Page 4 of 173

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 . . . . . . .............. 7
Technical data . . .............. 7
Currency . ..................... 7
2 General views . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
General view, left side . . . . . . . . 11
General view, right side . . . . . . 13
Underneath the seat ......... 15
Handlebar fitting, left ......... 16
Handlebar fitting, right . . . . . . . . 17
Instrument cluster . . . ......... 18
Headlight . .................... 19 3 Status indicators . . . . . . . 21
Standard status
indicators .
.................... 22
Status indicators with on-
board computer
OE
........... 23
Status indicators with
tyre-pressure monitoring
(RDC)
OE...................... 24
Status indicators with seat
heatingOE
.................... 24
Telltale light with cruise con-
trol
OE
........................ 25
Standard warnings . . ......... 25
Warnings issued by the on-
board computer
OE
........... 30
ABS warnings . . . ............. 32
ASC warnings
OE
............. 34
RDC warnings
OE
............. 36
Anti-theft alarm
warnings
OE................... 41 4 Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Ignition switch and steering
lock . .
........................ 47
Electronic immobiliser . . . . . . . . 48
Clock . . . . . .................... 49
Odometer and tripmeters . . . . 49
Multifunction display ......... 51
On-board computer
OE
....... 51
Tyre pressure monitoring
RDC
OE
....................... 54
Lights . . . . .................... 55
Turn indicators . . ............. 56
Hazard warning flashers . . . . . . 57
Emergency off switch (kill
switch) . . . .................... 58
Grip heating
OE
............... 59
Seat heatingOE............... 60
Automatic Stability Control
ASC
OE
....................... 61
Seat height . . . . . . ............. 62
Windscreen . . . . . ............. 63
Cruise-control system
OE
..... 63
Stowage compartment . . . . . . . 66
Clutch . . . . .................... 66
Page 11 of 173
General views
General views
General view, left side................ 11
General view, right side . . ............ 13
Underneath the seat ................. 15
Handlebar fitting, left ................. 16
Handlebar fitting, right . . . ............ 17
Instrument cluster . . ................. 18
Headlight ............................ 19
29zGeneral views
Page 20 of 173
Instrument cluster1Speedometer
2 Telltale lights ( 22)
3 Multifunction display
( 22)
4 Rev. counter
5 Telltale light, anti-theft alarm
(OE)
6 Set the clock ( 49)
Adjust the dimmer ( 51)
7 Select the odometer
( 49)
Reset the tripmeter ( 50)
8 Sensor for instrument light-
ing
The instrument-cluster
lighting has automatic day
and night switchover.
218zGeneral views
Page 83 of 173

ASC self-diagnosis is per-
formed. ( 82)
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.
The start attempt is auto-
matically interrupted if bat-
tery voltage is too low. 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. ( 142)
Pre-ride checkThe instrument cluster runs a
test of the 'General' warning light
when the ignition is switched
on: this is the "Pre-Ride-Check"
The warning light shows first red
and then yellow, so that you can
check that it is in working order.
The test is aborted if you start
the engine before it completes.
Phase 1 General warning light shows
red.CHECK!
appears on the dis-
play. Phase 2
General warning light shows
yellow.
CHECK!
appears on the dis-
play.
If the motorcycle is
equipped with cruise
control, SET lights up.
If the 'General' warning light does
not show:
Some malfunctions cannot
be indicated if the 'Gener-
al' warning light cannot be dis-
played.
Check that the 'General' warning
light comes on, and that it shows
red and yellow.
Have the fault rectified as
quickly as possible by a
specialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW Motorrad
dealer.
581zRiding
Page 137 of 173

Remove screws4and pull the
retainer to the rear.
Lift the battery up and out;
work it slightly back and forth
if it is difficult to remove.Installing batterySwitch off the ignition.
Place the battery in the battery
compartment, positive terminal
on the left in the forward direc-
tion of travel.
Slip the battery retainer
over the battery and install
screws 4. Installation in the wrong
sequence increases the risk
of short-circuits.
Always proceed in the correct
sequence.
Never install the battery without
the protective cap.
Connect battery positive lead 1
first.
Seat protective cap 2on the
positive terminal.
The connect battery negative
lead 3.
Switch on the ignition.
If the battery was discon-
nected from the motorcycle
for a prolonged period of time
it will be necessary to enter the
current date in the instrument
cluster, in order to ensure that
the service-due indicator func-
tions correctly.
If you want to have the date set
consult a specialist workshop, preferably an authorised BMW
Motorrad dealer.
Fully open the throttle once or
twice.
The engine management sys-
tem registers the throttle-valve
position.
Install the battery-compartment
cover ( 134)
Set the clock ( 49)
8135zMaintenance
Page 140 of 173

Care productsBMW Motorrad recommends
that you use the cleaning and
care products you can obtain
from your authorised BMW Mo-
torrad dealer. The substances in
BMW Care Products have been
tested in laboratories and in prac-
tice; they provide optimised care
and protection for the materials
used in your vehicle.The use of unsuitable
cleaning and care products
can damage vehicle components.
Do not use solvents such as cel-
lulose thinners, cold cleaners,
fuel or the like, and do not use
cleaning products that contain
alcohol.Washing motorcycleBMW Motorrad recommends
that you use BMW insect re-
mover to soften and wash off
insects and stubborn dirt on painted parts prior to washing
the motorcycle.
To prevent stains, do not wash
the motorcycle immediately after
it has been exposed to strong
sunlight and do not wash it in the
sun.
Make sure that the motorcycle
is washed frequently, especially
during the winter months.
To remove road salt, clean the
motorcycle with cold water im-
mediately after every trip.
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.
Warm water intensifies the
effect of salt. Use only cold water to wash off
road salt.
The high pressure of steam
cleaners can damage seals,
the hydraulic brake system, the
electrical system, and the seat.
Do not use a steam jet or high-
pressure cleaning equipment.
Cleaning easily
damaged componentsPlasticsClean plastic parts with water
and BMW plastic care emulsion.
This includes in particular:
Windscreen and slipstream de-
flectors
Headlight lens made of plastic
Glass cover of the instrument
cluster
Black, unpainted parts
If plastic parts are cleaned
using unsuitable cleaning
9138zCare
Page 169 of 173

I
IgnitionSwitching off, 47
Switching on, 47
Immobiliser, 48 Warning, 27
Instrument cluster Overview, 18
Sensor for lighting, 18
J
Jump starting, 131
K
Keys, 47
L
Laying up, 140
Lights Headlight flasher, 56
High-beam headlight, 56
Low-beam headlight, 56
Parking light, 56
Side light, 55
Luggage Correct loading, 99 M
Maintenance
General instructions, 106
Mirrors Adjusting, 68
Motorcycle Restoring to use, 140
Multifunction display, 18 Adjust the dimmer, 51
Overview, 22
O
Odometer and tripmeters Resetting, 50
Selecting readings, 49
On-board computer, 17 Ambient temperature, 52
Average consumption, 53
Average speed, 53
Oil level, 54
Range, 52
Reset the average
consumption, 53
Resetting average speed, 53 Selecting readings, 51
Warnings, 30
P
Parking, 85
Power socket, 11, 98
Pre-ride check, 81
R
Rear-wheel drive Technical data, 148
Refuelling, 87 Filler neck, 13
Reserve Warning, 27
Residual range, 50
Restoring to use, 140
Rev. counter, 18
Rider's Manual, 15
Running gear Technical data, 148
Running in, 83
S
Safety instructions, 77
12167zIndex