Page 43 of 108

22
41
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
(
bMaintenance Instructions),
or have it carried out by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably an
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer. This is to ensure that
your motorcycle complies 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. For this reason, check the
details in the following sections
before you start the journey:
– Fuel level
– Positions of the handlebar
levers
–Brake fluid level
– Clutch fluid level
–Brakes
– Warning lights and telltale lights
– Spring preload
– Wheel rim and tyre condition, tread depth and tyre pres-
sures
– Load, gross weight
–Lights
– Coolant level
– Check regularly (every time you stop for fuel), on the basis
of the following section:
– Engine oil level
(every second/third stop for
fuel)
– Brake pads
If you encounter any problems
or difficulties, it is always best to
contact your authorised BMW
motorcycle dealer.
He will provide the necessary
advice and assistance.
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56
Safety check
2
d Warning:
Before the journey starts,
adjust spring preload to suit
the gross weight/load on the
motorcycle.
Adjusting spring preloadOpening the seat (b34)
Unfold knob 1
Steplessly adjust spring preload by turning knob 1 to
suit the load on the motorcycle
One-up without luggage
(approx. 85 kg (187 lbs) rider,
fully suited)
Turn knob 1 as far as it will go
in the “LOW” direction as indi-
cated by arrow AWith luggage
(approx. 120 kg (264 lbs))
Centre knob
1 by turning it in
the direction indicated by
arrow B
Two-up with luggage
(150 kg (330 lbs) or more)
Turn knob 1 as far as it will go
in the “HIGH” direction as
indicated by arrow A
e Attention:
Fold in knob 1 before closing
front seat.
Lock the front seat (
b35)
Spring preload
B
A1
1
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58
Safety check
2
Wheels
Checking tyre tread
d Warning:
Comply with local legal re-
quirements concerning mini-
mum tread depth.
Worn tyres can impair han-
dling.
Measure tread depth at the centre of the tyre tread
BMW's minimum tread depth
recommendation:
Front ................. 2 mm (0.08 in)
Rear .................. 3 mm (0.12 in)
Checking tyre pressures
d Warning:
Incorrect tyre pressures have
a considerable influence on
handling and on tyre life.
Tyre pressures must be cho-
sen to suit the total weight on
the motorcycle. Do not ex-
ceed the gross weight limit or
the tyres’ specified load ca-
pacity (b 61).
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22
61
Safety check
Accessories and loads
Correct loading
d Warning:
Overloading can impair the
stability of your motorcycle,
as can an incorrectly distrib-
uted load.
Make sure that the weight is uniformly distributed between
right and left
Pack heavy items at the bot- tom and toward the inboard
side
Max. load in topcase:
10 kg (22 lbs)
Max. load in each case
(left and right): 10 kg (22 lbs)
e Attention:
Do not exceed the gross weight
limit of 600 kg (1,300 lbs). Do
not exceed the wheel load limits
of 204 kg (449 lbs) at the front
and 402 kg (886 lbs) at the rear.
Adjust the rear-suspension
spring and shock absorber set-
tings and the tyre pressures to
suit gross weight (
b 56-59).
Gross weight consists of:
– motorcycle with full tank
–rider
–passenger
– luggage
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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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3
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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72
Starting – Riding – Parking
3
Main (centre) stand
Removing motorcycle
from main stand
d Warning:
For safety reasons, never sit
on the motorcycle with the
main stand extended.
If the motorcycle is fitted with
BMW Integral ABS, only the
RESIDUAL BRAKING FUNC-
TION is available when the ig-
nition is switched off (b87).
e Attention:
Make sure the main stand is ful-
ly retracted before you ride off. Select neutral
kN
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
Hold the right handlebar grip
with your right hand
With both feet on the ground, push the motorcycle forward
off the centre stand
Keep the motorcycle bal-
anced and sit on the seat
Check that the main stand
has fully retracted
10LTbkg6.book Seite 72 Freitag, 1. Juli 2005 8:53 08