2002 BMW MOTORRAD K 1200 LT Rider's Manual (in English)

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55
Safety check
Loading
d Warning:
BMW cannot examine or test
each product of outside origin
on the accessories and tyres
market to ensure that it can
be used on or in connection
with BMW motorcycles with-
out constituting a safety
hazard. Even approval by a
technical inspectorate or an
official permit (General
Operating Permit) cannot al-
ways provide this guarantee.
Tests conducted by these in-
stances cannot make provi-
sion for all operating
conditions experienced by
BMW motorcycles and con-
sequently, they are not suffi-
cient in some circumstances.
L Note:
BMW accessories and other
products approved by BMW
can be obtained from your
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
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Safety check
2
Loading
Correct loading
d Warning:
Overloading can impair the
stability of your motorcycle.
Make sure that the weight is
uniformly distributed between
right and left
Pack heavy items at the bot-
tom of the cases
Max. load in topcase: 10 kg
(approx. 22 lb)
Max. load in left and right
cases 10 kg (approx. 22 lb)
per case
e Caution:
Do not exceed the gross weight
limit of 600 kg (1,323 lb). Do not
exceed the wheel load limits of
204 kg (449 lb) at the front and
402 kg (886 lb) at the rear.
Adjust the rear suspension
spring and shock absorber set-
tings and the tyre pressures to
suit the gross weight (
b 52-54).
The gross weight consists of:
–motorcycle with full tank
–rider
–pillion passenger
–luggage
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57
Safety check
Lights
Checking lights
e Caution:
Check that all lights are opera-
tional at the start of each jour-
ney.
L Note:
If turn indicator repeater flashes
at twice the usual speed:
Defective flasher bulb.
To change bulbs in parking
lights, headlight (dipped and
main beams), rear and brake
lights: (
b Maintenance Instruc-
tions).
Tail lightGeneral warning light (b 72) on:
Brake-light or tail-light bulb de-
fective.
Check brake light or tail light.
If the rear 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.
Adjusting headlight beam
throw
e Caution:
Only adjust the beam throw of
your headlights to suit laden
condition when the motorcycle
is stationary.
Have the headlight basic set-
ting adjusted by a specialist
workshop, preferably an
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
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58
Safety check
2
AB
1 Lights
Normal setting:
Turn rotary knob1 anti-clock-
wise as far as limit stop
Setting to suit load:
Change the spring strut set-
ting to suit the load (
b 52)
L Note:
Setting spring preload (
b 52)
also adjusts the beam throw to
suit the load on the motorcycle.
Perform precision adjustment
using rotary knob1
Adjusting headlight for
RHD/LHD traffic
If the motorcycle is ridden in a
country where the opposite rule
of the road applies, its asymme-
tric dipped beam will tend to
dazzle oncoming traffic.
To prevent this dazzle/glare pro-
blem, shade off a section of the
headlight lens (cut adhesive tape
to size and apply to lens)
–Afrom RHD to
LHD traffic
–Bfrom LHD to
RHD traffic
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59
Safety check
Coolant
Checking coolant level
e Caution:
Always keep the coolant level
above the minimum mark. Add
coolant only when the engine is
cold.
Place the motorcycle on its
main (centre) stand
–Make sure the ground is
level and firm.
Open the left case (
b 30)
Check coolant level at the
expansion tank, using a
pocket lamp if necessary:
MAXMaximum level
MINMinimum level
e Caution:
Never overfill the expansion
tank under the seat.
Add coolant if necessary
Lock left case (
b 30)
L Note:
If the expansion tank is full and
coolant temperature is high (as
indicated by red warning light
j
b 11) or coolant consumption
is excessive, consult an author-
ised BMW motorcycle dealer.
MAX
MIN
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60
Starting – Riding – Parking
3
First time out
Handling your motorcycle
safely
Every motorcycle has a “life of
its own”. You can gradually
familiarise yourself with exactly
how your motorcycle performs:
–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 kilometres (approx. 600
miles), the engine is not yet fully
run in.
e Attention:
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 cer-
tain distance before they ac-
quire their full road grip (b 69).
When riding at high speed,
a l w a y s b e a r i n m i n d t h a t v a r i o u s
boundary conditions such as:
settings of the spring and
shock-absorber system, unbal-
anced loading, loose clothing,
low tyre pressures, worn tyres,
etc.,
can affect the handling of your
motorcycle.
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61
Starting – Riding – ParkingSafe motorcycling does not
depend on the motorcycle and
equipment 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
technical 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
passenger and to other road
users.d Warning:
Do not ride the motorcycle af-
ter drinking alcoholic bever-
ages. Even small amounts of
alcohol or drugs, particularly
if taken in conjunction with
medicines, will adversely af-
fect your perception and your
ability to assess situations
and make decisions, and also
slow down your reflexes.
Take to the road now by all
means, but think carefully about
everything you do!
First time out
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Starting – Riding – Parking
3
Important notes
Risk of fatal accidentYour motorcycle is equipped
with Digital Motor Electronics
(Motronic) and an a high-power
ignition system.
d Warning:
When the engine is running or
the ignition switched on, nev-
er touch any electrically live
parts of the ignition system or
the Digital Motor Electronics.
BMW Integral ABS
d Warning:
When the ignition is switched
off or if the BMW Integral ABS
fails, only a RESIDUAL BRA-
KING FUNCTION remains avai-
lable for slowing the
motorcycle (
b 81).
Under these circumstances
you must apply CONSIDERAB-
LY higher pressure to the brake
levers in order to apply the bra-
kes, and lever travel is longer.
Risk of poisoningThe exhaust from a motor vehi-
cle contains carbon monoxide,
which is colourless and odour-
less, but none the less toxic.
d Warning:
Inhaling the exhaust fumes
therefore represents a health
hazard and can even cause
loss of consciousness with
fatal consequences.
Do not run the engine in an
enclosed space.
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