Brakes - BMW G 650 XCHALLENGE Manual

pads more frequently and replace
5
the brake pads in good time.
50
Air pressure and damping
characteristics
The off-road settings for air
pressure in the Air Damping
System and the front and rear
shock-absorber damping char-
acteristics will impair the motor-
z
cycle's handling characteristics
on surfaced roads.
If you have been off-roading, re-
member to correct the air pres-
sure in the Air Damping System
and the shock-absorber damping
characteristics before you return
to surfaced roads.
Deactivatable ABS
You can deactivate the BMW
Motorrad Integral ABS for off-
roading ( 33).

Brakes

How can stopping
distance be minimised?
Each time the brakes are applied,
a load distribution shift takes
place with the load shifting for-
ward from the rear to the front
wheel. The sharper the motor-
cycle decelerates, the more load
is shifted to the front wheel. The
higher the wheel load, the more
braking force can be transmitted
without the wheel locking.
To optimise stopping distance,
apply the front brakes rapidly and
keep on increasing the force you
apply to the brake lever. This
makes the best possible use
of the dynamic increase in load
OE
at the front wheel. Remember
to pull the clutch at the same
time. In the "panic braking situ-
ations" that are trained so fre-
quently braking force is applied
as rapidly as possible and with
the rider's full force applied to
the brake levers; under these cir-
cumstances the dynamic shift
in load distribution cannot keep
pace with the increase in de-
celeration and the tyres cannot
transmit the full braking force to
the surface of the road. ABS has
to intervene to keep the front
wheel from locking; this increases
stopping distance.
Descending mountain
passes
There is a danger of the
brakes fading if you use
only the rear brakes when des-
cending mountain passes. Under
extreme conditions, the brakes
could overheat and suffer severe
damage.
Use both front and rear brakes,
and make use of the engine's
braking effect as well.