2004 BMW MOTORRAD K 1200 R brake pads

Status indicators230
• Have the fault rectified as quickly as possible by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW motor-
cycle dealer.
General warning light
flashes red once per
second.
ABS warning light flashes
once per second.
Fluid level in BMW Integral
ABS too low. You cannot check the flu-
id level in a wheel brake
circuit by observing the level in
the brake-fluid reservoir. c
Several factors, including very
badly worn brake pads, can
trigger this warning. Worn brake pads can
considerably lengthen
braking distances.
Think well ahead and brake
early. c
Worn brake pads can
damage the brake discs.
Avoid severe braking, if
possible. c
• Check the thickness of the brake pads (
b
94).
• Have worn brake pads
replaced as soon as possi-
ble by a specialist workshop,
preferably an authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer. If the brake pad thickness is
sufficient:
• Check the following func-
tions:
– Ignition off, brake pressure
present at the brake levers.
– Brakes acting on both
wheels.
– Brake system leaktight, no signs of brake fluid
escaping.
If the functions are not shown: There is a defect in the
brake system.
Do not continue to ride. c
If these functions are in order,
you can continue riding. How-
ever, bear in mind that a loss
of brake fluid that cannot be
detected might be the cause
of the warning.

Riding456
Safety checkPrior to every journeyUse the following checklist to
check important functions,
settings and wear limits before
starting to ride.Checklist–Brakes (
b
93)
– Brake fluid level (
b
95)
–Clutch (
b
96)
– Clutch fluid level (
b
97)
– Warning and telltale lights (
b
20)
– Shock absorber setting (
b
48) and spring preload
(
b
47)
–Rims (
b
98), tread depth
(
b
98) and tyre pressure
(
b
51, 130)
– Load, gross weight (
b
140)
– Luggage system At regular intervals:
– Engine oil level (every time
you refuel) (
b
89)
– Brake pads (every second/ third time you refuel) (
b
93)
First time outSafe handling of your
motorcycleYou have to take the time to
familiarise yourself with your
motorcycle's unique
character:
– Acceleration
– Roadholding
– Cornering
–Braking
Bear in mind, too, that the
engine has to be run in over
the first 1,000 km (
b
63). The description of the BMW
Integral ABS
OE starts on page
(
b
75).
BMW Integral ABS
OE
incorporates a brake
booster, so braking efficiency
is significantly higher than with
conventional brake systems.
Inadvertently severe braking
can lead to dangerous situa-
tions, particularly when the
motorcycle is cornering.
Practice braking with BMW
Integral ABS
OE under safe
conditions.c

Riding464
Brake padsNew brake pads must "bed
down" and therefore do not
achieve their optimum friction
levels during the first 500 km.
This initial reduction in braking
efficiency can be compen-
sated for by exerting greater
pressure on the levers.New brake pads can
considerably lengthen
the braking distance.
Think well ahead and brake
carefully; avoid severe
braking. c
TyresNew 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 run-
ning in procedure is essential if
the tyres are to achieve maxi-
mum grip.
Tyres do not have their
full grip when new and
there is a risk of accident at
extreme angles of heel.
Avoid extreme angles of
heel. c
Shifting gearEngine speedDo not use the high end of the
engine-revolutions range in
any gear unless the engine is
at operating temperature.
When the revolution counter
needle enters the red zone on
the dial, the throttle-valve
angle is limited in order to pro-
tect the engine against over-
speeding. The governor cuts
in at 11,000 rpm.

475Riding
Wet brakes After washing the motor-
cycle, after riding through
water or when it is raining, the
braking effect can be delayed
due to damp brake discs and
brake pads.
Bear in mind that this extends
your stopping distance, be-
cause the brakes have to ei-
ther dry out as you ride, or dry
themselves when applied. c
Salt on brakes The brakes may fail to
take effect immediately if
the motorcycle was ridden on
salt-covered roads and the
brakes were not applied for
some time.
Bear in mind that this extends
your stopping distance, be- cause the force of friction has
to remove the layer of salt
when the brakes are applied.c
Oil or grease on the brake
Oil and grease deposits
on brake discs and pads
considerably reduce the brak-
ing effect.
It is particularly important to
check the brake pads and
discs after repair and
maintenance work is carried
out, to make sure they are free
of oil and grease. c
Dirt or mud on brakes When riding on loose sur-
faces or muddy roads,
the brakes may fail to take ef-
fect immediately because of
dirt or moisture on the discs or
brake pads. Bear in mind that this extends
your stopping distance, be-
cause the brakes have to
clean themselves when
applied.
c
BMW Integral ABS
OE
In extreme situations, it takes
skill and sensitive control of
the brakes to pull up safely on
a motorcycle. If the front wheel
brake locks and the wheel
skids, the necessary longitudi-
nal and lateral stabilising
forces are lost, and a fall can
result. For this reason, the
rider seldom makes full use of
available braking performance
in an emergency.
By preventing both wheels
from locking and optimising
braking-force distribution by
means of the integral function,

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:

Maintenance696
If there is too little brake
fluid in the brake-fluid
reservoir, air can enter the
brake system. This causes a
serious reduction in braking
efficiency.
Think well ahead and brake
carefully; avoid severe
braking. c
Under normal operating condi-
tions the brake fluid level can-
not drop below the MIN mark.
• Check the brake pads.
• Check the brake system for
leaks.
• Have the fault rectified as
soon as possible by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer. Vehicles with ABS
OE
The brake fluid level re-
mains constant despite
wear of the brake pads. c
Any drop in brake-fluid level,
even if the level remains above
the MIN mark, is indicative of a
fault in the brake system.If the
brake fluid level falls:
• Have the fault rectified as soon as possible by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer.
ClutchChecking operation• Pull the clutch lever.
» The pressure point must be clearly perceptible.
Do not ride the motorcycle if
you have any doubts about the
dependability of the clutch. In
this case:
• Have the clutch checked by a specialist workshop, pref-
erably an authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer.