2001 YAMAHA VMAX Owners Manual

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-10
3
2. Remove the bolts and screws, and
then pull the rider seat off.To install the rider seat
1. Insert the projection on the front of
the rider seat into the seat holder
as shown.
2. Place the rider seat in the original
position, and then tighten the bolts
and screws.
NOTE:@ Make sure that the seat is properly se-
cured before riding. @3. Return the rider seat backrest to
the original position.
EAU00260
Helmet holder To open the helmet holder, insert the
key into the lock, and then turn the key
as shown.
To lock the helmet holder, place it in
the original position, and then remove
the key.
EW000030
WARNING
@ Never ride with a helmet attached to
the helmet holder, since the helmet
may hit objects, causing loss of
control and possibly an accident. @
1. Bolt (´ 2)
2. Screw (´ 2)
1. Projection
2. Seat holder
1. Helmet holder
2. Open.
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INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-11
3
EAU03414
Adjusting the front fork This front fork is equipped with air
valves for adjusting the spring rate.
EW000035
WARNING
@ Always adjust both fork legs equal-
ly, otherwise poor handling and loss
of stability may result. @
Adjust the spring rate as follows.
1. Elevate the front wheel by placing
the motorcycle on the centerstand.NOTE:@ When checking and adjusting the air
pressure, there should be no weight on
the front end of the motorcycle. @2. Remove the air valve cap from
each fork leg.3. Check the air pressure in each
fork leg with an air pressure
gauge.
NOTE:@ An optional air pressure gauge is avail-
able at a Yamaha dealer. @4. To increase the spring rate and
thereby harden the suspension,
increase the air pressure with an
air pump or compressed air. To
decrease the spring rate and
thereby soften the suspension, de-
crease the air pressure by pushing
each valve stem down.
1. Air valve cap
2. Air valve
1. Air pressure gauge
E_3lr.book Page 11 Wednesday, November 22, 2000 4:10 PM

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-12
3
EC000012
CAUTION:@ Never exceed the maximum air pres-
sure, otherwise the front fork oil
seals may become damaged. @
EWA00037
WARNING
@ There must be no difference in air
pressure between the left and right
fork legs, otherwise poor handling
and loss of stability may result. @5. Securely install the air valve caps.
EAU01657
Adjusting the shock absorber
assemblies Both shock absorber assemblies are
equipped with a spring preload adjust-
ing ring and a damping force adjusting
knob.
EC000015
CAUTION:@ Never attempt to turn an adjusting
mechanism beyond the maximum
or minimum settings. @
EW000040
WARNING
@ Always adjust both shock absorber
assemblies equally, otherwise poor
handling and loss of stability may
result. @
Spring rate:
Minimum/standard (soft):
Air pressure =
40 kPa (0.4 kg/cm
2, 0.4 bar)
Maximum (hard):
Air pressure =
100 kPa (1.0 kg/cm2, 1.0 bar)
1. Shock absorber assembly (´ 2)
E_3lr.book Page 12 Wednesday, November 22, 2000 4:10 PM

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-13
3
Spring preload
To increase the spring preload and
thereby harden the suspension, turn
the adjusting ring on each shock ab-
sorber assembly in direction
a. To de-
crease the spring preload and thereby
soften the suspension, turn the adjust-
ing ring on each shock absorber as-
sembly in direction
b.
NOTE:@ l
Align the bottom edge of the ad-
justing ring with the appropriate
setting on the shock absorber.
l
Use the special wrench included in
the owner’s tool kit to make this
adjustment.
@
Damping force
To increase the damping force and
thereby harden the damping, turn the
adjusting knob on each shock absorber
assembly in direction
a. To decrease
the damping force and thereby soften
the damping, turn the adjusting knob
on each shock absorber assembly in
direction
b.NOTE:@ Align the appropriate setting on the ad-
justing knob with the position indicator
on the shock absorber. @
Spring preload:
Minimum (soft): 1
Standard: 1
Maximum (hard): 5
1. Damping force adjusting knob
2. Position indicator
E_3lr.book Page 13 Wednesday, November 22, 2000 4:10 PM

