2004 BMW MOTORRAD K 1200 S brake fluid

111Overview
General view, right
side1Toolkit (
b 85) under
the seat
2Display for engine oil level
(
b 86)
3Filler aperture
Engine oil (
b 87), under
seat
4Filler aperture, fuel tank
(
b 67)
5Battery compartment
(b 115)
6Front brake-fluid reservoir
(
b 91)
7Type plate on rear cross
pipe
8Vehicle identification
number on front right side
panel
9Rear brake-fluid reservoir
(b 92)

221Status indicators
red Battery is no longer being charged. (
b 24)
red Brake switch defective. (b 25)
1 flash per
second ABS starting-off test not completed. (b 25)
4 flashes per
second ABS self-diagnosis not completed. (b 26)
redRelay for ABS warning light
defective. (b 26)
red1 flash per
second ABS function not available. (b 26)
red4 flashes per
second ABS in residual braking function. (b 27)
1 red flash
per second1 flash per
second Insufficient brake fluid. (b 27)
4 red flashes
per second4 flashes per
second A number of ABS faults. (b 28) Light Symbol Meaning Explanations

227Status indicators
Without the ABS func-
tion, the wheels could
lock under braking.
Brake carefully and safely.
Avoid braking sharply.c
• Have the fault remedied as
soon as possible by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW motor-
cycle dealer.
General warning light
lights up red.
ABS warning light flashes
4 times per second.
Only residual braking function
(
b 71)
still available in at least
one brake circuit.
You can continue to ride.
However, bear in mind that
neither the ABS function nor
the braking power assistance
is available.Without the ABS func-
tion, the wheels could
lock under braking; without
braking power assistance,
considerably greater force is
required to brake.
Brake carefully and safely.
Avoid braking sharply.c
• Have the fault remedied as
soon 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.This means the fluid level
for a wheel brake circuit
cannot be read from the
brake-fluid reservoirs.c
Among other things, the trig-
ger for this warning indicator
can be extremely worn brake
pads.
Worn brake pads can
considerably lengthen
the braking distance.
Brake carefully and safely.
Avoid braking sharply.c
Worn brake pads can
damage the brake discs.
Brake carefully and safely.
Avoid braking sharply.c

Status indicators228
• Stop and check the thick-
ness of the brake pads (b 90-
91).
• 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
functions:
– 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.
There is a fault in the
brake system that can
lead to decreased braking
efficiency.
Brake carefully and safely.
Avoid braking sharply.c
• Have the fault remedied as
soon as possible by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW motor-
cycle dealer. General warning light
flashes red 4 times per
second.
ABS warning light flashes
4 times per second.
There are two faults:
– Only residual braking func-
tion
(b 71) available in at
least one brake circuit, indi-
cated by the general warning
light lighting up and the ABS
warning light flashing 4 times
per second.
– Fluid level in the BMW Inte-
gral ABS is too low, indi-
cated by the general and
ABS warning lights flashing
once per second.
Please read the fault descrip-
tions listed later in this manual.

Riding452
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 91)
– Clutch function (b 93)
– Clutch fluid level (b 93)
– Warning and telltale lights
(
b 18)
– Shock absorber setting
(b 44, 46) and spring
preload (
b 47)
–Rims (
b 94), tread depth
(
b 94) and tyre pressure
(b 47)
– Load, gross weight (
b 137)
– Secure luggage systemAt regular intervals:
– Engine oil level (every time
you refuel) (
b 86)
– Brake pads (every second/
third time you refuel)
(
b 90, 91)
Making your first tripSafe handling of your
motorcycleEach motorcycle has its 'own
life' that you have to get used
to:
– Acceleration capability
– Road holding
– Cornering characteristics
–Braking power
The engine also has to be
run in during the first 1,000 km
(b 58).You will find information on
BMW Integral ABS from
(
b 69) onwards.
BMW Integral ABS incor-
porates braking power
assistance, so that braking
power is significantly higher
than with conventional brake
systems. Especially when
cornering, unintentionally hard
braking can lead to dangerous
situations.
Practice braking with
BMW Integral ABS in safe
situations.c

691Maintenance
Checking the brake pad
thickness at the rear• Place the motorcycle on the
centre stand
OA or side
stand, ensuring that the
ground is firm and level.
• Perform a visual inspection
of the brake pad thickness
from the right.The brake disc must not be
visible through bore hole 1 of
the inner brake block. If the
brake disc is visible:
• Have the brake pads
replaced, preferably by an
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
Checking the brake fluid
level
If the position of the
brake-fluid reservoir is
changed, air can enter the
brake system.
Do not twist either the handle-
bar controls or the handle-
bars.c
1Front brake-fluid reservoir
2MIN mark

Maintenance692
1Rear brake-fluid reservoir
2MIN mark
• Hold the motorcycle verti-
cally or place it on the centre
stand
OA, ensuring that the
ground is firm and level.
• Straight ahead handlebar
position.
• Read off the brake fluid level
at the reservoir.Vehicles without ABS
In the event of brake pad
wear, the brake fluid level
in the brake-fluid reservoir
falls.c
The brake fluid level must not
fall below the MIN mark. If the
brake fluid level falls below the
MIN mark:
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.
Brake carefully and safely.
Avoid braking sharply.c
• Have the fault remedied as
soon as possible by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW motor-
cycle dealer.Vehicles with ABS
In the event of brake pad
wear, the brake fluid level
remains constant.c
If the brake fluid level falls -
even above the MIN mark -
this indicates a defect in the
brake system. If the brake fluid
level falls:
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.
Brake carefully and safely.
Avoid braking sharply.c
• Have the fault remedied as
soon as possible by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW motor-
cycle dealer.

Care7120
fluid as well as bird droppings.
BMW vehicle polish or BMW
paint cleaner are recom-
mended here.
Contamination on the paint fin-
ish is particularly easy to see
after the motorcycle as been
washed. Remove stains of this
kind immediately using clean-
ing-grade benzine or petro-
leum spirit on a clean cloth or
ball of cotton wool. We recom-
mend that specks of tar be
removed with BMW tar
remover. Then add a protec-
tive wax coating to the paint at
these locations.Protective wax coatingFor the protective wax coating
of paint, we recommend that
you use only BMW vehicle wax
or agents that contain car-
nauba wax or synthetic waxes.The best way to see whether
the paint has to be protected
is that water no longer forms
pearls.
Touching upYour authorised BMW motor-
cycle dealer is equipped with
suitable systems for rapid and
low-cost correction of minor
paint damage. We recom-
mend that minor paintwork
flaws be rectified with a BMW
paint spray or a BMW paint
pencil and larger paint dam-
age be dealt with at your
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer by a specialised repair
paint job carried out in accord-
ance with works specifications
with original BMW paints.
RubberTreat rubber components with
water or BMW rubber protec-
tion coating agent.
The use of silicon sprays
to care for rubber gas-
kets can lead to damage.
Do not use silicon sprays or
other care products that
contain silicon.cLaying up• Clean the motorcycle
(b 118-120).
• Remove the battery (
b 114).
• Spray the brake and clutch
lever pivots and the main
and side stand pivots with a
suitable lubricant.
• Coat bright metal/chrome-
plated parts with an acid-
free grease (e.g. Vaseline).