BMW MOTORRAD R 850 R 2003 Rider's Manual (in English)

29
Safety check
2
Brake system - general
Checking brake pads
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. Brake pad wear depends on
your personal style of riding.
To ensure reliable operation of
the brakes: do not allow the
pads to wear past the minimum
specified thickness (
b Mainte-
nance Instructions Chapter 2).
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30
Safety check
2
Brake system - without BMW Integral ABS
Checking brake fluid levelGradual wear of the brake pads
causes the brake fluid level in
the reservoir to sink.
d Warning:
If brake fluid level in the fluid
reservoirs for the front or rear
brakes has dropped below
the MIN mark (
b 31, 32) have
the brake system checked
without delay by a specialist
workshop, preferably an au-
thorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
Changing brake fluid
d Warning:
Brake fluid is subject to
severe thermal loads and
absorbs moisture from the
atmosphere.
Consequently, the brake fluid
must be changed regularly
(
b Maintenance Instructions,
Chapter 1) by a specialist
workshop, preferably an au-
thorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
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31
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 the
centre stand
–Make sure the ground is
level and firm 
Turn the handlebars all the
way to the left.
 Check the brake fluid level in
the sight glass
MIN minimum level
(top edge of
marking ring)
\f Note:
Gradual wear of the brake pads
causes the brake fluid level in
the reservoir to sink.
Brake system - without BMW Integral ABS
MIN
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32
Safety check
2
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 the
centre stand
– Make sure the ground is
level and firm 
Check the brake fluid level
MAX maximum level
MIN minimum level
\f Note:
Gradual wear of the brake pads
causes the brake fluid level in
the reservoir to sink.
Brake system - without BMW Integral ABS
MAX
MIN
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33
Safety check
2
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABS2(
Checking brake fluid level
d Warning:
On a motorcycle equipped
with BMW Integral ABS, the
brake fluid level in the reser-
voir does NOT drop as the
brake pads wear (b 35, 36).
d Warning:
If the brake fluid level in the
reservoir (
b 35, 36) has
dropped below the specified
MIN mark, have the brake
system checked without de-
lay by a specialist workshop,
preferably an authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer.
2(Optional extra
Changing brake fluid
d Warning:
Brake fluid is subject to
severe thermal loads and
absorbs moisture from the
atmosphere.
Consequently, the brake fluid
must be changed regularly
(
b Maintenance Instructions,
Chapter 1) by a specialist
workshop, preferably an au-
thorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
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34
Safety check
2
Residual braking function
d Warning:
When the ignition is switched
off, before and during self-
diagnosis (
b 72) or if the
BMW Integral ABS develops a
fault, only a RESIDUAL BRAK-
ING FUNCTION (
b 71) 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
question.
2(Optional extra
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.
\f Note:
When the RESIDUAL BRAKING
FUNCTION is active at the front
wheel, it is advisable to set ad-
juster A of the front-brake lever
to position 4 (
b 27).
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABS2(
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35
Safety check
2
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABS2(
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 the
centre stand
–Make sure the ground is
level and firm
2(Optional extra
Turn the handlebars all the
way to the left.
 Check the brake fluid level in
the sight glass
MIN minimum level
(top edge of
marking ring)
\f Note:
The brake fluid level in the
brake fluid reservoir remains
constant despite wear of the
brake pads.
MIN
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36
Safety check
2
Checking rear brake fluid
level
d Warning:
Never permit the brake fluid
level to drop below the MIN
mark on the brake-fluid
reservoir
2(Optional extra
 Place the motorcycle on the
centre stand
–Make sure the ground is
level and firm
 Check the brake fluid level
MIN minimum level
\f Note:
The brake fluid level in the
brake fluid reservoir remains
constant despite wear of the
brake pads.
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABS2(
MIN
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37
Safety check
2
MIN
Checking fluid level in the
clutch lever fitting
e Attention:
If the fluid level drops, assume
there is a defect in the clutch
system.
Have the clutch system checked
immediately by a specialist work-
shop, preferably an authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer.
d Warning:
Never permit the fluid level to
drop below the minimum level
(MIN mark)
\f Note:
The fluid level in the reservoir
rises as the clutch wears.
 Place motorcycle on side
stand
–Make sure the ground is
level and firm
 Turn the handlebars fully to
the right
 Check fluid level in sight glass
MIN Minimum level
(halfway up sight glass)
Clutch
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38
Safety check
2
Checking lights
e Attention:
Check that all lights are opera-
tional at the start of each
journey.
\f Note:
If the turn indicator telltale light
flashes at twice the usual
speed: defective flasher bulb.
Motorcycle with
BMW Integral ABS
OE:
General warning light ON (
b 7):
check the brake light and the
rear light.
If the rear light is defective the
brake light is dimmed and acts
as a rear light. When you apply
the brakes the brake light shines
at full brightness. To change bulbs in parking
lights, headlight (low and high
beams), rear/brake lights, turn
indicators and the number-
plate light:
(
b Maintenance Instructions,
Chapter 2)
Masking off headlightIf the motorcycle is ridden in a
country where the opposite rule
of the road applies, its asym-
metric low headlight beam will
tend to dazzle oncoming traffic.
To prevent this, mask over part
of the headlight glass (apply a
piece of adhesive tape cut to
the correct size and shape).
OEOptional extra
Lights
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