Page 5 of 96

3
i
Introduction
Starting – Riding – Parking
First time out ................. 50-51
Important notes ............. 52-53
Side stand ..................... 54-55
Main (centre) stand ........ 56-57
Running in ..................... 58-59
Before you start ............. 60-61
Starting ......................... 62-63
Telltale and warning
lights ............................. 64-65
Rider Information
Display (FID) .................. 66-67
Riding and changing
gear ............................... 68-69
Brake system
- general ........................ 70-71
Brake system
- with BMW Integral ABS 72-78
BMW Integral ABS
- Troubleshooting chart ....... 79Arrive safely!
Arrive safely....................80-81
Service worldwide ............... 82
Environmental protection .... 83
BMW rider’s equipment ....... 84
BMW motorcycle equipment85
Training means extra safety. 86
Concluding thoughts ........... 87
Index ..............................88-92
Contents
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22
38
Safety check
Checking lights
e Attention:
Check that all lights are opera-
tional at the start of each journey.
OE Optional extra
L Note:
If turn indicator repeater flashes
at twice the usual speed: defec-
tive turn indicator bulb.
BMW Integral ABS
OE:
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 Instructions,
Chapter 2).
Lights
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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
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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.
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33
54
Starting – Riding – Parking
Placing the motorcycle on
the 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 to stop
the engine
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 the full
left lock position (
b 9)
Check that the motorcycle
is supported firmly
Side stand
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3
55
3
Starting – Riding – ParkingRemoving motorcycle
from side stand
d Warning:
If the motorcycle is fitted with
BMW Integral ABS
OE, only RESI-
DUAL BRAKING FUNCTIONA-
LITY is available when the
ignition is switched off (
b 75 ) .
Make sure the side stand is fully
retracted before you ride off.
– Riding with the side stand
extended represents a
safety risk. Turn the ignition key to the “
R”
or “ ON” position (
b 9)
– Handlebars unlocked
Both feet on the ground, no weight on the motorcycle
Hold the left handlebar grip
with your left hand
Keep your right hand on the
right handlebar grip and the
handbrake lever
Slowly raise the motorcycle to
the upright position and keep
it balanced
Sit on the motorcycle and use your left foot to retract the
side stand
OEOptional extra
Side stand
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Page 61 of 96
3
59
3
Starting – Riding – Parking
Running in
Bedding in new brake
pads
d Warning:
New brake pads must “bed
down” and therefore do not
achieve their optimum friction
levels during the first 500 km
(300 miles).
This slight initial reduction in
braking efficiency can be
compensated for by exerting
greater pressure on the lever.
Try to avoid all unnecessary
hard braking during this initial
period.
e Attention:
Comply with the notes on
BMW Integral ABS
OE
(b 72-79).
OEOptional extra
Running in new tyres
d Warning:
New tyres have a smooth sur-
face. This must be roughened
by riding in a restrained man-
ner at various heel angles
until the tyres are run in.
This running in procedure is
essential if the tyres are to
reach their maximum level of
grip.
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33
64
Starting – Riding – Parking
123*4
Battery charge currentWarning light1 goes out above
idle speed.
e Attention:
If telltale light 1 comes on while
the motorcycle is being ridden:
consult a specialist workshop,
preferably an authorised BMW
motorcycle dealer.
OEOptional extra
*
n depending on national-market
specification
Low fuel levelWhen the warning light 2
comes on, there are still
approx. 4 litres (0.9 Imp. gal) of
fuel in the tank.
ABS warning lightOE
The ABS warning light 3 lights
up if the BMW Integral ABS
develops a fault (
b 79)
Warning light, general General warning light 4 lights
up if the BMW Integral ABSOE
develops a fault (b 79), or if the
tail light or brake light is defec-
tive.
Telltale and warning lights
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