2002 BMW MOTORRAD R 1150 GS Rider's Manual (in English)

2
55
Safety check
Wheels
Checking tyre tread
Road tyres and massive-bar
tyres
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)
OEOptional extra
d Warning:
The maximum permissible
speed for a motorcycle fitted
with massive-bar tyres
OE is
160 km/h (100 mph): do not
exceed this limit.
A label stating the maximum
permissible speed must be
affixed in the rider’s field of vi-
sion.
e Attention:
If a motorcycle is fitted with
massive-bar tyres
OE, the rear
splash guard must be removed,
(b Maintenance Instructions,
Chapter 2)
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56
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
instances cannot make
provision for all operating
conditions experienced 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
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
Accessories and tyres
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2
57
Safety check
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
 Left and right cases
OA
max. 10 kg (22 lbs) per case
 Luggage rack and tank-top
rucksack
OA max. 5 kg (11 lbs)
each
 Check that fastenings are correctly positioned and tight
d Warning:
With cases installed, it is ad-
visable not to exceed
130 km/h (80 mph).
e Attention:
Do not exceed the gross weight
limit of 460 kg (992 lb).
Do not exceed the wheel load
limits of 180 kg (300 lbs) at the
front and 300 kg (728 lbs) at the
rear.
Reset the suspension spring
preload and the shock absorb-
ers to match the gross weight
(
b 50- 52, 54)
The gross weight consists of:
– Motorcycle with full tank
–Rider
– Passenger
– Luggage
OAOptional accessories
Accessories and loads
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58
Starting – Riding – Parking
Handling your motorcycle
safely
Each motorcycle has a charac-
ter all its own. It is time now for
you to familiarise yourself with
the way your own motorcycle
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 kilometres (600 miles),
the engine is not yet fully run in.
e Attention:
BMW Integral ABSOE 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 acquire their full
road grip (b 67).
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.
OEOptional extra
Your first journey
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59
Starting – Riding – Parking
Your first journey
Safe motorcycling doesn’t
depend on the bike alone.
Your own skill and common-
sense are needed too.
The key to genuine safety on
the road is a sensible balance
between the bike’s technical
features and the rider’s skill, so
that together they form a single
efficient unit.
Riding safely in traffic or off-
road calls for a strong sense of
responsibility and respect for
the needs of other road users
and pedestrians.
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
affect your perception and
your ability to assess situa-
tions and make decisions,
and also slow down your re-
flexes.
Take to the road now by all
means, but think carefully about
everything you do.
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60
Starting – Riding – Parking
Important notes
BMW Integral ABSOE
Motorcycle equipped with
BMW Integral ABS (
b 80)
d Warning:
When the ignition is switched
off or if the BMW Integral ABS
fails, only a RESIDUAL BRAK-
ING FUNCTION remains
available for slowing the
motorcycle (
b 83).
Under these circumstances
you must apply CONSIDERA-
BLY higher pressure to the
brake levers in order to apply
the brakes, and lever travel is
longer!
Risk of poisoningExhaust fumes contain carbon
monoxide, which is colourless
and odourless but highly 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.
Risk of fatal accidentYour motorcycle is equipped
with Digital Motor Electronics
(Motronic) and high-power
ignition system.
d Warning:
When the engine is running or
the ignition switched on, nev-
er touch electrically live parts
of the ignition system or the
digital engine electronics.
OEOptional extra
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61
Starting – Riding – Parking
Important notes
Catalytic converter
e Attention:
To avoid damage to the cata-
lytic converter:
 Do not run the fuel tank dry
 Push-start only when the
engine is cold
 Do not run the engine with a
spark plug lead disconnected
 Do not exceed the engine- speed limits marked on the
revolution counter
 Comply with all specified
maintenance intervals
 Stop the engine at once if it
misfires
 In the event of misfiring or a severe drop in engine power,
consult a specialist work-
shop, preferably an author-
ised BMW motorcycle dealer
If misfiring or malfunction of the
fuel-air mixture preparation sys-
tem causes unburned fuel to
reach the catalytic converter,
there is a risk of it overheating
and being damaged.
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 eas-
ily flammable material
(for example hay, grass,
leaves, clothing or luggage
etc.) can come into contact
with the hot exhaust system.
Do not allow the engine to
idle unnecessarily or for pro-
longed periods
– Risk of overheating or fire.
Ride away immediately after
starting the engine.
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62
Starting – Riding – Parking
Placing motorcycle on
side stand
d Warning:
For safety reasons, never sit
on the motorcycle with the
side stand extended.
e Attention:
Stop the engine before using
the side stand.
Make sure the surface under
the stand is firm.
On a gradient, the motorcycle
should always face uphill; se-
lect 1st gear.  Switch off the ignition
 Keep both feet on the ground
 Hold the left handlebar grip
with your left hand
 Keep your right hand on the
right handlebar grip and the
handbrake lever
 Hold the motorcycle upright and balanced
 U s e y o u r le f t f o o t a t t h e e x t e n -
sion pin to extend the side
stand fully (arrow)
 Slowly lean the motorcycle to the side until its weight is
taken by the stand and dis-
mount from the motorcycle
 Turn the handlebars to full left
lock (
b 11)
 Check that the motorcycle
is firmly supported
Side stand
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