Riding Off-Road - BMW R 1200 GS 2008 Rider's Manual

cedure is essential if the tyres are
5
to achieve maximum grip.
Tyres do not have their full
80
grip when new and there
is a risk of accidents at extreme
angles of heel.
Avoid extreme angles of heel.

Riding off-road

Tyre pressure
z
Tyre pressures reduced for
off-road riding impair the
motorcycle's handling character-
istics on surfaced roads and can
lead to accidents.
Always check that the tyre pres-
sures are correct.
Wheel rims for riding off-
road
BMW Motorrad recommends
checking the rims for damage
after off-roading.
This motorcycle is a tour-
ing Enduro machine, which
means it can also be used for
light off-roading on unsurfaced
tracks. Severe off-roading could,
however, result in damage to the
standard cast-aluminium wheels.
Use the cross-spoked wheels
available as optional extras for
severe off-roading.
Dirt or mud on brakes
When riding on loose sur-
faces or muddy roads, the
brakes may fail to take effect
immediately because of dirt or
moisture on the discs or brake
pads.
Apply the brakes in good time
until the brakes have been
cleaned.
The brake pads will wear
more rapidly if you ride fre-
quently on unsurfaced tracks or
poor roads.
Check the thickness of the brake
pads more frequently and replace
the brake pads in good time.
Spring preload and shock-
absorber settings
The off-road settings for
spring preload and shock
absorber damping characteristic
will impair the motorcycle's hand-
ling characteristics on surfaced
roads.
If you have been off-roading, re-
member to correct spring preload
and shock-absorber damping
characteristics before you return
to surfaced roads.
Deactivatable ABS
You can deactivate the ABS
function of the BMW Motor-
rad Integral ABS for off-road-
ing ( 56). The integral braking
function remains active.
OE