Page 1 of 88

1
BMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
Instructions BMW Motorrad
On-board
document
ation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
Instructions
Rider's Manual
R 1150 RT
R 850 RT
10r22bkg3.book Seite 85 Montag, 30. Januar 2006 9:20 09
Page 20 of 88
2
18
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.
10r22bkg3.book Seite 18 Freitag, 27. Januar 2006 12:43 12
Page 29 of 88
2
27
Safety check
Checking brake pads
d Warning:
Have the brake pads replaced
before they wear to the mini-
mum permissible thickness:
have the work performed
by a specialist workshop,
preferably an authorised
BMW Motorrad dealer. Brake pad wear depends on
your personal style of riding.
To ensure reliable operation of
the brakes: do not allow lining
thickness to fall below minimum
value (
b Maintenance Instruc-
tions, Chapter 2).
Brake system - general
10r22bkg3.book Seite 27 Freitag, 27. Januar 2006 12:43 12
Page 30 of 88
2
28
Safety check
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABS
Checking brake fluid level
d Warning:
On a motorcycle equipped
with BMW Integral ABS, the
brake fluid level in the reser-
voir (
b 30, 31) does NOT drop
as the brake pads wear.
d Warning:
If brake fluid level in the fluid
reservoir (
b 30, 31) has
dropped below the MIN mark,
have the brake system
checked without delay by a
specialist workshop, prefera-
bly an authorised
BMW Motorrad dealer!
Changing brake fluid
d Warning:
Brake fluid is subject to
severe thermal loads and
absorbs moisture from the
atmosphere.
Consequently, the brake fluid
must be changed regularly
(see the Maintenance Instruc-
tions
b\bChapter 1) by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW Motorrad
dealer.
10r22bkg3.book Seite 28 Freitag, 27. Januar 2006 12:43 12
Page 35 of 88
2
33
Safety check
Lights
Checking lights
e Attention:
Check that all lights are opera-
tional at the start of
each journey.
\f Note:
If turn indicator repeater flashes
at twice the usual speed:
defective flasher bulb.
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), fog, rear, brake
and indicator lights:
(
b
Maintenance Instructions,
Chapter 2).
10r22bkg3.book Seite 33 Freitag, 27. Januar 2006 12:43 12
Page 47 of 88

3
45
Starting – Riding – Parking
Important notes
Catalytic converter
e Attention:
To avoid damage to the cata-
lytic converter:
Do not run the fuel tank dry
Push-start only when the
engine is cold
Do not run the engine with a
spark plug lead disconnected
Do not exceed the engine-
speed limits marked on the
revolution counter
Comply with all specified
maintenance intervals
Stop the engine at once if it
misfires
In the event of misfiring or a
severe drop in engine power,
consult a specialist work-
shop, preferably an author-
ised BMW motorcycle dealer
If misfiring or malfunction of the
fuel-air mixture preparation sys-
tem causes unburned fuel to
reach the catalytic converter,
there is a risk of it overheating
and being damaged.
Risk of fireHigh temperatures occur at the
exhaust system, particularly if a
catalytic converter is installed.
d Warning:
Make sure that whether riding
or standing still or when the
motorcycle is parked, no eas-
ily flammable material
(for example hay, grass,
leaves, clothing or luggage
etc.) can come into contact
with the hot exhaust system.
Do not allow the engine to
idle unnecessarily or for pro-
longed periods
– Risk of overheating or fire.
Ride away immediately after
starting the engine.
10r22bkg3.book Seite 45 Freitag, 27. Januar 2006 12:43 12
Page 55 of 88
3
53
Starting – Riding – Parking
Fully retracting the side
stand
\f Note:
If the side stand is extended
and a gear engaged, you can-
not start the motorcycle.
Select neutral– Neutral telltale light 1
green
k (b 7) is on
\f Note:
Engine does not start:
– Move the gear lever to
the
k\bposition or disengage
the clutch
Engine stops when first gear is
engaged:
– Fully retract the side stand; if
necessary, consult the trou-
bleshooting table
(
b Maintenance Instructions,
Chapter 2)
Before you start
1
10r22bkg3.book Seite 53 Freitag, 27. Januar 2006 12:43 12
Page 73 of 88

3
71
Starting – Riding – Parking
BMW Integral ABS - Fault table
General
warning
lighte ABS warning
light
l\b/ n Malfunctions
OFF ON Only RESIDUAL BRAKING FUNCTION
available in both circuits (
b 67)
OFF Flashes at 1 Hz ABS not available Pull-away test not completed (
b 68)
OFF Flashes at 4 Hz Only RESIDUAL BRAKING FUNCTION available in both circuits (
b 67)
Self-diagnosis not completed (b 68)
ON OFF Tail light/brake light defective (
b\bMaintenance Instructions, Chapter 2)
ON Flashes at 1 Hz At least one brake circuit without ABS (
b 66)
ON Flashes at 4 Hz At least one brake circuit in RESIDUAL BRAKING FUNCTION mode (
b 67)
Alternate
flashing at
1Hz Alternate flash-
ing at 1 Hz
Fluid level in BMW Integral ABS too low.
Check the motorcycle as follows:
–
Ignition OFF: is brake pressure OK at
the brake levers?
– Are the brakes acting on both wheels?
– Is the brake system leaktight, no signs
of brake fluid escaping?
The brake system is defective if the test
outcome is negative.
Alternate
flashing at 4
Hz Alternate flas-
hing at 4 Hz
Fluid level in the BMW Integral ABS is too
low, perform the checks listed above.
Only RESIDUAL BRAKING FUNCTION
available in at least one circuit (
b 67)
d Warning:
Do not ride the motorcycle if you
have any doubts about the
dependability of the brake system.
10r22bkg3.book Seite 71 Freitag, 27. Januar 2006 12:43 12