2003 YAMAHA BEAR TRACKER 250 warning

6-13
5. Check behind you for people or obstacles,
then release the rear brake pedal.
6. Open the throttle lever gradually and contin-
ue to watch to the rear while backing.
WARNING
Improper operation in reverse could make you
hit an obstacle or person behind you, resulting
in serious injury. When you shift into reverse,
make sure there are no obstacles or people be-
hind you. When it is safe to proceed, go slowly.
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6-17
EBU00650
To start out and accelerate:
1. Release the throttle lever.CAUTION:
Always close the throttle while shifting gears.
Otherwise, damage to the engine and drive
train may result. 2. Shift into first gear and release the shift ped-
al.
3. Open the throttle gradually.
4. Once the machine has attained adequate
speed, release the throttle lever.
5. Shift into second gear and release the shift
pedal.
6. Open the throttle gradually.
7. Follow the same procedure when shifting to
the next higher gear.
WARNING
Always open the throttle gradually. Opening
the throttle abruptly would increase the
chance of an accident. It could make the ma-
chine wheelie or overturn.
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6-19
EBU00208
To decelerate:
When slowing down or stopping, release the throt-
tle and apply the brakes smoothly and evenly. As
you slow down, shift to a lower gear. Be sure that
the engine has sufficiently slowed before engaging
a lower gear. Improper use of the brakes or shift-
ing can cause the tires to lose traction, reducing
control and increasing the possibility of an acci-
dent.
WARNING
Make sure the engine has sufficiently slowed
before shifting to a lower gear. Engaging a low-
er gear when the engine speed is too high
could make the wheels stop rotating. This
could cause loss of control, an accident and
injury. It could also cause engine or drive train
damage.
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6-25
EBU00220
Parking on a slope
WARNING
Avoid parking on hills or other inclines. Park-
ing on a hill or other incline could cause the
ATV to roll out of control, increasing the
chance of an accident. If you must park on an
incline, put the machine in low gear, apply the
parking brake, and block the front and rear
wheels with rocks or other objects.
Do not park the ATV at all on hills that are so
steep you could not walk up them easily.1. Bring the machine to a stop by applying the
brakes in low gear.
2. Stop the engine.
3. With the rear brake lever and pedal applied,
apply the parking brake and slowly release
the rear brake pedal.
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6-35

Ride more slowly than you would without a
load. The more weight you carry, the slower
you should go. Although conditions vary, it is
good practice not to exceed 2nd gear whenev-
er you are carrying heavier loads or when tow-
ing a trailer.


Allow more braking distance. A heavier vehicle
takes longer to stop.


Avoid making sharp turns unless at very slow
speeds.


Avoid hills and rough terrain. Choose terrain
carefully. Added weight affects the stability and
handling of the ATV.WARNING
Never exceed the stated load capacity for this
ATV. Overloading this ATV or carrying or tow-
ing cargo improperly could cause changes in
vehicle handling which could lead to an acci-
dent.
Cargo should be properly distributed and se-
curely attached. Reduce speed when carrying
cargo or pulling a trailer. Allow greater dis-
tance for braking.
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7-5
RIDE WITH CARE AND GOOD JUDGEMENT
Get training if you are inexperienced.
Beginners should get training from a certified in-
structor. Become familiar with this ATV at slow
speeds first, even if you are an experienced oper-
ator. Do not attempt to operate at maximum per-
formance until you are totally familiar with the
ATV’s handling and performance characteristics.
WARNING
Never operate this ATV without proper instruc-
tion. Beginning and inexperienced operators
should regularly practice the skills and the op-
erating techniques described in this Owner’s
Manual. The risk of an accident is greatly in-
creased if the operator does not know how to
operate the ATV properly in different situations
and on different types of terrain.
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7-7
Riding your ATV requires skills acquired
through practice over a period of time.
Take the time to learn the basic techniques well
before attempting more difficult maneuvers.
Not recommended for children under 16 years
of age.
WARNING
A child under 16 should never operate an ATV
with engine size greater than 90cc. Use by chil-
dren of ATVs that are not recommended for
their age can lead to severe injury or death of
the child.
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7-9
This ATV is designed to carry operator and
cargo only – passengers prohibited.
WARNING
Never carry a passenger. The long seat is to al-
low the operator to shift position as needed
during operation. It is not for carrying passen-
gers. Carrying a passenger on this ATV greatly
reduces your ability to balance and control this
ATV. It could cause an accident, resulting in
harm to you and/or your passenger.
U4XE64.book Page 9 Thursday, May 30, 2002 1:49 PM