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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 (approx.
600 miles), the engine is not yet
fully run in.
d Warning:
The tyres need to cover a cer-
tain distance before they ac-
quire their full road grip
(b55).
Your first journey
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First time out
If you ride at high speed, always
bear in mind that various
boundary conditions such as
the spring preload setting and
the shock absorber setting, an
unbalanced luggage load,
loose clothing, low tyre pres-
sure, poor tyre tread, and so on,
can affect the handling of your
motorcycle.
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 and off-
road 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.
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Important notes
Risk of poisoningExhaust fumes contain carbon
monoxide, which is colourless
and odourless but highly toxic.
d Warning:
Inhaling exhaust fumes there-
fore represents a health haz-
ard 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 a digital electronic engine
management system and a
high-power ignition 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 engine electronics.
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Starting – Riding – Parking
Important notes
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 of time
– risk of overheating or fire.
Ride away immediately after
starting the engine.
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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 is misfiring
In the event of misfiring or a
severe drop in engine power,
consult a specialist work-
shop, preferably an author-
ised BMW motorcycle dealer.
e Attention:
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.
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Placing motorcycle on
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
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 full left
lock (
b9)
Check that the motorcycle
is firmly supported
Side stand
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Removing motorcycle
from side stand
d Warning:
Make sure the side stand is fully
retracted before you ride off.
– Riding with the side (prop) stand extended represents
a safety risk.
Turn the ignition key to the “R” or “ON” position (
b9)
– 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
Side stand
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Starting – Riding – Parkinge Attention:
Exceeding the specified engine
speeds while running in will lead
to increased engine wear.
L Note:
While running in the motorcy-
cle, vary the throttle opening
and engine-speed range fre-
quently.
Try to do most of your riding
during this initial period on
twisting, fairly hilly roads rather
than high-speed main roads
and highways.
Running-in speedsFrom 0 to 1,000 km (600 miles)
Engine speed max. 5,000 rpm and no full-load acceleration
The first inspection should
always be performed after
1,000 km (approx. 600 miles).
Make an appointment with your
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer in good time, so that the
work can be performed punctu-
ally.
From 1,000 to 2,000 km
(600 to 1,200 miles)
Engine speeds can be gradually increased after 1,000 km
(600 miles)
Avoid lengthy periods at full load until 2,000 km
(1,200 miles) have been cov-
ered
Running in
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