brakes BMW MOTORRAD K 1200 GT 2006 Rider's Manual (in English)

Table of ContentsYou can also consult the in-
dex at the end of this Rider's
Manual if you want to find a
particular topic or item of in-
formation.
1 General instructions . . . 5
Overview . ................ 6
Abbreviations and
symbols . . . ............... 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 . . . . . 15
Handlebar fitting, left . . . . . 16
Handlebar fitting, right . . . 17
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . 18
Headlight . .............. 19 3 Status indicators . . . . . 21
Multifunction display . . . . . 22
Warning and telltale
lights . . . . .
.............. 23
ABS warning light . . . . . . . 23
Telltale light, cruise
control
OE
................ 23
Function indicators . . . . . . 23
Warnings, general . . . . . . . 24
Warnings issued by the
tyre pressure monitoring
system (RDC)
OE
......... 32
ABS warnings . .......... 36
ASC warnings
OE
......... 38
4 Operation . . . .......... 41
Ignition switch and
steering lock . . .......... 43
Electronic immobiliser . . . 44
Hazard warning
flashers . . . .............. 45
Odometer and
tripmeters . .............. 46
Multifunction display . . . . . 47 Clock . . . . .
.............. 47
Tyre pressure control
RDC
OE
.................. 48
Residual range .......... 49
On-board computer
OE
... 49
Cruise-control
system
OE
............... 53
Emergency off switch (kill
switch) . . . . .............. 55
Grip heatingOE
........... 56
Seat heatingOE
.......... 57
Clutch . . . . .............. 58
Brakes . . . . .............. 59
Handlebars .............. 59
Lights . . . . . .............. 60
Headlight . .............. 61
Turn indicators .......... 62
Stowage compartment . . . 63
Automatic Stability Control
ASC
OE
.................. 64
Front and rear seats . . . . . 65
Helmet holder . .......... 68
Mirrors . . . . .............. 68
Windscreen . . . .......... 69

Spring preload.......... 69
Shock absorbers . . . . . . . . 70
Electronic Suspension
Adjustment ESA
OE
....... 71
Tyres . . ................. 73
5 Riding . . . . . . .......... 75
Safety instructions . . . . . . . 76
Checklist . . . . . . .......... 78
Starting ................. 78
Running in . . . . .......... 81
Parking your
motorcycle . . . . .......... 82
Refuelling . . . . . .......... 83
Tyre pressure control
RDC
OE
.................. 85
Brake system, general . . . 85
Brake system with BMW
Motorrad Integral ABS . . . 86
Electronic engine
management with BMW
Motorrad ASC
OE
......... 90
6 Accessories .......... 93
General instructions . . . . . 94
Power socket . .......... 94
Luggage . . . . . . .......... 95 Case . . .
................. 95
Topcase
OA
.............. 98
7 Maintenance . . . ..... 101
General instructions . . . . 102
Toolkit . ................ 102
Engine oil . . . . . ......... 103
Brake system,
general ................ 105
Brake pads . . . . ......... 105
Brake fluid . . . . ......... 107
Clutch . ................ 109
Tyres . . ................ 109
Rims . . . ................ 110
Wheels . ................ 110
Front-wheel stand . ..... 117
Bulbs . . ................ 119
Jump start . . . . ......... 127
Battery . ................ 128
8 Care . ................ 133
Care products . ......... 134
Washing motorcycle . . . . 134
Cleaning easily damaged
components . . . ......... 135
Paint care . . . . . ......... 136 Protective wax
coating
................ 136
Laying up the
motorcycle . . . . ......... 136
Restoring motorcycle to
use .................... 137
9 Technical data . . ..... 139
Troubleshooting
chart . . . ................ 140
Threaded fasteners ..... 141
Engine . ................ 142
Riding specifications . . . . 145
Clutch . ................ 145
Transmission . . ......... 145
Final drive . . . . . ......... 147
Running gear . . ......... 147
Brakes . ................ 148
Wheels and tyres . . ..... 148
Electrics . . . . . . ......... 149
Frame . . ................ 151
Dimensions . . . ......... 151
Weights ................ 152

