brakes BMW MOTORRAD G 650 XCHALLENGE 2007 Rider's Manual (in English)

Table of ContentsYou can also consult the index at
the end of this Rider's Manual if
you want to find a particular topic
or item of information.
1 General instructions . . . . . 5
Overview ...................... 6
Abbreviations and symbols . . . . 6
Air Damping System.......... 6
Equipment . . . . . ............... 7
Technical data . ............... 7
Currency ...................... 7
2 General views . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
General view, left side . . . . . . . . 11
General view, right side . . . . . . 13
Underneath the seat......... 14
Handlebar fitting, left......... 15
Handlebar fitting, right . . . . . . . . 16
Instrument cluster . . .......... 17
Headlight ..................... 18
3 Status indicators . . . . . . . 19
Status indicators............. 20
Standard warnings . .......... 20
ABS warnings
OE
............. 234 Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Ignition switch and steering
lock . . . . . ..................... 28
Multifunction display......... 28
Lights . . . ..................... 31
Turn indicators . .............. 32
Emergency off switch (kill
switch) . . ..................... 32
BMW Motorrad ABS
OE
...... 33
Mirrors . . ..................... 33
Pneumatic pump............. 34
Air pressure in the Air Damp-
ing System . . . . . .............. 34
Damping ..................... 38
Tyres . . . . ..................... 40
Headlight ..................... 41
Seat . . . . . ..................... 41
5 Riding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Safety instructions . .......... 44
Checklist ..................... 46
Starting . . ..................... 46
Running in . . . . . .............. 48
Riding off-road . .............. 49
Brakes . . ..................... 50Parking your motorcycle . . . . . 51
Refuelling.................... 52
6 Engineering details . . . . . 55
Brake system with BMW Mo-
torrad ABS
OE
................ 56
7 Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
General instructions .......... 60
Power socketOE.............. 60
Luggage ..................... 61
8 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Notes........................ 64
Toolkit........................ 64
Engine oil.................... 65
Brake system . . .............. 67
Brake pads . . . . . .............. 68
Brake fluid.................... 69
Coolant . . ..................... 71
Clutch . . . ..................... 72
Tyres . . . . ..................... 73
Rims ......................... 73
Chain . . . . ..................... 73
Wheels . . ..................... 75

BMW Motorrad auxiliary
stand ......................... 81
BMW Motorrad front-wheel
stand ......................... 82
Fuses........................ 84
Bulbs ......................... 86
Air filter . . . . . .................. 92
Jump starting . . .............. 95
Battery . . . . . .................. 96
Number-plate carrier . . ..... 100
9 Care . . . . . ................ 103
Care products . . ............ 104
Washing motorcycle . . . ..... 104
Cleaning easily damaged
components ................ 104
Paint care . . ................ 105
Protective wax coating ..... 106
Laying up motorcycle . ..... 106
Restoring motorcycle to
use......................... 106
10 Technical data . . . . . . . 107
Troubleshooting chart . ..... 108
Threaded fasteners . . . ..... 109
Engine . . . . . ................ 110
Fuel . ....................... 111Engine oil . . ................ 111
Clutch...................... 112
Transmission............... 112
Rear-wheel drive........... 113
Running gear............... 113
Brakes . . . . . ................ 114
Wheels and tyres........... 115
Electrics . . . . ................ 117
Frame...................... 118
Dimensions ................ 119
Weights . . . . ................ 119
Riding specifications . . ..... 120
11 Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
BMW Motorrad service ..... 122
BMW Motorrad service
quality...................... 122
BMW Motorrad Service
Card: on-the-spot break-
down assistance........... 122
BMW Motorrad service net-
work . ....................... 123
Maintenance work . . . . . ..... 123
Confirmation of mainten-
ance work . . ................ 124
Confirmation of service ..... 129

Riding
Riding
Safety instructions . .................. 44
Checklist ............................. 46
Starting . ............................. 46
Running in........................... 48
Riding off-road....................... 49
Brakes . . ............................. 50
Parking your motorcycle ............. 51
Refuelling............................ 52
543zRiding

