Page 4 of 132

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
Equipment . . . . . . .............. 6
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
............. 23 4 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
Spring preload . . ............. 34
Damping . .................... 35
Tyres . . . . . .................... 37
Headlight . .................... 38
Seat . . . . . . .................... 38
5 Riding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Safety instructions . . ......... 42
Checklist . .................... 44
Starting . . . .................... 44
Running in . . . . . . ............. 46
Brakes . . . .................... 47
Parking your motorcycle . . . . . 49
Refuelling .................... 50 6 Engineering details . . . . . 51
Brake system with BMW Mo-
torrad ABS
OE
................ 52
7 Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
General instructions . ......... 56
Power socketOE.............. 56
Luggage . .................... 57
8 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Notes ........................ 60
Toolkit ........................ 60
Engine oil .................... 61
Brake system . . . ............. 63
Brake pads . . . . . . ............. 64
Brake fluid .................... 65
Coolant . . . .................... 67
Clutch . . . . .................... 68
Tyres . . . . . .................... 69
Rims . ........................ 69
Chain . . . . . .................... 69
Wheels . . . .................... 71
BMW Motorrad auxiliary
stand . . . . . .................... 78
Page 5 of 132

BMW Motorrad front-wheel
stand ......................... 79
Fuses ........................ 81
Bulbs . ........................ 82
Jump starting . . . ............. 90
Battery . . . . . . ................. 91
Number-plate carrier . . . ...... 95
9 Care . . . . . . ................ 97
Care products . . . ............. 98
Washing motorcycle . . . . ...... 98
Cleaning easily damaged
components . ................. 98
Paint care . . . ................. 99
Protective wax coating . .... 100
Laying up motorcycle . . .... 100
Restoring motorcycle to
use......................... 100
10 Technical data . . . . . . . 101
Troubleshooting chart . . .... 102
Threaded fasteners . . . . .... 103
Engine . . . . . . ............... 105
Fuel . . ...................... 106
Engine oil . . . ............... 106
Clutch ...................... 107
Transmission ............... 107 Rear-wheel drive
........... 108
Running gear ............... 108
Brakes . . . . . . ............... 109
Wheels and tyres ........... 109
Electrics . . . . . ............... 110
Frame ...................... 112
Dimensions . ............... 112
Weights . . . . . ............... 113
Riding specifications . . . .... 113
11 Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
BMW Motorrad service . .... 116
BMW Motorrad service
quality ...................... 116
BMW Motorrad Service
Card: on-the-spot break-
down assistance ........... 116
BMW Motorrad service net-
work . . ...................... 117
Maintenance work . . . . . . .... 117
Confirmation of mainten-
ance work . . . ............... 118
Confirmation of service . .... 123
Page 16 of 132
Underneath the seat1Toolkit ( 60)
2 Rider's Manual
3 Fuse box ( 81)
4 Oil dipstick and engine-oil
filler neck ( 61)
214zGeneral views
Page 23 of 132
Warnings, overviewMeaning
Lights up Fuel down to reserve ( 22)
Lights up Insufficient engine oil pressure ( 22)
Lights up Coolant temperature too high ( 22)
321zStatus indicators
Page 24 of 132

Fuel down to reserveWarning light for fuel down
to reserve lights up.
Lack of fuel can result in
the engine misfiring and
cutting out unexpectedly. Mis-
firing can damage the catalytic
converter; a hazardous situation
can result if the engine cuts out
unexpectedly.
Do not run the fuel tank dry.
Possible cause: The fuel tank
contains no more than the re-
serve quantity of fuel.
Reserve fuel
2l
Refuelling ( 50) Insufficient engine oil
pressure
Warning light for oil pres-
sure shows.
The oil pressure in the lube-oil
system is too low. Stop immedi-
ately and switch off the engine if
the warning light shows.
The insufficient oil pres-
sure warning does not fulfil
the function of an oil gauge. The
only way of checking whether
the oil level is correct is to check
with the oil dipstick.
Possible cause: Engine-oil level
too low.
Check the engine oil level
( 61)
If the oil level is too low: Top up the engine oil ( 63)
If the engine oil level is correct: Riding when engine-oil
pressure is low can result
in engine damage. Do not continue your journey.
Have the fault rectified as
quickly as possible by a
specialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW Motorrad
dealer.
Coolant temperature too high Warning light for coolant
temperature shows.
Continuing to ride when the
engine is overheated could
result in engine damage.
You must comply with the in-
structions below.
Possible cause: Coolant level too
low.
Check the coolant level ( 67)
If the coolant level is too low:
Topping up coolant ( 68)
Possible cause: Radiator fan de-
fective.
322zStatus indicators
Page 46 of 132

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
Shock absorber setting and
spring preload
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.
( 45)
544zRiding
Page 50 of 132

the 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.
Wet brakes
After the motorcycle has
been washed, ridden
through water or ridden in
the rain, the brake discs and
pads might be wet and the
brakes might not take effect
immediately.
Apply the brakes in good time
until the brakes have dried out.
Salt on brakes
The brakes may fail to take
effect immediately if the
motorcycle was ridden on salt-
covered roads and the brakes
were not applied for some time.
Apply the brakes in good time
until the salt layer on the brake
discs and brake pads has been
removed.
Oil or grease on brakes
Oil and grease on the brake
discs and pads considerably
diminish braking efficiency.
Especially after repair and main-
tenance work, make sure that the
brake discs and brake pads are
free of oil and grease.
Dirt or mud on brakes
When riding on loose sur-
faces or muddy roads, the
brakes may fail to take effect
immediately because of dirt or
moisture on the discs or brake
pads.
Apply the brakes in good time
until the brakes have been
cleaned.
The brake pads will wear
more rapidly if you ride fre-
quently on unsurfaced tracks or
poor roads.
Check the thickness of the brake
548zRiding
Page 61 of 132
Maintenance
Maintenance
Notes................................ 60
Toolkit . . . ............................ 60
Engine oil ............................ 61
Brake system . ....................... 63
Brake pads . . . ....................... 64
Brake fluid ........................... 65
Coolant . . ............................ 67
Clutch . . . ............................ 68
Tyres ................................ 69
Rims ................................. 69
Chain ................................ 69
Wheels . . ............................ 71
BMW Motorrad auxiliary stand ....... 78
BMW Motorrad front-wheel
stand ................................ 79 Fuses . . .
............................. 81
Bulbs . . . ............................. 82
Jump starting . ....................... 90
Battery . . ............................. 91
Number-plate carrier ................. 95
859zMaintenance