The tyre pressures are shown,
accompanied by the wordingRDC P
. The front tyre pressure
is on the left; the reading on the
right is the rear tyre pressure.
-- --
appears directly after the
ignition is switched on, because
the sensors do not transmit tyre
pressures until the motorcycle
accelerates to 30 km/h.
The readings alternate with the
clock.
If the motorcycle has an on-
board computer the readings al-
ternate with the clock and the
values of the on-board computer.
LightsSide lightThe side lights switch on auto-
matically when the ignition is
switched on.
The side lights place
a strain on the battery.
Do not switch the ignition
on for longer than absolutely
necessary.Low-beam headlightThe low-beam headlight switches
on automatically when you start
the engine.
When the engine is not
running you can switch on
the lights by switching on the ig-
nition and either switching on the
high-beam headlight or operating
the headlight flasher.
High-beam headlightPress the top section of full-
beam headlight switch 1.
High-beam headlight switched
on.
Move full-beam headlight
switch 1to the centre position.
High-beam headlight switched
off.
Press the bottom section of
full-beam headlight switch 1.
The high-beam headlight is
switched on until you release
the button (headlight flasher).
454zOperation
Cancelling turn indicatorsPress cancel button3.
Flashing turn indicators
switched off.
Turn indicator telltale lights are
off.Hazard warning
flashersSwitching on hazard
warning flashersSwitch on the ignition.
The hazard warning flash-
ers place a strain on the
battery. Do not use the hazard warning flashers for longer than
absolutely necessary.
If you press a turn-indicat-
or button with the ignition
switched on, the turn-indicator
function is activated instead of
the hazard warning flashers, and
remains active until you release
the button. The hazard warning
flashers recommence flashing as
soon as the button is released.
Simultaneously press button 1
for left turn indicators and but-
ton 2for right turn indicators. The hazard warning flashers
are switched on.
Left and right turn indicator
telltale lights flash.
Switch off the ignition.
The hazard warning flashers
continue to operate.
Left/right turn indicator telltale
lights off.
Switching off hazard
warning flashersPress cancel button
3.
Hazard warning flashers
switched off.
456zOperation
Adjusting damping for
rear wheelMake sure the ground is level
and firm and place the motor-
cycle on its stand.
Adjust the rear shock absorber,
using the tool from the on-
board toolkit to turn adjusting
screw1. If you want a harder damping
characteristic, turn the adjust-
ing screw in the direction indic-
ated by the H arrow.
If you want a softer damping
characteristic, turn the adjust-
ing screw in the direction indic-
ated by the S arrow. Basic setting of rear-sus-
pension damping charac-
teristic
Turn the adjusting screw as
far as it will go in the dir-
ection indicated by the H
arrow and then turn it back
one and a half turns in the
direction indicated by the S
arrow. (One-up 85 kg)
Electronic Suspension
Adjustment ESA
OE
SettingsElectronic Suspension Adjust-
ment ESA provides a convenient
way of adapting the motorcycle
to the load it carries and the sur-
face over which you intend riding.
462zOperation
Safety instructionsRider's equipmentDo not ride without the correct
clothing. Always wear:Helmet
Motorcycling jacket and
trousers
Gloves
Boots
This applies even to short jour-
neys, and to every season of the
year. Your authorised BMW Mo-
torrad dealer will be glad to ad-
vise you on the correct clothing
for every purpose.SpeedIf you ride at high speed, always
bear in mind that various bound-
ary conditions can adversely af-
fect the handling of your motor-
cycle: Settings of the spring-strut and
shock-absorber system
Imbalanced load
Loose clothing
Insufficient tyre pressure
Poor tyre tread
Etc.
Correct loading
Overloading and imbal-
anced loads can adversely
affect the motorcycle's handling.
Do not exceed the permissible
gross weight and be sure to
comply with the instructions on
loading.
Alcohol and drugs
Even small amounts of
alcohol or drugs will ad-
versely affect your perception
and your ability to assess situ-
ations and make decisions, and
slow down your reflexes. Med-
ication can exacerbate these ef-
fects. Do not ride your motorcycle after
consuming alcohol, drugs and/or
medication.
Risk of poisoningExhaust fumes contain carbon
monoxide, which is colourless
and odourless but highly toxic.
Inhaling the exhaust fumes
therefore represents a
health hazard and can even
cause loss of consciousness with
fatal consequences.
Do not inhale exhaust fumes.
Do not run the engine in an en-
closed space.High voltage
Touching live parts of the
ignition system with the
engine running can cause electric
shock.
Do not touch parts of the igni-
tion system when the engine is
running.
570zRiding
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)
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. Do not pull the clutch un-
til after you have switched on the
ignition, as otherwise the engine
will refuse to start. When the
gearbox is in neutral, the green
neutral telltale light is on and the
gear indicator in the multifunction
display shows N.
Starting engine.Kill switch in run position A.
Switch on the ignition.
Pre-ride check is performed.
( 73)
with OE BMW Motorrad Integral
ABS: Switch on the ignition.
Pre-ride check is performed.
( 73)
ABS self-diagnosis is
performed. ( 74)
572zRiding
with OE Automatic Stability
Control (ASC):Switch on the ignition.
Pre-ride check is performed.
( 73)
ABS self-diagnosis is
performed. ( 74)
ASC self-diagnosis is per-
formed. ( 74)
Press starter button 1.
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. ( 136)
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 '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
573zRiding
an authorised BMW Motorrad
dealer.ABS self-diagnosis
OE
BMW Motorrad ABS performs
self-diagnosis to ensure its op-
erability. Self-diagnosis is per-
formed automatically when you
switch on the ignition. The mo-
torcycle has to move forward at
a speed above 5 km/h for the
wheel sensors to be tested.
Phase 1Test of the diagnosis-compat-
ible system components with
the motorcycle at a standstill. ABS warning light flashes.
Possible national variant of
the ABS warning light.
Phase 2 Test of the wheel sensors as
the motorcycle pulls away from
rest. ABS warning light flashes.
Possible national variant of
the ABS warning light.
ABS self-diagnosis
completed The ABS warning light goes
out.
If an indicator showing an ABS
fault appears when ABS self-dia-
gnosis completes: You can continue to ride. Bear
in mind that neither the ABS
function nor the integral brak-
ing function is available.
Have the fault rectified as
quickly as possible by a
specialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW Motorrad
dealer.
ASC self-diagnosis
OE
BMW Motorrad ASC performs
self-diagnosis to ensure its op- erability. Self-diagnosis is per-
formed automatically when you
switch on the ignition. The en-
gine must be running and the
motorcycle must reach a speed
of at least 5 km/h in order for
ASC self-diagnosis to complete.
Phase 1
Test of the diagnosis-compat-
ible system components with
the motorcycle at a standstill. ASC symbol flashes.
Phase 2 Test of the diagnosis-compat-
ible system components while
the motorcycle is on the move. ASC symbol flashes.
ASC self-diagnosis
completed The ASC warning light goes
out.
574zRiding
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.
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.
576zRiding