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
Damping-characteristic adjust-
ment and air pressure in the Air
Damping System
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)
Tension and lubrication of the
drive chain
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.
Starting engine.Kill switch in operating position
(run).
Gearbox lubrication is en-
sured only when the engine
is running. Inadequate lubrica-
tion can result in damage to the
gearbox.
Do not allow the motorcycle to
roll for a lengthy period of time or
push it a long distance with the
engine switched off.
Switch on the ignition.
Pre-ride check is performed.
( 47)
546zRiding

Keep to the specified engine
speeds for running in.
During the running-in phase,
do not exceed the speed limits
specified for the various gears.
Maximum speeds during
running-in period
max 35 km/h (1st gear)
max 55 km/h (2nd gear)
max 75 km/h (3rd gear)
max 95 km/h (4th gear)
max 110 km/h (5th gear)
No full-load acceleration.
Avoid low engine speeds at full
load.
Do not omit the first inspection
after 500 - 1200 km.Brake padsNew brake pads must "bed
down" and therefore do not
achieve their optimum friction
levels during the first 500km. You can compensate for
this initial reduction in braking
efficiency by exerting greater
pressure on the levers.
New brake pads can ex-
tend stopping distance by a
significant margin.
Apply the brakes in good time.
TyresNew tyres have a smooth sur-
face. This must be roughened by
riding in a restrained manner at
various heel angles until the tyres
are run in. This running in pro-
cedure is essential if the tyres are
to achieve maximum grip.
Tyres do not have their full
grip when new and there
is a risk of accidents at extreme
angles of heel.
Avoid extreme angles of heel.
Riding off-roadTyre pressures
Tyre pressures reduced for
off-road riding impair the
motorcycle's handling character-
istics on surfaced roads and can
lead to accidents.
Always check that the tyre pres-
sures are correct.
Dirt or mud on brakes
When riding on loose sur-
faces or muddy roads, the
brakes may fail to take effect
immediately because of dirt or
moisture on the discs or brake
pads.
Apply the brakes in good time
until the brakes have been
cleaned.
The brake pads will wear
more rapidly if you ride fre-
quently on unsurfaced tracks or
poor roads.
Check the thickness of the brake
549zRiding

pads more frequently and replace
the brake pads in good time.Air pressure and damping
characteristics
The off-road settings for air
pressure in the Air Damping
System and the front and rear
shock-absorber damping char-
acteristics will impair the motor-
cycle's handling characteristics
on surfaced roads.
If you have been off-roading, re-
member to correct the air pres-
sure in the Air Damping System
and the shock-absorber damping
characteristics before you return
to surfaced roads.
Deactivatable ABS
OE
You can deactivate the BMW
Motorrad Integral ABS for off-
roading ( 33).
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.
550zRiding

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.
Oil or grease on brakes
Oil and grease on the brake
discs and pads considerably
diminish braking efficiency.
Especially after repair and main-
tenance work, make sure that the
brake discs and brake pads are
free of oil and grease.
Dirt or mud on brakes
When riding on loose sur-
faces or muddy roads, the
brakes may fail to take effect
immediately because of dirt or
moisture on the discs or brake
pads.
Apply the brakes in good time
until the brakes have been
cleaned.
The brake pads will wear
more rapidly if you ride fre-
quently on unsurfaced tracks or
poor roads.
Check the thickness of the brakepads more frequently and replace
the brake pads in good time.
Parking your
motorcyclePlacing motorcycle on
side stand
If the ground is soft or un-
even, there is no guaran-
tee that the motorcycle will rest
firmly on the stand.
Always check that the ground
under the stand is level and
firm.
Switch off the engine.
Pull the handbrake lever.
Hold the motorcycle upright
and balanced.
Use your left foot to extend the
side stand fully.
The side stand is designed
to support only the weight
of the motorcycle.
Do not lean or sit on the
551zRiding

