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

2
Introduction
1
General information and
controls
General view, left side ........... 4
General view, right side ......... 5
Cockpit ................................. 6
Telltale and warning lights ..... 7
Ignition switch and
steering lock ...................... 8-9
Trip meter/clock .................. 10
Hazard warning flashers ...... 11
Left handlebar fitting ........... 12
Right handlebar fitting ......... 13
Seat ............................... 14-15
Helmet holder ..................... 16
System cases................. 17-19Safety check
Checklist ........................ 20-21
Engine oil ....................... 22-23
Fuel ................................ 24-25
Handlebar levers ............ 26-27
Brake system
- general ........................ 28-29
Brake system - without
BMW Integral ABS ......... 30-32
Brake system - with
BMW Integral ABS ......... 33-36
Clutch ................................. 37
Lights ............................. 38-40
Shock-absorber
adjustment .......................... 41
Spring preload .................... 42
Wheels ........................... 43-44
Accessories and loads ... 45-47
Contents
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21
4
General information and controls
1Front suspension strut,
shock-absorber adjuster
(
b 41)
2 Reservoir for clutch
hydraulic fluid (
b 37)
3 Engine oil filler neck
(
b 23)
4 Rear suspension strut,
spring preload (
b 42) 5
Seat lock (
b 14)
6 Rear suspension strut,
shock-absorber adjuster
(
b 41)
7 Spark plug, left
8 Oil level sight glass, engine
(
b 23)
( ) Figure in brackets
General view, left side
1234
6758
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21
7
General information and controls1Telltale light, left turn
indicator green
s
2 Warning light fuel level/
when approx. 5 litres left in
tank orange
m (b 25, 62)
3 Telltale light,
neutral green
k (b 59)
4 Telltale light, high-beam
headlight blue
q
5 Telltale light, right turn indi-
cator green
t
OEOptional extra
6Warning light, battery
charge current red
r
(
b 63)
7 Warning light,
ABS red
\bOE (b 63)
8 Warning light, general
red
e (b 63)
9 Warning light, engine oil
pressure red
p (b 62)
( ) Figure in brackets
bpage number for description
Telltale and warning lights
12435
9
8
6
7
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21
Safety check
2
For this reason, check the
details in the following sections
before you start the journey:
–Fuel level
– Positions of the handlebar-
lever fittings
– Brake fluid level
– Clutch fluid level
– Brakes
– Warning lights and telltale
lights
– Lights
– Shock-absorber setting and
spring preload
– Wheel rim and tyre condition,
tread depth and tyre
pressures
– Load, gross weight –
Check regularly (every time
you stop for fuel), on the basis
of the following section:
– Engine-oil level
(every 2nd/3rd stop for fuel):
– Brake pads
If you encounter any problems
or difficulties, it is always best to
contact your authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer. He will
provide the necessary advice
and assistance.
Checklist
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22
Safety check
2
Engine oil
Checking oil levelCheck the oil level every time
you stop for fuel.
Always check the oil level when
the engine is at operating tem-
perature, because the differ-
ence between the oil level
indicated when the engine is at
operating temperature and the
oil level indicated when the
engine is very cold due to
extremely low outdoor temper-
atures (-10°C) can be as much
as 10 mm.
After switching off the engine at
operating temperature, wait at
least 5 minutes for the oil to
drain back into the sump. Checking the oil level after the
engine has been run only briefly
or when it is not properly warm
will falsify the reading and could
lead to the engine being oper-
ated with the wrong quantity of
oil, because cold oil is viscous
and takes longer to drain back
into the sump. At extremely low
outdoor temperatures (-10
°C),
this can take as long as
12 hours.
e Attention:
To avoid damage to the engine:
– Never exceed the maximum
oil level mark .
– Always keep the oil level
above the minimum mark .
Always check the oil level with
the motorcycle upright.
 Check the oil level with the
engine at its regular operating
temperature
 Check the oil level after the
engine has been stopped for
at least 5 minutes
 Make sure that the motorcy-
cle is upright
–Make sure the ground is
level and firm
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23
Safety check
2
Check the oil level at the sight
glass:
MAX Top edge
of marking ring
MIN Bottom edge
of marking ring
– The difference between the
two marks is approx. 0.5 litre
 If necessary, remove oil filler
plug 2 and top up the engine
oil through oil filler neck 1
 Reinstall oil filler plug 2
e Attention:
The red warning light
p (b 7)
for engine oil pressure indicates
no (or very little) oil pressure in
the lube-oil system; this light
must not be regarded as an oil
level check.
