2003 BMW MOTORRAD F 650 GS DAKAR Rider's Manual (in English)

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Reliability
Regular visits to the workshop
for routine servicing are
strongly recommended even
after the warranty period has
expired. They are the only way
to be genuinely certain that your
BMW is being kept in perfect
working order.
For generous treatment of
claims submitted after the war-
ranty period has expired, evi-
dence of regular maintenance
by an authorised BMW motor-
cycle dealer is essential.
Certain signs of wear, moreo-
ver, may otherwise not be
noticed until it is too late to put
them right at moderate cost.
The staff in the authorised BMW
motorcycle dealer’s workshop
know every detail of your
motorcycle and can take reme-
dial action if necessary before
minor faults develop into seri-
ous problems. By having the
necessary repairs done prop-
erly and in good time, you save
time and money in the long run.
…serviceYou can obtain accurate advice
in all cases, and make appoint-
ments with a firm completion
deadline which we will comply
with punctually. But the most
gratifying feeling of all is that
your BMW is in genuinely good
shape when it leaves the
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer's workshop – and above
all, safe.
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Arrive safely
Service worldwide
BMW Service CardA Service Card is available for
all new BMW motorcycles.
A wide range of emergency-
assistance services are in place
to help you in the unlikely event
of a problem occurring some-
where far from home.
If you have a breakdown any-
where in Europe, just call our
Central Emergency Service
number from any telephone.
Our experts are on duty there
day and night to arrange assist-
ance for you. They can provide
practical advice on what to do
next and can make arrange-
ments on your behalf, for exam-
ple notifying local emergency
services anywhere in Europe,
recovery and transportation of
the motorcycle to the nearest
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer, a taxi for you, and even
a replacement vehicle and hotel
accommodation, if necessary.
BMW Service worldwideAnd if your travels take you
even further afield, you have no
need to worry: we are repre-
sented in more than 100 coun-
tries of the world.
L Note:
Call us if you have any questions
about the BMW dealership net-
work. You can contact us from
any European country on a tele-
phone hotline. The phone num-
bers are listed in the "Service
Contact / Service Kontakt"
booklet (see on-board docu-
mentation). Or if you prefer you
can use the homepage address
to contact us on the Internet.
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Environmental protection
Development …Motorcyclists have an intensive
relationship with nature. BMW
has made sure that they con-
tinue to enjoy the best possible
prospects for successful riding
in the future.
This not only because your new
BMW is available with exhaust
emission control by closed-
loop, three-way catalytic con-
verter.
… waste disposal …Behind the scenes, in the repair
shop, we do not neglect the
pro-environmental aspects of
our work either.
Wherever possible, we use
environmentally acceptable
biodegradable materials. We
ensure strict compliance with
all environmental legislation, for
example the correct disposal of
old oil, which is now classified
as hazardous waste in many
countries.
…recyclingAlongside the correct disposal
of environmentally hazardous
materials, recycling is another
high-priority issue for BMW.
For example, plastics that are
marked according to type can
more easily be returned to the
materials cycle. Remember:
when it comes to making
repairs to your motorcycle, the
authorised BMW motorcycle
workshop is far better equipped
to protect the environment than
you are at home.
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BMW rider’s equipment
The essentialsTo reach your destination safely
every time, there’s only one
choice:
Helmet
Suit
 Gloves
 Boots
It is foolhardy to ride without
these items of clothing. This
applies even to the shortest
journeys, and to every season
of the year.
Well-planned riding pleas-
ure
Many motorcyclists have
learned the hard way that the
proper clothing contributes so
much to riding pleasure. You
must feel comfortable and
relaxed – and your own safety
must never be endangered.
There is no doubt about it:
when buying motorcycling
clothing, you simply cannot set
your sights too high. It is good
to know that the BMW brand
can be trusted to supply you
with safe, high-quality rider's
clothing as well.
Information on the latest prod-
ucts is always available from
your authorised BMW motorcy-
cle dealer.
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Always an idea aheadThis is our motto – and it is one
we live up to. For many years
now, BMW has offered the
enthusiast everything capable
of enhancing the fascination of
motorcycling. A unique pro-
gramme that is regularly
updated and offers plenty of
scope for choosing items
according to individual prefer-
ences.
