2004 BMW MOTORRAD K 1200 GT ABS

38
Safety check
2
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABS
Checking brake fluid level
 Warning:
On a motorcycle equipped
with BMW Integral ABS, the
brake fluid level in the reser-
voir (

40) does NOT drop as
the brake pads wear.
 Warning:
Have the brake system
checked immediately by a
specialist workshop, prefera-
bly an authorised BMW mo-
torcycle dealer, if the brake
fluid level in the reservoir of
the brake system (

40) drops
below the MIN mark.
Changing the brake fluid
 Warning:
Brake fluid is exposed to
severe thermal loads, and
absorbs moisture from the
atmosphere.
Consequently, the brake fluid
must be changed regularly
(

Maintenance Instruc-
tions, Chapter 1) by a special-
ist workshop, preferably an
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
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22
39
Safety check
2
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABS
RESIDUAL BRAKING
FUNCTION
 Warning:
When the ignition is switched
off, before and during self-diag-
nosis (

78), or if the B MW Inte-
gral ABS fails, only a RESIDUAL
BRAKING FUNCTION (

77)
remains available for slowing
the motorcycle.
When the RESIDUAL BRAKING
FUNCTION is active, you must
apply CONSIDERABLY higher
pressure to the brake levers in
question in order to apply the
brakes, and lever travel is
longer.
When the RESIDUAL BRAKING
FUNCTION is active, the ABS
function is unavailable in the
brake systems in question.
 Warning:
When the RESIDUAL BRAK-
ING FUNCTION is active,
maintain a defensive riding
style and proceed immediate-
ly to the nearest specialist
workshop, preferably an au-
thorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.

Note:
When the RESIDUAL BRAKING
FUNCTION for the front brake is
active, it is advisable to set ad-
juster A (

35) of the handbrake
lever to position 4.
10k41bkg3.book Seite 39 Donnerstag, 27. Mai 2004 5:30 17

40
Safety check
2
Checking front brake fluid
level
 Warning:
Never permit the brake fluid
level to drop below the mini-
mum level (MIN mark).
• Place motorcycle on main
(centre) stand
– Make sure the ground is level and firm • Turn the handlebars fully to
the left
• Check brake fluid level in
sight glass
MIN Minimum level
(top of marking ring)

Note:
The brake fluid level in the
brake fluid reservoir remains
constant despite wear of the
brake pads.
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABS
MIN
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22
41
Safety check
2
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABS
Brake fluid level, rear
brake
• Warning lights 1 and 2
(

81) in the array of telltale
and warning lights flash alter-
nately if the fluid in the reser-
voir drops below the minimum
permissible level
*n depending on national-market
specification

Note:
The brake fluid level in the
brake fluid reservoir remains
constant despite wear of the
brake pads.
1*2
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46
Safety check
2
1
 Warning:
Before the journey starts, ad-
just the rear shock absorber to
suit the gross weight and load
on the motorcycle.
If spring preload is changed,
it is essential to adjust the
shock-absorber setting
accordingly.
• Place motorcycle on main stand (

62)
• Adjust the rear shock absorber by turning adjuster 1
as follows: Basic setting
(one-up):
• Turn the adjuster all the way clockwise as indicated by the
H arrow
• Then turn the adjuster one full
turn counter-clockwise in the
direction indicated by the S
arrow
Hard setting “H”:
• Turn the adjuster all the way clockwise as indicated by the
H arrow
Soft setting “S”:
• Turn the adjuster all the way counter-clockwise as indi-
cated by the S arrow
Shock-absorber adjustment
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22
51
Safety check
2
Accessories and loads
 Attention:
Never exceed the motorcycle's
permissible gross weight limit of
500 kg (1,102 lbs). Do not
exceed the wheel load limits of
200 kg (441 lbs) at the front and
330 kg (728 lbs) at the rear.
Adjust the shock absorber and
rear spring settings to suit
gross weight (

45, 46).
The gross weight consists of:
– Motorcycle with full tank
–Rider
– Passenger
– Luggage
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56
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 cov-
ered 1,000 kilometres (approx.
600 miles), the engine is not yet
fully run in.
 Attention:
BMW Integral ABS incorporates
a brake booster, so braking ef-
ficiency is significantly higher
than with conventional brake
systems.
 Warning:
The tyres need to cover a cer-
tain distance before they ac-
quire their full road grip
(
65).
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.
Your first journey
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58
Starting – Riding – Parking
3
Important notes
Risk of fatal injuryYour motorcycle is equipped
with Digital Motor Electronics
(Motronic) and a high-power
ignition system.
 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.
BMW Integral ABS
 Warning:
When the ignition is switched
off or if the BMW Integral ABS
fails, only a RESIDUAL BRAK-
ING FUNCTION remains availa-
ble for slowing the motorcycle
(

77).
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
Risk of poisoningExhaust fumes contain carbon
monoxide, which is colourless
and odourless but highly toxic.
 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.
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