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

3
Introduction
i
Starting – Riding – Parking
First time out ................. 56-57
Important notes ............. 58-59
Side stand ..................... 60-61
Main (centre) stand ........ 62-63
Running in ..................... 64-65
Before you start ................... 66
Starting ............................... 67
Telltale and warning
lights ............................. 68-69
Riding, gear shifts.......... 70-71
Brake system
- general ........................ 72-73
Brake system - with
BMW Integral ABS......... 74-80
BMW Integral ABS
- troubleshooting chart ....... 81Arrive safely
Arrive safely....................82-83
Service worldwide ............... 84
Environmental protection .... 85
BMW rider's equipment ....... 86
BMW motorcycle
accessories ......................... 87
Training means extra
safety .................................. 88
Concluding thoughts ........... 89
Contents
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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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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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60
Starting – Riding – Parking
3
Placing motorcycle on
side stand
 Warning:
For safety reasons, never sit
on the motorcycle with the
side stand extended.
 Attention:
Stop the engine before using
the side stand.
Make sure the surface under
the stand is firm.
On a gradient, the motorcycle
should always face uphill; se-
lect 1st gear. • Switch off the ignition
• Keep both feet on the ground
• Hold the left handlebar grip
with your left hand
• Keep your right hand on the
right handlebar grip and the
handbrake lever
• Hold the motorcycle upright and balanced
• U s e y o u r le f t f o o t a t t h e e x t e n -
sion pin to extend the side
stand fully (arrow)
• Slowly lean the motorcycle to the side until its weight is
taken by the stand and dis-
mount from the motorcycle
• Turn the handlebars to full left
lock (

11)
• Check that the motorcycle
is firmly supported
Side stand
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3
61
Starting – Riding – Parking
Removing motorcycle
from side stand
 Warning:
If the motorcycle is fitted with
BMW Integral ABS, only the
RESIDUAL BRAKING FUNC-
TION is available when the igni-
tion is switched off (

77) .
Make sure the side stand is
fully retracted before you ride
off.
– Allowing the motorcycle to roll with the side stand
extended represents a
safety risk. • Turn the ignition key to the “
R”
or “ ON” position (

11)
– handlebars unlocked
• Both feet on the ground, no weight on the motorcycle
• Hold the left handlebar grip
with your left hand
• Keep your right hand on the
right handlebar grip and the
handbrake lever
• Slowly raise the motorcycle to
the upright position and keep
it balanced
• Sit on the motorcycle and use your left foot to retract the
side stand
Side stand
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3
65
Starting – Riding – Parking
Running in
Running in new brake
pads
 Warning:
New brake pads must “bed
down” and therefore do not
achieve their optimum friction
levels during the first 500 km
(300 miles).
This slight initial reduction in
braking efficiency can be
compensated for by exerting
greater pressure on the lever.
Try to avoid all unnecessary
hard braking during this initial
period.
 Attention:
Comply with the notes on BMW
Integral ABS (
74-81).
Running in new tyres
 Warning:
New tyres have a smooth sur-
face. This must be roughened
by riding in a restrained man-
ner at various heel angles
until the tyres are run in.
This running in procedure is
essential if the tyres are to
reach their maximum level of
grip.
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68
Starting – Riding – Parking
3
ABS warning lightThe ABS warning light 1 lights up
if the BMW Integral ABS develops
a fault (

81).
Warning light, general General warning light 2 lights up if
the BMW Integral ABS develops a
fault (

81), or if the tail light or
brake light is defective.
Low fuel levelWhen warning light 3 comes on,
there are still approximately
4 litres (0.9 gal) of fuel in the tank.
Engine oil pressureWarning light 4 goes out above
idle speed.
*n depending on national-market
specification
 Attention:
If warning light 4 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
(

30)
Top up with fresh oil if the oil
level is low. If the warning light
for engine oil pressure lights up
even though the oil level is cor-
rect, it is absolutely essential to
consult a specialist workshop,
preferably an authorised BMW
motorcycle dealer.
Warning lights
1*2
43
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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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3
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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