2007 YAMAHA YFZ450 Owners Manual

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the transmission.

Always use the clutch when changing gears.
The engine, transmission and drive train are
not designed to withstand the shock of
forced shifting and can be damaged by shift-
ing without using the clutch.
EBU20670
Engine break-in
There is never a more important period in the life of
your engine than the first 20 hours of riding. For
this reason, you should read the following material
carefully.
Since the engine is brand new, do not put an ex-
cessive load on it for the first 20 hours. The various
parts in the engine wear and polish themselves to
the correct operating clearances. During this peri-
od, prolonged full-throttle operation or any condi-
tion that might result in engine overheating must
be avoided.
0–10 hours
Avoid prolonged operation above 1/2 throttle. Vary
the speed of the ATV regularly. Do not operate it at
one set throttle position.
10–20 hours
Avoid prolonged operation above 3/4 throttle. Rev
the engine through the gears freely, but do not use
full throttle at any time.
20 hours and beyond
The ATV can now be operated normally.CAUTION:

ECB00220
If any engine trouble should occur during the
engine break-in period, immediately have a
Yamaha dealer check the ATV.
EBU20721
Parking
When parking the ATV, stop the engine, shift into
first gear, apply the parking brake, and then turn
the fuel cock to “OFF”.

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EBU20860
Parking on a slope
WARNING

EWB00850
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, place the ATV transversely across the
incline, shift into first gear, stop the engine, ap-
ply the parking brake, and then 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 ATV to a stop by applying the brakes
in first gear.
2. Stop the engine and release the clutch lever.
3. With the rear brake applied, apply the parking
brake and slowly release the brake pedal.
EBU20910
Accessories and loading
EBU20920
Accessories
Accessories can affect the handling and control of
your ATV. Keep the following in mind when consid-
ering an accessory or operating an ATV which has
accessories.
1. Locked position
1

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Choose only accessories designed for your
ATV. Your Yamaha dealer has a variety of gen-
uine Yamaha accessories. Other accessories
may also be available on the market. However,
it is not possible for Yamaha to test all non-
Yamaha accessories, nor control over their qual-
ity or suitability. Choose a genuine Yamaha ac-
cessory, or one that is equivalent in design and
quality.

Accessories should be rigidly and securely
mounted. An accessory which can shift position
or come off while you are riding could affect your
ability to control the ATV.

Do not mount an accessory where it could inter-
fere with your ability to control the ATV. Exam-
ples include (but are not limited to) a heavy or
bulky object attached to the handlebars which
could make steering difficult, an accessory that
limits your ability to move around on the seat, or
one that limits your view.

Use extra caution when riding an ATV with ac-
cessories. The ATV may handle differently than
it does without accessories.
EBU20940
Loading
As originally equipped, this ATV is not designed tocarry cargo or tow a trailer. If you choose to add ac-
cessories so that you can carry cargo or tow a trail-
er, you must use common sense and good
judgment as the stability and handling of an ATV
can be changed. When adding accessories, keep
the following points in mind:

Never exceed the weight limits shown. An over-
loaded ATV can be unstable.

If you are carrying cargo and towing a trailer, in-
clude the tongue weight in the maximum ATV
load limit.

Load cargo on the carriers as close to the center
of the ATV as possible. Put cargo at the rear of
the front carrier, at the front of the rear carrier,
and center it.

Tie down cargo securely to the carriers. Make
sure cargo in the trailer cannot move around. A
shifting load can cause an accident.

Make sure the load does not interfere with con-
trols or your ability to see where you are going.

Ride more slowly than you would without a load. MAXIMUM LOADING LIMIT
ATV loading limit (total weight of rider, cargo,
accessories, and tongue):
100.0 kg (220 lb)

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The more weight you carry, the slower you
should go. Although conditions vary, it is good
practice not to exceed 2nd gear whenever you
are carrying heavier loads or when towing a trail-
er.

Allow more braking distance. A heavier ATV
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

EWB00820
Never exceed the stated load capacity for this
ATV. Overloading this ATV or carrying or tow-
ing cargo improperly could cause changes in
ATV handling which could lead to an accident.
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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EBU21141
RIDING YOUR ATV

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EBU21611
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR ATV
This ATV is intended for recreational use by expe-
rienced operators only. Even if you are an experi-
enced operator of all other all terrain ATVs or
motorcycles, riding the ATV requires special skills
acquired through practice. Take your time to fully
learn techniques before attempting more difficult
maneuvers.
Riding your new ATV can be a very enjoyable ac-
tivity, providing you with hours of pleasure. But it is
essential to familiarize yourself with the operation
of the ATV to achieve the skill necessary to enjoy
riding safely. Before you begin to ride, be sure you
have read this Owner’s Manual completely and un-
derstand the operation of the controls. Pay partic-
ular attention to the safety information on pages
1-1–1-4. Please also read all caution and warning
labels on your ATV.
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 operator. Do not at-
tempt to operate at maximum performance until
you are totally familiar with the ATV’s handling and
performance characteristics.
WARNING
EWB01380
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.
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

EWB01390
A child under 16 should never operate an ATV

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with engine size greater than 90 cc. Use by chil-
dren of ATVs that are not recommended for
their age can lead to severe injury or death of
the child.
This ATV is designed to carry operator only –
passengers prohibited.
WARNING

EWB01400
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.
Apparel
Always wear an approved motorcycle helmet that
fits properly.
You should also wear:

eye protection (goggles or face shield)

gloves

boots

long-sleeved shirt or jacket

long pants

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WARNING

EWB01410
Never operate this ATV without wearing an ap-
proved motorcycle helmet, eye protection and
protective clothing. Operating without an ap-
proved motorcycle helmet increases your
chances of a severe head injury or death in the
event of an accident. Operating without eye
protection can result in an accident and in-
creases your chances of a severe injury in theevent of an accident. Operating without protec-
tive clothing increases your chances of severe
injury in the event of an accident.
Do not operate after consuming alcohol or
drugs.
The operator’s performance capability is reduced
by the influence of alcohol or drugs.
WARNING
EWB01420
Never consume alcohol or drugs before or
while driving this ATV.
Pre-operation checks
Always perform the pre-operation checks listed on
1. Protective clothing
2. Goggles
3. Gloves
4. Boots
5. Helmet