however, that the engine
could cut out suddenly
and that the battery could
discharge until completely
flat, in which case it might
have suffered irreparable
damage.
Have the fault rectified as
quickly as possible by a
specialist workshop, prefer-
ably an authorised BMW
Motorrad dealer.
Brake pads worn down to
the wear limit Warning light for brake-
pad wear shows
The electric brake-pad wear
detector has registered that
the brake pads of the front or
rear brakes have worn down
to the acceptable limit. Checking brake-pad thick-
ness, front brakes ( 105) Checking brake pad thick-
ness, rear brakes ( 106)
Have worn brake pads re-
placed by a specialist work-
shop, preferably an author-
ised BMW Motorrad dealer.
Rear light bulb defective General warning light
lights up yellow.
Defective bulb symbol
with arrow pointing to
the rear appears on the dis-
play.
A defective bulb places
your safety at risk be-
cause it is easier for other
users to oversee you and
your motorcycle.
Replace defective bulbs as
soon as possible; always
carry a complete set of spare
bulbs if possible. Rear light or brake light bulb
defective.
Replacing brake-light, rear
light and rear-indicator
bulbs ( 123)
Front light bulb defective Defective bulb symbol
with arrow pointing to
the front appears on the dis-
play.
A defective bulb places
your safety at risk be-
cause it is easier for other
users to oversee you and
your motorcycle.
Replace defective bulbs as
soon as possible; always
carry a complete set of spare
bulbs if possible.
Low-beam headlight, high-
beam headlight, side-light or
turn-indicator bulb defective.
330zStatus indicators

Operation
Ignition switch and steering
lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Electronic immobiliser . . . . . . . . . 44
Hazard warning flashers . . . . . . . 45
Odometer and tripmeters . . . . . . 46
Multifunction display . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Tyre pressure control RDC
OE
.. 48
Residual range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
On-board computer
OE
......... 49
Cruise-control systemOE
....... 53
Emergency off switch (kill
switch) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Grip heating
OE
................ 56
Seat heating
OE
................ 57
Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Handlebars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Turn indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Stowage compartment . . . . . . . . 63
Automatic Stability Control
ASC
OE
........................ 64
Front and rear seats . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Helmet holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Windscreen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Spring preload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Shock absorbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Electronic Suspension
Adjustment ESA
OE
............ 71
441zOperation

Stepless accelerationPush button3in the SET
direction and hold it in this
position.
The motorcycle accelerates
steplessly.
Release button 3.
The motorcycle maintains
your current cruising speed
and the setting is saved.
Step-by-step
decelerationBriefly push button 3in the
RES direction
Speed is decreased by ap-
prox. 2 km/h each time you
push the button, and the
new setting is saved.
Stepless decelerationPush button 3in the RES
direction and hold it in this
position.
The motorcycle decelerates
steplessly.
Release button 3.
The motorcycle maintains
your current cruising speed
and the setting is saved.Deactivate cruise controlApply the brakes or pull the
clutch or close the throttle
(turn the throttle twistgrip
back past the idle position).
454zOperation

Turn adjusterAto position
1 :
Smallest span.
Turn adjuster Ato position
3 :
Largest span.BrakesAdjust the handbrake
lever
Changing the position of
the brake-fluid reservoir
can allow air to penetrate the
brake system.
Do not twist the handlebar
fitting or the handlebars. Attempting to adjust the
brake lever while riding
the motorcycle can lead to
accidents.
Do not attempt to adjust the
brake lever unless the motor-
cycle is at a standstill.
Turn adjuster Ato position
1 :
Smallest span.
Turn adjuster Ato posi-
tion 4:
Largest span.
HandlebarsAdjusting handlebarsHandlebars 1are height-
adjustable. If you want to
have the handlebars adjusted
consult a specialist workshop,
preferably an authorised BMW
Motorrad dealer.
459zOperation

ponents are not designed to
withstand. Damage caused in
this way is not covered by the
warranty.
Do not tamper with the
control unit of the electronic
engine-management
system.ChecklistUse the following checklist
to check important functions,
settings and wear limits be-
fore you ride off.Brakes
Brake-fluid levels, front and
rear
Clutch
Clutch fluid level
Shock absorber setting and
spring preload
Tyre-tread depth and tyre
pressures Cases correctly installed
and luggage secured
At regular intervals: Engine oil level (every refuel-
ling stop)
StartingSide standYou cannot start the motor-
cycle with the side stand ex-
tended 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 engaged. Do not pull
the clutch until after you have
switched on the ignition, as
otherwise the engine will refuse to start. When the
gearbox is in neutral, the
green neutral telltale light is
on and the gear indicator
in the multifunction display
shows N.
Start the engineKill switch
1in run posi-
tion A.
Switch on the ignition.
Pre-ride check is
performed. ( 79)
ABS self-diagnosis is per-
formed. ( 80)
578zRiding

