2008 BMW MOTORRAD K 1200 R Rider's Manual (in English)

Tighten the union nut.
Pull the protective cap over
the threaded fastener.Spring preloadAdjusting spring preloadIt is essential to set spring
preload to suit the load
carried by the motorcycle.
Increase spring preload when
the motorcycle is heavily
loaded and reduce spring
preload accordingly when the
motorcycle is lightly loaded.Adjusting spring preload
for rear wheel
Your motorcycle's hand-
ling will suffer if you do
not match the spring-preload
and damping-characteristic
settings.
Adjust the damping char-
acteristic to suit spring pre-
load. Adjusting spring preload
while the motorcycle is
being ridden can lead to acci-
dents.
Do not attempt to adjust
spring preload unless the
motorcycle is at a standstill.
Make sure the ground is
level and firm and place the
motorcycle on its stand.
If you want to increase
spring preload, turn knob 1
in the direction indicated by
the HIGH arrow.
If you want to reduce spring
preload, turn knob 1in the direction indicated by the
LOW arrow.
One click corresponds
to a half turn of
the knob. The range of
adjustment comprises 15
turns.
Rear spring preload, basic
setting
One-up, rider weighing 85
kg.
Turn the knob as far as it
will go in the direction indic-
ated by the LOW arrow and
then turn it back 15 clicks
in the direction indicated by
the HIGH arrow.
455zOperation

Shock absorbersAdjusting suspension
dampingDamping must be adapted
to suit spring preload. An in-
crease in spring preload re-
quires firmer damping, a re-
duction in spring preload re-
quires softer damping.Adjusting rear shock ab-
sorber
Your motorcycle's hand-
ling will suffer if you do
not match the spring-preload
and damping-characteristic
settings.
Adjust the damping char-
acteristic to suit spring pre-
load.
Make sure the ground is
level and firm and place the
motorcycle on its stand. Adjust the rear shock ab-
sorber, using a screwdriver
to turn adjusting screw
1.
If you want a harder damp-
ing characteristic, use a
screwdriver to turn the ad-
justing screw in the direc- tion indicated by the
Har-
row.
If you want a softer damping
characteristic, use a screw-
driver to turn the adjusting
screw in the direction in-
dicted by the Sarrow.
The adjusting screw can
be turned through three
and a half turns.
Rear suspension, basic set-
ting
One-up, rider weighing 85
kg.
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.
456zOperation

Electronic Suspension
Adjustment ESA
OE
SettingsElectronic Suspension Ad-
justment ESA provides a con-
venient way of adapting the
motorcycle to different condi-
tions. Three spring preload
settings can be combined
with three damping charac-
teristics to fine-tune the mo-
torcycle's suspension to the
load it carries and the surface
over which you want to ride.
The damping characteristic is
shown in panel1of the mul- tifunction display, and spring
preload in panel
2.
The Tripmaster readings are
not shown while the ESA
readout is active.
Calling up settingsSwitch on the ignition.
Press button 1.
The current setting is dis-
played.
The reading remains visible
for a few seconds before
disappearing automatically.
Adjusting suspension
dampingSwitch on the ignition.
Press button 1.
The current setting is dis-
played.
Press button 1once briefly.
The display field starts
at the current status and
cycles through the following
sequence:COMF
Comfortable damp-
ing characteristic
NORM
Normal damping
characteristic
457zOperation

SPORT
Sporty damping
characteristic
The setting shown on the
display is automatically
accepted as the damping
characteristic if you allow
a certain length of time
to pass without pressing
button 1. During the setting
procedure, the display
flashes.
Adjusting spring preloadStart the engine.
Press button 1. The current setting is dis-
played.
Press button
1once,
without releasing it
immediately.
Spring preload cannot
be adjusted while the
motorcycle is being ridden.
The display field starts
at the current status and
cycles through the following
sequence:
One-up
One-up with luggage
Two-up (with luggage)
The setting shown on the
display is automatically
accepted as the spring
preload if you allow a
certain length of time to
pass without pressing button
1. During the setting
procedure, the display
flashes.
TyresChecking tyre pressures
Incorrect tyre pressure
adversely affects the
handling characteristics of
the motorcycle and can lead
to accidents.
Always check that the tyre
pressures are correct.
At high road speeds,
tyre valves have a tend-
ency to open as a result of
centrifugal force.
In order to avoid a sudden
loss of tyre pressure, fit a
metal valve cap with rubber
sealing ring to the rear tyre
and make sure that the cap is
screwed on firmly.
458zOperation

Incorrect tyre pressure
reduces the operating
life of the tyres.
Always check that the tyre
pressures are correct.
Check that tyre pressures
are correct as per the data
below.
Front wheel, tyre pressure
2.5 bar (When cold)
Rear wheel, tyre pressure
2.9 bar (When cold)
If tyre pressure is too low: Correct the tyre pressures.
459zOperation

460zOperation

Riding
Safety instructions............. 62
Checklist . . .................... 64
Starting . . . .................... 64
Pulling away with BMW Integral
ABS
OE
........................ 67
Running in .................... 67
Parking your motorcycle . . . .... 71
Refuelling . .................... 78
Brake system, general ......... 79
Brake system with BMW Integral
ABS
OE
........................ 79
561zRiding

Safety instructionsRider's equipmentDo not ride without the cor-
rect clothing. Always wear:Helmet
Motorcycling jacket and
trousers
Gloves
Boots
This applies even to short
journeys, and to every sea-
son of the year. Your author-
ised BMW Motorrad dealer
will be glad to advise you on
the correct clothing for every
purpose.SpeedIf you ride at high speed, al-
ways bear in mind that vari-
ous boundary conditions can
adversely affect the handling
of your motorcycle: Settings of the spring-strut
and shock-absorber system
Imbalanced load
Loose clothing
Insufficient tyre pressure
Poor tyre tread
Etc.
Correct loading
Overloading and
imbalanced loads
can adversely affect the
motorcycle's handling.
Do not exceed the permiss-
ible gross weight and be sure
to comply with the instruc-
tions on loading.
Alcohol and drugs
Even small amounts of
alcohol or drugs will ad-
versely affect your percep-
tion and your ability to as-
sess situations and make de-
cisions, and slow down your reflexes. Medication can ex-
acerbate these effects.
Do not ride your motorcycle
after consuming alcohol,
drugs and/or medication.
Risk of poisoningExhaust fumes contain car-
bon monoxide, which is col-
ourless 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
enclosed space.
562zRiding