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