BMW MOTORRAD R 850 R 2004 Rider's Manual (in English)

2
29
2
Safety check
Brake system - general
Checking brake pads
d Warning:
Have the brake pads replaced
before they wear to the mini-
mum permissible thickness:
have the work performed
by a specialist workshop,
preferably an authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer. Brake pad wear depends on
your personal style of riding.
To ensure reliable operation of
the brakes: do not allow lining
thickness to fall below minimum
value (Maintenance Instructions b Chapter 2).
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30
Safety check
Brake system - without BMW Integral ABS
Checking brake fluid levelGradual wear of the brake pads
causes the brake fluid level in
the reservoir to drop.
d Warning:
If brake fluid level in the fluid
reservoirs for the front or rear
brakes has dropped below
the MIN mark (
b 31, 32), have
the brake system checked
without delay by a specialist
workshop, preferably an au-
thorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
Changing brake fluid
d Warning:
Brake fluid is subject to
severe thermal loads and
absorbs moisture from the
atmosphere.
Consequently, the brake fluid
must be changed regularly
(see the Maintenance Instruc-
tions
b Chapter 1) by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW
motorcycle dealer.
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2
31
2
Safety check
Checking front brake fluid
level
d Warning:
Never permit the brake fluid
level to drop below the mini-
mum level (MIN mark)
 Place motorcycle on centre
stand
– Make sure the ground is level and firm  Turn the handlebars fully to
the left
 Check brake fluid level in sight glass
MIN Minimum level
(top of marking ring)
L Note:
Gradual wear of the brake pads
causes the brake fluid level in
the reservoir to drop.
MIN
Brake system - without BMW Integral ABS
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22
32
Safety check
MAX
MIN
Brake system - without BMW Integral ABS
Checking rear brake fluid
level
d Warning:
Never permit the brake fluid
level to drop below the MIN
mark on the brake fluid reser-
voir
 Place motorcycle on centre stand
– Make sure the ground is level and firm  Check the brake fluid level
MAX Maximum level
MIN Minimum level
L Note:
Gradual wear of the brake pads
causes the brake fluid level in
the reservoir to drop.
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2
33
2
Safety check
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABSOE
Checking brake fluid level
d Warning:
On a motorcycle equipped
with BMW Integral ABS, the
brake fluid level in the reser-
voir does NOT drop as the
brake pads wear (b 35, 36).
d Warning:
Have the brake system
checked immediately by a
specialist workshop, prefera-
bly an authorised BMW mo-
torcycle dealer, if the brake
fluid level in the reservoir of
the brake system drops below
the MIN mark (b 35, 36).

Optional extra
Changing brake fluid
d Warning:
Brake fluid is subject to
severe thermal loads and
absorbs moisture from the
atmosphere.
Consequently, the brake fluid
must be changed regularly
(see the Maintenance Instruc-
tions
b Chapter 1) by
a specialist workshop,
preferably an authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer.
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22
34
Safety check
Residual braking function
d Warning:
When the ignition is switched
off, before and during
self-diagnosis (
b 72), or if the
BMW Integral ABS fails, only a
RESIDUAL BRAKING FUNC-
TION remains available for
slowing the motorcycle
(
b 71).
When the RESIDUAL
BRAKING FUNCTION is
active, you must apply
CONSIDERABLY higher
pressure to the brake lever in
question in order to apply the
brakes, and lever travel is
longer.
When the RESIDUAL
BRAKING FUNCTION is ac-
tive, the ABS function is una-
vailable in the brake systems
in question.

Optional extra
d Warning:
When the RESIDUAL
BRAKING FUNCTION is
active, maintain a defensive
riding style and proceed im-
mediately to the nearest spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer.
L Note:
When the RESIDUAL BRAKING
FUNCTION is active, it is advis-
able to set adjuster A (
b 27) on
the front-brake lever to
position 4.
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABSOE
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2
35
2
Safety check
MIN
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABSOE
Checking front brake fluid
level
d Warning:
Never permit the brake fluid
level to drop below the mini-
mum level (MIN mark)
 Place motorcycle on centre
stand
– Make sure the ground is level and firm

Optional extra
 Turn the handlebars fully to the left
 Check bake fluid level in
sight glass
MIN Minimum level
(top of marking ring)
L Note:
The brake fluid level in the
brake fluid reservoir remains
constant despite wear of the
brake pads.
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22
36
Safety check
MIN
Checking rear brake fluid
level
d Warning:
Never permit the brake fluid
level to drop below the MIN
mark on the brake fluid reser-
voir

Optional extra
 Place motorcycle on centre stand
– Make sure the ground is level and firm
 Check the brake fluid level
MIN Minimum level
L Note:
The brake fluid level in the
brake fluid reservoir remains
constant despite wear of the
brake pads.
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABSOE
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2
37
2
Safety check
MIN
Checking fluid level in the
clutch fitting
e Attention:
If the fluid level drops, assume
there is a defect in the clutch
system.
Have the clutch system
checked immediately by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably an
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
d Warning:
Never permit the fluid level to
drop below the minimum level
(MIN mark)
L Note:
The fluid level in the reservoir
rises as the clutch wears.
 Place motorcycle on side stand
– Make sure the ground is level and firm
 Turn the handlebars fully to the right
 Check fluid level in sight glass MIN Minimum level
(centre of sight glass)
Clutch
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38
Safety checkChecking lights
e Attention:
Check that all lights are opera-
tional at the start of each jour-
ney.
L Note:
If turn indicator repeater flashes
at twice the usual speed: defec-
tive flasher bulb.
BMW Integral ABS
OE:
General warning light ON (
b 7):
Check brake light or tail light.
If the tail light is defective the
brake light is dimmed and acts
as a tail light. When you apply the
brakes the brake light shines at
full brightness. To change bulbs in parking
lights, headlight (dipped and
main beams), rear/brake lights,
turn indicators and the number-
plate light: (
b
Maintenance
Instructions, Chapter 2)
Masking off headlightIf the motorcycle is ridden in a
country where the opposite rule
of the road applies, its asym-
metric dipped beam will tend to
dazzle oncoming traffic.
To prevent this, mask over part
of the headlight glass (apply a
piece of adhesive tape cut to
the correct size and shape).
OEOptional extra
Lights
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