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

higher than 12 V can damage
the vehicle electronics.
Make sure that the battery
of the donor vehicle has a
voltage rating of 12 V.If it is not standing firmly,
the motorcycle could
topple in the course of the
operations described below.
Always make sure that the
motorcycle is stable and
firmly supported.
Make sure the ground is
level and firm and place the
motorcycle on its stand.
When jump-starting the en-
gine, do not disconnect the
battery from the on-board
electrical system. Remove screws
1.
Lift the battery compartment
cover up and forward to re-
move.
Run the engine of the donor
vehicle during jump-starting.
Begin by connecting one
end of the red jump lead
to the positive terminal of
the discharged battery and
the other end to the pos-
itive terminal of the donor
battery.
Then connect one end of
the black jump lead to the
negative terminal of the
donor battery, and the other end to the negative terminal
of the discharged battery.
Start the engine of the
vehicle with the discharged
battery in the usual way; if
the engine does not start,
wait a few minutes before
repeating the attempt
in order to protect the
starter motor and the donor
battery.
Allow both engines to idle
for a few minutes before
disconnecting the jump
leads.
Disconnect the jump lead
from the negative terminals
first, then disconnect the
second lead from the posit-
ive terminals.
Install the cover of the bat-
tery compartment and install
screws
1.
Do not use proprietary
start-assist sprays or
7119zMaintenance

other products to start the
engine.BatteryMaintenance instructionsCorrect upkeep, recharging
and storage will prolong the
life of the battery and are es-
sential if warranty claims are
to be considered.
Compliance with the points
below is important in order to
maximise battery life:Keep the surface of the bat-
tery clean and dry
Do not open the battery
Do not top up with water
Be sure to read and com-
ply with the instructions for
charging the battery on the
following pages
Do not turn the battery up-
side down If the battery is not dis-
connected, the on-board
electronics (e.g. clock, etc.)
gradually drain the battery.
This can cause the battery to
run flat. If this happens, war-
ranty claims will not be ac-
cepted.
If the motorcycle is to be out
of use for more than four
weeks, disconnect the battery
or connect a suitable trickle
charger to the battery.
BMW Motorrad
has developed a
trickle-charger specially
designed for compatibility
with the electronics of your
motorcycle. Using this
charger, you can keep the
battery charged during long
periods of disuse, without
having to disconnect the
battery from the motorcycle's
on-board systems. You can
obtain additional information from your authorised
BMW Motorrad dealer.
Charging battery when
connected
Charging the connec-
ted battery directly at the
battery terminals can damage
the vehicle electronics.
Always disconnect the battery
from the on-board circuits be-
fore recharging it with a char-
ger connected directly to the
battery posts.
Only chargers suitable
for this mode of char-
ging can be used to recharge
the battery via the on-board
socket. Unsuitable chargers
could cause damage to the
motorcycle's on-board elec-
trics.
Use BMW chargers with
the part numbers 71 60
7 688 864 (220 V) or, as
7120zMaintenance

applicable, 71 60 7 688 865
(110 V). If you are in doubt,
disconnect the battery from
the on-board systems and
connect the charger directly
to the battery.If you switch on the ig-
nition and the multifunc-
tion display and telltale lights
fail to light up, the battery is
completely flat. Attempting to
charge a completely flat bat-
tery via the on-board socket
can cause damage to the mo-
torcycle's electronics.
If a battery has discharged to
the extent that it is completely
flat, it has to be disconnec-
ted from the on-board circuits
and charged with the char-
ger connected directly to the
battery posts.
Charge via the power sock-
et, with the battery connec- ted to the motorcycle's on-
board electrical system.
The motorcycle's
on-board electronics
know when the battery is
fully charged. The on-board
socket is switched off when
this happens.
Comply with the operating
instructions of the charger. If you are unable to
charge the battery
through the power socket,
you may be using a charger
that is not compatible with
your motorcycle's electronics.
If this happens, disconnect
the battery from the on-board
systems and connect the
charger directly to the
battery.
Charging the battery
when disconnectedCharge the battery using a
suitable charger.
Comply with the operating
instructions of the charger.
Once the battery is fully
charged, disconnect the
charger's terminal clips from
the battery terminals.
The battery has to be re-
charged at regular inter-
vals in the course of a lengthy
period of disuse. See the in-
structions for caring for your
battery. Always fully recharge
the battery before restoring it
to useRemoving the battery
If it is not standing firmly,
the motorcycle could
topple in the course of the
operations described below.
Always make sure that the
7121zMaintenance

motorcycle is stable and
firmly supported.Make sure the ground is
level and firm and place the
motorcycle on its stand.
Remove screws 1. Lift the battery compartment
cover up and forward to re-
move.
Disconnection in
the wrong sequence increases the risk of
short-circuits.
Always proceed in the correct
sequence.
Disconnect negative lead 2
first.
Then disconnect positive
lead 3.
Remove screws 4and pull
the retainer to the rear.
Lift the battery up and out;
work it slightly back and
forth if it is difficult to re-
move.
7122zMaintenance

