2004 BMW MOTORRAD K 1200 R maintenance

Maintenance688
The "Maintenance" chapter
describes work involving the
replacement of wear parts that
can be performed with mini-
mum effort.
The types of threaded fastener
used for the various compo-
nents are listed on (
b
128).
You can use this chart to set
aside the required tools.
If special tightening torques
are to be taken into account
for assembly, these are also
listed. Screw connections for
which there is a suitable tool in
the toolkit are marked addi-
tionally. If you are interested in informa-
tion on more extensive work,
we recommend the repair
manual on CD-ROM which
applies to your particular
motorcycle. You can obtain a
copy of this from your author-
ised BMW motorcycle dealer.

689Maintenance
ToolkitThe toolkit is on the underside
of the seat.
You can obtain a more exten-
sive, additional set of tools
from your authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer.
Contents of the basic toolkit:1 Screwdriver with reversible
blade
2 Torx wrench, T25
3 Screwdriver, small Contents of supplementary
toolkit
OA:
1 Screwdriver blade
2 Socket wrench, w/f 17
3 Spark plug socket spanner
4 Open-ended spanner,
w/f 17
5 TORX® wrenches, T40,
T45, T50
Engine oilChecking the engine
oil levelCheck the oil level at regular
intervals.
The oil level depends on
the oil temperature. The
higher the temperature the
higher the oil level in the oil
tank.
Check the engine oil level
immediately after a lengthy
journey. c
The oil that drains into the
sump while the motorcy-
cle is not in use has to be
pumped back into the oil tank
before you read the oil level.
The engine oil must be at op-
erating temperature. Checking
the oil level with the engine
cold or after no more than a

Maintenance690
short ride will lead to misinter-
pretation; this, in turn, means
that the engine will be operat-
ed with the incorrect quantity
of oil.
In order to ensure that the en-
gine oil level is read correctly,
check the oil level only after a
lengthy trip.c
• Make sure the engine is at operating temperature and
hold the motorcycle upright
or place it on the centre
stand, after ensuring that the
ground is level and firm.
• Allow the engine to idle for
one minute.
• Switch off the ignition.
• Read off the oil level. 1
Indicator for engine-oil
level
• Check the oil level in oil-level indicator 1. 2
Maximum engine oil level
3 Minimum engine oil level
The oil level must be between
the MIN and MAX marks. The
difference is approx. 0.5 litres.

If the oil level is below the
MIN mark:
• Top up the engine oil.
If the oil level is above the
MAX mark:
• Correct the level by draining off some of the engine oil.
Damage to the engine
can result if it is operated
without enough oil, but the
same also applies if the oil lev-
el is too high. Always make
sure that the oil level is
correct. c

691Maintenance
The engine can seize if
the oil level is low, and
this can lead to accidents.
Always make sure that the oil
level is correct. c
Topping up the engine oil Remove the seat (
b
44).
Wipe the area around the filler neck clean.
Remove the cap from engine
oil filler neck 1. Top up with fresh oil until the
level is at midway mark A.
Check the oil level.
Repeat the filling and check- ing procedure until the
engine oil level is between
the MIN and MAX marks.
Reinstall the cap in the filler neck.
Draining off engine oil Remove the seat (
b
44).
Squeeze the retainer of transparent hose 2 on the
left and right and pull it up
out of the oil tank.
Pull the transparent hose
down out of the frame and
drain off the oil into a suitable
container.
Insert the transparent hose into the oil tank and secure
it.
Check the oil level.
Repeat the draining and
checking procedure until the
engine oil level is between
the MIN and MAX marks.
Store the excess engine oil
or dispose of it in an
environmentally responsible
manner.

Maintenance692
Coolant Checking coolant levelCheck the coolant level at reg-
ular intervals. 1 Display for coolant level
Check the coolant level in
coolant indicator 1.
2 Maximum coolant level
3 Minimum coolant level
The coolant level must be
between the MIN and
MAX marks.
If the coolant level is below the
MIN mark:
Top up the coolant.
Topping up coolant
Do not open the cooling
system while the engine
is hot, otherwise you may
scald yourself on the resultant
coolant steam. c
Remove the cap from cool- ant filler neck 1.
Add coolant.
Check the coolant level.
Repeat the filling and check-
ing procedure until the cool-
ant level is between the MIN
and MAX marks.

693Maintenance
Reinstall the cap in the cool-ant filler neck.BrakesA properly functioning brake
system is a basic requirement
for the road safety of your
motorcycle.
Incorrect working prac-
tices endanger the relia-
bility of the brakes. Have all
work on the brake system car-
ried out by a specialist work-
shop, preferably an authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer. cChecking the functionDo not ride the motorcycle if
you have any doubts about the
dependability of the brake
system. In this case: Have the brake system
checked by a specialist
workshop, preferably an
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
Vehicles without ABS
Press the handbrake lever.
» The pressure point must be clearly perceptible.
Press the footbrake lever.
» The pressure point must be
clearly perceptible.
Vehicles with ABS
OE
Switch on the ignition.
Wait for ABS self-diagnosis to complete.
Press the handbrake lever.
» The pressure point must be clearly perceptible.
» The operating noise of the hydraulic pump must be
audible.
Press the footbrake lever. » The pressure point must be
clearly perceptible.
» The operating noise of the hydraulic pump must be
audible.
Brake pads
Brake pads worn past the
minimum permissible
thickness can impair braking
efficiency and under certain
circumstances they can cause
damage to the brake system.
In order to ensure the depend-
ability of the brake system, do
not permit the brake pads to
wear past the minimum per-
missible thickness. c

Maintenance694
Checking front brake pad
thickness Make sure the ground is level and firm and place the
motorcycle on its centre
stand
OE or side stand.
Visually inspect the left and right brake pads to ascertain
their thickness. Wear indicating mark
1 must
be clearly visible on the pads.
If the wear indicating mark is
no longer clearly visible:
Have the brake pads replaced by a specialist
workshop, preferably by an
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
Checking rear brake pad
thickness Make sure the ground is
level and firm and place the
motorcycle on its centre
stand
OE or side stand.
Visually inspect the brake pads from the right to ascer-
tain their thickness.

695Maintenance
Make sure that the brake disc
is not visible through bore 1 in
the inboard brake block. If the
brake disc is visible:
Have the brake pads replaced, preferably by an
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.Checking brake fluid
level
A low fluid level in the
brake reservoir can allow
air to penetrate the brake sys-
tem. This causes a serious reduction in braking efficiency.
Avoid severe braking, if
possible.
c
1 Front brake-fluid reservoir
2MIN mark

1Rear brake-fluid reservoir
2MIN mark
Hold the motorcycle upright or place it on the centre
stand, after making sure the
ground is level and firm.
Make sure the handlebars are in the straight-ahead
position.
Read off the brake fluid level at the reservoir.
Motorcycle without ABS The brake fluid level in
the reservoir drops as the
brake pads wear.c
Do not permit the brake fluid
level to drop below the MIN
mark. If the brake fluid level
drops below the MIN mark: