2006 BMW MOTORRAD K 1200 GT Rider's Manual (in English)

out). Attempted burn-outs
can result in damage to the
rear brake and the clutch.
Do not attempt burn-outs.How does ABS work?The amount of braking force
that can be transferred to
the road depends on factors
hat include the coefficient of
friction of the road surface.
Loose stones, ice and snow
or a wet road all have much
lower coefficients of friction
than a clean, dry asphalt sur-
face. The lower the coeffi-
cient of friction, the longer the
braking distance.
If the rider increases braking
pressure to the extent that
braking force exceeds the
maximum transferrable limit,
the wheels start to lock and
the motorcycle loses its dir-
ectional stability; a fall is im-
minent. Before this situationcan occur, ABS intervenes
and adapts braking pressure
to the maximum transferrable
braking force, so the wheels
continue to turn and direc-
tional stability is maintained
irrespective of the condition of
the road surface.
What are the effects of
surface irregularities?Humps and surface irregu-
larities can cause the wheels
to lose contact temporarily
with the road surface; if this
happens the braking force
that can be transmitted to
the road can drop to zero.
If the brakes are applied un-
der these circumstances the
ABS has to reduce braking
force to ensure that direc-
tional stability is maintained
when the wheels regain con-
tact with the road surface.
At this instant the BMW Mo-
torrad Integral ABS must as-
sume an extremely low coef-
ficient of friction, so that the
wheels will continue to rotate
under all imaginable circum-
stances, because this is the
precondition for ensuring dir-
ectional stability. As soon as
is registers the actual circum-
stances, the system reacts
instantly and adjusts braking
force accordingly to achieve
optimum braking.
What feedback does the
rider receive from the
BMW Motorrad Integral
ABS?If the ABS system has to re-
duce braking force on ac-
count of the circumstances
described above, vibration is
perceptible through the hand-
brake lever.
When the handbrake lever is
pulled, brake pressure is also
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built up at the rear wheel by
the integral function. If the
brake pedal is depressed
after the handbrake lever is
pulled, the brake pressure
built up beforehand is per-
ceptible as counter-pressure
sooner than is the case when
the brake pedal is depressed
either before or at the same
time as the brake lever is
pulled.How can stopping
distance be minimised?Each time the brakes are
applied, a load distribution
shift takes place with the
load shifting forward from
the rear to the front wheel.
The sharper the motorcycle
decelerates, the more load
is shifted to the front wheel.
The higher the wheel load, the
more braking force can betransmitted without the wheel
locking.
To optimise stopping dis-
tance, apply the front brakes
rapidly and keep on increas-
ing the force you apply to the
brake lever. This makes the
best possible use of the dy-
namic increase in load at the
front wheel. Remember to
pull the clutch at the same
time. In the "panic braking
situations" that are trained so
frequently braking force is ap-
plied as rapidly as possible
and with the rider's full force
applied to the brake levers;
under these circumstances
the dynamic shift in load dis-
tribution cannot keep pace
with the increase in decel-
eration and the tyres cannot
transmit the full braking force
to the surface of the road.
ABS has to intervene to keep
the front wheel from locking;this increases stopping dis-
tance.
Rear wheel liftEven under severe braking,
a high level of tyre grip can
mean that the front wheel
does not lock up until very
late, if at all. Consequently,
ABS does not intervene until
very late, if at all. Under these
circumstances the rear wheel
can lift off the ground, and the
outcome can be a highsiding
situation in which the motor-
cycle can flip over.
Severe braking can
cause the rear wheel to
lift off the ground.
When you brake, bear in mind
that ABS control cannot be
relied on in all circumstances
to prevent the rear wheel from
lifting clear of the ground.
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What is the design
baseline for BMW
Motorrad Integral ABS?Within the limits imposed by
physics, the BMW Motorrad
Integral ABS ensures direc-
tional stability on any surface.
The system is not optimised
for special requirements that
apply under extreme compet-
itive situations off-road or on
the track.Special situationsThe speeds of the front and
rear wheels are compared
as one means of detecting a
wheel's incipient tendency to
lock. If the system registers
implausible values for a
lengthy period the ABS
function is deactivated
for safety reasons and
an ABS fault message is
issued. Self-diagnosis hasto complete before fault
messages can be issued.
In addition to problems with
the BMW Motorrad Integ-
ral ABS, exceptional riding
conditions can lead to a fault
message being issued.
Exceptional riding
conditions:
Heating up with the motor-
cycle on the centre stand
or an auxiliary stand, en-
gine idling or with a gear
engaged.
Rear wheel locked by the
engine brake for a lengthy
period, for example while
descending off-road.
If a fault message is issued on
account of exceptional riding
conditions as outlined above,
you can reactivate the ABS
function by switching the igni-
tion off and on again.
What significance
devolves on regular
maintenance?
Invariably, a technical
system cannot perform
beyond the abilities dictated
by its level of maintenance.
In order to ensure that the
BMW Motorrad Integral
ABS is always maintained
in optimum condition, it is
essential for you to comply
strictly with the specified
inspection intervals.
Reserves for safetyThe potentially shorter braking
distances which BMW Mo-
torrad Integral ABS permits
must not be used as an ex-
cuse for careless riding. ABS
is primarily a means of ensur-
ing a safety margin in genuine
emergencies.
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Take care when cornering.
When you apply the brakes
on a corner, the motorcycle's
weight and momentum take
over and even BMW Motor-
rad Integral ABS is unable to
counteract their effects.Electronic engine
management with
BMW Motorrad ASC
OE
How does BMW
Motorrad ASC work?The BMW Motorrad ASC
compares the speed of rota-
tion of the front wheel and the
rear wheel. The differential
is used to compute slip as
a measure of the reserves
of stability available at the
rear wheel. If slip exceeds
a certain limit the electronic
engine management system
intervenes, adapting engine
torque accordingly.
What is the design
baseline for BMW
Motorrad ASC?BMW Motorrad ASC is de-
signed as an assistant system
for the rider and for use on
public roads. The extent to
which the rider affects ASC
control can be considerable
(weight shifts when cornering,
items of luggage loose on the
motorcycle), especially when
style of riding takes rider and
machine close to the limits
imposed by physics. The sys-
tem is not optimised for spe-
cial requirements that apply
under extreme competitive
situations off-road or on the
track. You have the option
of deactivating the BMW Mo-
torrad ASC for these circum-
stances.
Special situationsIn accordance with the laws
of physics, the ability to ac-
celerate is restricted more
and more as the angle of heel
increases. Consequently,
there can be a perceptible
lag in acceleration out of very
tight bends.
The speeds of the front and
rear wheels are compared
as one means of detecting a
wheel's incipient tendency to
lock. If the system registers
implausible values for a
lengthy period the ASC
function is deactivated
for safety reasons and
an ASC fault message is
issued. Self-diagnosis has
to complete before fault
messages can be issued.
The BMW Motorrad ASC can
shut down automatically un-
590zRiding

