on load and is recal-
culated every time the ABS
controller comes into action.
In this partially integral brake
configuration, the integral brak-
ing function is activated only
when you pull the handbrake
lever. The footbrake lever acts
only on the rear brake.Brake servoThe hydraulic pump in the BMW
Integral ABS* actively boosts
the braking force acting on the
wheel when the brakes are
applied.
By boosting the braking force in
this way, the BMW Integral
ABS* achieves a higher braking
efficiency than standard brake
systems.
ABS - anti-lock brake
system*
ABS prevents the wheels lock-
ing under heavy braking when
the motorcycle is travelling in a
straight line, thus contributing
significantly to road safety.
* Optional extra
10sbkg4.bk Seite 70 Dienstag, 29. Juni 2010 9:21 09
Page 76 of 92
74
Starting – Riding – Parking
3
d Warning:
If the BMW Integral ABS fails
in both brake circuits, a RESI-
DUAL BRAKING FUNCTION
only is available. (b 71)
d Warning:
If the RESIDUAL BRAKING
FUNCTION is active (
b 71),
maintain a defensive riding
style and proceed immediate-
ly to a specialist workshop,
preferably an authorised BMW
motorcycle dealer.
d Warning:
If there is a fault in the ABS
system, the reserves of safety
normally afforded by ABS are
not available until the defect
has been put right.
There is a risk of dropping the
machine if the brakes are
applied too hard and the front
wheel locks or the rear wheel
lifts clear of the ground as a
result of a high level of front
tyre adhesion.
* Optional extra
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABS*
10sbkg4.bk Seite 74 Dienstag, 29. Juni 2010 9:21 09