2004 BMW MOTORRAD K 1200 R cooling

455Riding
– Do not ride the motorcycle with the fuel tank empty.
– Do not run the engine with the spark-plug cap removed.
– In the event of engine misfir-
ing, stop the engine
immediately.
– Only refuel using unleaded fuel.
– Be sure to adhere to the
prescribed maintenance
intervals.
Unburned fuel destroys
the catalytic converter.
Note the points listed for
protection of the catalytic
converter. c
Risk of fireHigh temperatures occur at
the exhaust pipe.
Flammable materials
(e.g. hay, leaves, grass,
clothing and luggage, etc.)
could ignite if allowed to come
into contact with the hot ex-
haust pipe.
Do not permit flammable ma-
terials to come into contact
with the hot exhaust system.c
Cooling would be inade-
quate if the engine were
allowed to idle for a lengthy
period with the motorcycle at a
standstill: overheating would
result. In extreme cases, the
motorcycle could catch fire.
Do not allow the engine to idle
unnecessarily. Ride away im-
mediately after starting the
engine. c
Tampering with
electronic engine
management system
Tampering with the con-
trol unit of the electronic
engine-management system
can damage the motorcycle
and cause accidents.
Do not tamper with the control
unit of the electronic engine-
management system. c
Tampering with the con-
trol unit of the electronic
engine-management system
can result in mechanical loads
that the motorcycle's compo-
nents are not designed to
withstand. Damage caused in
this way is not covered by the
warranty.
Do not tamper with the control
unit of the electronic engine-
management system. c

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.

7123
Care
PlasticsClean plastic parts with water
and BMW plastic care
emulsion. This includes in
particular:
– Windscreens
– Headlight lenses made of plastic
– Covering glass of the instru- ment cluster
– Black, unpainted parts
If plastic parts are
cleaned using unsuitable
cleaning agents, the surfaces
can be damaged.
Do not use cleaning agents
that contain alcohol, solvents
or abrasives to clean plastic
parts. Even fly-remover pads
or cleaning pads with hard
surfaces can produce
scratches. c Soften stubborn dirt and
dead insects by covering
the affected areas with a wet
cloth. c
WindscreenClean off dirt and insects with
a soft sponge and plenty of
water.
Fuel and chemical
solvents attack the
windscreen.
Do not use cleaning agents. cChromeEspecially in the case of road
salt, carefully clean chrome
with plenty of water and BMW
vehicle shampoo. Use chrome
polish for additional treatment.
RadiatorClean the radiator regularly to
prevent overheating of the
engine due to inadequate
cooling. For example, use a
garden hose with low water
pressure.
Cooling fins can be bent
easily.
Take care not to bend the fins
when cleaning the radiator. cPaint careWashing the motorcycle
regularly will help counteract
the long-term effects of sub-
stances that damage the
paint, especially if your motor-
cycle is ridden in areas with
high air pollution or natural
sources of dirt, e.g. tree resin
or pollen.