Page 4 of 92

i
2
Introduction
General information and 
controls
General view, left side ........... 4
General view, right side ......... 5
Cockpit ................................. 6
Telltale and warning lights ..... 7
Ignition switch and steering 
lock .................................... 8-9
Trip meter/clock .................. 10
Hazard warning flashers ...... 11
Left handlebar fitting ........... 12
Right handlebar fitting ......... 13
Seat/helmet holder .............. 14
Seats ............................. 15-16
System case .................. 17-19Safety check
Checklist ........................ 20-21
Engine oil ....................... 22-23
Fuel ................................ 24-25
Handlebar levers ............ 26-27
Brake system -
general........................... 28-29
Brake system - without
BMW Integral ABS ......... 30-32
Brake system - with
BMW Integral ABS ......... 33-36
Clutch ................................. 37
Lights ............................. 38-40
Shock-absorber 
adjustment .......................... 41
Suspension
spring preload ..................... 42
Wheels ........................... 43-44
Accessories and loads ... 45-47
Contents
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        Page 5 of 92
3
i
Introduction
Starting – Riding – Parking
Your first journey ........... 48-49
Important notes ............. 50-51
Side stand ..................... 52-53
Centre stand ................. 54-55
Running in ..................... 56-57
Before you start ............. 58-59
Starting ......................... 60-61
Telltale and warning 
lights ............................. 62-63
Riding, gear shifts.......... 64-65
Brake system 
- general ........................ 66-67
Brake system - with 
BMW Integral ABS......... 68-74
BMW Integral ABS 
- Fault table ......................... 75Arrive safely
Reliability ........................76-77
Service worldwide ............... 78
Environmental protection .... 79
BMW rider’s equipment ....... 80
BMW motorcycle 
equipment ........................... 81
Training means extra 
safety .................................. 82
Concluding thoughts ........... 83
Contents
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        Page 8 of 92
1
General information and controls
6
7
543216
8
1Reset knob for trip meter 
(
b 10)
2 Speedometer
3 Odometer
4 Trip meter (
b 10)
5 Clock (
b 10) 6
Revolution counter (
b 56)
7 Ignition switch and steering 
lock (
b 8)
8 Telltale and warning lights 
(
b 7)
( ) Figure in brackets
bpage number with explanation
Cockpit
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        Page 9 of 92
1
General information and controls
7
1Telltale light, left turn indica-
tor repeater green 
s 
2 Warning light, fuel level/
when approx. 5 litres 
(1.1 Imp.gal) remain in tank 
orange  
m (b 25, 62)
3 Telltale light, neutral 
green
k (b 59)
4 Telltale light, high (main) 
beam  blue 
q 
5 Telltale light, right turn indi-
cator repeater green 
t 
 Optional extra
6Warning light, battery 
charge current  red 
r
(b 63)
7 Warning light, ABS  red 
lOE (b 63)
8 Warning light, general  red 
e (b 63)
9 Warning light, engine oil 
pressure  red 
p (b 62)
( ) Figure in brackets
bpage number with explanation
* depending on national-market speci- fication
Telltale and warning lights
12435
9
8
6
7*
10r28bkg3.book  Seite 7  Dienstag, 25. Mai 2004  5:26 17 
     
        
        Page 11 of 92
1
General information and controls
9
Ignition switch and steering lock
Key positions
d Warning:
Never turn the key to OFF or 
I while riding the 
motorcycle!
ON Operating position,
ignition, lights and all 
electrical circuits 
switched on
R * Ignition and lights off, 
steering lock disengaged 
(handlebars can be turned 
freely to left or right)
* The key can be removed in these 
positions
 Turn the handlebars to full left lock.
e Attention:
Engage the steering lock with 
the handlebars in this position 
only.
OFF* Ignition and lights off,
steering locked
I**Parking light on,
steering locked
L Note:
Switch the parking light on 
only for limited periods. Note 
state of battery charge.
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        Page 13 of 92
1
General information and controls
111
Hazard warning lights
L Note:
You cannot activate the hazard 
warning flashers if the ignition is 
switched off.
Do not use the hazard warning 
flashers for longer than abso-
lutely necessary.
Note state of battery charge.
Switching on the hazard 
warning  lights
 Switching on the ignition
– Hazard warning switch lights 
up  Operate hazard warning lights 
switch 1
– Hazard warning lights in oper- ation
– The left/right flashing turn  indicator repeater on the tell-
tale light panel (
b 7) flashes.
 Switch off the ignition
– The hazard warning lights  continue to operate
– The light in the hazard warn- ing flasher switch goes out
Switching off the hazard 
warning  lights
 Operate hazard warning lights 
switch 1
– Hazard warning lights switch  off
– Left/right flashing turn indica- tor repeater on the telltale 
light panel (
b 7) off
Hazard warning flashers
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        Page 14 of 92
1
General information and controls
12
1
2
534
d Warning:
To prevent air from entering 
the clutch system: 
 Do not turn the fitting on the  handlebar.
 Do not turn the handlebars 
in the clamping blocks.
1 Cold start choke lever 
(increased engine speed) 
(
b 61)
2 Hazard warning flashers 
switch (
b 11) 3
Horn button
4 Left turn indicator switch
Press
–Turn indicators flash
To switch off:
 Press turn indicator cancel 
switch 9
5 Headlight
FHigh (main) beam
GLow (dipped) beam
FHeadlight flasher
Left handlebar fitting
10r28bkg3.book  Seite 12  Dienstag, 25. Mai 2004  5:26 17 
     
        
        Page 23 of 92
2
21
2
Safety check
For this reason, check the 
details in the following sections 
before you start the journey: 
– Fuel level
– Positions of the handlebar-lever fittings
– Brake fluid level 
– Clutch fluid level 
–Brakes
– Warning lights and telltale  lights
–Lights
– Shock-absorber setting and  spring preload
– Condition of wheels and 
tyres, tread depth and tyre 
pressures
– Load, gross weight  – Check at regular intervals as 
described in the following 
sections
(each time you stop for refuel-
ling):
– Engine oil level
(every second or third time 
you stop for refuelling):
– Brake pads
If you encounter any problems 
or difficulties, it is always best to 
contact your authorised BMW 
Motorrad dealer. 
He will provide the necessary 
advice and assistance.
Checklist
10r2802g3.fm  Seite 21  Donnerstag, 3. Juni 2004  11:29 11