BMW MOTORRAD R 1150 GS 2002 Rider's Manual (in English)
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1
Fully retract the side stand
L Note:
If the side stand is extended
and a gear engaged, you can-
not start the motorcycle.
Select neutral– Neutral indicator light 1
comes on green
k (b 9).
L Note:
Engine does not start:
– Move the gear lever to the
k position or disengage
the clutch
Engine stops when first gear is
engaged:
– Fully retract the side stand; if necessary, consult the trou-
bleshooting chart
(b Maintenance Instructions,
Chapter 2)
Before you start
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Starting
e Attention:
If you attempt to start the en-
gine when the battery is flat, you
will hear the relay chattering.
Further attempts will damage
the starter relay and starter
motor.
Before trying again: recharge
the battery.
d Warning:
Do not allow the engine to
idle unnecessarily or for pro-
longed periods
— Risk of overheating or fire.
Ride away immediately after
starting the engine.
To avoid overheating the air-
cooled engine and possible
damage as a result, avoid
even short warm-up periods
at a standstill. Avoid high en-
gine speeds after a cold start.
Starting
ABC1
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Choke Correct position of choke lever 1:
– Lever up, in position A:
cold start
– Lever down, in position C:
engine at operating temper-
ature
When starting, pull lever 1 to
position A (arrow) and hold it
in this position
L Note:
Do not turn the throttle twistgrip
when starting the engine.
Press starter button 2
– The engine starts
Turn the throttle twistgrip carefully
Release lever 1
– Lever 1 in position B
Return choke lever 1 to
position C as soon as possi-
ble (as soon as the engine
runs smoothly)
2 Starting
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12*
43
Battery charge currentWarning light1 goes out above
idle speed.
e Attention:
If warning light 1 comes on dur-
ing the journey:
consult a specialist workshop,
preferably an authorised BMW
motorcycle dealer.
OEOptional extra
ABS warning lightOE
The ABS warning light 2 lights
up if the BMW Integral ABS
develops a fault (
b 84)
Warning light, general General warning light 3 lights
up if a fault develops in the
BMW Integral ABS
OE (b 84), or
if the tail light or brake light is
defective.
Low fuel levelWhen warning light 4 comes
on, there are still approx.
4 litres (0.9 gal) of fuel in the
tank.
*n depending on national-market
specification
Warning lights
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5
Engine oil pressureWarning light5 goes out above
idle speed.
e Attention:
If warning light 5 comes on dur-
ing the journey, take the follow-
ing action as soon as traffic
conditions permit:
Declutch
Operate the kill switch
Bring the motorcycle safely to a halt
Check engine oil level
(b 31)
e Attention:
If the warning light comes on
even though the oil level is cor-
rect, you must consult a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably an
authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer.
Warning lights
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The Rider Information Display
operates only when the ignition
is on.
Engine oil temperature
indicator 1
A= engine oil too hot ( red)
OEOptional extra
e Attention:
Switch off the engine, wait 5 min-
utes and then check the oil level
(
b 30). If the oil level is correct, al-
ways consult a specialist work-
shop without delay, preferably an
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
Avoid high engine speeds until
the problem has been dealt with.
B = engine oil at regular operating
temperature
C = engine oil cold ( blue)
Rider Information DisplayOE (RID)
1
A
B
C
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2
3
4
65
Rider Information Display
OE (RID)
Fuel gauge 2
L Note:
If only two bars are displayed,
about 4 litres (0.9 Imp. gal) of
fuel remain in the tank (the or-
ange warning light also comes
on (
b 72)).
Gear indicator 31 - 0 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6
Clock 4 To adjust, press with a ball- point pen or similar object at
point 5 (minutes) or point 6
(hours)
OEOptional extra
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Engine speedLimit engine speed in accord-
ance with engine temperature,
using the highest engine
speeds only when the engine
has reached its regular operat-
ing temperature. When the
revolution counter needle
enters the red zone on the dial,
the fuel supply is interrupted in
order to protect the engine
against overspeeding.
L Note:
The governor cuts in at
7,900 rpm
Load changes
d Warning:
Try not to open or close the
throttle abruptly, particularly
on wet or slippery roads.
Gear shifts
L Note:
Never slip the clutch exces-
sively when changing gear.
Vary your speed only by using
the throttle in a suitable gear,
not by slipping the clutch.
The digital gear indicator in the
Rider Information Display
OE
shows which gear has been se-
lected (
b 74).
OEOptional extra
Riding and changing gear
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Riding and changing gear
Moving off and upshifts Pull the clutch lever in
Press down on the gearshift lever (to select first gear) and
take your foot off the lever
Smoothly re-engage the
clutch
Increase engine speed slightly as necessary
Accelerate when the clutch is fully engaged
For upshifts into 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th gears, pull the
front of the gear lever up
Downshifts Close the throttle (twistgrip)
Pull the clutch lever in
Select the next-lower gear:
(opposite direction to arrow)
Smoothly re-engage the
clutch
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Brake system - general
Wet bra kesAfter the motorcycle has been
washed, ridden through water
or ridden in the rain, the brake
discs and pads may be wet (or
iced-over in winter), and may
not take effect immediately.
d Warning:
The brakes have to dry be-
fore they start to bite.
Salt on brakesThe full braking effect can be
delayed if the motorcycle is rid-
den on salt-covered roads and
the brakes are not applied for
some time.
d Warning:
The layer of salt on the brake
discs and pads must first be
worn away.
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