
Table of ContentsYou can also consult the index at
the end of this Rider's Manual if
you want to find a particular topic
or item of information.
1 General instructions . . . . . 5
Overview ...................... 6
Abbreviations and symbols . . . . 6
Air Damping System.......... 6
Equipment . . . . . ............... 7
Technical data . ............... 7
Currency ...................... 7
2 General views . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
General view, left side . . . . . . . . 11
General view, right side . . . . . . 13
Underneath the seat......... 14
Handlebar fitting, left......... 15
Handlebar fitting, right . . . . . . . . 16
Instrument cluster . . .......... 17
Headlight ..................... 18
3 Status indicators . . . . . . . 19
Status indicators............. 20
Standard warnings . .......... 20
ABS warnings
OE
............. 234 Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Ignition switch and steering
lock . . . . . ..................... 28
Multifunction display......... 28
Lights . . . ..................... 31
Turn indicators . .............. 32
Emergency off switch (kill
switch) . . ..................... 32
BMW Motorrad ABS
OE
...... 33
Mirrors . . ..................... 33
Pneumatic pump............. 34
Air pressure in the Air Damp-
ing System . . . . . .............. 34
Damping ..................... 38
Tyres . . . . ..................... 40
Headlight ..................... 41
Seat . . . . . ..................... 41
5 Riding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Safety instructions . .......... 44
Checklist ..................... 46
Starting . . ..................... 46
Running in . . . . . .............. 48
Riding off-road . .............. 49
Brakes . . ..................... 50Parking your motorcycle . . . . . 51
Refuelling.................... 52
6 Engineering details . . . . . 55
Brake system with BMW Mo-
torrad ABS
OE
................ 56
7 Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
General instructions .......... 60
Power socketOE.............. 60
Luggage ..................... 61
8 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Notes........................ 64
Toolkit........................ 64
Engine oil.................... 65
Brake system . . .............. 67
Brake pads . . . . . .............. 68
Brake fluid.................... 69
Coolant . . ..................... 71
Clutch . . . ..................... 72
Tyres . . . . ..................... 73
Rims ......................... 73
Chain . . . . ..................... 73
Wheels . . ..................... 75

BMW Motorrad auxiliary
stand ......................... 81
BMW Motorrad front-wheel
stand ......................... 82
Fuses........................ 84
Bulbs ......................... 86
Air filter . . . . . .................. 92
Jump starting . . .............. 95
Battery . . . . . .................. 96
Number-plate carrier . . ..... 100
9 Care . . . . . ................ 103
Care products . . ............ 104
Washing motorcycle . . . ..... 104
Cleaning easily damaged
components ................ 104
Paint care . . ................ 105
Protective wax coating ..... 106
Laying up motorcycle . ..... 106
Restoring motorcycle to
use......................... 106
10 Technical data . . . . . . . 107
Troubleshooting chart . ..... 108
Threaded fasteners . . . ..... 109
Engine . . . . . ................ 110
Fuel . ....................... 111Engine oil . . ................ 111
Clutch...................... 112
Transmission............... 112
Rear-wheel drive........... 113
Running gear............... 113
Brakes . . . . . ................ 114
Wheels and tyres........... 115
Electrics . . . . ................ 117
Frame...................... 118
Dimensions ................ 119
Weights . . . . ................ 119
Riding specifications . . ..... 120
11 Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
BMW Motorrad service ..... 122
BMW Motorrad service
quality...................... 122
BMW Motorrad Service
Card: on-the-spot break-
down assistance........... 122
BMW Motorrad service net-
work . ....................... 123
Maintenance work . . . . . ..... 123
Confirmation of mainten-
ance work . . ................ 124
Confirmation of service ..... 129

ChecklistUse the following checklist to
check important functions, set-
tings and wear limits before you
ride off.
Brakes
Brake-fluid levels, front and rear
Clutch
Clutch fluid level
Damping-characteristic adjust-
ment and air pressure in the Air
Damping System
Tyre-tread depth and tyre
pressures
Cases correctly installed and
luggage secured
At regular intervals:
Engine oil level (every refuelling
stop)
Brake-pad wear (every third
refuelling stop)
Tension and lubrication of the
drive chain
StartingSide standYou cannot start the motorcycle
with the side stand extended and
a gear engaged. The engine will
switch itself off if you start it with
the gearbox in neutral and then
engage a gear before retracting
the side stand.GearboxYou can start the engine when
the gearbox is in neutral or if you
pull the clutch with a gear en-
gaged.
Starting engine.Kill switch in operating position
(run).
Gearbox lubrication is en-
sured only when the engine
is running. Inadequate lubrica-
tion can result in damage to the
gearbox.
Do not allow the motorcycle to
roll for a lengthy period of time or
push it a long distance with the
engine switched off.
Switch on the ignition.
Pre-ride check is performed.
( 47)
546zRiding

