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

i
2
Introduction
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/helmet holder .............. 14
Seats ............................. 15-16
System case .................. 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
Suspension
spring preload ..................... 42
Wheels ........................... 43-44
Accessories and loads ... 45-47
Contents
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1
General information and controls
4
1Reservoir for clutch fluid
(
b 37)
2 Engine oil filler (
b 23)
3 Rear spring strut,
spring preload (
b 42)
4 Rear spring strut,
shock absorber adjustment
(
b 41) 5
Power socket, 12 V
OA
Provision for connecting
additional equipment – max.
load 5 A
6 Primary spark plug, left
7 Secondary spark plug*, left
8 Oil level sight glass, engine
(
b 23)
( ) Figure in brackets
bpage number with explanation
OAOptional accessories
*Only R1150R
General view, left side
132
54867
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1
General information and controls
7
1Telltale light, left turn indica-
tor repeater green
s
2 Warning light, fuel level/
when approx. 5 litres
(1.1 Imp.gal) remain in tank
orange
m (b 25, 62)
3 Telltale light, neutral
green
k (b 59)
4 Telltale light, high (main)
beam blue
q
5 Telltale light, right turn indi-
cator repeater green
t

Optional extra
6Warning light, battery
charge current red
r
(b 63)
7 Warning light, ABS red
lOE (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 with explanation
* depending on national-market speci- fication
Telltale and warning lights
12435
9
8
6
7*
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1
General information and controls
12
1
2
534
d Warning:
To prevent air from entering
the clutch system:
 Do not turn the fitting on the handlebar.
 Do not turn the handlebars
in the clamping blocks.
1 Cold start choke lever
(increased engine speed)
(
b 61)
2 Hazard warning flashers
switch (
b 11) 3
Horn button
4 Left turn indicator switch
Press
–Turn indicators flash
To switch off:
 Press turn indicator cancel
switch 9
5 Headlight
FHigh (main) beam
GLow (dipped) beam
FHeadlight flasher
Left handlebar fitting
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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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22
22
Safety check
Engine oil
Checking oil levelCheck oil level regularly each
time you stop to refuel.
Only check the engine oil when
the engine is at normal operat-
ing temperature as the oil level
can vary by up to 10 mm
in a hot engine or a cold engine
at extreme outside tempera-
tures (-10 °C).
Wait at least five minutes after
switching off the hot engine for
the oil to collect in the sump.Checking the oil level after the
engine has only been used for a
short time or is only just warm
could lead to wrong interpretati-
ons and thereby to an incorrect
oil fill because the cold, more
viscous oil takes longer to flow
back into the sump. This can
take up to 12 hours at extreme
temperatures (-10 °C).
e Attention:
To avoid damage to the engine:
– Never exceed the maximum
oil level.
– Always keep the oil level above the minimum mark.
Always check the oil level with
the motorcycle standing up-
right.
 Check the oil when the engine is at normal operating tem-
perature
 Read the oil level at least five minutes after switching off the
engine
 Make sure that the motorcy-
cle is upright
– ensure that the surface is
level and firm!
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2
23
2
Safety check
MAXMIN1
2
 Check oil level at sight glass: MAX Upper edge
Ring marking
MIN Lower edge
Ring marking
– The difference between the two marks is approx. 0.5 litres
 If necessary, unscrew the oil filler screw 2 and top up the
engine oil through the engine
oil filler 1
 Then retighten the oil filler
screw 2
e Attention:
Warning light, engine oil pres-
sure red
p (b 7) indicates no
(or very little) oil pressure in
the lube-oil system; this light
m u s t n o t b e r e g a r d e d a s a n o i l
level check. Oil pressure
builds up after 1-2 seconds
and the warning light goes out
– the redengine oil pressure
warning light
p should remain
off while the engine is running.
Engine oil
BMW recommends Castrol
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22
24
Safety check
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 cat-
alytic 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 motorcycle on centre stand
– Make sure the ground is level and firm.
 Open fuel filler cap
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33
48
Starting – Riding – Parking
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
certain distance before they
acquire their full road grip
(b 57).
When riding at high speed,
a l w a y s b e a r i n m i n d t h a t v a r i o u s
boundary conditions such as:
settings of the spring and
shock-absorber system, unbal-
anced loading, loose clothing,
low tyre pressures, worn tyres,
etc., can affect the handling of
your motorcycle.
OEOptional extra
Your first journey
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33
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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