warning BMW MOTORRAD K 1200 GT 2004 Rider's Manual (in English)

46
Safety check
2
1
 Warning:
Before the journey starts, ad-
just the rear shock absorber to
suit the gross weight and load
on the motorcycle.
If spring preload is changed,
it is essential to adjust the
shock-absorber setting
accordingly.
• Place motorcycle on main stand (

62)
• Adjust the rear shock absorber by turning adjuster 1
as follows: Basic setting
(one-up):
• Turn the adjuster all the way clockwise as indicated by the
H arrow
• Then turn the adjuster one full
turn counter-clockwise in the
direction indicated by the S
arrow
Hard setting “H”:
• Turn the adjuster all the way clockwise as indicated by the
H arrow
Soft setting “S”:
• Turn the adjuster all the way counter-clockwise as indi-
cated by the S arrow
Shock-absorber adjustment
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22
47
Safety check
2
Wheels
 Warning:
Use only wheels and tyres
that BMW Motorrad has ap-
proved for your motorcycle.
For each size of tyre BMW
tests certain makes, and ap-
proves those that it certifies
as roadworthy.
If BMW Motorrad has not ap-
proved the wheels and tyres it
cannot assess their suitability
or provide any guarantee of
road safety.
You can obtain detailed infor-
mation from your authorised
B M W m o t o r c y c l e d e a l e r o r b y
visiting
www.bmw-motorrad.com on
the Internet
Checking wheel rims
 Warning:
Have damaged wheel rims
checked and, if necessary,
replaced by a specialist work-
shop, preferably an author-
ised BMW motorcycle dealer.
Checking tyre tread
 Warning:
Comply with local legal re-
quirements concerning mini-
mum tread depth. Worn tyres
can impair handling.
• Measure tread depth at the centre of the tyre tread
BMW's minimum tread depth
recommendation:
Front ................. 2 mm (0.08 in)
Rear .................. 3 mm (0.12 in)
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48
Safety check
2
Wheels
Checking tyre pressures
 Warning:
Incorrect tyre pressures have
a considerable influence on
handling and on tyre life.
Adjust tyre pressures to suit
total weight. Never exceed ei-
ther the motorcycle's gross
weight or the individual wheel
load limits (
51).
– When tyres are cold:
• Remove valve caps
• Check/correct tyre pressure Tyre pressures:
Front Rear
O n e - u p 2 . 5 b a r 2 . 9 b a r
(36.3 psi) (42 psi)
Two-up 2.5 bar 2.9 bar
(36.3 psi) (42 psi)
Two-up
with luggage 2.5 bar 2.9 bar (36.3 psi) (42 psi)
• Fully tighten valve caps
Fully tighten valve caps
 Warning:
At high road speeds, tyre
valves have a tendency to
open as a result of centrifugal
force.
Use only metal valve caps
with rubber seals.
Valve caps that are screwed
on well prevent air from es-
caping suddenly.
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22
49
Safety check
2
 Warning:
BMW cannot examine or test
each product of outside origin
on the accessories and tyres
market to ensure that it can be
used on or in connection with
BMW motorcycles without con-
stituting a safety hazard. Even
approval by an official inspec-
tion authority or an official per-
mit (General Operating Permit)
cannot always provide this
guarantee. Tests conducted by
these instances cannot make
provision for all operating condi-
tions experienced by BMW mo-
torcycles and consequently,
they are not sufficient in some
circumstances.

Note:
BMW accessories and other
products approved by BMW
can be obtained from your
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
Accessories and tyres
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50
Safety check
2
Correct loading
 Warning:
Overloading can impair the
handling of your motorcycle.
• Make sure that the weight is uniformly distributed between
right and left
• Pack heavy items at the bottom and toward the
inboard side
OAOptional accessory
• Max. load in each case (left and right): 10 kg
(approx. 22 lbs)
• Max. load on luggage rack and in tank-top rucksack
OA
5 kg (11 lbs) each
• Check that fasteners are cor-
rectly positioned and tight
 Warning:
With system cases installed, it
is advisable not to exceed
130 km/h (80 mph).
Loading
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52
Safety check
2
Checking lights
 Attention:
Check that all lights are opera-
tional at the start of each
journey.
Flashing turn indicatorsIf turn indicator repeater flashes
at twice the usual speed (

7):
defective indicator bulb.
Rear lightGeneral warning light (
68)
ON:
Brake light or tail light defective.
If the rear light is defective the
brake light is dimmed and acts
as a rear light. When you apply
the brakes the brake light
shines at full brightness.