Brake system with
BMW Motorrad ABS
OE
How does ABS work?The amount of braking force that
can be transferred to the road
depends on factors hat include
the coefficient of friction of the
road surface. Loose stones, ice
and snow or a wet road all have
much lower coefficients of fric-
tion than a clean, dry asphalt sur-
face. The lower the coefficient
of friction, the longer the braking
distance.
If the rider increases braking
pressure to the extent that brak-
ing force exceeds the maxim-
um transferrable limit, the wheels
start to lock and the motorcycle
loses its directional stability; a fall
is imminent. Before this situation
can occur, ABS intervenes and
adapts braking pressure to the
maximum transferrable braking
force, so the wheels continueto turn and directional stability
is maintained irrespective of the
condition of the road surface.
What are the effects of
surface irregularities?Humps and surface irregularit-
ies can cause the wheels to lose
contact temporarily with the road
surface; if this happens the brak-
ing force that can be transmit-
ted to the road can drop to zero.
If the brakes are applied under
these circumstances the ABS
has to reduce braking force to
ensure that directional stability
is maintained when the wheels
regain contact with the road sur-
face. At this instant the BMW
Motorrad ABS must assume an
extremely low coefficient of fric-
tion, so that the wheels will con-
tinue to rotate under all imagin-
able circumstances, because this
is the precondition for ensuring
directional stability. As soon asis registers the actual circum-
stances, the system reacts in-
stantly and adjusts braking force
accordingly to achieve optimum
braking.
Rear wheel liftEven under severe braking, a
high level of tyre grip can mean
that the front wheel does not
lock up until very late, if at all.
Consequently, ABS does not in-
tervene until very late, if at all.
Under these circumstances the
rear wheel can lift off the ground,
and the outcome can be a high-
siding situation in which the mo-
torcycle can flip over.
Severe braking can cause
the rear wheel to lift off the
ground.
When you brake, bear in mind
that ABS control cannot be relied
on in all circumstances to prevent
the rear wheel from lifting clear of
the ground.
656zEngineering details

What is the design
baseline for BMW
Motorrad ABS?Within the limits imposed by
physics, BMW Motorrad ABS en-
sures directional stability on any
surface. The system is not op-
timised for special requirements
that apply under extreme com-
petitive situations off-road or on
the track.Special situationsThe speeds of the front and rear
wheels are compared as one
means of detecting a wheel's
incipient tendency to lock. If the
system registers implausible val-
ues for a lengthy period the ABS
function is deactivated for safety
reasons and an ABS fault mes-
sage is issued. Self-diagnos-
is has to complete before fault
messages can be issued.
In addition to problems with the
BMW Motorrad ABS, exceptionalriding conditions can lead to a
fault message being issued.
Exceptional riding
conditions:
Riding for a lengthy period with
the front wheel lifted off the
ground (wheelie).
Rear wheel rotating with the
motorcycle held stationary by
applying the front brake (burn-
out).
Heating up with the motorcycle
on the centre stand or an auxil-
iary stand, engine idling or with
a gear engaged.
Rear wheel locked for a lengthy
period, for example while des-
cending off-road.
If a fault message is issued on
account of exceptional riding
conditions as outlined above, you
can reactivate the ABS function
by switching the ignition off and
on again.
What significance
devolves on regular
maintenance?
Invariably, a technical sys-
tem cannot perform beyond
the abilities dictated by its level
of maintenance.
In order to ensure that the BMW
Motorrad ABS is always main-
tained in optimum condition, it
is essential for you to comply
strictly with the specified inspec-
tion intervals.
Reserves for safetyThe potentially shorter braking
distances which BMW Motorrad
ABS permits must not be used
as an excuse for careless riding.
ABS is primarily a means of en-
suring a safety margin in genuine
emergencies.
Take care when cornering. When
you apply the brakes on a corner,
the motorcycle's weight and
657zEngineering details

If the oil level is above the MAX
mark:
Have the oil level corrected by
a specialist workshop, prefer-
ably an authorised BMW Mo-
torrad dealer.Topping up engine oil
Damage to the engine
can result if it is operated
without enough oil, but the same
also applies if the oil level is too
high.
Always make sure that the oil
level is correct.
Wipe the area around the filler
neck clean.Remove oil dipstick1.
Top up the engine oil until the
level reaches markA.
Check the engine oil level
( 65)
Install the oil dipstick.
Brake systemDependability of the brake
systemA fully functional brake system is
a basic requirement for the road
safety of your motorcycle.
Do not ride the motorcycle if you
have any doubts about the de-
pendability of the brake system.
Under these circumstances have
the brake system checked by a
specialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW Motorrad
dealer.
Incorrect working practices
endanger the reliability of
the brakes.
Have all work on the brake sys-
tem performed by a specialist
workshop, preferably an author-
ised BMW Motorrad dealer.
867zMaintenance