Page 105 of 168

Checking rear brake pad
thickness
Brake pads worn past
the minimum permissible
brake-pad thickness can cause
a reduction in braking efficiency
and under certain circumstances
they can cause damage to the
brake system.
In order to ensure the dependab-
ility of the brake system, do not
permit the brake pads to wear
past the minimum permissible
brake-pad thickness.
Make sure the ground is level
and firm and place the motor-
cycle on its stand. Visually inspect the brake pads
from the right to ascertain their
thickness.
Brake-pad wear limit, rear
min 1 mm (Friction pad only,
without backing plate)
Make sure that the brake
disc is not visible through
the bore in the inboard brake
block.
If the brake disc is visible: Have the brake pads replaced
by a specialist workshop, preferably an authorised BMW
Motorrad dealer.
Brake fluidChecking brake-fluid
level, front brakes
A low fluid level in the
brake reservoir can allow air
to penetrate the brake system.
This significantly reduces braking
efficiency.
Check the brake-fluid level at
regular intervals.
Make sure the ground is level
and firm and hold the motor-
cycle upright.
with OA Centre stand:
Make sure the ground is level
and firm and place the motor-
cycle on its centre stand.
Move the handlebars to the
straight-ahead position.
8103zMaintenance
Page 106 of 168
Check the brake fluid level in
front reservoir1.
The brake fluid level in the
brake fluid reservoir drops
as the brake pads wear. Brake fluid level, front
DOT4 brake fluid
Do not permit the brake fluid
level to drop below the MIN
mark. (Brake-fluid reservoir
horizontal)
If the brake fluid level drops be-
low the permitted level: Have the defect rectified as
quickly as possible by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW Motorrad
dealer.
Checking brake-fluid
level, rear brakes
A low fluid level in the
brake reservoir can allow air
to penetrate the brake system.
This significantly reduces braking
efficiency.
Check the brake-fluid level at
regular intervals.
Make sure the ground is level
and firm and hold the motor-
cycle upright.
with OA Centre stand:
Make sure the ground is level
and firm and place the motor-
cycle on its centre stand.
8104zMaintenance
Page 107 of 168
Check the brake fluid level in
brake fluid reservoir1.
The brake fluid level in the
brake fluid reservoir drops
as the brake pads wear. Brake fluid level, rear
DOT4 brake fluid
Do not permit the brake fluid
level to drop below the MIN
mark. (Brake-fluid reservoir
horizontal)
If the brake fluid level drops be-
low the permitted level: Have the defect rectified as
quickly as possible by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW Motorrad
dealer.
ClutchChecking clutch operationPull the clutch lever.
The pressure point must be
clearly perceptible.
If the pressure point is not clearly
perceptible:
Have the clutch checked by a
specialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW Motorrad
dealer.Checking clutch fluid levelMake sure the ground is level
and firm and hold the motor-
cycle upright.
with OA Centre stand:
Make sure the ground is level
and firm and place the motor-
cycle on its centre stand.
Move the handlebars to the
straight-ahead position.
8105zMaintenance
Page 108 of 168
Check the clutch fluid level in
clutch fluid reservoir1.
Wear of the clutch causes
the fluid level in the clutch
fluid reservoir to rise. Clutch fluid level
Do not permit the clutch flu-
id level to drop.
If the fluid level drops: Unsuitable hydraulic fluids
could cause damage to the
clutch system.
Do not attempt to top up the
system with fluids of any kind.
Have the defect rectified as
quickly as possible by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably an authorised BMW Motorrad
dealer.
The clutch system is filled
with a special hydraulic
fluid that does not have to be
changed.
TyresMeasuring tread depth of
tyres
Your motorcycle's handling
and grip can be impaired
even before the tyres wear to
the minimum tyre tread depth
permitted by law.
Have the tyres changed in good
time before they wear to the
minimum permissible tread
depth.
Make sure the ground is level
and firm and place the motor-
cycle on its stand.
8106zMaintenance
Page 109 of 168

