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47
Safety check
2
e Attention:
Do not exceed the gross weight
limit of 450 kg.
Do not exceed the wheel load
limits of 180 kg at the front and
300 kg at the rear.
Set the shock absorbers,
spring preload and tyre pres-
sures to suit gross weight
(
b 41, 42, 44).
The gross weight consists of:
– Motorcycle with full tank
– Rider
– Passenger
–Luggage
Accessories and loads
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48
Starting - Riding - Parking
3
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, the engine is
not yet fully run in.
e Attention:
BMW Integral ABSOE incorpo-
rates a brake booster, so brak-
ing efficiency is significantly
higher than with conventional
brake systems.
d Warning:
The tyres need to cover a cer-
tain distance before they ac-
quire their full road grip
(b 57).
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.
OEOptional extra
Your first journey
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49
Starting - Riding - Parking
3
Your first journey
Safe motorcycling does not
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 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
BMW Integral ABSOE
Motorcycle equipped with
BMW Integral ABS (
b 68)
d Warning:
When the ignition is switched
off or if the BMW Integral ABS
fails, only a RESIDUAL BRAK-
ING FUNCTION remains
available for slowing the
motorcycle (
b 71).
Under these circumstances
you must apply CONSIDERA-
BLY higher pressure to the
brake levers in order to apply
the brakes, and lever travel is
longer
2(Optional extra
Risk of poisoningExhaust fumes contain carbon
monoxide, which is colourless
and odourless but highly toxic.
d Warning:
Inhaling the exhaust fumes
therefore represents a health
hazard 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 engine manage-
ment system (Motronic) 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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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 cap 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 ex-
ample 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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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
Use your left foot at the exten-
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 dismount
Turn the handlebars to full left
lock (
b 9)
Check that the motorcycle
is firmly supported
Side stand
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Removing motorcycle
from side stand
d Warning:
Note that on a motorcycle fitted
with BMW Integral ABS
OE only a
RESIDUAL BRAKING
FUNCTION (
b 71 ) is available if
the ignition is switched off.
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 (
b 9)
– 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
2(Optional extra
Side stand
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Placing motorcycle on
centre stand
d Warning:
For safety reasons, never sit
on the motorcycle with the
centre stand extended.
e Attention:
Stop the engine before using
the centre stand.
Make sure the surface under
the stand is firm.
Switch off the ignition
Hold the left handlebar grip
with your left hand
Hold the frame with your right
hand
Place your right foot on the
extension pin of the centre
stand and press it down until
the curved shoes of the stand
touch the ground
Place your right foot on the
tread surface of the centre
stand
Apply all your body weight to
the centre stand
Pull the motorcycle to the rear
and upwards (arrow) until it
rests on the centre stand
Check that the motorcycle
is firmly supported
Centre stand
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