Page 29 of 80

5-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
OPERATION AND IMPORTANT RIDING POINTS
EAU15950
WARNING
EWA10270
Become thoroughly familiar
with all operating controls and
their functions before riding.
Consult a Yamaha dealer re-
garding any control or function
that you do not thoroughly un-
derstand.
Never start the engine or oper-
ate it in a closed area for any
length of time. Exhaust fumes
are poisonous, and inhaling
them can cause loss of con-
sciousness and death within a
short time. Always make sure
that there is adequate ventila-
tion.
Before starting out, make sure
that the sidestand is up. If the
sidestand is not raised com-
pletely, it could contact the
ground and distract the opera-
tor, resulting in a possible loss
of control.
EAU16060
Starting a cold engine
In order for the ignition circuit cut-off
system to enable starting, one of the
following conditions must be met:
The transmission is in the neutral
position.
The transmission is in gear with
the clutch lever pulled and the sid-
estand up.
WARNING
EWA10290
Before starting the engine,
check the function of the igni-
tion circuit cut-off system ac-
cording to the procedure
described on page 3-11.
Never ride with the sidestand
down.
1. Turn the fuel cock lever to “ON”.
2. Turn the key to “ON” and make
sure that the engine stop switch is
set to “”.
3. Shift the transmission into the neu-
tral position.
NOTE:
When the transmission is in the neutral
position, the neutral indicator light
should be on, otherwise have a
Yamaha dealer check the electrical cir-
cuit.
4. Turn the starter (choke) on and
completely close the throttle. (See
page 3-8.)
5. Start the engine by pushing the
start switch.
NOTE:
If the engine fails to start, release the
start switch, wait a few seconds, and
then try again. Each starting attempt
should be as short as possible to pre-
serve the battery. Do not crank the en-
gine more than 10 seconds on any one
attempt.
6. After starting the engine, move the
starter (choke) back halfway.
CAUTION:
ECA11040
For maximum engine life, never ac-
celerate hard when the engine is
✹✺✬✲✥ ✤
Page 51 of 80

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-19
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
WARNING
EWA10680
After adjusting the drive chain
slack or removing and installing
the rear wheel, always check the
brake pedal free play.
If proper adjustment cannot be
obtained as described, have a
Yamaha dealer make this ad-
justment.
After adjusting the brake pedal
free play, check the operation of
the brake light.
EAU22270
Adjusting the rear brake light
switch
The rear brake light switch, which is ac-
tivated by the brake pedal, is properly
adjusted when the brake light comes
on just before braking takes effect. If
necessary, adjust the brake light switch
as follows.
Turn the adjusting nut while holding the
rear brake light switch in place. To
make the brake light come on earlier,
turn the adjusting nut in direction (a). To
make the brake light come on later, turn
the adjusting nut in direction (b).
EAU22380
Checking the front brake pads
and rear brake shoes
The front brake pads and the rear brake
shoes must be checked for wear at the
intervals specified in the periodic main-
tenance and lubrication chart.
EAU22430
Front brake pads
Each front brake pad is provided with
wear indicator grooves, which allow
you to check the brake pad wear with-
out having to disassemble the brake.
To check the brake pad wear, check
the wear indicator grooves. If a brake
pad has worn to the point that the wear
indicator grooves have almost disap-
1. Brake pedal free play adjusting nut
1
(a)
(b)
1. Rear brake light switch
2. Rear brake light switch adjusting nut1
2
(a)
(b)
1. Brake pad wear indicator groove
1
1
✹✺✬✲✥ ✤✬
Page 54 of 80

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-22
2
3
4
5
67
8
9
4. If the drive chain slack is incorrect,
adjust it as follows.
EAU22830
To adjust the drive chain slack
1. Loosen the brake pedal free play
adjusting nut.2. Loosen the axle nut.
3. To tighten the drive chain, turn the
adjusting plate on each side of the
swingarm in direction (a). To loos-
en the drive chain, turn the adjust-
ing plate on each side of the
swingarm in direction (b), and then
push the rear wheel forward.
NOTE:
Make sure that both adjusting plates
are in the same position for proper
wheel alignment.
CAUTION:
ECA10570
Improper drive chain slack will over-
load the engine as well as other vital
parts of the motorcycle and can lead
to chain slippage or breakage. To
prevent this from occurring, keep
the drive chain slack within the
specified limits.
4. Tighten the axle nut to the speci-
fied torque.
5. Adjust the brake pedal free play.
(See page 6-18.)
WARNING
EWA10660
After adjusting the brake pedal free
play, check the operation of the
brake light.
1. Drive chain slack
1
1. Brake pedal free play adjusting nut
2. Axle nut
3. Drive chain slack adjusting plate32
1
(a)
(b)
Tightening torque:
Axle nut:
90 Nm (9.0 m·kgf, 65.1 ft·lbf)
✹✺✬✲✥ ✥✥
Page 62 of 80
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-30
2
3
4
5
67
8
9
WARNING
EWA10790
Headlight bulbs get very hot. There-
fore, keep flammable products away
from a lit headlight bulb, and do not
touch the bulb until it has cooled
down.
4. Place a new headlight bulb into po-
sition, and then secure it with the
bulb holder.
CAUTION:
ECA10660
Do not touch the glass part of the
headlight bulb to keep it free from
oil, otherwise the transparency ofthe glass, the luminosity of the bulb,
and the bulb life will be adversely af-
fected. Thoroughly clean off any dirt
and fingerprints on the headlight
bulb using a cloth moistened with al-
cohol or thinner.
5. Install the headlight bulb cover,
and then connect the coupler.6. Install the headlight unit by install-
ing the screws.
7. Have a Yamaha dealer adjust the
headlight beam if necessary.
1. Headlight bulb holder
1
1. Do not touch the glass part of the bulb.
1
✹✺✬✲✥ ✦✣
Page 67 of 80

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-35
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
adjusting nut, and then disconnect
the brake rod from the brake cam-
shaft lever.
3. Turn the drive chain adjusting
plate on each side of the swingarm
fully in direction (a).
4. Lift the rear wheel off the ground
according to the procedure on
page 6-32.
5. Remove the axle nut, and then pull
the wheel axle out.
6. Push the wheel forward, and then
remove the drive chain from the
rear sprocket.
NOTE:
The drive chain does not need to be
disassembled in order to remove and
install the wheel.
7. Remove the wheel.
EAU25761
To install the rear wheel
1. Insert the wheel axle from the
left-hand side.
NOTE:
Make sure that the drive chain adjust-
ing plates are installed with thepunched sides facing to the outside
and that the slot in the brake shoe plate
fits over the retainer on the swingarm.
2. Install the drive chain onto the rear
sprocket, and then adjust the drive
chain slack. (See page 6-21.)
3. Install the axle nut, and then lower
the rear wheel so that it is on the
ground.
4. Tighten the axle nut to the speci-
fied torque.5. Install the brake rod onto the brake
camshaft lever, and then install the
brake pedal free play adjusting nut
onto the brake rod.
6. Adjust the brake pedal free play.
(See page 6-18.)
WARNING
EWA10660
After adjusting the brake pedal free
play, check the operation of the
brake light.
1. Retainer
Tightening torque:
Axle nut:
90 Nm (9.0 m·kgf, 65.1 ft·lbf)
1
✹✺✬✲✥ ✦