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 is worn to minim-
um:
Replace tyre or tyres, as applic-
able.RimsVisual inspectionMake 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.
WheelsRecommended tyresFor each size of tyre BMW Mo-
torrad tests and classifies as
roadworthy certain makes. BMW
Motorrad cannot assess the suit-
ability or provide any guarantee
of road safety for other tyres.
BMW Motorrad recommends
using only tyres tested by BMW
Motorrad.
You can obtain detailed informa-
tion from your authorised BMW
Motorrad dealer or on the Inter-
net at www.bmw-motorrad.com.
RDC label
OE
Incorrect tyre-removal pro-
cedures can result in dam-
age to the RDC sensors.
Be sure to notify the authorised
BMW Motorrad dealer or spe-
cialist workshop that the wheel is
fitted with an RDC sensor.
If the motorcycle is equipped
with RDC, each wheel rim bears
an adhesive label indicating the
position of the RDC sensor.
When changing the tyre, take
care not to damage the RDC
sensor. Be sure to draw the
attention of the authorised BMW
8107zMaintenance
Page 110 of 168
Motorrad dealer or specialist
workshop to the fact that the
wheel is fitted with an RDC
sensor.Remove the front wheelPlace the motorcycle on an
auxiliary stand; BMW Motorrad
recommends the BMW Motor-
rad rear-wheel stand.
Install the rear-wheel stand
( 117)
with OA Centre stand:
Make sure the ground is level
and firm and place the motor-
cycle on its centre stand. Remove screws
1on left and
right.
Remove covers 2on left and
right. Once the calipers have
been removed, there is
a risk of the brake pads being
pressed together to the extent
that they cannot be slipped back
over the brake disc on reas-
sembly.
Do not operate the handbrake
lever when the brake calipers
have been removed.
Remove securing screws 3of
the brake calipers on left and
right.
8108zMaintenance
Page 111 of 168

Force the brake pads slightly
apart by rocking brake
calipers4back and forth A
against brake discs 5.
Mask off the parts of the wheel
rim that could be scratched in
the process of removing the
brake calipers.
Carefully pull the brake calipers
back and out until clear of the
brake discs.
with OE BMW Motorrad Integral
ABS: When removing the left brake
caliper, take care not to dam-
age the ABS sensor cable. Raise front of motorcycle until
the front wheel can turn freely.
BMW Motorrad recommends
the BMW Motorrad front-wheel
stand for lifting the motorcycle.
Install the front-wheel stand
( 115)
Remove right-hand axle clamp-
ing screw
6.
with OE BMW Motorrad Integral
ABS: The left axle clamping
screw locates the threaded
bush in the front suspension.
If the threaded bush is not correctly aligned the gap
between the ABS sensor ring
and the ABS sensor will not be
correct and this can cause the
ABS to malfunction or allow the
ABS sensor to be damaged.
In order to ensure that the
threaded bush remains correctly
aligned, do not slacken or
remove the left axle camping
screw.
Remove right-hand axle clamp-
ing screw 6.
Remove quick-release axle 7,
holding the wheel as you do
so.
Lower the front wheel to the
ground between the front forks.
Roll the front wheel forward to
remove.
8109zMaintenance
Page 112 of 168

with OE BMW Motorrad Integral
ABS:Take care not to dam-
age the ABS sensor when
rolling out the front wheel.
Note the ABS sensor when
rolling out the front wheel.
Roll the front wheel forward to
remove.Installing front wheel
ABS malfunctions on ac-
count of incorrect speed
signal.
Segmentation differs between in-
dividual types of sensor ring; it is
very important to ensure that the
correct sensor ring is installed.
Install only the sensor ring that
matches the motorcycle's con-
struction status.
Threaded fasteners not
tightened to the specified
torque can work loose or their
threads can suffer damage. Always have the security of the
fasteners checked by a specialist
workshop, preferably an author-
ised BMW Motorrad dealer.
The front wheel must be
installed right way round to
rotate in the correct direction.
Note the direction-of-rotation ar-
rows on the tyre or the wheel
rim.
Roll the front wheel into posi-
tion between the front forks.
with OE BMW Motorrad Integral
ABS:
There is a risk of damaging
parts of the front brake,
particularly the BMW Motorrad
Integral ABS, in the course of the
procedure described below.
Take care not to damage the
brake system, in particular the
ABS sensor with cable and the
ABS sensor ring. Roll the front wheel into posi-
tion between the front forks.
Raise the front wheel, insert
quick-release axle
7and tight-
en to specified torque.
Quick-release axle in
threaded bush
50 Nm
Tighten right axle clamping
screw 6to the specified tight-
ening torque.
8110zMaintenance