Page 31 of 104
2
29
Safety check
Checklist
For this reason, check the 
details in the following sections 
before you start the journey: 
– Fuel level
– Positions of the handlebar-lever fittings
–Brakes
– Brake fluid level 
– Clutch fluid level 
– Warning lights and telltale  lights
–Lights
– Shock absorber settings and  spring preload
– Wheel rim and tyre condition, 
tread depth and tyre 
pressures
– Load, gross weight  – Check regularly (every time 
you stop for fuel),
on the basis of the following 
section:
– Engine oil level
(every second/third stop for 
fuel):
– brake pads
If you encounter any problems 
or difficulties, it is always best to 
contact your authorised BMW 
motorcycle dealer. He will pro-
vide the necessary advice and 
assistance.
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        Page 50 of 104
2
48
Safety check
L Note:
Use adjusting screw 1 only for 
adjusting the basic setting of 
the headlight.
Headlight
basic setting
L Note:
Do not prop the motorcycle on 
the centre or side stand.  Check tyre pressures and 
correct if necessary
 Set the spring-strut adjuster 
to the position for one-up rid-
ing
– Make sure lever  2 is horizontal 
(neutral position)
 Position the motorcycle on a 
level surface 10 metres 
(33 feet) (headlight) from a 
light-coloured wall, and with 
the rider's weight (approx. 
85 kg/187 lbs) on the seat
1
2
Lights
B
A
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        Page 52 of 104
2
50
Safety check
1
S
H
d Warning:
Before riding off, always set 
spring preload to suit total 
weight.
For off-road riding, increase 
spring preload at front and 
rear by a suitable amount.
Adjusting front spring 
preload
 Place motorcycle on centre  stand
– Make sure the ground is level and firm
 Use hook wrench and exten- sion (wheel-stud wrench) to 
adjust preload of spring  1:
Stage 1 – road ( S)
Stage 3 – loose surfaces 
(stone chippings etc.)
Stage 5 – off-road ( H)
Suspension spring preload
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        Page 53 of 104
2
51
Safety check
H
L
1
d Warning:
Before riding off, always set 
spring preload to suit total 
weight.
For off-road riding, increase 
spring preload at front and 
rear by a suitable amount.
For safety reasons, never at-
tempt to alter spring preload 
while the motorcycle is being 
ridden. Always halt the motor-
cycle before adjusting.
Adjusting rear spring 
preload 
“LOW” setting (solo):
Turn knob 1 as far as it will go 
in  “LOW”  direction ( L) as indi-
cated by arrow
“HIGH” setting (for off-road 
use, or two-up with luggage)
Turn knob 1 as far as it will go 
in  “HIGH”  direction ( H) as 
indicated by arrow
Suspension spring preload
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        Page 54 of 104
2
52
Safety check
1
Shock-absorber adjustment 
d Warning:
Before starting the journey, 
adjust the shock absorber to 
match total weight.
If spring preload is changed, 
the shock absorber has to be 
adjusted accordingly.
 Place motorcycle on centre  stand 
– Make sure the ground is  level and firm
 Adjust the rear shock 
absorber with a screwdriver  Basic setting 
(one-up):
 Turn adjusting screw 1 in 
direction indicated by arrow H  
(clockwise) as far as it will go
 Back off adjusting screw 1  half a turn in direction indi-
cated by arrow  S (counter-
clockwise)
Hard setting “H”:
 Turn adjusting screw 1  in 
direction indicated by arrow H  
(clockwise) as far as it will go
Soft setting “S”:
 Turn adjusting screw 1  in 
direction indicated by arrow  S 
(counter-clockwise) as far as 
it will go
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        Page 56 of 104
2
54
Safety check
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 ei-
ther the motorcycle’s gross 
weight or the individual wheel 
load limits (b 57). – When tyres are cold:
 Remove valve caps
 Check/correct tyre pressure
Tyre pressures for
road tyres and massive-bar 
tyres:
front rear
one-up 2.2 bar 2.5 bar
(31.9 psi) 36 psi)
two-up 2.5 bar  2.7 bar 
(36 psi) (39 psi)
two-up 
and luggage 2.5 bar 2.9 bar  (36 psi) (42 psi)
 Fully tighten valve caps
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 es-
caping suddenly.
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        Page 59 of 104
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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        Page 64 of 104
3
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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