Ask your authorised BMW
motorcycle dealer for the latest
upgrades and retrofits.Every BMW accessory product
is made to the same exemplary
standards of design, function
and quality as the motorcycle
itself. This calls for a great deal
of experience, but our engi-
neers are themselves enthusi-
astic motorcyclists who know
what is needed. Whenever
development work starts on a
new motorcycle, equipment
items are also taken into con-
sideration and their practical
value confirmed by extensive
testing. This is your guarantee
of the high quality you expect
from BMW.
BMW motorcycle accessories
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Training means extra safety
Cornering and braking
need to be practised
Develop a "sixth sense" for
potentially dangerous situa-
tions. What this means: look
ahead, plan how to avoid possi-
bly dangerous situations and
study other road users’ behav-
iour with a degree of healthy
scepticism.
– Take bends smoothly and rhythmically, avoiding harsh
braking and acceleration
– Approach bends slower than
you feel they can be taken; a
neat riding style will get you to
your destination more safely
than sheer speed
– Ride at the inner edge of the
ideal line, look ahead and plan
to leave the bend as smoothly
as you entered it Allow for reaction time when
judging braking distances.
– At 50 km/h (approx. 30 mph),
for instance, every second
lost represents a further dis-
tance of about 14 metres
(46 feet) before the brakes are
applied
– At 90 km/h (approx. 55 mph),
this distance grows to
25 metres (82 feet).
Practice applying the brakes
with and without an extra load
on the motorcycle, and study its
reactions on various kinds of
road surface.
Work up to the wheel lock limit
gradually.
BMW has a worthwhile safety
contribution to make in this area
too – BMW Safety Training.
These programs are a wonder-
ful opportunity:
systematic basic and follow-up
training enables you to master
situations close to the limit and
keep your motorcycle under
supreme control whatever hap-
pens.
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Concluding thoughts
Now it’s your turn Regular care is important, with all functions checked
before the journey starts.
 Use only genuine BMW accessories. They comply
with all the relevant safety
requirements and are per-
fectly matched to the BMW
model that you ride
 Your authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer is
best placed to service your
motorcycle
 Do not under any circum- stances install unapproved
accessories. They may give
rise to a safety risk, and inval-
idate your insurance policy
and the motorcycle's general
operating permit
 Technical modifications should always be entrusted to
the trained specialists
employed by your authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer.
L Note:
Your local
BMW motorcycle dealer can
supply you with useful items to
accompany the Maintenance
Instructions.
– BMW Repair Manual
–BMW set of circuit diagrams
It's good to know you've
thought of everything, isn't it?
Our aim is to make your
journey safer
We want you to reach all your
destinations safely – and we
want you to enjoy riding your
BMW as a constant source of
relaxed pleasure and satisfac-
tion.
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Indice alfabetico
AABS shutdown button, 6
Adjusting headlight beam throw, 44
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) Check, 65
Notes, 64
Self-diagnosis, 65
Troubleshooting, 65
Anti-lock braking system (ABS) Deactivation, 68
BBrake fluid levelChecking, 32
front brake, 33
Brake system, checking, 30
Brake-fluid level Checking
rear brake, 34
CCatalytic converter, 49Safety instructions, 49
Chain, 37
Checking brake pads, 31, 34
Clock, 6, 10
Clutch lever, 28
Clutch lever play, adjusting, 28
Cockpit, 6
Coolant, 43
Coolant level Check, 43
DDrive chain
Check, 37
EEmergency off (kill) switch for ignition, 13
Engine oil, 25
Engine oil pressure Telltale light, 59
Environmental protection, 73
FFront brake Brake fluid level, 33
Handbrake lever, 29
Fuel Octane number, 27
Fuel filler cap, 26
Fuel level Checking, 26
Fuel tank Capacity, 27
Fuel tank capacity, 59
Fuse box, 5
GGearbox in neutral Telltale light, 7
Gearshifts, 60, 61
General view Left side, 4
Right side, 5
A - G
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