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

689Maintenance
ToolkitThe toolkit is on the underside
of the seat.
You can obtain a more exten-
sive, additional set of tools
from your authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer.
Contents of the basic toolkit:1 Screwdriver with reversible
blade
2 Torx wrench, T25
3 Screwdriver, small Contents of supplementary
toolkit
OA:
1 Screwdriver blade
2 Socket wrench, w/f 17
3 Spark plug socket spanner
4 Open-ended spanner,
w/f 17
5 TORX® wrenches, T40,
T45, T50
Engine oilChecking the engine
oil levelCheck the oil level at regular
intervals.
The oil level depends on
the oil temperature. The
higher the temperature the
higher the oil level in the oil
tank.
Check the engine oil level
immediately after a lengthy
journey. c
The oil that drains into the
sump while the motorcy-
cle is not in use has to be
pumped back into the oil tank
before you read the oil level.
The engine oil must be at op-
erating temperature. Checking
the oil level with the engine
cold or after no more than a

Maintenance690
short ride will lead to misinter-
pretation; this, in turn, means
that the engine will be operat-
ed with the incorrect quantity
of oil.
In order to ensure that the en-
gine oil level is read correctly,
check the oil level only after a
lengthy trip.c
• Make sure the engine is at operating temperature and
hold the motorcycle upright
or place it on the centre
stand, after ensuring that the
ground is level and firm.
• Allow the engine to idle for
one minute.
• Switch off the ignition.
• Read off the oil level. 1
Indicator for engine-oil
level
• Check the oil level in oil-level indicator 1. 2
Maximum engine oil level
3 Minimum engine oil level
The oil level must be between
the MIN and MAX marks. The
difference is approx. 0.5 litres.

If the oil level is below the
MIN mark:
• Top up the engine oil.
If the oil level is above the
MAX mark:
• Correct the level by draining off some of the engine oil.
Damage to the engine
can result if it is operated
without enough oil, but the
same also applies if the oil lev-
el is too high. Always make
sure that the oil level is
correct. c

691Maintenance
The engine can seize if
the oil level is low, and
this can lead to accidents.
Always make sure that the oil
level is correct. c
Topping up the engine oil Remove the seat (
b
44).
Wipe the area around the filler neck clean.
Remove the cap from engine
oil filler neck 1. Top up with fresh oil until the
level is at midway mark A.
Check the oil level.
Repeat the filling and check- ing procedure until the
engine oil level is between
the MIN and MAX marks.
Reinstall the cap in the filler neck.
Draining off engine oil Remove the seat (
b
44).
Squeeze the retainer of transparent hose 2 on the
left and right and pull it up
out of the oil tank.
Pull the transparent hose
down out of the frame and
drain off the oil into a suitable
container.
Insert the transparent hose into the oil tank and secure
it.
Check the oil level.
Repeat the draining and
checking procedure until the
engine oil level is between
the MIN and MAX marks.
Store the excess engine oil
or dispose of it in an
environmentally responsible
manner.

Maintenance692
Coolant Checking coolant levelCheck the coolant level at reg-
ular intervals. 1 Display for coolant level
Check the coolant level in
coolant indicator 1.
2 Maximum coolant level
3 Minimum coolant level
The coolant level must be
between the MIN and
MAX marks.
If the coolant level is below the
MIN mark:
Top up the coolant.
Topping up coolant
Do not open the cooling
system while the engine
is hot, otherwise you may
scald yourself on the resultant
coolant steam. c
Remove the cap from cool- ant filler neck 1.
Add coolant.
Check the coolant level.
Repeat the filling and check-
ing procedure until the cool-
ant level is between the MIN
and MAX marks.

693Maintenance
Reinstall the cap in the cool-ant filler neck.BrakesA properly functioning brake
system is a basic requirement
for the road safety of your
motorcycle.
Incorrect working prac-
tices endanger the relia-
bility of the brakes. Have all
work on the brake system car-
ried out by a specialist work-
shop, preferably an authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer. cChecking the functionDo not ride the motorcycle if
you have any doubts about the
dependability of the brake
system. In this case: Have the brake system
checked by a specialist
workshop, preferably an
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
Vehicles without ABS
Press the handbrake lever.
» The pressure point must be clearly perceptible.
Press the footbrake lever.
» The pressure point must be
clearly perceptible.
Vehicles with ABS
OE
Switch on the ignition.
Wait for ABS self-diagnosis to complete.
Press the handbrake lever.
» The pressure point must be clearly perceptible.
» The operating noise of the hydraulic pump must be
audible.
Press the footbrake lever. » The pressure point must be
clearly perceptible.
» The operating noise of the hydraulic pump must be
audible.
Brake pads
Brake pads worn past the
minimum permissible
thickness can impair braking
efficiency and under certain
circumstances they can cause
damage to the brake system.
In order to ensure the depend-
ability of the brake system, do
not permit the brake pads to
wear past the minimum per-
missible thickness. c

Maintenance694
Checking front brake pad
thickness Make sure the ground is level and firm and place the
motorcycle on its centre
stand
OE or side stand.
Visually inspect the left and right brake pads to ascertain
their thickness. Wear indicating mark
1 must
be clearly visible on the pads.
If the wear indicating mark is
no longer clearly visible:
Have the brake pads replaced by a specialist
workshop, preferably by an
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
Checking rear brake pad
thickness Make sure the ground is
level and firm and place the
motorcycle on its centre
stand
OE or side stand.
Visually inspect the brake pads from the right to ascer-
tain their thickness.

