Page 4 of 138

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
Page 8 of 138

OverviewChapter 2 of this Rider's Manu-
al will provide you with an initial
overview of your motorcycle. All
maintenance and repair work on
the motorcycle is documented in
Chapter 11. This record of the
maintenance work you have had
performed on your motorcycle is
a precondition for generous treat-
ment of goodwill claims.
When the time comes to sell
your BMW, please remember
to hand over this Rider's Manu-
al; it is an important part of the
motorcycle.Abbreviations and
symbols
Indicates warnings that you
must comply with for reas-
ons of your safety and the safety
of others, and to protect your
motorcycle against damage.Specific instructions on
how to operate, control, ad-
just or look after items of equip-
ment on the motorcycle.
Indicates the end of an
item of information.
Instruction.
Result of an activity.
Reference to a page with
more detailed informa-
tion.
Indicates the end of a
passage relating to spe-
cific accessories or items
of equipment.
Tightening torque.
Item of technical data.OE Optional extra
The motorcycles are as-
sembled complete with
all the BMW optional ex-
tras originally ordered.
OA Optional accessory
You can obtain option-
al accessories through
your authorised BMW
Motorrad dealer; optional
accessories have to be
retrofitted to the motor-
cycle.
ABSAnti-lock brake system
Air Damping SystemThis motorcycle has an air-filled
rear suspension system. This Air
Damping System, as it is known,
does not work in the same way
as a conventional steel-spring
shock-absorber system. The de-
tailed description of this system
starts on page ( 34).
16zGeneral instructions
Page 15 of 138
General view, right side1Seat lock ( 41)
2Fuel filler neck ( 52)
3Brake-fluid reservoir, front
( 69)
4Adjuster for damping char-
acteristic, front suspension
(rebound stage) ( 38)
5ABS fuses, behind the side
panel ( 85)
6Brake-fluid reservoir, rear
( 70)
213zGeneral views
Page 19 of 138
Instrument cluster1Set the clock ( 29)
Reset the tripmeter ( 29)
2Warning lights ( 20)
Telltale lights ( 20)
3Multifunction display
( 20)
4Select readings ( 28)
217zGeneral views
Page 22 of 138
Status indicatorsMultifunction display1Speedometer
2Odometer, clock or battery
voltage ( 28)
Telltale lights1Flashing turn indicators, left
2Flashing turn indicators,
right
3Idle
4High-beam headlight
Standard warningsMode of presentation
Warnings are indicated by warn-
ing lights1.
The possible warnings are listed
on the next page.
320zStatus indicators
Page 29 of 138
Operation
Operation
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 Damping Sys-
tem .................................. 34
Damping ............................. 38
Tyres................................ 40
Headlight............................ 41
Seat................................. 41
427zOperation
Page 30 of 138
Ignition switch and
steering lockKeysYou receive one master key and
one spare key.
Ignition switch and steering lock,
tank filler cap lock and seat lock
are all operated with the same
key.Switching on ignitionTurn the key to position1.
Side light and all function cir-
cuits switched on.
Engine can be started.Pre-ride check is performed.
( 47)
with OE BMW Motorrad ABS:
Turn the key to position1.
ABS self-diagnosis is
performed in addition to
the checks outlined above.
( 48)
Switching off ignitionTurn the key to position2.
Lights switched off.
Handlebars not locked.
Key can be removed.
Locking handlebarsTurn the handlebars all the way
to the left
Turn the key to position3,
while moving the handlebars
slightly.
Ignition, lights and all function
circuits switched off.
Handlebars locked.
Key can be removed.Multifunction displaySelecting readingsSwitch on the ignition.
428zOperation
Page 31 of 138
If the motorcycle is to re-
main abroad for a lengthy
period, you can have the display
readouts changed from miles to
kilometers or vice versa, if neces-
sary. Under these circumstances
consult a specialist workshop,
preferably an authorised BMW
Motorrad dealer.
Press button1.The display starts with the cur-
rent value and each time the but-
ton is pressed it moves one step
through the following sequence:
Odometer (
ODO
)
Tripmeter 1 (
Trip I
)
Tripmeter 2 (
Trip II
)
Clock
Battery voltage
Residual range on reserve
quantity of fuel (once fuel level
is down to reserve)
Resetting tripmeterSwitch on the ignition.Select the desired tripmeter.
Press and hold down button1.
The tripmeter is reset to zero.
Setting clockSwitch on the ignition.
You can make this adjust-
ment only when the motor-
cycle is at a standstill.
Select the clock.
429zOperation