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

449Riding
Safety instructions ........................ 50
Safety check .................................. 52
Making your first trip..................... 52
Before you start ............................. 53
Starting ........................................... 56
Riding ............................................. 58
Running in ...................................... 58
Shifting gear .................................. 59
Placing the motorcycle on its
side stand....................................... 61
Taking the motorcycle off the
side stand....................................... 63
Placing the motorcycle on the
centre stand
OA
.............................. 65
Pushing the motorcycle off the
centre stand
OA
.............................. 67Fuel ................................................. 67
Brake system ................................. 68

Riding450
Safety instructionsSpeedWhen riding at high speed,
various marginal conditions
can adversely affect the
handling characteristics of the
motorcycle:
– adjustment of the spring-
strut and shock absorber
system
– unequally distributed load
– loose clothing
– insufficient tyre pressure
– poor tyre tread
–etc.Correct loading
Overloading can ad-
versely affect the riding
stability of the motorcycle.
Do not exceed the permissible
gross weight and permissible
wheel loads (
b 137).c
Alcohol and drugs
Even small amounts of
alcohol or drugs can
considerably adversely affect
your perception, judgement
and ability to make decisions,
as well as your reflexes. Taking
medication can increase these
effects.
Do not ride your motorcycle
after consuming alcohol,
drugs and/or medication.c
Risk of poisoningExhaust fumes contain carbon
monoxide, which is colourless
and odourless but highly toxic.
Inhaling exhaust fumes is
a health hazard and can
lead to loss of consciousness
or death.
Do not inhale exhaust fumes.
Do not run the engine in en-
closed spaces.cHigh voltage
Touching live parts of the
ignition system with the
engine running can lead to
electric shocks.
Do not touch any parts of the
ignition system when the en-
gine is running.c

451Riding
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 ride the motorcycle
with the fuel tank empty.
– Do not run the engine with
the spark-plug cap removed.
– In the event of engine misfir-
ing, stop the engine immedi-
ately.
– Only refuel using unleaded
fuel.
– Be sure to adhere to the
prescribed maintenance
intervals.
Unburned fuel destroys
the catalytic converter.
Note the points listed for
protection of the catalytic
converter.c
Risk of fireHigh temperatures occur at
the exhaust pipe.
If highly flammable mate-
rials (e.g. hay, leaves,
grass, clothing and luggage,
etc.) make contact with the hot
exhaust pipe, they can start to
burn.
Ensure that no highly flamma-
ble materials can come into
contact with the hot exhaust
system.c
–If the engine runs for a
longer period when the
motorcycle is stationary, the
cooling is inadequate and
overheating can occur. In
extreme cases, the motorcy-
cle could catch fire.
Do not let the engine run for
unnecessary periods when the motorcycle is stationary.
After starting, move off
immediately.c
Manipulation of the engine
electronics control unit
Manipulation of the engine
electronics control unit can
cause damage to the motorcy-
cle and therefore lead to acci-
dents. Do not manipulate the en-
gine electronics control unit.c
Any manipulation of the
engine electronics
control unit can lead to
mechanical loads for which
the components of the motor-
cycle are not configured. Dam-
age caused in this way invali-
dates the warranty.
Do not manipulate the engine
electronics control unit.c

Riding452
Safety checkPrior to every journeyUse the following checklist to
check important functions,
settings and wear limits before
starting to ride. Checklist–Brakes (
b 93)
– Brake fluid level (
b 91)
– Clutch function (b 93)
– Clutch fluid level (b 93)
– Warning and telltale lights
(
b 18)
– Shock absorber setting
(b 44, 46) and spring
preload (
b 47)
–Rims (
b 94), tread depth
(
b 94) and tyre pressure
(b 47)
– Load, gross weight (
b 137)
– Secure luggage systemAt regular intervals:
– Engine oil level (every time
you refuel) (
b 86)
– Brake pads (every second/
third time you refuel)
(
b 90, 91)
Making your first tripSafe handling of your
motorcycleEach motorcycle has its 'own
life' that you have to get used
to:
– Acceleration capability
– Road holding
– Cornering characteristics
–Braking power
The engine also has to be
run in during the first 1,000 km
(b 58).You will find information on
BMW Integral ABS from
(
b 69) onwards.
BMW Integral ABS incor-
porates braking power
assistance, so that braking
power is significantly higher
than with conventional brake
systems. Especially when
cornering, unintentionally hard
braking can lead to dangerous
situations.
Practice braking with
BMW Integral ABS in safe
situations.c

453Riding
Before you startSwitching on the ignition• Read the information on the
EWS (
b 22).
• Kill switch1 in operating
positionA.
• Switch on the ignition.
» Pre-ride check is carried out.
» With BMW Integral ABS:
ABS self-diagnosis is
performed.
Pre-ride checkAfter the ignition has been
switched on, a pre-ride check
is carried out. Here, the func-
tions of all warning lights and
warning symbols are checked.
The following are displayed in
succession in the multifunc-
tion display:
Phase 1
General warning light
lights up red.
Engine oil pressure
symbol is displayed.Battery charge current
symbol is displayed.
Phase 2
General warning light
lights up yellow.
Engine electronics
symbol is displayed.
EWS symbol is
displayed.

