BMW F900XR - Owner's Manual > Brake system

Checking operation of the brakes

• Operate the brake lever.

  The pressure point must be clearly perceptible.

• Press the footbrake lever.

  The pressure point must be clearly perceptible.

If pressure points are not clearly perceptible:

ATTENTION Work on brake system not in compliance with correct procedure

Risk to operational reliability of the brake system

• Have all work on the brake system undertaken by trained and qualified specialists.

 

• Have the brakes checked by a specialist workshop, preferably an authorised BMW Motorrad retailer.

Checking brake pad thickness, front brakes

• Make sure the ground is level and firm and place the motorcycle on its stand.

• Visually inspect the left and right brake pads to ascertain their thickness. Viewing direction: Between wheel and front suspension toward brake calipers 1.

Brake-pad wear limit, front

• min 1.0 mm (Friction pad only, without backing plate.

  The wear indicators, i.e. the grooves, must be clearly visible.)

If the wear indicating marks are no longer clearly visible:

WARNING Brake-pad thickness less than permissible minimum

Diminished braking effect, damage to the brakes

• In order to ensure the dependability of the brake system, do not permit the brake pads to wear past the minimum permissible thickness.

 

• Have the brake pads replaced by a specialist workshop, preferably an authorised BMW Motorrad retailer.

Checking brake pad thickness, rear brakes

Make sure the ground is level and firm and place the motorcycle on its stand.

• Visually inspect the brake pads to ascertain their thickness.

  Viewing direction: from the rear towards the brake caliper 1.

Brake-pad wear limit, rear

• min 1.0 mm (Friction pad only, without backing plate.)

If the brake pads are worn:

WARNING Brake-pad thickness less than permissible minimum

Diminished braking effect, damage to the brakes

• In order to ensure the dependability of the brake system, do not permit the brake pads to wear past the minimum permissible thickness.

 

• Have the brake pads replaced by a specialist workshop, preferably an authorised BMW Motorrad retailer.

Checking brake-fluid level, front brakes

WARNING Not enough brake fluid in brake fluid reservoir, or contaminants in brake fluid

Considerably reduced braking power due to presence of air, contaminants or water in the brake system

• Cease operation of the vehicle immediately and do not ride it until the fault has been rectified.
• Check the brake-fluid levels at regular intervals.
• Always make sure that the lid of the brake fluid reservoir and the area around the lid are cleaned before opening.
• Make sure that only fresh brake fluid from a sealed container is used.

- with centre stand OE

• Make sure the ground is level and firm and place the motorcycle on its centre stand.
• Move the handlebars to the straight-ahead position.
• Make sure the ground is level and firm and hold the motorcycle upright.
• Move the handlebars to the straight-ahead position.

• Check the brake fluid level in brake fluid reservoir for front wheel brake 1.

NOTICE Wear of the brake pads causes the brake fluid level in the reservoir to sink.

Brake fluid level, front

• Brake fluid, DOT4
• It is not permissible for the brake fluid level to be below the MIN mark. (Brake-fluid reservoir horizontal, motorcycle upright)

If the brake fluid level drops below the permitted level:

• Have the fault rectified as quickly as possible by a specialist workshop, preferably an authorised BMW Motorrad retailer.

Checking brake-fluid level, rear brakes

• Make sure the ground is level and firm and hold the motorcycle upright.

  - with centre stand OE

• Make sure the ground is level and firm and place the motorcycle on its centre stand.

WARNING Not enough brake fluid in brake fluid reservoir, or contaminants in brake fluid

Considerably reduced braking power due to presence of air, contaminants or water in the brake system

• Cease operation of the vehicle immediately and do not ride it until the fault has been rectified.
• Check the brake-fluid levels at regular intervals.
• Always make sure that the lid of the brake fluid reservoir and the area around the lid are cleaned before opening.
• Make sure that only fresh brake fluid from a sealed container is used.