Installing the battery
If it is not standing firmly,
the motorcycle could
topple in the course of the
operations described below.
Always make sure that the
motorcycle is stable and
firmly supported.
Make sure the ground is
level and firm and place the
motorcycle on its stand.
Switch off the ignition.
Place the battery in the bat-
tery compartment, positive
terminal on the right in the
forward direction of travel. Slip the battery retainer
over the battery and install
screws
4.
Connection 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 the battery positive
lead 3 first.
Then connect the battery
negative lead 2.
Install the cover of the bat-
tery compartment.
7123zMaintenance

Install screws1.
Switch on the ignition.
Fully open the throttle once
or twice.
The engine management
system registers the
throttle-valve position.
Setting the clock ( 46)
7124zMaintenance

Care
Care products . ............... 126
Washing the motorcycle . . . . . . 126
Cleaning easily damaged
components . . . .............. 127
Paint care . ................... 128
Protective wax coating ........ 128
Laying up the motorcycle . . . . . 128
Restoring motorcycle to
use .......................... 129
8125zCare

Care productsWe recommend that you
use the cleaning and care
products you can obtain
from your authorised
BMW Motorrad dealer. The
substances in BMW Care
Products have been tested in
laboratories and in practice;
they provide optimised
care and protection for the
materials used in your vehicle.The use of unsuitable
cleaning and care
products can result in
damage to motorcycle
components.
Do not use solvents such as
cellulose thinners, cold clean-
ers, fuel or the like, and do
not use cleaning products
that contain alcohol.
Washing the motor-
cycleWe recommend that you
use BMW insect remover to
soften and wash off insects
and resilient 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 motor-
cycle is washed frequently,
especially during the winter
months.
To remove road salt, clean
the motorcycle with cold wa-
ter immediately 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 equip-
ment.
8126zCare

Cleaning easily dam-
aged componentsPlasticsClean plastic parts with water
and BMW plastic care emul-
sion. This includes in particu-
lar:Windscreen
Headlight lens made of
plastic
Glass cover of the instru-
ment cluster
Black, unpainted parts
The use of unsuitable
products to clean plastic
parts can damage the sur-
face.
Do not use products that
contain alcohol or solvents to
clean plastic surfaces, and do
not use scouring agents.
Even fly-remover pads or
cleaning pads with hard surfaces can produce
scratches.
Soften stubborn dirt and
insects by covering the
affected areas with a wet
cloth.
WindscreenClean off dirt and insects with
a soft sponge and plenty of
water.
Fuel and chemical
solvents attack the
material of the windscreen;
the windscreen becomes
opaque or dull.
Do not use cleaning agents.ChromeUse plenty of water and BMW
shampoo to clean chrome,
particularly if it has been
exposed to road salt. Use
chrome polish for additional
treatment.
RadiatorClean the radiator regularly to
prevent overheating of the en-
gine due to inadequate cool-
ing.
For example, use a garden
hose with low water pressure.
Cooling fins can be bent
easily.
Take care not to bend the fins
when cleaning the radiator.RubberTreat rubber components with
water or BMW rubber-care
products.
Using silicone sprays for
the care of rubber seals
can cause damage.
Do not use silicone sprays
or other care products that
contain silicon.
8127zCare

Paint careWashing the motorcycle
regularly will help counteract
the long-term effects of
substances that damage
the paint, especially if your
motorcycle is ridden in areas
with high air pollution or
natural sources of dirt, for
example tree resin or pollen.
Remove particularly
aggressive substances
immediately, however, as
otherwise the paint can
be affected or become
discoloured. Substances
of this nature include spilt
fuel, oil, grease, brake fluid
and bird droppings. We
recommend BMW vehicle
polish or BMW paint cleaner
for this purpose.
Marks on the paintwork are
particularly easy to see after
the motorcycle has been
washed. Remove stains ofthis kind immediately, using
cleaning-grade benzene or
petroleum spirit on a clean
cloth or ball of cotton wool.
We recommend that specks
of tar be removed with BMW
tar remover. Remember to
wax the parts treated in this
way.
Protective wax coat-
ingFor the protective wax coating
of paint, we recommend that
you use only BMW vehicle
wax or agents that contain
carnauba wax or synthetic
waxes.
It is time to rewax the paint-
work when water "puddles"
on the surface, instead of
forming beads.
Laying up the motor-
cycleClean the motorcycle.
Remove the battery.
Spray the brake and clutch
lever pivots and the main
and side stand pivots with a
suitable lubricant.
Coat bright metal and
chrome-plated parts with
an acid-free grease (e.g.
Vaseline).
Stand the motorcycle in a
dry room in such a way that
there is no load on either
wheel.
Before laying the vehicle
up out of use, have the
engine oil and the oil filter ele-
ment changed by a special-
ist workshop, preferably an
authorised BMW Motorrad
dealer. Combine work for lay-
ing up/restoring to use with a
BMW service or inspection.
8128zCare