BMW MOTORRAD K 1200 LT 2005 Rider's Manual (in English)

22
49
Safety check
Brake system - general
d 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.
Checking brake padsBrake pad wear depends on
your personal style of riding.
In order to ensure the dependa-
bility of the brake system: do
not permit the brake pads to
wear past the minimum permis-
sible thickness (
b Maintenance
Instructions, Chapter 2).
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50
Safety check
2
Checking brake fluid level
d Warning:
On a motorcycle equipped
with BMW Integral ABS, the
brake fluid level in the reser-
voir (
b52) does NOT drop as
the brake pads wear.
d Warning:
Have the brake system
checked immediately by a
specialist workshop, prefera-
bly an authorised BMW mo-
torcycle dealer, if the brake
fluid level in the reservoir of
the brake system (
b52) drops
below the MIN mark.
Changing the brake fluid
d Warning:
Brake fluid is exposed to
severe thermal loads, and
absorbs moisture from the
atmosphere.
Consequently, the brake fluid
must be changed regularly
(
bMaintenance Instructions,
Chapter 1) by a specialist
workshop, preferably an au-
thorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABS
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22
51
Safety check
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABS
RESIDUAL BRAKING
FUNCTION
d Warning:
When the ignition is switched
off, before and during self-
diagnosis (
b88), or if the
BMW Integral ABS fails, only a
RESIDUAL BRAKING FUNC-
TION (
b87) remains available
for slowing the motorcycle.
When the RESIDUAL BRAK-
ING 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 BRAK-
ING FUNCTION is active, the
ABS function is unavailable in
the brake systems in ques-
tion.
d 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.
L Note:
When the RESIDUAL BRAKING
FUNCTION for the front brake is
active, it is advisable to set ad-
juster A (
b47) of the hand-
brake lever to position 4.
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52
Safety check
2
Checking front brake fluid
level
d Warning:
Never permit the brake fluid
level to drop below the mini-
mum level (MIN mark).
 Place the motorcycle on its
main (centre) stand
– Make sure the ground is level and firm.  Turn the steering fully to the
left; the fluid reservoir must be
horizontal
 Check brake fluid level in
sight glass
MIN Minimum level
(top of marking ring)
L Note:
The brake fluid level in the
brake fluid reservoir remains
constant despite wear of the
brake pads.
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABS
MIN
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22
53
Safety check
Checking rear brake fluid
level
d Warning:
Never permit the brake fluid
level to drop below the MIN
mark on the brake fluid reser-
voir
 Place the motorcycle on its main (centre) stand
– Make sure the ground is level and firm  Open the right case
 Check the brake fluid level
through the window
MIN minimum level
L Note:
The brake fluid level in the
brake fluid reservoir remains
constant despite wear of the
brake pads.
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABS
MIN
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54
Safety check
2
Clutch
Checking the fluid level in
the clutch fitting
d Warning:
Never permit the fluid level to
drop below the middle of the
sight glass (MIN)
 Place the motorcycle on its main (centre) stand
– Make sure the ground is level and firm.
 Turn the steering fully to the
right;
the fluid reservoir must be
horizontal  Read off fluid level on sight
glass
MIN Minimum level
(centre of sight glass)
L Note:
The fluid level in the reservoir
rises as the clutch plate wears.
e Attention:
If the fluid level drops, assume
there is a defect in the clutch
system.
Have the clutch system
checked immediately by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably an
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
MIN
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22
55
Safety check
Coolant
Checking coolant level
e Attention:
Always keep the coolant level
above the minimum mark.
Check coolant level only when
the engine is cold.
 Place the motorcycle on its main (centre) stand
– Make sure the ground is
level and firm.
Open the left case (
b32)
 Check coolant level at the expansion tank, using torch if
necessary:
MAX Maximum level
MIN Minimum level
e Attention:
Never overfill the expansion
tank underneath the front seat.
 Add coolant if necessary
 Close the left case (
b32)
L Note:
If the expansion tank is full and
coolant temperature is high
(as indicated by red warning
light
j b 10) or coolant con-
sumption is excessive, consult
a specialist workshop, prefera-
bly an authorised BMW motor-
cycle dealer.
MAX
MIN
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56
Safety check
2
d Warning:
Before the journey starts,
adjust spring preload to suit
the gross weight/load on the
motorcycle.
Adjusting spring preloadOpening the seat (b34)
 Unfold knob 1
 Steplessly adjust spring preload by turning knob 1 to
suit the load on the motorcycle
One-up without luggage
(approx. 85 kg (187 lbs) rider,
fully suited)
Turn knob 1 as far as it will go
in the “LOW” direction as indi-
cated by arrow AWith luggage
(approx. 120 kg (264 lbs))
Centre knob
1 by turning it in
the direction indicated by
arrow B
Two-up with luggage
(150 kg (330 lbs) or more)
Turn knob 1 as far as it will go
in the “HIGH” direction as
indicated by arrow A
e Attention:
Fold in knob 1 before closing
front seat.
 Lock the front seat (
b35)
Spring preload
B
A1
1
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22
57
Safety check
Wheels
d Warning:
Use only wheels and tyres
that BMW Motorrad has
approved for your motorcy-
c l e . F o r e a c h s i z e o f t y r e B M W
tests certain makes, and
approves those that it certi-
fies as roadworthy.
If BMW Motorrad has not
approved the wheels and
tyres it cannot assess their
suitability or provide any
guarantee of road safety.
You can obtain detailed infor-
mation on approved tyre sizes
and makes from your author-
ised BMW motorcycle dealer
or by visiting
www.bmw-motorrad.com
on the Internet
Checking wheel rims
d Warning:
Have damaged wheel rims
checked and, if necessary,
replaced by a specialist work-
shop, preferably an author-
ised BMW motorcycle dealer.
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58
Safety check
2
Wheels
Checking tyre tread
d Warning:
Comply with local legal re-
quirements concerning mini-
mum tread depth.
Worn tyres can impair han-
dling.
 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)
Checking tyre pressures
d Warning:
Incorrect tyre pressures have
a considerable influence on
handling and on tyre life.
Tyre pressures must be cho-
sen to suit the total weight on
the motorcycle. Do not ex-
ceed the gross weight limit or
the tyres’ specified load ca-
pacity (b 61).
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