Page 5 of 108
3
Introduction
i
Starting – Riding – Parking
First time out ................. 64-65
Important notes ............. 66-67
Side stand ..................... 68-69
Centre stand EHCS ....... 70-72
Running in ..................... 73-74
Before you start ............. 75-76
Starting ............................... 77
Telltale and
warning lights ................ 78-79
Riding, gear shifts.......... 80-81
Brake system
- general ........................ 82-83
Brake system - with
BMW Integral ABS......... 84-90
BMW Integral ABS
- troubleshooting chart ....... 91Arrive safely
Reliability ........................92-93
Service worldwide ............... 94
Environmental protection .... 95
BMW motorcycle
accessories ......................... 96
Training means
extra safety ......................... 97
Concluding thoughts ........... 98
Contents
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62
Safety check
2
Lights
Checking 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:
A turn indicator bulb is defec-
tive.
For instructions on changing
bulbs in parking light, headlight
(low beam and high beam), rear
light, brake light and turn indi-
cators:
(
bMaintenance Instructions,
Chapter 2).
Rear lightGeneral warning light 1 (b78)
ON:
Brake light or rear light defec-
tive. If the rear light is defective
the brake light is dimmed and
acts as a rear light. When you
apply the brakes the brake light
shines at full brightness.
Adjusting beam throw
e Attention:
Do not attempt to adjust head-
light beam throw to suit load
unless the motorcycle is at a
standstill
Have the headlight basic set-
ting adjusted by a specialist
workshop, preferably an
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
1
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64
Starting – Riding – Parking
3
First time out
Handling your motorcycle
safely
Each motorcycle has a charac-
ter all its own. It is time now for
you to familiarise yourself with
the way your own motorcycle
behaves:
– acceleration
– roadholding
–cornering
–braking …
These are all things you need to
become familiar with.
Please remember too that if the
motorcycle has not yet covered
1,000 kilometres (600 miles),
the engine is not yet fully run in.
e Attention:
BMW Integral ABS incorporates
a brake booster, so braking ef-
ficiency is significantly higher
than with conventional brake
systems.
d Warning:
The tyres need to cover a cer-
tain distance before they ac-
quire their full road grip
(b74).
If you ride at high speed, always
bear in mind that various
boundary conditions such as
the spring preload setting and
the shock-absorber setting, an
unbalanced luggage load,
loose clothing, low tyre pres-
sure, poor tyre tread, and so on,
can affect the handling of your
motorcycle.
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66
Starting – Riding – Parking
3
Important notes
Risk of fatal accidentYour motorcycle is equipped
with a digital electronic engine
management system and a
high-power ignition system.
d Warning:
When the engine is running or
the ignition switched on, nev-
er touch electrically live parts
of the ignition system or the
digital engine electronics.
BMW Integral ABS
d Warning:
When the ignition is switched
off or if the BMW Integral ABS
fails, only a RESIDUAL BRAK-
ING FUNCTION remains avail-
able for slowing the
motorcycle (
b87).
Under these circumstances
you must apply CONSIDERA-
BLY higher pressure to the
brake levers in order to apply
the brakes, and lever travel is
longer
Risk of poisoningExhaust fumes contain carbon
monoxide, which is colourless
and odourless but highly toxic.
d Warning:
Inhaling the exhaust fumes
therefore represents a health
hazard and can even cause
loss of consciousness with
fatal consequences.
Do not run the engine in an
enclosed space.
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68
Starting – Riding – Parking
3
Placing motorcycle on
side stand
d Warning:
For safety reasons, never sit
on the motorcycle with the
side stand extended.
e Attention:
Stop the engine before using
the side stand.
Make sure the surface under
the stand is firm.
On a gradient, the motorcycle
should always face uphill; se-
lect 1st gear. Switch off the ignition
Keep both feet on the ground
Hold the left handlebar grip
with your left hand
Keep your right hand on the
right handlebar grip and the
handbrake lever
Hold the motorcycle upright and balanced
U s e y o u r le f t f o o t a t t h e e x t e n -
sion pin to extend the side
stand fully (arrow)
Slowly lean the motorcycle to the side until its weight is
taken by the stand and dis-
mount from the motorcycle
Turn the handlebars to full left
lock (
b13)
Check that the motorcycle
is firmly supported
Side stand
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3
69
Starting – Riding – Parking
Side stand
Removing motorcycle
from side stand
d Warning:
If the motorcycle is fitted with
BMW Integral ABS, only the
RESIDUAL BRAKING FUNC-
TION is available when the
ignition is switched off (
b87).
Make sure the side stand is
fully retracted before you ride
off.
– Allowing the motorcycle to roll with the side stand
extended represents a
safety risk. Turn the ignition key to the “
R”
or “ ON” position (
b13)
– handlebars unlocked
Both feet on the ground, no weight on the motorcycle
Hold the left handlebar grip
with your left hand
Keep your right hand on the
right handlebar grip and the
handbrake lever
Slowly raise the motorcycle to
the upright position and keep
it balanced
Sit on the motorcycle and use your left foot to retract the
side stand
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Starting – Riding – Parking
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Main (centre) stand
Electro-hydraulic centre-stand system EHCS
L Note:
Your motorcycle has an electro-hydraulic centre stand, EHCS for
short, that makes it easy to park the motorcycle on its main stand.
Indicators and telltale lights of the EHCS
Telltale light Indicator in the multi-
function dis-
playMeaning
Flashes at
2Hz
EHCS active (b88)
ON
EHCS at limit position (b88)
Flashes at
4Hz Lightning flash
EHCS system failure– On-board system voltage is below 10 V
– Control unit or its periphery defective
Flashes at
4Hz Hourglass
EHCS system overload– After it has been in operation for
10 seconds, the EHCS is disabled for
10 seconds.
– If the EHCS is used more than three times in succession for 10 seconds, it
is disabled for 3 minutes (you can can-
cel this disabled period by switching
the ignition on and then off again).
Flashes at
4Hz Call symbol
Operator error– Side stand extended
– Gear engaged
– Handbrake/footbrake applied
– Motorcycle not at a standstill
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71
Starting – Riding – Parking
Placing motorcycle on
main (centre) stand
e Attention:
Always make sure the surface
under the stand is level and
firm.
Switch on the ignition and allow the engine to idle if nec-
essary
Bring the motorcycle to a complete standstill
Select neutral
kN
Do not apply the handbrake
or footbrake
Hold the left handlebar grip
with your left hand Hold the right handlebar grip
with your right hand
Sit upright on the motorcycle,
with both feet on the ground
to support your weight
Press and hold down the but- ton to extend the centre stand
–The EHCS telltale light
flashes at 2 Hz
When the stand reaches its
limit position
–The EHCS telltale light
remains permanently ON
Release the button
Check that the motorcycle
is firmly supported
Switch off the ignition and dis-
mount
Main (centre) stand
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