BMW MOTORRAD K 1200 R 2008 Rider's Manual (in English)
Manufacturer: BMW MOTORRAD, Model Year: 2008, Model line: K 1200 R, Model: BMW MOTORRAD K 1200 R 2008Pages: 165, PDF Size: 2.18 MB
Page 101 of 165

Checking brake-fluid
level, rear brakes
A low fluid level in the
brake reservoir can al-
low air to penetrate the brake
system. This significantly re-
duces braking efficiency.
Apply the brakes in good
time.
Make sure the ground is
level and firm and place the
motorcycle on its stand.
Check the brake fluid level
through aperture Ain the
right side panel. Check the brake fluid level
in reservoir
1.
The brake fluid level in
the brake fluid reser-
voir drops as the brake pads
wear.
Brake fluid level, rear DOT4 brake fluid
Do not permit the brake flu-
id level to drop below the
MIN mark.
If the brake fluid level drops
below the permitted level: Have the fault rectified as
soon as possible by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW Motor-
rad dealer.
with OE BMW Motorrad Integ-
ral ABS:
Check the brake fluid level
in reservoir 1.
799zMaintenance
Page 102 of 165

The brake fluid level
in the reservoir does
not drop as the brake pads
wear.
Brake fluid level, rear
with OE BMW Motorrad In-
tegral ABS:
DOT4 brake fluid
Do not permit the brake flu-
id level to drop.
Any drop in brake fluid level,
even if the level remains
above the MIN mark, is
indicative of a fault in the
brake system. Have the fault rectified as
soon as possible by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW Motor-
rad dealer.
ClutchChecking clutch opera-
tionPull the clutch lever.
The pressure point must be
clearly perceptible.
If the pressure point is not
clearly perceptible: Have the clutch checked
by a specialist workshop,
preferably an authorised
BMW Motorrad dealer.Checking the clutch fluid
levelMake sure the ground is
level and firm and hold the
motorcycle upright. Move the handlebars to the
straight-ahead position.
with OA Centre stand:
Make sure the ground is
level and firm and place
the motorcycle on its centre
stand.
Move the handlebars to the
straight-ahead position.
Check the clutch fluid level
in reservoir 1.
Wear of the clutch
causes the fluid level in
the clutch fluid reservoir to
rise.
7100zMaintenance
Page 103 of 165

Clutch fluid level
Do not permit the clutch flu-
id level to drop.
If the fluid level drops: Unsuitable hydraulic flu-
ids could cause damage
to the clutch system.
Do not attempt to top up
the system with fluids of any
kind.
Have the fault rectified as
soon as possible by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW Motor-
rad dealer. The clutch system is
filled with a special hy-
draulic fluid that does not
have to be changed.
TyresChecking tyre tread
depth
Your motorcycle's hand-
ling 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.
Make sure the ground is
level and firm and place the
motorcycle on its stand.
Measure the tyre tread
depth in the main tread
grooves with wear marks. Tyres have wear indic-
ators integrated into the
main tread grooves. The tyre
is worn out when the tyre
tread has worn down to the
level of the marks. The loca-
tions of the marks are indic-
ated on the edge of the tyre,
e.g. by the letters TI, TWI or
by an arrow.
If the tyre tread no longer
complies with the minimum
legally required tread depth:
Replace the tyre.
RimsChecking rimsMake sure the ground is
level and firm and place the
motorcycle on its stand.
Visually inspect the rims for
defects.
Have damaged rims
checked and, if necessary,
replaced by a specialist
7101zMaintenance
Page 104 of 165

workshop, preferably an
authorised BMW Motorrad
dealer.WheelsApproved wheels and
tyresFor each size of tyre BMW
Motorrad tests certain makes,
and approves those that it
certifies as roadworthy. If
BMW Motorrad has not ap-
proved the wheels and tyres,
it cannot assess their suitab-
ility or provide any guarantee
of road safety.
Use only wheels and tyres
approved by BMW Motorrad
for your type of motorcycle.
You can obtain detailed in-
formation from your author-
ised BMW Motorrad dealer or
on the Internet at www.bmw-
motorrad.com.
Removing front wheelPlace the motorcycle on an
auxiliary stand; BMW re-
commends the BMW Motor-
rad rear-wheel stand.
Install the rear wheel stand.
with OA Centre stand:
Make sure the ground is
level and firm and place
the motorcycle on its centre
stand.
Remove screws 1.
Remove cover 2. Once the calipers have
been removed, there is
a risk of the brake pads be-
ing pressed together to the
extent that they cannot be
slipped back over the brake
disc on reassembly.
Do not operate the handbrake
lever when the brake calipers
have been removed.
Remove securing screws 3
of the brake calipers on left
and right.
7102zMaintenance
Page 105 of 165