695Maintenance
Make sure that the brake disc
is not visible through bore 1 in
the inboard brake block. If the
brake disc is visible:
Have the brake pads replaced, preferably by an
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.Checking brake fluid
level
A low fluid level in the
brake reservoir can allow
air to penetrate the brake sys-
tem. This causes a serious reduction in braking efficiency.
Avoid severe braking, if
possible.
c
1 Front brake-fluid reservoir
2MIN mark

1Rear brake-fluid reservoir
2MIN mark
Hold the motorcycle upright or place it on the centre
stand, after making sure the
ground is level and firm.
Make sure the handlebars are in the straight-ahead
position.
Read off the brake fluid level at the reservoir.
Motorcycle without ABS The brake fluid level in
the reservoir drops as the
brake pads wear.c
Do not permit the brake fluid
level to drop below the MIN
mark. If the brake fluid level
drops below the MIN mark:

Maintenance696
If there is too little brake
fluid in the brake-fluid
reservoir, air can enter the
brake system. This causes a
serious reduction in braking
efficiency.
Think well ahead and brake
carefully; avoid severe
braking. c
Under normal operating condi-
tions the brake fluid level can-
not drop below the MIN mark.
• Check the brake pads.
• Check the brake system for
leaks.
• Have the fault rectified as
soon as possible by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer. Vehicles with ABS
OE
The brake fluid level re-
mains constant despite
wear of the brake pads. c
Any drop in brake-fluid level,
even if the level remains above
the MIN mark, is indicative of a
fault in the brake system.If the
brake fluid level falls:
• Have the fault rectified as soon as possible by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer.
ClutchChecking operation• Pull the clutch lever.
» The pressure point must be clearly perceptible.
Do not ride the motorcycle if
you have any doubts about the
dependability of the clutch. In
this case:
• Have the clutch checked by a specialist workshop, pref-
erably an authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer.

697Maintenance
Checking clutch-fluid
level
Changing the position of
the clutch-fluid reservoir
can allow air to penetrate the
clutch system.
Do not turn either the handle-
bar fitting on the handlebars,
or the handlebars in their
mounts. c
• Make sure the ground is level and firm and either hole
the motorcycle upright or
place it on the centre
standOE.
• Make sure the handlebars are in the straight-ahead
position.
• Read off the clutch fluid level
at the reservoir. 1
Clutch fluid reservoir
2MIN mark
Do not permit the clutch-fluid
level to drop below the
MIN mark. Have the clutch
system checked immediately if
the fluid level drops below the
MIN mark.
• Have the fault rectified as soon as possible by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer. The level of fluid in the
reservoir rises as the
clutch wears. c
Unsuitable hydraulic flu-
ids could cause damage
to the clutch system.
Do not attempt to top up the
system with fluids of any
kind. c
The clutch system is filled
with a special hydraulic
fluid that does not have to be
changed. c

Maintenance698
WheelsFor each size of tyre BMW
Motorrad tests certain makes,
and approves those that it cer-
tifies as roadworthy. If BMW
Motorrad has not approved
the wheels and tyres, it cannot
assess their suitability or pro-
vide any guarantee of road
safety. Use only wheels and
tyres approved by BMW
Motorrad for your type of
motorcycle.
You can obtain detailed infor-
mation from your authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer or by
visiting
www.bmw-motorrad.com on
the Internet.
Checking rims• Make sure the ground is level and firm and place the
motorcycle on its centre
stand
OE or side stand.
• Visually inspect the rims for defects.
• Have damaged rims checked and, if necessary,
replaced by a specialist
workshop, preferably an
authorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
Checking tyre tread
depth Do not allow the tyres to wear
past the minimum depth per-
mitted by law in the country of
use. Your motorcycle's han-
dling and grip can be im-
paired even before the tyres
wear to the minimum tyre
tread depth permitted by law.
Have the tyres changed in
good time before they wear to
the minimum permissible tread
depth. c
Tyres have wear indica-
tors integrated into the
main tread grooves. If the tyre
tread has worn down to the
level of the marks, the tyre is
completely worn. The loca-
tions of the marks are indicat-
ed on the edge of the tyre, e.g.
by the letters TI, TWI or by an
arrow. c
• Measure the tyre tread depth only in the main tread
grooves with wear indicating
marks.