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-14
3 Damping force:
Minimum (soft): 1
Standard: 1
Maximum (hard): 4
E_3lr.book Page 14 Wednesday, November 22, 2000 4:10 PM

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-15
3
EAU01658
Matching the front and rear suspension settings Use this table as a guide to match the suspension and damping adjustments of the front fork and shock absorber assembly
according to various load conditions.CI-06E
EC000015CAUTION:@ Never attempt to turn an adjusting mechanism beyond the maximum or minimum settings. @
Load condition Front fork adjustment Shock absorber assembly adjustment
Spring preload (air pressure) Spring preload Damping force
Rider only40–60 kPa
0.4–0.6 kg/cm
2
0.4–0.6 bar1–2 1–2
With passenger or with
accessories and equipment40–100 kPa
0.4–1.0 kg/cm
2
0.4–1.0 bar3–5 2–4
With passenger,
accessories and equipment40–100 kPa
0.4–1.0 kg/cm
2
0.4–1.0 bar54
E_3lr.book Page 15 Wednesday, November 22, 2000 4:10 PM

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-16
3
EAU00330
Sidestand The sidestand is located on the left side
of the frame. Raise the sidestand or
lower it with your foot while holding the
motorcycle upright.NOTE:@ The built-in sidestand switch is part of
the ignition circuit cut-off system, which
cuts the ignition in certain situations.
(See further down for an explanation of
the ignition circuit cut-off system.) @
EW000044
WARNING
@ The motorcycle must not be ridden
with the sidestand down, or if the
sidestand cannot be properly
moved up (or does not stay up), oth-
erwise the sidestand could contact
the ground and distract the opera-
tor, resulting in a possible loss of
control. Yamaha’s ignition circuit
cut-off system has been designed to
assist the operator in fulfilling the
responsibility of raising the side-
stand before starting off. Therefore,
check this system regularly as de-
scribed below and have a Yamaha
dealer repair it if it does not function
properly. @
EAU00332
Ignition circuit cut-off system The ignition circuit cut-off system (com-
prising the sidestand switch, clutch
switch and neutral switch) has the fol-
lowing functions.l
It prevents starting when the trans-
mission is in gear and the side-
stand is up, but the clutch lever is
not pulled.
l
It prevents starting when the trans-
mission is in gear and the clutch
lever is pulled, but the sidestand is
still down.
l
It cuts the running engine when
the sidestand is moved down.
Periodically check the operation of the
ignition circuit cut-off system according
to the following procedure.
EW000046
WARNING
@ l
The vehicle must be placed on
the centerstand during this in-
spection.
l
If a malfunction is noted, have a
Yamaha dealer check the sys-
tem before riding.
@
E_3lr.book Page 16 Wednesday, November 22, 2000 4:10 PM

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-17
3
CD-01E
With the engine turned off:
1. Move the sidestand down.
2. Make sure that the engine stop switch is set to “ ”.
3. Turn the key to “ON”.
4. Shift the transmission into the neutral position.
5. Push the start switch.
Does the engine start?
The neutral switch may be defective.
The motorcycle should not be ridden until
checked by a Yamaha dealer.
With the engine still running:
6. Move the sidestand up.
7. Keep the clutch lever pulled.
8. Shift the transmission into gear.
9. Move the sidestand down.
Does the engine stall?After the engine has stalled:
10. Move the sidestand up.
11. Keep the clutch lever pulled.
12. Push the start switch.
Does the engine start?
The sidestand switch may be defective.
The motorcycle should not be ridden until
checked by a Yamaha dealer.The clutch switch may be defective.
The motorcycle should not be ridden until
checked by a Yamaha dealer.
NO
NOTE:This check is most reliable if performed with
a warmed-up engine.
YESYES NO
The system is OK.
The motorcycle can be ridden.
YES NO
E_3lr.book Page 17 Wednesday, November 22, 2000 4:10 PM