Note:
To change bulbs in parking
lights, headlight (low and high
beams), rear/brake lights, turn
indicators and the number-
plate light:
(

Maintenance Instructions,
Chapter 2)
Lights
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56
Starting – Riding – Parking
3
Handling your motorcycle
safely
Each motorcycle has a charac-
ter all its own. It is time now for
you to familiarise yourself with
the way your own motorcycle
behaves:
– Acceleration
– Roadholding
– Cornering
–Braking …
These are all things you need to
become familiar with.
Please remember too that if
the motorcycle has not yet cov-
ered 1,000 kilometres (approx.
600 miles), the engine is not yet
fully run in.
 Attention:
BMW Integral ABS incorporates
a brake booster, so braking ef-
ficiency is significantly higher
than with conventional brake
systems.
 Warning:
The tyres need to cover a cer-
tain distance before they ac-
quire their full road grip
(
65).
If you ride at high speed, always
bear in mind that various
boundary conditions such as
the spring preload setting and
the shock absorber setting, an
unbalanced luggage load,
loose clothing, low tyre pres-
sure, poor tyre tread, and so on,
can affect the handling of your
motorcycle.
Your first journey
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3
57
Starting – Riding – Parking
Your first journey
Safe motorcycling does not
depend on the motorcycle
alone.
Your own skill and common-
sense are needed too.
The key to genuine safety on
the road is a sensible balance
between the motorcycle's tech-
nical features and the rider's
skill, so that together they form
a single efficient unit.
Riding safely in traffic calls for a
sense of responsibility to your
passenger and to other road
users. Warning:
Do not ride the motorcycle af-
ter drinking alcoholic bever-
ages. Even small amounts of
alcohol or drugs, particularly
if taken in conjunction with
medicines, will adversely af-
fect your perception and your
ability to assess situations
and make decisions, and also
slow down your reflexes.
Take to the road now by all
means, but think carefully about
everything you do.
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58
Starting – Riding – Parking
3
Important notes
Risk of fatal injuryYour motorcycle is equipped
with Digital Motor Electronics
(Motronic) and a high-power
ignition system.
 Warning:
When the engine is running or
the ignition switched on, nev-
er touch electrically live parts
of the ignition system or the
digital engine electronics.
BMW Integral ABS
 Warning:
When the ignition is switched
off or if the BMW Integral ABS
fails, only a RESIDUAL BRAK-
ING FUNCTION remains availa-
ble for slowing the motorcycle
(

77).
Under these circumstances
you must apply CONSIDERA-
BLY higher pressure to the
brake levers in order to apply
the brakes, and lever travel is
longer
Risk of poisoningExhaust fumes contain carbon
monoxide, which is colourless
and odourless but highly toxic.
 Warning:
Inhaling the exhaust fumes
therefore represents a health
hazard and can even cause
loss of consciousness with
fatal consequences.
Do not run the engine in an
enclosed space.
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3
59
Starting – Riding – Parking
Important notes
Catalytic converter
 Attention:
To avoid damage to the cata-
lytic converter:
• Do not run the fuel tank dry
• Push-start only when the
engine is cold
• Do not run the engine with a
spark-plug cap detached
• Do not exceed the engine- speed limits marked on the
revolution counter
• Comply with all specified
maintenance intervals
• Stop the engine at once if it
misfires
• In the event of misfiring or a severe drop in engine power,
consult a specialist work-
shop, preferably an author-
ised BMW motorcycle dealer
If misfiring or malfunction of the
fuel-air mixture preparation sys-
tem causes unburned fuel to
reach the catalytic converter,
there is a risk of it overheating
and being damaged.
Risk of fireHigh temperatures occur at the
exhaust system, particularly if a
catalytic converter is installed.
 Warning:
Make sure that whether riding
or standing still or when the
motorcycle is parked, no eas-
ily flammable material
(for example hay, grass,
leaves, clothing or luggage
etc.) can come into contact
with the hot exhaust system.
Do not allow the engine to
idle unnecessarily or for a
lengthy period when the mo-
torcycle is at a standstill
— risk of overheating or fire.
Ride away immediately after
starting the engine.
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