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

3
Introduction
1
Starting – Riding – Parking
Your first journey ........... 48-49
Important notes ............. 50-51
Side stand ..................... 52-53
Centre stand ................. 54-55
Running in ..................... 56-57
Before you start ............. 58-59
Starting ......................... 60-61
Warning lights................ 62-63
Riding, gear shifts.......... 64-65
Brake system
- general ........................ 66-67
Brake system - with
BMW Integral ABS......... 68-74
BMW Integral ABS
- troubleshooting chart ....... 75Arrive safely
Arrive safely....................76-77
Service worldwide ............... 78
Environmental protection .... 79
BMW rider’s equipment ....... 80
BMW motorcycle
equipment ........................... 81
Training means
extra safety ......................... 82
Concluding thoughts ........... 83
Contents
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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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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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52
Starting - Riding - Parking
3
Placing motorcycle on
side stand
d Warning:
For safety reasons, never sit
on the motorcycle with the
side stand extended.
e Attention:
Stop the engine before using
the side stand.
Make sure the surface under
the stand is firm.
On a gradient, the motorcycle
should always face uphill; se-
lect 1st gear. 
Switch off the ignition
 Keep both feet on the ground
 Hold the left handlebar grip
with your left hand
 Keep your right hand on the
right handlebar grip and the
handbrake lever
 Hold the motorcycle upright
and balanced
 Use your left foot at the exten-
sion pin to extend the side
stand fully (arrow)
 Slowly lean the motorcycle to
the side until its weight is taken
by the stand and dismount
 Turn the handlebars to full left
lock (
b 9)
 Check that the motorcycle
is firmly supported
Side stand
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Starting - Riding - Parking
3
Removing motorcycle
from side stand
d Warning:
Note that on a motorcycle fitted
with BMW Integral ABS
OE only a
RESIDUAL BRAKING
FUNCTION (
b 71 ) is available if
the ignition is switched off.
Make sure the side stand is fully
retracted before you ride off.
– Allowing the motorcycle to
roll with the side stand
extended represents a
safety risk. 
Turn the ignition key to the " R"
or " ON" position (
b 9)
– Handlebars unlocked
 Both feet on the ground, no
weight on the motorcycle
 Hold the left handlebar grip
with your left hand
 Keep your right hand on the
right handlebar grip and the
handbrake lever
 Slowly raise the motorcycle to
the upright position and keep
it balanced
 Sit on the motorcycle and use
your left foot to retract the
side stand
2(Optional extra
Side stand
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Starting - Riding - Parking
3
Running in
Running in new brake
pads
d Warning:
New brake pads must "bed
down" and therefore do not
achieve their optimum friction
levels during the first 500 km.
This slight initial reduction in
braking efficiency can be
compensated for by exerting
greater pressure on the lever.
Try to avoid all unnecessary
hard braking during this initial
period.
e Attention:
Comply with the notes on BMW
Integral ABSOE (b 68-75).
Running in new tyres
d Warning:
New tyres have a smooth sur-
face. This must be roughened
by riding in a restrained man-
ner at various heel angles
until the tyres are run in.
This running in procedure is
essential if the tyres are to
achieve maximum grip.
OEOptional extra
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Starting - Riding - Parking
3
Warning light, general General warning light 3 lights
up if the BMW Integral ABSOE
develops a fault
(
b 75), or if the tail light or brake
light is defective.
ABS warning light2(
ABS warning light 4 lights up if
the BMW Integral ABS devel-
ops a fault (
b 75)
2(Optional extra
Battery charge lightWarning light 5 goes out above
idle speed.
e Attention:
If telltale light 5 comes on dur-
ing the journey:
consult a specialist workshop,
preferably an authorised BMW
motorcycle dealer.
Warning lights
1234
5
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Starting - Riding - Parking
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Brake system - general
Wet bra kesAfter the motorcycle has been
washed, ridden through water
or ridden in the rain, the brake
discs and pads may be wet (or
iced-over in winter), and may
not take effect immediately.
d Warning:
The brakes have to dry before
they start to bite.
Salt on brakesThe full braking effect can be
delayed if the motorcycle is rid-
den on salt-covered roads and
the brakes are not applied for
some time.
d Warning:
The layer of salt on the brake
discs and pads has to be
worn off before the brakes
start to bite.
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Starting - Riding - Parking
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Brake system – general
Oil and grease on brakes
d Warning:
Brake discs and pads must be
free from oil or grease.
Dirt or mud on brakesWhen riding on loose surfaces
or muddy roads, the brakes
may fail to take effect immedi-
ately because of dirt or mois-
ture on the discs or brake pads.
d Warning:
The brakes must first be
applied until the discs and
pads are clean.
Dirt on the brakes increases
the rate of pad wear.
d Warning:
If the brake lever can be moved
right to the limit of its travel, this
indicates a mechanical or hy-
draulic fault. The brake system is
defective.
Immediately consult a specialist
workshop, preferably an author-
ised BMW motorcycle dealer.
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