Page 46 of 96
22
44
Safety check
d Warning:
Before the journey starts, ad-
just spring preload according
to the gross weight.
For safety reasons, never at-
tempt to alter spring preload
while the motorcycle is being
ridden.
Always halt the motorcycle
before adjusting.
If spring preload is changed,
the shock absorber has to be
adjusted accordingly.
Adjusting spring preload Place the motorcycle on its main (centre) stand
Adjust spring preload at
knob 1 Basic setting, one-up:
Turn knob
1 as far as it will go
counter-clockwise as indi-
cated by the “ LOW” arrow
Turn knob 1 one mark clock-
wise as indicated by the
“ HIGH ” arrow
Setting for two-up and lug-
gage:
Turn knob 1 fully to the right
as indicated by the “HIGH”
arrow
Spring preload
1
10rsbkg2.book Seite 44 Dienstag, 19. November 2002 4:56 16
Page 47 of 96
2
45
2
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 tread
d Warning:
Comply with local legal re-
quirements concerning mini-
mum 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 (0.0787 in)
Rear .............. 3 mm (0.1181 in)
Screwing 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.
10rsbkg2.book Seite 45 Dienstag, 19. November 2002 4:56 16
Page 48 of 96
22
46
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 49). –Tyres cold:
Unscrew and remove valve
cap
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)
Screw the valve caps back on tightly
10rsbkg2.book Seite 46 Dienstag, 19. November 2002 4:56 16
Page 49 of 96
2
47
2
Safety check
Accessories and tyres
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
BMW motorcycle dealer.
10rsbkg2.book Seite 47 Dienstag, 19. November 2002 4:56 16
Page 50 of 96
22
48
Safety check
Correct loading
d Warning:
Overloading can impair the
handling of your motorcycle.
Make sure that the weight is uniformly distributed between
right and left
Pack heavy items at the bot-
tom Max. load in each case
OA (left
and right): 10 kg (22 lb)
Max. load on luggage carrier
and in tank-top rucksack
OA:
5 kg (11 lb) 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).
OA Optional accessories
Loading
10rsbkg2.book Seite 48 Dienstag, 19. November 2002 4:56 16
Page 52 of 96

33
50
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 59).
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
First time out
10rsbkg2.book Seite 50 Dienstag, 19. November 2002 4:56 16
Page 53 of 96
3
51
3
Starting – Riding – Parking
First time out
Safe motorcycling doesn’t
depend on the motorcycle
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 tech-
nical 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!
10rsbkg2.book Seite 51 Dienstag, 19. November 2002 4:56 16
Page 54 of 96

33
52
Starting – Riding – Parking
Important notes
BMW Integral ABSOE
Motorcycle equipped with
BMW Integral ABS (
b 72)
d Warning:
When the ignition is switched
off or if the BMW Integral ABS
fails, only a “RESIDUAL
BRAKING FUNCTION” re-
mains available for slowing
the motorcycle (
b 75).
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!
OEOptional extra
Risk of asphyxiationExhaust 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 igni-
tion 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 motor electronics.
10rsbkg2.book Seite 52 Dienstag, 19. November 2002 4:56 16