Riding454
Phase 3
Lamps defective warning
light is displayed.
If one of the warning
lights or a warning
symbol cannot be displayed,
a function fault in the corre-
sponding system cannot be
displayed.
Pay attention to the displays
for all lights and symbols.cIf one of the lights or symbols
is not displayed:
• Have the fault remedied as
soon as possible by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW motor-
cycle dealer.
After completion of the pre-
ride check, the current values
are displayed.
If the engine is started
during the pre-ride
check, the pre-ride check is
cancelled.c
With BMW Integral ABS, the
ABS self-diagnosis is also
carried out.
ABS self-diagnosisThe ABS warning light is
shown in one of the following
three variants depending on
the country:
The operational readiness of
the BMW Integral ABS is
checked by the self-diagnosis
and starting-off test (
b 58).
Self-diagnosis is performed
automatically when you switch
on the ignition.
Self-diagnosis is not per-
formed unless both brake
levers are in their fully released

455Riding
positions. Before conclusion
of the self-diagnosis, only
residual braking function
(b 71) is available.
• Release the brake lever.
• Switch on the ignition.
Phase 1
General warning light
lights up.
ABS warning light flashes
4 times per second.
Self-diagnosis is carried out.
Phase 2
ABS warning light flashes
once per second.
Self-diagnosis is complete. The warning light goes out
after completion of the start-
ing-off test (
b 58).
If the ignition is switched
on with the brake lever
operated and then the engine
is started and the motorcycle
moves off immediately, the
BMW Integral ABS is still in the
residual braking function
(
b 71). The self-diagnosis is
carried out as soon as the
brake lever is released com-
pletely for the first time. During
this period, neither the ABS
function nor the braking power
assistance is available.
When you start the engine,
wait until the ABS self-diagno-
sis has been carried out.cStarting on gradients:
Switch on the ignition
with the gear engaged, clutch
lever released and brake lever
released. Then press the
brake, press the clutch and
start the engine.c
Side-standIf the side stand is extended
and a gear is engaged, you
cannot start the motorcycle.
If the motorcycle has been
started in neutral and a gear is
then engaged while the side
stand is extended, the engine
switches off.

Riding456
Manual gearboxThe motorcycle can be started
in the neutral position or with a
gear engaged and the clutch
pressed. Only press the clutch
after switching on the ignition.
In the neutral position, the
"neutral" telltale light lights up
in green and the gear display
in the multifunction display
shows 0.Starting
Do not turn the throttle
twistgrip when starting
the engine. At ambient tem-
peratures below 0 °C, disen-
gage the clutch after switching
on the ignition.c• Press starter button1.
» The engine starts.
• Observe warning and infor-
mation displays (
b 18-28).
The start attempt is auto-
matically interrupted if
the battery voltage is too low.
Prior to renewed starting
attempts, charge the battery
or obtain starting assistance
(
b 111).cHigh engine speeds with
a cold engine could lead
to increased engine wear.
Avoid high engine speeds
when the engine is cold.c
If you are unable to start
the engine, the following
troubleshooting chart can
provide assistance.c

457Riding
Troubleshooting chartFault: Engine does not start or only starts with difficulty.
Possible cause Remedy see pageKill switch activated Kill switch in operating position (
b 53)
Side stand extended and gear
engagedRetract the side stand fully (b 63)
Gear engaged, clutch not
disengagedPlace the gearbox in neutral or press the
clutch(b 56)
Clutch operated with ignition
switched offSwitch on the ignition first, then operate
the clutch(b 53, 56)
No fuel in tank Refuel (b 67)
Battery not adequately charged Recharge the battery (b 113)

Riding458
RidingABS starting-off testThe ABS warning light is
shown in one of the following
three variants depending on
the country:
ABS warning light flashes
once per second.
After starting off, the BMW
Integral ABS checks the ABS
sensors. The ABS warning
light then goes out and the
BMW Integral ABS is active.
Running in• During the running-in period,
ride in frequently changing
load and engine speed
ranges.
• Choose hilly routes with a
large number of corners, but
avoid motorways where
possible.
Exceeding the running-in
speeds increases engine
wear.
Adhere to the guide values
described below.cUp to 1,000 km distance
ridden• Engine speed max.
7,000 rpm.
• No full-load acceleration.
• At full load, avoid low engine
speeds. • After 500 – 1,200 km be
sure to have the first
inspection carried out.
Brake padsNew brake pads must "bed
down" and therefore do not
achieve their optimum friction
levels during the first 500 km.
The reduction in braking effi-
ciency can be compensated
for by exerting greater pres-
sure on the brake lever.
New brake pads can
considerably lengthen
the braking distance.
Brake carefully and safely.
Avoid braking sharply.c