 

• Check the brake fluid level in brake fluid reservoir for rear wheel brake 1.

NOTICE Wear of the brake pads causes the brake fluid level in the reservoir to sink.

Brake fluid level, rear (visual inspection)

• Brake fluid, DOT4
• It is not permissible for the brake fluid level to be below the MIN mark.

If the brake fluid level drops below the permitted level:

• Have the fault rectified as quickly as possible by a specialist workshop, preferably an authorised BMW Motorrad retailer.

Clutch

Checking operation of clutch

• Pull the clutch lever.

  An increase in force with increasing actuation must be perceptible.

If no increase in force with increasing actuation is perceptible:

• Have the clutch checked by a specialist workshop, preferably an authorised BMW Motorrad retailer.

Checking the clutch play

• Repeatedly pull clutch lever 1 tight against the grip.
• Pull clutch lever 1 gently until resistance is perceptible, observing the clutch play A.

Clutch cable play

• 3...5 mm (at the outer end of the handlebar lever, handlebars in straight-ahead position, engine cold)

Clutch play is out of tolerance:

• Adjust the clutch play.

Adjusting clutch play

• Loosen lock nut 1.
• To increase clutch play: Tighten adjusting screw 2 into the handlebar fitting.
• To reduce clutch play: Back off adjusting screw 2 in the handlebar fitting.

NOTICE The distance between lock nut and nut (measured internally) must not exceed 14 mm.

Consult a specialist workshop, preferably an authorised BMW Motorrad Retailer, should it only be possible to set the correct clutch play by unscrewing further.

• Checking the clutch play.
• Tighten lock nut 1 while holding adjusting screw 2.

Coolant

Checking coolant level

• Make sure the ground is level and firm and place the motorcycle on its stand.
• Turn the handlebars all the way to the right.

• Check the coolant level in expansion tank 1. Viewing direction: from behind through opening in right-hand side trim panel.

Specified coolant level

• Between MIN and MAX marks on the expansion tank (Engine cold)

If the coolant drops below the permitted level:

• Top up the coolant.

Topping up coolant

• Open cap 1 of expansion tank 2.
• Using a suitable container such as a laboratory flask 3, top up the coolant to the specified level.
• Check the coolant level.
• Close cap 1 of expansion tank 2.

Tyres

Checking tyre pressures

WARNING Incorrect tyre pressure

Impaired handling characteristics of the motorcycle, shorter useful tyre life

• Always check that the tyre pressures are correct.

WARNING Tendency of valve inserts installed vertically to open by themselves at high riding speeds

Sudden loss of tyre pressure

• Install valve caps fitted with rubber sealing rings and tighten firmly.

 

• Make sure the ground is level and firm and place the motorcycle on its stand.
• Check tyre pressures against the data below.

Tyre pressure, front

• 2.5 bar (tyre cold)

Tyre pressure, rear

• 2.9 bar (tyre cold)

If tyre pressure is too low:

• Correct tyre pressure.

Rims and tyres

Checking rims

• Make sure the ground is level and firm and place the motorcycle on its stand.
• Visually inspect the rims for defects.
• Have damaged rims checked and, if necessary, replaced by a specialist workshop, preferably an authorised BMW Motorrad retailer.

Checking tyre tread depth

WARNING Riding with badly worn tyres

Risk of accident due to impaired handling

• If applicable, have the tyres changed in good time before they wear to the minimum tread depth permitted by law.

 

• Make sure the ground is level and firm and place the motorcycle on its stand.
• Measure the tyre tread depth in the main tread grooves with wear marks.

NOTICE Wear indicators are built into the main profile grooves on each tyre. The tyre is worn out when the tyre tread has worn down to the level of the marks. The locations of the marks are indicated on the edge of the tyre, e.g.

by the letters TI, TWI or by an arrow.

If the tyre tread is worn to minimum:

• Replace tyre or tyres, as applicable.

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