ASC warning light slow-
flashes.
Phase 2 Test of the diagnosis-
compatible system
components while the
motorcycle is on the move. ASC warning light slow-
flashes.
ASC self-diagnosis
completed The ASC warning light goes
out.
If an indicator showing an
ASC fault appears when ASC
self-diagnosis completes:
You can continue to ride.
Bear in mind that the ASC
function is not available.
Have the fault rectified as
quickly as possible by a
specialist workshop, prefer- ably an authorised BMW
Motorrad dealer.
Running inThe first 1000 kmWhile running in the mo-
torcycle, vary the throttle
opening and engine-speed
range frequently.
Try to do most of your rid-
ing during this initial period
on twisting, fairly hilly roads,
avoiding high-speed main
roads and highways if pos-
sible.
Exceeding the specified
engine speeds while run-
ning in will lead to increased
engine wear.
Keep to the specified engine
speeds for running in.
Do not exceed the rpm lim-
its recommended for run-
ning in. Running-in speed
<7000 min
-1
No full-load acceleration.
Avoid low engine speeds at
full load.
Do not omit the first inspec-
tion after 500 - 1200 km.Brake padsNew brake pads must "bed
down" and therefore do not
achieve their optimum friction
levels during the first 500 km.
You can compensate for this
initial reduction in braking ef-
ficiency 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.
581zRiding

Tyre pressure control
RDC
OE
FunctionA sensor integrated into each
tyre measures the air tem-
perature and the air pressure
inside the tyre and transmits
this information to the control
unit.
Each sensor has a
centrifugal-force tripswitch
that does not enable
transmission of the measured
values until the motorcycle
has accelerated to about
30 km/h. The display shows--
for each tyre until the
tyre-pressure signal is
received for the first time. The
sensors continue to transmit
the measured-value signals
for approximately 15 minutes
after the motorcycle comes to
a stop. The control unit can
administrate four sensors, so
two different sets of wheels
with RDC sensors can be
alternated on the motorcycle.
An error message is issued
if wheels without sensors
are fitted to a motorcycle
equipped with an RDC control
unit.
Temperature
compensationThe tyre-pressure readings
shown by the multifunction
display are temperature-
compensated; the reference
tyre temperature for these
readings is always 20 °C.
The air lines available to
the public in petrol stations
and motorway service areas
almost invariably show
temperature-dependent
tyre pressures, so in most
instances these gaugereadings will not tally with
the readings shown by the
multifunction display.
Tyre-pressure rangesThe RDC control unit differ-
entiates between three air-
pressure ranges, all of which
are parameterised for the mo-
torcycle:
Air pressure within permit-
ted tolerance.
Air pressure close to limit of
permitted tolerance.
Air pressure outside permit-
ted tolerance.Brake system, generalDescending mountain
passes
There is a danger of the
brakes fading if you use
only the rear brakes when
descending mountain passes.
Under extreme conditions, the
585zRiding

brakes could overheat and
suffer severe damage.
Use both front and rear
brakes, and make use of the
engine's braking effect as
well.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
maintenance 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
surfaces or muddy
roads, the brakes may fail
to take effect immediately
because of dirt or moisture on
the discs or brake pads.
Apply brakes in good time
until the brakes have been
cleaned.
Brake system with
BMW Motorrad
Integral ABSPartially integral brakesYour motorcycle is equipped
with partially integral brakes.
Both front and rear brakes
are applied when you pull the
handbrake lever. The foot-
brake lever acts only on the
rear brake.
When actively intervening
in the braking process, the
BMW Motorrad Integral ABS
adapts braking-force distri-
bution between front and rear
brakes to suit the load on the
motorcycle.
The integral braking
function makes it
very difficult to spin the
rear wheel by opening
the throttle with the front
brake applied to keep the
motorcycle stationary (burn-
586zRiding