with OE BMW Motorrad ABS:
Switch on the ignition.
Pre-ride check is performed.
( 47)
ABS self-diagnosis is
performed. ( 48)
Wait until the warning light for
the coolant temperature stops
flashing.
The idle actuator is posi-
tioned after you switch on
the ignition. The coolant-tem-
perature warning light flashes
if the idle actuator has not cor-
rectly positioned before the pre-
ride check completes. In order
to avoid subsequent problems,
wait for this process to complete
before proceeding.Press starter button1.
If ambient temperatures are
very low, you might find it
necessary to open the throttle
slightly when starting the engine.
At ambient temperatures below
0 °C, disengage the clutch after
switching on the ignition.
If the engine fails to start
even though the starter
turns, insufficient battery voltage
might be causing the problem.
Recharge the battery before you
start the engine, or use jump
leads and a donor battery to
start.The engine starts.
Consult the troubleshooting
chart below if the engine re-
fuses to start. ( 108)
Pre-ride checkThe instrument cluster runs a
test of the instruments and the
warning lights and telltale lights
and the display when the igni-
tion is switched on. This test is
known as the "Pre-Ride-Check".
Phase 1
All the telltale and warning lights
are switched on briefly, along
with all the segments of the mul-
tifunction display.
Phase 2
The tyre parameters stored in
the memory of the instrument
cluster appear briefly on the dis-
play.
The instrument cluster then
reverts to its normal operating
mode.
547zRiding

pads more frequently and replace
the brake pads in good time.Air pressure and damping
characteristics
The off-road settings for air
pressure in the Air Damping
System and the front and rear
shock-absorber damping char-
acteristics will impair the motor-
cycle's handling characteristics
on surfaced roads.
If you have been off-roading, re-
member to correct the air pres-
sure in the Air Damping System
and the shock-absorber damping
characteristics before you return
to surfaced roads.
Deactivatable ABS
OE
You can deactivate the BMW
Motorrad Integral ABS for off-
roading ( 33).
BrakesHow can stopping
distance be minimised?Each time the brakes are applied,
a load distribution shift takes
place with the load shifting for-
ward from the rear to the front
wheel. The sharper the motor-
cycle decelerates, the more load
is shifted to the front wheel. The
higher the wheel load, the more
braking force can be transmitted
without the wheel locking.
To optimise stopping distance,
apply the front brakes rapidly and
keep on increasing the force you
apply to the brake lever. This
makes the best possible use
of the dynamic increase in load
at the front wheel. Remember
to pull the clutch at the same
time. In the "panic braking situ-
ations" that are trained so fre-
quently braking force is applied
as rapidly as possible and withthe rider's full force applied to
the brake levers; under these cir-
cumstances the dynamic shift
in load distribution cannot keep
pace with the increase in de-
celeration 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 distance.
Descending mountain
passes
There is a danger of the
brakes fading if you use
only the rear brakes when des-
cending mountain passes. Under
extreme conditions, the brakes
could overheat and suffer severe
damage.
Use both front and rear brakes,
and make use of the engine's
braking effect as well.
550zRiding

Maintenance
Maintenance
Notes................................ 64
Toolkit . . ............................. 64
Engine oil............................ 65
Brake system ........................ 67
Brake pads . . ........................ 68
Brake fluid........................... 69
Coolant . ............................. 71
Clutch . . ............................. 72
Tyres................................ 73
Rims................................. 73
Chain................................ 73
Wheels . ............................. 75
BMW Motorrad auxiliary stand....... 81
BMW Motorrad front-wheel
stand................................ 82Fuses . . .............................. 84
Bulbs . . .............................. 86
Air filter .............................. 92
Jump starting ........................ 95
Battery . .............................. 96
Number-plate carrier............... 100
863zMaintenance

Topping up coolantPull cover of radiator cap1for-
ward to remove.
Open cap of the expansion
tank for coolant2.Top up the coolant to the spe-
cified level.
Close the cap of the expansion
tank for coolant.
Seat the cover of the radiator
cap in holders3. In this pro-
cess, guide the top edge of the
cover behind the bottom edge
of centre trim panel4.
ClutchChecking clutch-lever
playPull the clutch lever until resist-
ance is perceptible.
Measure clutch-lever playA.
Clutch-lever play
2...3 mm (Engine cold)
Clutch-lever play is out of toler-
ance:
Adjust clutch-lever play ( 73)
872zMaintenance

Adjusting clutch-lever
playPush back boot1.
Slacken locknut2.
Set clutch-lever play to spe-
cification by turning adjusting
screw3.
Turning clockwise: increases
play.
Turning counter-clockwise: re-
duces play.
Check the clutch-lever play
( 72)
Tighten locknut2.
Pull boot1back over the ad-
justing screw.
TyresChecking tyre tread depthMake sure the ground is level
and firm and place the motor-
cycle on its stand.
Measure the tyre tread depth
in the main tread grooves with
wear marks.
Tyres have wear indicators
integrated into the main
tread grooves. The tyre is worn
out when the tyre tread has worn
down to the level of the marks.
The locations of the marks are
indicated on the edge of the tyre,
e.g. by the letters TI, TWI or by
an arrow.
If the tyre tread no longer com-
plies with the minimum legally
required tread depth:
Replace tyre.
RimsChecking rimsMake sure the ground is level
and firm and place the motor-
cycle on its stand.
Visually inspect the rims for
defects.
Have damaged rims checked
and, if necessary, replaced by a
specialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW Motorrad
dealer.ChainLubricating chainSwitch the ignition off and se-
lect neutral.
Dirt, dust and inadequate
lubrication will result in ac-
celerated wear and significantly
shorten the drive chain's useful
life.
Clean and lubricate the drive
chain at regular intervals.
873zMaintenance