2005 YAMAHA KODIAK 450 warning

7-29
While riding on unpaved public streets or roads
may be legal in your area, such operation can in-
crease the risk of collision with other vehicles.
Watch carefully for other vehicles. Make sure you
know your country’s laws and regulations before
you ride on unpaved public streets or roads. Do
not ride on any paved public street, road or motor-
way.
WARNING
_ Never operate this ATV on any paved street,
paved road or motorway. You can collide with
another vehicle. In many areas, it is illegal to
operate ATVs on public streets, roads and
highways. _
U1D960.book Page 29 Wednesday, June 23, 2004 3:59 PM

7-31
Know the terrain where you ride. Ride cautiously in
unfamiliar areas. Stay alert for
holes, rocks, or
roots in the terrain, and
other hidden hazards
which may cause the ATV to upset.
WARNING
_ Go slowly and be extra careful when operating
this ATV on unfamiliar terrain. Always be alert
to changing terrain conditions when operating
the ATV. _
WARNING
_ Do not operate on excessively rough, slippery
or loose terrain until you have learned and
practiced the skills necessary to control the
ATV on such terrain. Failure to use extra care
when operating on excessively rough, slippery
or loose terrain could cause loss of traction or
vehicle control, which could result in an acci-
dent, including an overturn. _
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7-33
When riding in an area where you might not easily
be seen, such as desert terrain, mount a caution
flag on the ATV. DO NOT use the flag pole bracket
as a trailer hitch.
WARNING
_ Always mount a caution flag on the ATV to
make you more visible when operating in ar-
eas where you might not be seen by other off-
road vehicles. Watch carefully for other vehi-
cles. _Do not ride in areas posted “no trespassing”. Do
not ride on private property without getting permis-
sion.
U1D960.book Page 33 Wednesday, June 23, 2004 3:59 PM

7-39
TURNING YOUR ATV
To achieve maximum traction while riding off-road
in 2WD or 4WD, the two rear wheels turn together
at the same speed. Furthermore, when riding in
4WD-LOCK (“DIFF.LOCK”), the front wheels also
turn together at the same speed. Therefore, un-
less the wheel on the inside of the turn is allowed
to slip or lose some traction, the ATV will resist
turning. A special turning technique must be used
to allow the ATV to make turns quickly and easily.
It is essential that this skill be learned first at low
speed.
WARNING
_ Always follow proper procedures for turning
as described in this Owner’s Manual. Practice
turning at low speeds before attempting to turn
at faster speeds. Do not turn at speeds too fast
for your skills or the conditions. Operate at a
slow speed and allow extra time and distance
for maneuvers when in 4WD-LOCK
(“DIFF.LOCK”). _
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7-45
CLIMBING UPHILL
Use proper riding techniques to avoid vehicle
overturns on hills. Be sure that you can maneuver
your ATV well on flat ground before attempting any
incline and then practice riding first on gentle
slopes. Try more difficult climbs only after you
have developed your skill. In all cases avoid in-
clines with slippery or loose surfaces, or obstacles
that might cause you to lose control.
WARNING
_ Never operate the ATV on hills too steep for
the ATV or for your abilities. The vehicle can
overturn more easily on extremely steep hills
than on level surfaces or small hills. Practice
on smaller hills before attempting large hills. _It is important when climbing a hill to make sure
that your weight is transferred forward on the ATV.
This can be accomplished by leaning forward and,
on steeper inclines, standing on the footboards
and leaning forward over the handlebars.
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7-47
WARNING
_

Always follow proper procedures for
climbing hills as described in this Owner’s
Manual.


Always check the terrain carefully before
you start up any hill.


Never climb hills with excessively slippery
or loose surfaces.


Shift your weight forward.


Never open the throttle suddenly. The ATV
could flip over backwards.


Never go over the top of any hill at high
speed. An obstacle, a sharp drop, or anoth-
er vehicle or person could be on the other
side of the hill.
_
U1D960.book Page 47 Wednesday, June 23, 2004 3:59 PM

7-49
If you are climbing a hill and you find that you have
not properly judged your ability to make it to the
top, you should turn the ATV around while you still
have forward motion (provided you have the room
to do so) and go down the hill.
WARNING
_ Never attempt to turn the ATV around on any
hill until you have mastered the turning tech-
nique as described in the Owner’s Manual on
level ground. Be very careful when turning on
any hill.
Avoid crossing the side of a steep hill if possi-
ble.
When crossing the side of a hill:

Always follow proper procedures as de-
scribed in the Owner’s Manual.


Avoid hills with excessively slippery or
loose surfaces.


Shift your weight to the uphill side of the
ATV.
_
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7-53
WARNING
_ Use proper gear and maintain steady speed
when climbing a hill. If you lose all forward
speed:

Keep weight uphill.


Apply the brakes.


Shift into the park position “P” after you
are stopped.
If you begin rolling backwards:


Keep weight uphill.


2WD: Never apply the rear brake while roll-
ing backwards. Apply the front brake.
When fully stopped, shift into the park po-
sition “P”.
4WD or 4WD-LOCK: Apply both front and
rear brakes gradually. When fully stopped,
shift into the park position “P”.
Dismount on uphill side or to a side if pointed
straight uphill. Turn the ATV around and re-
mount, following the procedure described in
the Owner’s Manual.
_
U1D960.book Page 53 Wednesday, June 23, 2004 3:59 PM