der the exceptional riding
conditions outlined below.
Exceptional riding
conditions:Riding for a lengthy period
with the front wheel lifted off
the ground (wheelie).
Rear wheel rotating with the
motorcycle held stationary
by applying the front brake
(burn-out).
Heating up with the motor-
cycle on the centre stand
or an auxiliary stand, en-
gine idling or with a gear
engaged.
Accelerating the motorcycle
to a speed in excess of 10
km/h after switching the ig-
nition off and then on again
reactivates the ASC. If the front wheel lifts clear of
the ground under severe ac-
celeration, the ASC reduces
engine torque until the front
wheel regains contact with
the ground.
Under these circumstances,
BMW Motorrad recommends
rolling the throttle slightly
closed so as to restore
stability with the least
possible delay.
When riding on a slippery
surface, never snap the
throttle twistgrip fully closed
without pulling the clutch
at the same time. Engine
braking torque can cause
the rear wheel to lock, with
a corresponding loss of
stability. The BWM Motorrad
ASC is unable to control a
situation of this nature.
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592zRiding

Accessories
General instructions . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Power socket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Luggage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Topcase
OA
.................... 98
693zAccessories

General instructionsBMW Motorrad recommends
the use of parts and ac-
cessories for your motorcycle
that are approved by BMW for
this purpose.
Genuine BMW parts and ac-
cessories and other products
which BMW has approved
can be obtained from your
authorised BMW Motorrad
dealer, together with expert
advice on their installation
and use.
These parts and products
have been tested by BMW for
safety, function and suitability.
BMW accepts product liability
for them.
Conversely, BMW is unable
to accept any liability whatso-
ever for parts and accessor-
ies which it has not approved.BMW Motorrad cannot
assess each non-BMW
product to determine whether
it can be used on or in con-
nection with BMW motor-
cycles without constituting
a safety hazard. Country-
specific official authorisa-
tion does not suffice as as-
surance. Tests conducted
by these instances cannot
make provision for all operat-
ing conditions experienced by
BMW motorcycles and, con-
sequently, they are not suffi-
cient in some circumstances.
Use only parts and accessor-
ies approved by BMW for
your motorcycle.
Whenever you are planning
modifications, comply with all
the legal requirements. Make
sure that the motorcycle does
not infringe national road-
vehicle construction and use
regulations.
Power socketRatingsThe supply to standard sock-
et 1and the extra socket (OA)
is cut off automatically if bat-
tery voltage is low or the load
exceeds the maximum for the
two sockets.Operating electrical
accessoriesYou can start using electrical
accessories only when the ig-
nition is switched on. The ac-
cessory remains operational
if the ignition is subsequently
694zAccessories