Page 1 of 92

Rider’s Manual
R 1150 R
R 850 R
BMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW Motorrad
On-board
documentation
consisting of
Rider's Manual
and Maintenance
InstructionsBMW MotorradBMW MotorradBMW Motorrad
10r28bkg3.book Seite 95 Dienstag, 25. Mai 2004 5:26 17
Page 7 of 92
1
General information and controls
5
9Storage compartment for
toolkit
10 Fuse box
11 Air filter ( b Maintenance
Instructions, Chapter 2)
12 Fuel filler cap (
b 24)
( ) Figure in brackets
bpage number with explanation
*Only R1150R
13 Brake fluid reservoir for front
brake (
b 31, 35)
14 Type plate/vehicle identifi-
cation number
15 Primary spark plug, right
16 Secondary spark plug*, right
17 Brake fluid reservoir for rear
brake (
b 32, 36)
18 Helmet/seat lock (
b 14)
General view, right side
910
17
1312
1814
11
1615
10r28bkg3.book Seite 5 Dienstag, 25. Mai 2004 5:26 17
Page 16 of 92
1
General information and controls
14
Helmet holder Turn key in helmet/seat lock to position B.
The helmet holder 3 is open
Close the helmet holder by pressing it lightly into the hel-
met/seat lock until it engages
Removing seats Turn key in helmet/seat lock
to position A.
Lift off the rear seat in the
direction indicated by arrow 1
– You now have access to the
toolkit and the on-board doc-
umentation. You can also
remove the front seat
Lift off the front seat in the direction indicated by arrow 2
– You now have access to the fuses ( b Maintenance
Instructions, Chapter 2)
A2
1
B
Seat/helmet holder
3
10r28bkg3.book Seite 14 Dienstag, 25. Mai 2004 5:26 17
Page 22 of 92
22
20
Safety check
Checklist
Use the safety checklist –
before every journey
Please perform the safety
check accurately. If your motor-
cycle needs any routine mainte-
nance, you can then attend to it
before the journey starts
(
b Maintenance Instructions),
or, for example have it carried
out by your authorised BMW
motorcycle dealer.
This is to ensure that your
motorcycle corresponds with
road-vehicle use and safety
laws.
Your vehicle must be in perfect
technical order: this is a basic
prerequisite for your safety and
the safety of other road users.
10r2802g3.fm Seite 20 Donnerstag, 3. Juni 2004 11:29 11
Page 31 of 92
2
29
2
Safety check
Brake system - general
Checking brake pads
d Warning:
Have the brake pads replaced
before they wear to the mini-
mum permissible thickness:
have the work performed
by a specialist workshop,
preferably an authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer. Brake pad wear depends on
your personal style of riding.
To ensure reliable operation of
the brakes: do not allow lining
thickness to fall below minimum
value (Maintenance Instructions b Chapter 2).
10r2802g3.fm Seite 29 Donnerstag, 3. Juni 2004 11:29 11
Page 32 of 92
22
30
Safety check
Brake system - without BMW Integral ABS
Checking brake fluid levelGradual wear of the brake pads
causes the brake fluid level in
the reservoir to drop.
d Warning:
If brake fluid level in the fluid
reservoirs for the front or rear
brakes has dropped below
the MIN mark (
b 31, 32), have
the brake system checked
without delay by a specialist
workshop, preferably an au-
thorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
Changing brake fluid
d Warning:
Brake fluid is subject to
severe thermal loads and
absorbs moisture from the
atmosphere.
Consequently, the brake fluid
must be changed regularly
(see the Maintenance Instruc-
tions
b Chapter 1) by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW
motorcycle dealer.
10r2802g3.fm Seite 30 Donnerstag, 3. Juni 2004 11:29 11
Page 35 of 92
2
33
2
Safety check
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABSOE
Checking brake fluid level
d Warning:
On a motorcycle equipped
with BMW Integral ABS, the
brake fluid level in the reser-
voir does NOT drop as the
brake pads wear (b 35, 36).
d Warning:
Have the brake system
checked immediately by a
specialist workshop, prefera-
bly an authorised BMW mo-
torcycle dealer, if the brake
fluid level in the reservoir of
the brake system drops below
the MIN mark (b 35, 36).
Optional extra
Changing brake fluid
d Warning:
Brake fluid is subject to
severe thermal loads and
absorbs moisture from the
atmosphere.
Consequently, the brake fluid
must be changed regularly
(see the Maintenance Instruc-
tions
b Chapter 1) by
a specialist workshop,
preferably an authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer.
10r2802g3.fm Seite 33 Donnerstag, 3. Juni 2004 11:29 11
Page 40 of 92

22
38
Safety checkChecking lights
e Attention:
Check that all lights are opera-
tional at the start of each jour-
ney.
L Note:
If turn indicator repeater flashes
at twice the usual speed: defec-
tive flasher bulb.
BMW Integral ABS
OE:
General warning light ON (
b 7):
Check brake light or tail light.
If the tail light is defective the
brake light is dimmed and acts
as a tail light. When you apply the
brakes the brake light shines at
full brightness. To change bulbs in parking
lights, headlight (dipped and
main beams), rear/brake lights,
turn indicators and the number-
plate light: (
b
Maintenance
Instructions, Chapter 2)
Masking off headlightIf the motorcycle is ridden in a
country where the opposite rule
of the road applies, its asym-
metric dipped beam will tend to
dazzle oncoming traffic.
To prevent this, mask over part
of the headlight glass (apply a
piece of adhesive tape cut to
the correct size and shape).
OEOptional extra
Lights
10r2802g3.fm Seite 38 Donnerstag, 3. Juni 2004 11:29 11