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

19
General information and controls
1
Decelerating• Push and hold button1 in RES
direction
– The motorcycle decelerates steadily, even though you do
not manually close the throttle

Note:
Every subsequent time you push
the button in the RES direction,
road speed decreases by a
further 2 km/h (1 mph).
Switching off the system• Move switch 3 to OFF
– The cruise control system switches off immediately
– Red indicator light 2 and the
yellow cruise control light
are off


Temporary override
When you actuate the: –brakes
–clutch
– throttle twistgrip (close the throttle)
the cruise control system is
briefly switched off
– Indicator light, cruise control yellow off
– Red indicator light 2 on
• Push button 1 in the RES
direction
– The motorcycle returns to and maintains the cruising speed
stored in memory
– Indicator light, cruise control
yellow on.
OEOptional extra
Cruise controlOE
1
3
2
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29
Safety check
2
For this reason, check the
details in the following sections
before you start the journey:
– Fuel level
– Positions of the handlebar levers
–Brakes
–Brake fluid level
– Clutch fluid level
– Coolant level
– Shock-absorber setting and spring preload
– Wheel rim and tyre condition, tread depth and tyre
pressures
– Load, gross weight
–Lights
– Warning lights and indicator lights with ignition switched
on – Check regularly (every time
you stop for fuel), on the basis
of the following section:
– Engine oil level (every sec- ond/third stop for fuel):
– Brake pads
If you encounter any problems
or difficulties, it is always best to
contact your authorised BMW
motorcycle dealer.
He will provide the necessary
advice and assistance.
Checklist
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36
Safety check
2
Brake system - general
Work on the brake system
 Warning:
To ensure reliability have all
work on the brake systems
carried out by a specialist
workshop, preferably an au-
thorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
Brake system, checking
 Warning:
Sudden changes in play or
spongy action of the brake le-
ver indicate a fault in the brake
system.
Before riding off, therefore, al-
ways check the resistance of
the front and rear brake levers
and test operation of the
brakes.
Do not ride the motorcycle if
you have any doubts about the
safety of the brake system.
Immediately seek the advice of
a specialist workshop, prefera-
bly an authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer.
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37
Safety check
2
Checking brake pads
 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 the
pads to wear past the minimum
specified thickness (

Mainte-
nance Instructions, Chapter 2).
Brake system - general
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39
Safety check
2
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABS
RESIDUAL BRAKING
FUNCTION
 Warning:
When the ignition is switched
off, before and during self-diag-
nosis (

78), or if the B MW Inte-
gral ABS fails, only a RESIDUAL
BRAKING FUNCTION (

77)
remains available for slowing
the motorcycle.
When the RESIDUAL BRAKING
FUNCTION is active, you must
apply CONSIDERABLY higher
pressure to the brake levers in
question in order to apply the
brakes, and lever travel is
longer.
When the RESIDUAL BRAKING
FUNCTION is active, the ABS
function is unavailable in the
brake systems in question.
 Warning:
When the RESIDUAL BRAK-
ING FUNCTION is active,
maintain a defensive riding
style and proceed immediate-
ly to the nearest specialist
workshop, preferably an au-
thorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.

Note:
When the RESIDUAL BRAKING
FUNCTION for the front brake is
active, it is advisable to set ad-
juster A (

35) of the handbrake
lever to position 4.
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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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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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72
Starting – Riding – Parking
3
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.
 Warning:
The brakes should always be
applied first to dry them.
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.
 Warning:
The layer of salt on the brake
discs and pads must first be
worn away.
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73
Starting – Riding – Parking
Brake system - general
Oil and grease on brakes
 Warning:
Brake discs and pads must be
free from oil or grease.
Dirt or mud on brakesWhen riding on loose surfaces
or muddy roads, the brakes
may fail to take effect immedi-
ately because of dirt or mois-
ture on the discs or brake pads.
 Warning:
The brakes must first be
applied until the discs and
pads are clean.
Dirt on the brakes increases
the rate of pad wear.
 Warning:
If the brake lever can be moved
right to the limit of its travel, this
indicates a mechanical or hy-
draulic fault. The brake system
is defective.
Immediately consult a special-
ist workshop, preferably an au-
thorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
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74
Starting – Riding – Parking
3
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABS
Sensitive electronic
control
It takes skill and sensitive con-
trol of the brakes to pull up
safely on a motorcycle. If the
front wheel brake locks and the
wheel skids, the necessary lon-
gitudinal and lateral stabilising
forces are lost, and a fall can
result.
For this reason, the rider sel-
dom makes full use of available
braking performance in an
emergency. BMW Integral ABS is the latest-
generation BMW ABS develop-
ment: by preventing both
wheels from locking and opti-
mising braking-force distribu-
tion by means of the integral
function, it offers much
improved braking performance
(

76). Full use is made of tech-
nical braking capacity to mini-
mise braking distances, even
when road conditions are poor.
When the motorcycle is ridden
in a straight line, the BMW Inte-
gral ABS is able to handle
emergency braking safely.
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