wheel 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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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
42
Safety check
1
Suspension spring preload
d Warning:
Before riding off, always set
spring preload to suit total
weight.
For off-road riding, increase
spring preload at front and
rear by a suitable amount.
For safety reasons, never at-
tempt to alter spring preload
while the motorcycle is being
ridden. Always halt the motor-
cycle before adjusting.
Adjusting suspension
spring preload
 Place motorcycle on centre stand
 Adjust spring preload at
handwheel 1
Basic setting, solo:
Turn knob 1 as far as it will go
counter-clockwise as indi-
cated by the “ LOW” arrow
Turn knob 1 one mark clock-
wise as indicated by the
“ HIGH ” arrow
Setting for two-up and
luggage:
 Turn handwheel 1 fully to the
right as indicated by the
“HIGH” arrow
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2
43
2
Safety check
Wheels
Checking wheel rims
d Warning:
Have damaged wheel rims
checked and, if necessary,
replaced by a specialist work-
shop, preferably an author-
ised BMW motorcycle dealer.
Checking tyre treads
d Warning:
Comply with statutory legal
requirements concerning
minimum tread depth. Worn
tyres can impair handling.
 Measure tread depth at the centre of the tyre tread
BMW's minimum tread depth
recommendation:
Front............................... 2 mm
Rear ............................... 3 mm
Screwing valve caps on
tightly
d Warning:
At high road speeds, tyre
valves have a tendency to
open as a result of centrifugal
force.
Use only metal valve caps
with rubber seals.
Valve caps that are screwed
on well prevent air from es-
caping suddenly.
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22
44
Safety check
Wheels
Checking tyre pressures
d Warning:
Incorrect tyre pressures have
a considerable influence on
handling and on tyre life.
Adjust tyre pressures to suit
total weight. Never exceed
either the motorcycle’s gross
weight or the individual wheel
load limits (b 47). –Tyres cold:
 Remove valve caps
 Check/correct tyre pressure
Tyre pressures:
Front Rear
Solo 2.2 bar 2.5 bar
Two-up 2.5 bar 2.7 bar
Two-up
with luggage 2.5 bar 2.9 bar
 Fully tighten on valve caps
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2
47
2
Safety check
Accessories and loads
e Attention:
Do not exceed the gross weight
limit of 450 kg.
Do not exceed the wheel load
limits of 180 kg at the front and
300 kg at the rear.
Reset the suspension spring
preload and the shock absorb-
ers to match the total weight
(
b 41, 42, 44).
The total weight consists of:
– Motorcycle with full tank
–Rider
–Passenger
– Luggage
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33
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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33
70
Starting – Riding – Parking
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABSOE
Partially integral brakesThe integral brake function
interlinks the front and rear
brakes, so both wheels are
braked when you operate the
brake lever.
The electronic controller in the
BMW Integral ABS computes
the braking-force distribution
between front and rear wheels,
and applies the brakes accord-
ingly.
The baking-force distribution
depends on load and is recal-
culated every time the ABS
controller comes into action.
In this partially integral brake
configuration, the integral brak-
ing function is activated only
when you pull the handbrake
lever. The footbrake lever acts
only on the rear brake.Brake servoThe hydraulic pump in the BMW
Integral ABS actively boosts the
braking force acting on the
wheel when the brakes are
applied.
By boosting the braking force in
this way, the BMW Integral ABS
achieves a higher braking effi-
ciency than standard brake
systems.
ABS - anti-lock brake
system
ABS prevents the wheels lock-
ing under heavy braking when
the motorcycle is travelling in a
straight line, thus contributing
significantly to road safety.

Optional extra
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33
74
Starting – Riding – Parking
12*
d Warning:
If the BMW Integral ABS fails
in both brake circuits, a
RESIDUAL BRAKING
FUNCTION only is available
(b 71).
d Warning:
If the RESIDUAL BRAKING
FUNCTION is active (
b 71),
maintain a defensive riding
style and proceed immediate-
ly to a specialist workshop,
preferably an authorised BMW
motorcycle dealer.

Optional extra
d Warning:
If there is a fault in the ABS
system, the reserves of safety
normally afforded by ABS are
not available until the defect
has been put right.
There is a risk of dropping the
machine if the brakes are ap-
plied too hard and the front
wheel locks or the rear wheel
lifts clear of the ground as a
result of a high level of front
tyre adhesion. Do not ride the
motorcycle if you have any
doubts about the safety of the
brake system.
* depending on national-market speci-
fication
Brake system - with BMW Integral ABSOE
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3
75
3
Starting – Riding – Parking

Optional extra
General
warning
lighte ABS warning
light
l/
brake failure Malfunctions
OFF ON Only RESIDUAL BRAKING FUNCTION available in both circuits (
b 71)
OFF Flashes at 1 Hz ABS not available Pull-away test not completed (
b 72)
OFF Flashes at 4 Hz Only RESIDUAL BRAKING FUNCTION available in both circuits (
b 71)
Self-diagnosis not completed (b 72)
ON OFF Tail light/brake light defective (Maintenance Instructions,
b Chapter 2)
ON Flashes at 1 Hz At least one brake circuit without ABS (
b 70)
ON Flashes at 4 Hz At least one brake circuit in RESIDUAL BRAKING FUNCTION mode (
b 71)
Alternate
flashing at
1Hz Alternate flash-
ing at 1 Hz
Fluid level in BMW Integral ABS too low.
Check the motorcycle as follows:
– Ignition OFF: is brake pressure OK at
the brake levers?
– Are the brakes acting on both wheels?
– Is the brake system leaktight, no signs of brake fluid escaping?
The brake system is defective if the test
outcome is negative.
Alternate
flashing at 4
Hz Alternate flas-
hing at 4 Hz
Fluid level in the BMW Integral ABS is too
low, perform the checks listed above.
Only RESIDUAL BRAKING FUNCTION
available in at least one circuit (
b 71)

d Warning:
Do not ride the motorcycle if you
have any doubts about the
dependability of the brake system.
BMW Integral ABSOE - Fault table
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