2003 BMW MOTORRAD F 650 GS parking brake

44
Safety check
2
Checking lights
e Attention:
Always check that all lights are
in full working order before rid-
ing off.
L Note:
If turn indicator repeater flashes
at twice the usual speed:
Defective flasher bulb.
To change bulbs in parking
lights, high-beam or low-beam
headlight, rear light and brake
light:
(
b Maintenance Instructions,
Chapter 2)
Adjusting headlight for
RHD/LHD traffic
If the motorcycle is ridden in a
country where the opposite rule
of the road applies, its asym-
metric low headlight beam will
tend to dazzle oncoming traffic.
Consult a specialist workshop,
preferably an authorised BMW
motorcycle dealer, to have the
headlight adjusted to suit
whichever rule of the road
applies.
e Attention:
Adhesive films with unsuitable
adhesives can damage the
headlight lens.
Lights
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3
50
Starting – Riding – Parking
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; select 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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3
51
Starting – Riding – ParkingRemoving motorcycle
from side stand
d Warning:
Make sure the side stand is
fully retracted before you ride
off.
– Allowing the motorcycle to roll with the side 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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3
55
Starting – Riding – Parking
Running in
Running 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.
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
achieve maximum grip.
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3
62
Starting – Riding – Parking
Brakes
Wet bra kesAfter the motorcycle has been
washed, ridden through water
or ridden in the rain, the brake
discs and pads may be wet (or
iced-over in winter), and may
not take effect immediately.
d Warning:
The brakes have to dry before
they start to bite.
Salt on brakesThe brakes may fail to take
effect immediately if the motor-
cycle was ridden on salt-cov-
ered roads and the brakes were
not applied for some time.
d Warning:
The layer of salt on the brake
discs and pads has to be
worn off before the brakes
start to bite.
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3
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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3
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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3
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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