2004 BMW MOTORRAD K 1200 R overheating

Riding454
Safety instructionsSpeedWhen riding at high speed,
various marginal conditions
can adversely affect the han-
dling characteristics of the
motorcycle:
– Adjustment of the spring-strut and shock absorber
system
– Unequally distributed load
– Loose clothing
– Insufficient tyre pressure
– Poor tyre tread
–etc.Correct loading
Overloading can ad-
versely affect the riding
stability of the motorcycle.
Never exceed the motor-
cycle's permissible gross
weight (
b
140). c
Alcohol and drugs
Even small amounts of al-
cohol or drugs can con-
siderably adversely affect your
perception, judgement and
ability to make decisions, as
well as your reflexes. Taking
medication can increase these
effects.
Do not ride your motorcycle
after consuming alcohol,
drugs and/or medication.c
Risk of poisoningExhaust fumes contain carbon
monoxide, which is colourless
and odourless but highly toxic.
Inhaling the exhaust
fumes therefore repre-
sents a health hazard and can
even cause loss of conscious-
ness with fatal consequences. Do not inhale exhaust fumes.
Do not run the engine in an en-
closed space.
c
High voltage
Touching live parts of the
ignition system with the
engine running can lead to
electric shocks.
Do not touch parts of the igni-
tion system when the engine is
running. c
Catalytic converterIf misfiring causes unburned
fuel to enter the catalytic con-
verter, there is a danger of
overheating and damage.
For this reason, observe the
following points:

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

Maintenance6110
A defective bulb places
your safety at risk be-
cause it is easier for other road
users to oversee you and your
motorcycle.
Replace defective bulbs as
soon as possible; always carry
a complete set of spare bulbs
if possible. c
The types of bulb used
are listed on (
b
139). c
Do not touch the glass of
new bulbs with your fin-
gers. Use a clean, dry cloth to
hold the bulbs when handling
them. Dirt deposits, in particu-
lar oil and grease, interfere
with heat radiation from the
bulb. This leads to overheating
and shortens the bulb’s oper-
ating life. c The types of threaded
fastener used are listed
on (
b
128). c
Replacing low-beam
headlight bulb
If it is not standing firmly,
the motorcycle could
topple in the course of the
operations described below.
Make sure that the motorcycle
is steady on its stand. c
The bulb is pressurised
and can cause injury if
damaged.
Wear protective goggles and
gloves when changing
bulbs. c
Turn the handlebars to
the right to facilitate
access. c High-beam headlight
1 and
low-beam headlight 2 are
accessible from behind.
• Switch off the ignition.
•Turn cover 3 counter-clock-
wise and remove it.

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.