Force the brake pads
slightly apart by rocking
brake calipers4back
and forth Aagainst brake
discs 5.
Mask off the parts of the
wheel rim that could be
scratched in the process of
removing the brake calipers.
Carefully pull the brake cal-
ipers back and out until
clear of the brake discs.
with OE BMW Motorrad Integ-
ral ABS: When removing the left
brake caliper, take care not to damage the ABS sensor
cable.
Raise the front of the mo-
torcycle until the front wheel
can rotate freely. It is advis-
able to use the BMW Motor-
rad front wheel stand to lift
the motorcycle.
Fitting the front wheel stand
( 110)
Remove right-hand axle
clamping screw
6.
Remove quick-release
axle 7, holding the wheel as
you do so. BMW Motorrad provides
an adapter for removing
the quick-release axle. This
adapter can be combined
with a commercially available
w/f 22 open-end or ring span-
ner. The BMW special tool
number is 36 3 691 and the
adapter is available from your
authorised BMW Motorrad
dealer.
7103zMaintenance
Page 106 of 165

with OE BMW Motorrad Integ-
ral ABS:The left axle clamping
screw locates the
threaded bush in the front
suspension. If the threaded
bush is not correctly aligned
the gap between the ABS
sensor ring and the ABS
sensor will not be correct and
this can cause the ABS to
malfunction or allow the ABS
sensor to be damaged.
in order to ensure that the
threaded bush remains cor-
rectly aligned, do not slacken or remove the left axle camp-
ing screw.
Remove right-hand axle
clamping screw 6.
Remove quick-release
axle 7, holding the wheel as
you do so.
BMW Motorrad provides
an adapter for removing
the quick-release axle. This
adapter can be combined
with a commercially available
w/f 22 open-end or ring span-
ner. The BMW special tool
number is 36 3 691 and the
adapter is available from your
authorised BMW Motorrad
dealer. Lower the front wheel to the
ground between the front
forks.
Roll the front wheel forward
to remove.
with OE BMW Motorrad Integ-
ral ABS: Roll the front wheel forward
to remove.
Do not damage the ABS
sensor when rolling the
front wheel in or out between
the forks.
7104zMaintenance
Page 107 of 165

Installing front wheel
Threaded fasteners not
tightened to the spe-
cified torque can work loose
or their threads can suffer
damage.
Always have the security of
the fasteners checked by a
specialist workshop, prefer-
ably an authorised BMW Mo-
torrad dealer.
There is a risk of
damaging parts of the
front brake, particularly the
BMW Integral ABS, in the
course of the procedure
described below.
Take care not to damage the
brake system, in particular the
ABS sensor with cable and
the ABS sensor ring.
The front wheel must be
installed right way round
to rotate in the correct direc-
tion. Note the direction-of-rotation
arrows on the tyre or the
wheel rim.
Roll the front wheel into
position between the front
forks. with OE BMW Motorrad Integ-
ral ABS:
Roll the front wheel into
position between the front
forks. Do not damage the ABS
sensor when rolling the
front wheel in or out between
the forks.
7105zMaintenance
Page 108 of 165

Lift the front wheel and in-
stall quick-release axle7.
Quick-release axle in
threaded bush
50 Nm
Install right-hand axle
clamping screw 6.
Clamping screw for quick-
release axle in wheel carrier
19 Nm
Remove the front wheel
stand.
Ease the brake calipers on
to the brake discs. with OE BMW Motorrad Integ-
ral ABS:
The cable of the ABS
sensor could chafe
through if it comes into
contact with the brake disc.
Make sure that the ABS
sensor cable is routed
correctly.
Carefully route the ABS
cable.
Install securing screws 3.
Front brake caliper, wheel
carrier installed ( 133) Remove the adhesive tape
from the wheel rim.
Hold cover
2in position.
Install screws 1.
Firmly pull the handbrake
lever until the pressure point
is perceptible, and repeat
this operation several times.
with OE BMW Motorrad Integ-
ral ABS: Switch on the ignition.
Wait for self-diagnosis to
complete.
Firmly pull the handbrake
lever until the pressure point
7106zMaintenance
Page 109 of 165

is perceptible, and repeat
this operation several times.Removing rear wheelPlace the motorcycle on an
auxiliary stand; BMW re-
commends the BMW Motor-
rad rear-wheel stand.
Install the rear wheel stand.
with OA Centre stand:
Make sure the ground is
level and firm and place
the motorcycle on its centre
stand. Remove screw
1from silen-
cer cover 2.
Pull the cover to the rear to
remove.
Remove clamp 3from the
silencer. Do not remove the sealing
grease from the clamp.
Remove screw
4for the
bracket of the end silencer
from the rear footrest.
Turn the end silencer out.
Engage first gear.
7107zMaintenance
Page 110 of 165

Remove studs5from the
rear wheel, holding the
wheel as you do so.
If you are using a BMW Mo-
torrad rear wheel stand: re-
move the retaining disc. Lower the rear wheel to the
ground.
Roll the rear wheel out to-
ward the rear.
If you are using a BMW Mo-
torrad rear wheel stand: re-
install the retaining disc.
Installing rear wheel
Threaded fasteners not
tightened to the spe-
cified torque can work loose
or their threads can suffer
damage.
Always have the security of
the fasteners checked by a
specialist workshop, prefer- ably an authorised BMW Mo-
torrad dealer.
If you are using a BMW Mo-
torrad rear wheel stand: re-
move the retaining disc.
Roll the rear wheel into po-
sition at the rear-wheel ad-
apter.
Seat the rear wheel on the
rear-wheel adapter.
If you are using a BMW Mo-
torrad rear wheel stand: re-
install the retaining disc.
7108zMaintenance