brakes BMW MOTORRAD R 850 R 2004 Rider's Manual (in English)

2
21
2
Safety check
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
– Condition of wheels and
tyres, tread depth and tyre
pressures
– Load, gross weight – Check at regular intervals as
described in the following
sections
(each time you stop for refuel-
ling):
– Engine oil level
(every second or third time
you stop for refuelling):
– Brake pads
If you encounter any problems
or difficulties, it is always best to
contact your authorised BMW
Motorrad dealer.
He will provide the necessary
advice and assistance.
Checklist
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Safety check
Brake system - general
Work on the brake system
d Warning:
To ensure reliability have all
work on the brake systems
carried out by a specialist
workshop, preferably an au-
thorised BMW motorcycle
dealer.
Checking the brake
system
d Warning:
Sudden changes in play or
spongy action of the brake le-
ver indicate a fault in the
brake system.
Before riding off, therefore,
always check the resistance
of the front and rear brake le-
vers and test operation of the
brakes.
Do not ride the motorcycle if
you have any doubts about
the safety of the brake sys-
tem.
Immediately seek the advice
of a specialist workshop,
preferably an authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer.
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2
29
2
Safety check
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 lining
thickness to fall below minimum
value (Maintenance Instructions b Chapter 2).
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30
Safety check
Brake system - without BMW Integral ABS
Checking brake fluid levelGradual wear of the brake pads
causes the brake fluid level in
the reservoir to drop.
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
(see the Maintenance Instruc-
tions
b Chapter 1) by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW
motorcycle dealer.
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34
Safety check
Residual braking function
d Warning:
When the ignition is switched
off, before and during
self-diagnosis (
b 72), or if the
BMW Integral ABS fails, only a
RESIDUAL BRAKING FUNC-
TION remains available for
slowing the motorcycle
(
b 71).
When the RESIDUAL
BRAKING FUNCTION is
active, you must apply
CONSIDERABLY higher
pressure to the brake lever in
question in order to apply the
brakes, and lever travel is
longer.
When the RESIDUAL
BRAKING FUNCTION is ac-
tive, the ABS function is una-
vailable in the brake systems
in question.

Optional extra
d Warning:
When the RESIDUAL
BRAKING FUNCTION is
active, maintain a defensive
riding style and proceed im-
mediately to the nearest spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised
BMW motorcycle dealer.
L Note:
When the RESIDUAL BRAKING
FUNCTION is active, it is advis-
able to set adjuster A (
b 27) on
the front-brake lever to
position 4.
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABSOE
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38
Safety checkChecking lights
e Attention:
Check that all lights are opera-
tional at the start of each jour-
ney.
L Note:
If turn indicator repeater flashes
at twice the usual speed: defec-
tive flasher bulb.
BMW Integral ABS
OE:
General warning light ON (
b 7):
Check brake light or tail light.
If the tail light is defective the
brake light is dimmed and acts
as a tail light. When you apply the
brakes the brake light shines at
full brightness. To change bulbs in parking
lights, headlight (dipped and
main 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 dipped 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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50
Starting – Riding – Parking
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
BRAKING FUNCTION” is
available (
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.

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 Digital Motor Electronics
(Motronic) and 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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66
Starting – Riding – Parking
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 breaking 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 must first be
worn away.
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67
3
Starting – Riding – Parking
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 autho-
rised BMW motorcycle dealer.
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68
Starting – Riding – Parking
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABSOE
Sensitive electronic
control
It takes skill and sensitive con-
trol of the brakes to pull up
safely on a motorcycle. If the
front wheel brake locks and the
wheel skids, the necessary lon-
gitudinal and lateral stabilising
forces are lost, and a fall can
result.
For this reason, the rider sel-
dom makes full use of available
braking performance in an
emergency.

Optional extra
BMW Integral ABS is the latest-
generation BMW ABS develop-
ment: by preventing both
wheels from locking and opti-
mising braking-force distribu-
tion by means of the integral
function, it offers much
improved braking performance
(
b 70). Full use is made of tech-
nical braking capacity to mini-
mise braking distances, even
when road conditions are poor.
When the motorcycle is ridden
in a straight line, the
BMW Integral ABS is able to
handle emergency braking
safely.
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