Page 4 of 88

i
2
Introduction
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
Left handlebar fitting ........... 10
Right handlebar fitting ......... 11
Hazard warning flashers ...... 12
Seat/helmet holder .............. 13
Seats ............................. 14-15
System case .................. 16-18Safety check
Checklist ............................. 19
Engine oil ....................... 20-21
Fuel ................................ 22-23
Handlebar levers ............ 24-25
Brake system -
general........................... 26-27
Brake system - without
BMW Integral ABS ......... 28-30
Brake system - with
BMW Integral ABS ......... 31-34
Clutch ................................. 35
Lights ............................. 36-39
Shock-absorber 
adjustment .......................... 40
Suspension
spring preload ..................... 41
Wheels ........................... 42-43
Accessories and loads ... 44-45
Contents
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3
i
Introduction
Starting – Riding – Parking
Your first journey ........... 46-47
Important notes ............. 48-49
Side stand ..................... 50-51
Centre stand ................. 52-53
Running in ..................... 54-55
Before you start ............. 56-57
Starting ......................... 58-59
Telltale and warning 
lights ............................. 60-61
Riding, gear shifts.......... 62-63
Brake system 
- general ........................ 64-65
Brake system - with 
BMW Integral ABS......... 66-72
BMW Integral ABS 
- Fault table ......................... 73Arrive safely
Reliability ........................74-75
Service worldwide ............... 76
Environmental protection .... 77
BMW rider's equipment ....... 78
BMW motorcycle 
equipment ........................... 79
Training means extra 
safety .................................. 80
Concluding thoughts ........... 81
Contents
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        Page 8 of 88
1
General information and controls
6
1Telltale and warning lights 
(
b 7)
2 Speedometer
3 Odometer
4 Trip meter
5 Trip meter reset knob
6 Rev. counter (
b 62) 7
Warning light, fuel level/with 
approx. 5 litres (1. 1 Imp. gal) 
in reserve  yellow 
m 
(
b 23, 60)
8 Warning light, engine oil 
pressure  red 
p (b 60)
9 Ignition switch and steering 
lock (
b 8)
( ) Figures in brackets bpage number 
for description
321
7
45
8
6
9
Cockpit
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1
General information and controls
7
1Telltale light, left turn indica-
tor repeater  green 
s 
2 Warning light, battery 
charge current  red 
r 
(
b 61)
3 Telltale light, high (main) 
beam  blue 
q
4Telltale light, neutral  green 
k (b 57)
5 Telltale light, right turn indi-
cator repeater  green 
t 
( ) Figures in brackets bpage number 
for description
6 Clock
Adjust by pressing with a 
ballpoint pen or similar 
object at 
point A(minutes) or 
point B (hours)
7 Warning light, general  red 
e (b 61)
8 Telltale light, Warning light 
ABS
l OE (b 61)
OEOptional extra
* depending on national-market speci- fication
12435
8*7B6A
Telltale and warning lights
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1
General information and controls
9
Ignition switch and steering lock
Key positions
d Warning:
Never turn the key to OFF or 
I while riding the 
motorcycle!
ON Operating position,
ignition, ligh ts and all 
electrical circuits 
switched on
R * Ignition and lights off, 
steering lock disengaged 
(handlebars can be turned 
freely to left or right)
* The key can be removed in these 
positions
• Turn the handlebars to full left lock.
e Attention:
Engage the steer ing lock with 
the handlebars in this position 
only.
OFF* Ignition and lights off,
steering locked
I**Parking light on,
steering locked
L Note:
Switch the parking light on 
only for limited periods. Note 
state of battery charge.
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1
General information and controls
12
Hazard warning lights
L Note:
You cannot activate the hazard 
warning flashers if the ignition is 
switched off.
Do not use the hazard warning 
flashers for longer than abso-
lutely necessary.
Note state of battery charge.
Switching on the hazard 
warning lights:
• Switching on the ignition
– Hazard warning switch lights  up • Operate hazard warning lights 
switch 1
– Hazard warning lights in oper- ation
– The left/right flashing turn  indicator repeater on the tell-
tale light panel (
b 7) flashes
• Switch off the ignition
– The hazard warning lights 
continue to operate
– The light in the hazard warn- ing flasher switch goes out
Switching off the hazard 
warning lights:
• Operate hazard warning lights switch 1
– Hazard warning lights switch  off
– Left/right flashing turn indica- tor repeater on the telltale 
light panel (
b 7) off
1
Hazard warning flashers
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2
19
2
Safety check
Checklist
Use the safety checklist – 
before every journey
Please perform the safety 
check accurately. If your motor-
cycle needs any routine mainte-
nance, you can then attend to it 
before the journey starts
(
b Maintenance Instructions), 
or, for example have it carried 
out by your authorised BMW 
motorcycle dealer.
This is to ensure that your 
motorcycle corresponds with 
road-vehicle use and safety 
laws. 
Your vehicle must be in perfect 
technical order: this is a basic 
prerequisite for your safety and 
the safety of other road users.
For this reason, check the 
details in the following sections 
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
– 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.
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22
36
Safety checkChecking 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: defec-
tive flasher bulb.
BMW Integral ABS:
General warning light ON (
b 7):
Check brake light or tail light.
If the tail 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. To change bulbs in parking 
lights, headlight (dipped and 
main beams), rear/brake lights, 
turn indicators and the number-
plate light: (
b 
Maintenance In-
structions, Chapter 2)
Headlight setting, RHD/LHD 
traffic
For trips in countries where the 
traffic drives on the opposite 
side of the road: 
Adjust the headlight accord-
ingly (Maintenance Instructions 
bChapter 2).
When necessary, you can 
resort to the assistance of a 
specialist workshop, 
preferably your authorised 
BMW motorcycle dealer.
Lights
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