Page 4 of 96

i
2
Introduction
General information and con-
trols
General view, left side ........... 4
General view, right side ......... 5
Cockpit ................................. 6
Telltale and warning lights ..... 7
Ignition switch and steering 
lock .................................... 8-9
Adjusting windshield ........... 10
Hazard warning flashers ...... 11
Left handlebar fitting ........... 12
Right handlebar fitting ......... 13
Adjusting handlebars ..... 14-15
Seat ............................... 16-17
System case .................. 18-19Safety check
Checklist ........................ 20-21
Engine oil ....................... 22-23
Fuel ................................ 24-25
Handlebar levers ............ 26-27
Brake system 
- general ........................ 28-29
Brake system - without 
BMW Integral ABS ......... 30-33
Brake system - with 
BMW Integral ABS ......... 34-36
Clutch ................................. 37
Lights ............................. 38-42
Shock-absorber settings ..... 43
Spring preload .................... 44
Wheels ........................... 45-46
Accessories and tyres......... 47
Loading.......................... 48-49
Contents
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1
General information and controls
4
987
124356
101112
1Front forks, shock-absorber 
setting (
b 43)
2 Reservoir for clutch fluid (
b 37)
3 Oil filler neck, engine (
b 23)
4 Lifting handle (
b 56, 57)
5 Helmet holder, left
6 Storage compartment for 
toolkit (supplied) (
b Mainte-
nance Instructions, Chapter 2)
7 Rear suspension strut, shock-
absorber setting (
b 43)
8 Rear suspension strut,
spring preload (
b 44)
OAOptional accessories
9Power socket, 12 VOA
Provision for connecting 
additional equipment – max. 
load 5 A
10 Primary spark plug, left 
(
b Maintenance Instruc-
tions, Chapter 2)
11 Secondary spark plug, left 
(
b Maintenance Instruc-
tions, Chapter 2)
12 Oil level sight glass, engine 
(
b 23)
( ) Figure in brackets
bpage number for description
General view, left side
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1
General information and controls
7
12435*67
98
1Telltale light, left turn indica-
tor repeater green 
s 
2 Warning light, battery 
charge  red 
r (b 64) 
3 Warning light, tank capac-
ity/when approx. 4 litres 
(0.9 Imp. gal) remain in tank 
orange  
m (b 24, 25)
4 Telltale light, gearbox neu-
tral indicator green  
k (b 61)
5 Warning light, ABS 
l redOE 
(
b 64)
OEOptional extra
*
n depending on national-market 
specification
6 Warning light, engine oil 
pressure  red p  (
b 65)
7 Telltale light, right turn indi-
cator repeater  green 
t
8General warning light
red  
e (b 64)
9 High-beam headlight telltale 
blue 
q
( ) Figure in brackets
bpage number for description
Telltale and warning lights
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2
21
2
Safety check
For this reason, check the 
details in the following sections 
before you start the journey: 
– Fuel level
– Positions of the handlebar levers
– 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 regularly on the basis 
of this checklist
(every refuelling stop):
– Engine oil level
(every 2nd/3rd refuelling 
stop):
– Brake pads
If you encounter any problems 
or difficulties, it is always best to 
contact your authorised 
BMW motorcycle dealer. He will 
provide the necessary advice 
and assistance.
Checklist
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22
22
Safety check
Engine oil
Checking oil levelCheck the oil level at regular 
intervals.
Always check the oil level when 
the engine is at operating tem-
perature, because the differ-
ence between the oil level 
indicated when the engine is at 
operating temperature and the 
oil level indicated when the 
engine is very cold due to 
extremely low outdoor 
temperatures (-10 °C/14 °F) 
can be as much as 10 mm 
(0.4 in). 
After switching off the engine, 
wait at least 5 minutes for the oil 
to drain back into the sump.Checking the oil level after the 
engine has been run only briefly 
or when it is not properly warm 
will falsify the reading and could 
lead to the engine being oper-
ated with the wrong quantity of 
oil, because cold oil is viscous 
and takes longer to drain back 
into the sump. At extremely low 
outdoor temperatures (-10 °C/ 
14 °F), this can take as long as 
12 hours.
e Attention:
To avoid damage to the engine: 
– Never exceed the maximum  oil level. 
– Always keep the oil level 
above the minimum mark.
Always check the oil level with 
the motorcycle upright.
 Check the oil level with the  engine at its regular operating 
temperature
 Check the oil level after the  engine has been stopped for 
at least 5 minutes
 Make sure that the motorcy-
cle is upright
– Make sure the ground is level and firm
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2
23
2
Safety check
MAXMIN1
2
 Read off the oil level at the  sight glass:
MAX top edge of 
ring marking
MIN bottom edge of
ring marking
– The difference between the 
two marks is approx. 0.5 litre 
(0.8 Imp. pints)
 If necessary, remove oil filler  plug 2 and top up the engine 
oil through the oil filler 1
 Reinstall oil filler plug 2e Attention:
Warning light, engine oil pres-
sure  red 
p (b 7) indicates no 
(or very little) oil pressure in 
the lube-oil system; this light 
m u s t  n o t  b e  r e g a r d e d  a s  a n  o i l  
level check. Oil pressure 
builds up after 1-2 seconds 
and the warning light goes out 
– the  redengine oil pressure 
warning light 
p should re-
main off while the engine is 
running.
Engine oil
BMW recommends Castrol
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        Page 26 of 96
22
24
Safety check
Fuel
Refuelling 
d Warning:
The motorcycle’s fuel (petrol/
gasoline) is flammable and 
explosive. Do not smoke. 
Never bring a naked flame 
near the fuel tank in any cir-
cumstances.
Fuel expands when hot (for 
instance if the fuel tank is in 
the sun). For this reason, only 
fill as far as the lower edge of 
the filler neck.
e Attention:
Note that fuel containing lead 
will destroy the catalytic con-
verter.
Do not run the fuel tank dry or 
you may damage the engine or 
catalytic converter.
Wipe off plastic parts immedi-
ately if they are wetted with fuel.
 Place the motorcycle on its  main (centre) stand
– The ground surface should be  level and firm.
 Open fuel filler cap
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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
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