Oil pressure builds up after
1-2 seconds and the warning
light goes out – the red engine
oil pressure warning light
p
should remain off while the en-
gine is running.
Engine oil
BMW recommends Castrol
MAX
MIN12
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24
Safety check
2
Fuel
Refuelling
d Warning:
Fuel is flammable and explo-
sive. Do not smoke. Never
bring a naked flame near the
fuel tank.
Fuel expands when hot (for
instance if the fuel tank is in
the sun). For this reason, only
fill as far as the lower edge of
the filler neck.
e Attention:
Leaded fuel will destroy the
catalytic converter.
Do not run the fuel tank dry or
you may damage the engine or
the catalytic converter.
Wipe off plastic parts immedi-
ately if they are wetted with fuel.
 Place the motorcycle on the
centre stand
– Make sure the ground is level
and firm.
 Open fuel filler cap
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48
Starting - Riding - Parking
3
Handling your motorcycle
safely
Each motorcycle has a charac-
ter all its own. It is time now for
you to familiarise yourself with
the way your own motorcycle
behaves:
–Acceleration
– Roadholding
– Cornering
– Braking …
These are all things you need to
become familiar with.
Please remember too that if the
motorcycle has not yet covered
1,000 kilometres, the engine is
not yet fully run in.
e Attention:
BMW Integral ABSOE incorpo-
rates a brake booster, so brak-
ing efficiency is significantly
higher than with conventional
brake systems.
d Warning:
The tyres need to cover a cer-
tain distance before they ac-
quire their full road grip
(b 57).
If you ride at high speed, always
bear in mind that various
boundary conditions such as
the spring preload setting and
the shock absorber setting, an
unbalanced luggage load,
loose clothing, low tyre pres-
sure, poor tyre tread, and so on,
can affect the handling of your
motorcycle.
OEOptional extra
Your first journey
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50
Starting - Riding - Parking
3
Important notes
BMW Integral ABSOE
Motorcycle equipped with
BMW Integral ABS (
b 68)
d Warning:
When the ignition is switched
off or if the BMW Integral ABS
fails, only a RESIDUAL BRAK-
ING FUNCTION remains
available for slowing the
motorcycle (
b 71).
Under these circumstances
you must apply CONSIDERA-
BLY higher pressure to the
brake levers in order to apply
the brakes, and lever travel is
longer
2(Optional extra
Risk of poisoningExhaust fumes contain carbon
monoxide, which is colourless
and odourless but highly toxic.
d Warning:
Inhaling the exhaust fumes
therefore represents a health
hazard and can even cause
loss of consciousness with
fatal consequences.
Do not run the engine in an
enclosed space.
Risk of fatal accidentYour motorcycle is equipped
with a digital engine manage-
ment system (Motronic) and a
high-power ignition system.
d Warning:
When the engine is running or
the ignition switched on, nev-
er touch electrically live parts
of the ignition system or the
digital engine electronics.
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51
Starting - Riding - Parking
3
Important notes
Catalytic converter
e Attention:
To avoid damage to the cata-
lytic converter:
 Do not run the fuel tank dry
 Push-start only when the
engine is cold
 Do not run the engine with a
spark-plug cap disconnected
 Do not exceed the engine-
speed limits marked on the
revolution counter
 Comply with all specified
maintenance intervals
 Stop the engine at once if it
misfires
 In the event of misfiring or a
severe drop in engine power,
consult a specialist work-
shop, preferably an author-
ised BMW motorcycle dealer
If misfiring or malfunction of the
fuel-air mixture preparation sys-
tem causes unburned fuel to
reach the catalytic converter,
there is a risk of it overheating
and being damaged.
Risk of fireHigh temperatures occur at the
exhaust system, particularly if a
catalytic converter is installed.
d Warning:
Make sure that whether riding
or standing still or when the
motorcycle is parked, no eas-
ily flammable material (for ex-
ample hay, grass, leaves,
clothing or luggage etc.) can
come into contact with the
hot exhaust system.
Do not allow the engine to
idle unnecessarily or for pro-
longed periods of time
– risk of overheating or fire.
Ride away immediately after
starting the engine.
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