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

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63
Starting – Riding – Parking
Brakes
Dirt or mud on brakesWhen riding on loose surfaces
or muddy roads, the brakes
may fail to take effect immedi-
ately because of dirt or mois-
ture on the discs or brake pads.
d Warning:
The brakes have to clean
themselves before they start
to bite.
Dirt on the brakes increases
the rate of pad wear.
Oil and grease on brakes
d Warning:
Brake discs and pads must be
free from oil and grease.
d Warning:
If the brake lever can be moved
right to the limit of its travel,
this indicates a mechanical
or hydraulic fault. The brake
system is defective.
Immediately consult a special-
ist workshop, preferably an
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
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64
Starting – Riding – Parking
ABSOE – familiarisation phase
Sensitive electronic con-
trol
It takes skill and sensitive con-
trol of the brakes to pull up
safely on a motorcycle. If the
front wheel brake locks and the
wheel skids, the necessary lon-
gitudinal and lateral stabilising
forces are lost, and a fall can
result.
For this reason, the rider sel-
dom makes full use of available
braking performance in an
emergency.
Anti-lock braking at both
wheels greatly reduces the risk
of accidents even when road
conditions are poor, and short-
ens braking distance by making
more efficient use of the motor-
cycle’s braking capability.
ABS helps optimise safety in
emergency-braking situations
when the motorcycle is travel-
ling in a straight line.
Extra safety reservesBut remember: the potentially
shorter braking distances
which ABS permits must not be
used as an excuse for careless
riding. ABS is primarily a means
of ensuring a safety margin in
genuine emergencies.
– Never ride without due care and attention, or assume that
good fortune will protect you
from your own foolhardiness
– Keep within the permitted speed limits
– Take care when cornering. When you apply the brakes on
a corner, the motorcycle's
weight and momentum take
over and even ABS is unable
to counteract their effects
OEOptional extra
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65
Starting – Riding – Parking
d Warning:
Do not operate high-power
radio equipment on the mo-
torcycle. There is a slight risk
of it affecting operation of the
ABS.
ABS checkStart-up is automatic when the
ignition is switched on.
Warning light 1 comes on.
ABS self-diagnosis
When you start the engine and
pull away:
– Warning light 1 goes out if the
ABS is in correct working
order
OEOptional extra
ABS faults– ABS warning light 1 remains
on:
the ABS function is not availa-
ble
e Attention:
If the fault cannot be rectified,
immediately consult a specialist
workshop, preferably an
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)OE
1
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66
Starting – Riding – Parking
The ABS is taking effect:– if a pulsating sensation is per-ceptible through the hand-
brake lever or brake pedal
when you apply the brakes
L Note:
Pulsation at the brake lever indi-
cates that the ABS is in action.
The ABS prevents the rear
wheel lifting, depending on rid-
ing style and the applicable
boundary conditions.
e Attention:
If the brake lever can be moved
right to the limit of its travel, this
indicates a mechanical or hy-
draulic fault.
It is advisable to consult an
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer, and have the problem
rectified.
OEOptional extra
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)OE
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Starting – Riding – Parking
ABS is out of action:
d Warning:
If there is a fault in the ABS
system – as indicated by
warning light 1 –
the reserves of safety nor-
mally afforded by ABS are not
available until the defect has
been put right.
There is a risk of dropping the
motorcycle if the brakes are
applied too hard and the
wheels lock or the rear wheel
lifts clear of the ground as a
result of a high level of front
tyre adhesion.
OEOptional extra
d Warning:
The ABS shuts down after ap-
prox. 10 seconds if you ride
with only one wheel in con-
tact with the ground.
– at speeds below 6 km/h (3 mph) (or 12 km/h (6 mph) if
brake lever was actuated
beforehand)
– when the ignition is switched
off
– if the battery is defective or
flat (indicated by ABS warning
light)
– if there is a fault in the ABS
system (
b65)
The brakes remain fully
operational, though without
the reserves of safety
afforded by ABS.
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)OE
1
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Starting – Riding – Parking
1
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
OE
Off-road deactivationIn contrast to road riding, when
BMW ABS should always be
active in order to prevent wheel
lock and a resulting accident, it
may be desirable for the rider to
be able to lock a wheel or pre-
vent it from rotating on rough
terrain or loose surfaces. This is
the reason why the ABS can be
deactivated.
Deactivating ABS
d Warning:
Never activate or deactivate
the ABS unless the motorcy-
cle is at a standstill.
L Note:
The ABS function is reactivated
after you switch off the ignition
and switch it on again with the
motorcycle at a standstill.
OEOptional extra
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Starting – Riding – Parking
d Warning:
When the ABS is deactivated
– as indicated by ABS warning
light 1 flashing – none of the
safety reserves normally
offered by the anti-lock brak-
ing system are available until
the ABS function is reacti-
vated.
There is a risk of dropping the
motorcycle if the brakes are
applied too hard and the
wheels lock or the rear wheel
lifts clear of the ground as a
result of a high level of front
tyre adhesion.
After you press the starter
button, check whether the
ABS is still deactivated.  With the motorcycle at a
standstill and the engine run-
ning, press ABS button 2 and
hold it down for 3 seconds
– Warning light 1 starts flashing
 Release ABS button 2
– The ABS function is deacti- vated
– Warning light 1 continues
flashing, but at a slower rate,
to remind you that ABS has
been deactivatedOEOptional extra
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)OE
2
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70
Arrive safely
Know-how …In recent years, motorcycles’
technical design features have
become more and more
sophisticated.
Electronic engine management,
electronic ignition, the catalytic
converter or the use of four
valves per cylinder are clear
signs that far more than basic
technical knowledge may be
needed to solve certain prob-
lems. In addition, high-tech
materials are increasingly tak-
ing the place of conventional
ones, which again calls for thor-
ough and expert knowledge if
they are to be handled correctly
during repair work.
To be sure of achieving the nec-
essary standard, it is always
advisable to consult your
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.The authorised BMW motorcy-
cle dealer employs staff who
attend regular and comprehen-
sive training courses.
Authorised BMW motorcycle
dealers also receive all the cur-
rent technical information and
are therefore fully aware of the
latest developments.
… technical features …The authorised BMW motorcy-
cle dealer’s staff has the experi-
ence and all the necessary
facts at its disposal when it
comes to solving problems
quickly and effectively. Work-
shops are equipped with the
latest technical facilities, for
example the special tools
developed by BMW, such as
the
BMW diagnosis system and
exhaust emissions tester.
Reliability
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