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

High voltage
Touching live parts of
the ignition system with
the engine running can cause
electric shock.
Do not touch parts of the igni-
tion system when the engine
is running.
Catalytic converterIf misfiring causes unburned
fuel to enter the catalytic con-
verter, there is a danger of
overheating and damage.
For this reason, observe the
following points:
Do not run the fuel tank dry.
Do not attempt to start or
run the engine with a spark-
plug cap disconnected.
Stop the engine immediately
if it misfires.
Use only unleaded fuel.
Comply with all specified
maintenance intervals. Unburned fuel will des-
troy the catalytic con-
verter.
Note the points listed for
protection of the catalytic
converter.
Risk of fireTemperatures at the exhaust
are high.
Flammable materials
(e.g. hay, leaves, grass,
clothing and luggage, etc.)
could ignite if allowed to
come into contact with the
hot exhaust pipe.
Do not permit flammable ma-
terials to come into contact
with the hot exhaust system.
Cooling would be
inadequate if the engine
were allowed to idle for
a lengthy period with the
motorcycle at a standstill:
overheating would result. In extreme cases, the
motorcycle could catch fire.
Do not allow the engine to
idle unnecessarily. Ride away
immediately after starting the
engine.
Tampering with the
control unit of the
electronic engine-
management system
Tampering with the con-
trol unit of the electronic
engine-management system
can damage the motorcycle
and cause accidents.
Do not tamper with the
control unit of the electronic
engine-management
system.
Tampering with the con-
trol unit of the electronic
engine-management system
can result in mechanical loads
that the motorcycle's com-
577zRiding

BulbsGeneral instructionsThe failure of a bulb is sig-
nalled in the display by the
defective lamp symbol. The
bulbs for brake light and rear
light are the same; the bright-
ness of the light is regulated
in accordance with the applic-
ation.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.
The bulb is pressurised
and can cause injury if
damaged.
Wear protective goggles
and gloves when changing
bulbs. The types of bulb fitted
to your motorcycle are
listed in the section entitled
"Technical data".
Do not touch the glass
of new bulbs with your
fingers. Use a clean, dry cloth
to hold the bulbs when hand-
ling them. Dirt deposits, in
particular oil and grease, in-
terfere with heat radiation
from the bulb. This leads to
overheating and shortens the
bulb's operating life.
Replacing low-beam and
high-beam headlight
bulb
If it is not standing firmly,
the motorcycle could
topple in the course of the
operations described below.
Always make sure that the
motorcycle is stable and
firmly supported. with OE Xenon lights:
Xenon lights operate
with high voltage; incor-
rect working procedures can
result in fatalities.
Have all work on the xenon
light system, including the
work involved in replacing
bulbs, performed by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
by an authorised BMW Motor-
rad dealer.
For the time being, ride with
the high-beam headlight
switched on.
In order not to dazzle on-
coming traffic, set the head-
light beam throw adjuster to
the position for riding with
maximum payload.
Have the bulb replaced as
soon as possible by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW Motor-
rad dealer.
7119zMaintenance

Cleaning easily
damaged componentsPlasticsClean plastic parts with water
and BMW plastic care emul-
sion. This includes in particu-
lar:Windscreen
Headlight lens made of
plastic
Glass cover of the instru-
ment cluster
Black, unpainted parts
If plastic parts are
cleaned using unsuitable
cleaning agents, the surfaces
can be damaged.
Do not use cleaning agents
that contain alcohol, solvents
or abrasives to clean plastic
parts.
Even fly-remover pads or
cleaning pads with hard surfaces can produce
scratches.
Soften stubborn dirt and
insects by covering the
affected areas with a wet
cloth.
WindscreenClean off dirt and insects with
a soft sponge and plenty of
water.
Fuel and chemical
solvents attack the
material of the windscreen;
the windscreen becomes
opaque or dull.
Do not use cleaning agents.ChromeUse plenty of water and BMW
shampoo to clean chrome,
particularly if it has been
exposed to road salt. Use
chrome polish for additional
treatment.
RadiatorClean the radiator regularly to
prevent overheating of the en-
gine due to inadequate cool-
ing.
For example, use a garden
hose with low water pressure.
Cooling fins can be bent
easily.
Take care not to bend the fins
when cleaning the radiator.RubberTreat rubber components with
water or BMW rubber-care
products.
Using silicone sprays for
the care of rubber seals
can cause damage.
Do not use silicone sprays
or other care products that
contain silicon.
8135zCare