2009 YAMAHA VMAX warning

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-22
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EAU13445
Catalytic converters
This vehicle is equipped with catalytic
converters in the exhaust system.
WARNING

EWA10862
The exhaust system is hot after op-
eration. To prevent a fire hazard or
burns:

Do not park the vehicle near
possible fire hazards such as
grass or other materials that
easily burn.

Park the vehicle in a place
where pedestrians or children
are not likely to touch the hot
exhaust system.

Make sure that the exhaust sys-
tem has cooled down before do-
ing any maintenance work.

Do not allow the engine to idle
more than a few minutes. Long
idling can cause a build-up of
heat.
NOTICE

ECA10701
Use only unleaded gasoline. The use
of leaded gasoline will cause unre-pairable damage to the catalytic
converter.
EAU46840
Seats
Rider seat
To remove the rider seat
1. Pull the rider seat backrest release
lever on the left side of the vehicle
as shown. The backrest will slide
forward.

1. Rider seat backrest release lever
1

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-24
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To install the passenger seat
1. Insert the projection on the pas-
senger seat into the holder as
shown.
2. Place the passenger seat in the
original position, and then install
the bolts.
3. Return the backrest to the original
position.TIP

Make sure that the passenger seat is
properly secured before riding.
EAU14732
Adjusting the front fork
WARNING

EWA10180
Always adjust both fork legs equal-
ly, otherwise poor handling and loss
of stability may result.
This front fork is equipped with spring
preload adjusting bolts, rebound damp-
ing force adjusting knobs and compres-
sion damping force adjusting screws.
NOTICE

ECA10101
To avoid damaging the mechanism,
do not attempt to turn beyond the
maximum or minimum settings.Spring preload
To increase the spring preload and
thereby harden the suspension, turn
the adjusting bolt on each fork leg in di-
rection (a). To decrease the spring pre-
load and thereby soften the
suspension, turn the adjusting bolt on
each fork leg in direction (b).
Align the appropriate groove on the ad-
justing mechanism with the top of the
front fork cap bolt.
1. Projection
2. Seat holder
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2

1. Spring preload adjusting bolt
(a)
(b)
1

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-27
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9 Rebound damping force
To increase the rebound damping force
and thereby harden the rebound damp-
ing, turn the adjusting knob in direction
(a). To decrease the rebound damping
force and thereby soften the rebound
damping, turn the adjusting knob in di-
rection (b).
Compression damping force
To increase the compression damping
force and thereby harden the compres-
sion damping, turn the adjusting knob
in direction (a). To decrease the com-
pression damping force and thereby
soften the compression damping, turn
the adjusting knob in direction (b).
TIP

To obtain a precise adjustment, it is ad-
visable to check the actual total number
of clicks or turns of each damping force
adjusting mechanism. This adjustment
range may not exactly match the spec-
ifications listed due to small differences
in production.
WARNING

EWA10221
This shock absorber assembly con-
tains highly pressurized nitrogen
gas. Read and understand the fol-
lowing information before handling
the shock absorber assembly.

Do not tamper with or attempt to
open the cylinder assembly.

Do not subject the shock ab-
sorber assembly to an open
1. Rebound damping force adjusting knob
Rebound damping setting:
Minimum (soft):
20 clicks in direction (b)*
Standard:
12 clicks in direction (b)*
Maximum (hard):
3 clicks in direction (b)*
* With the adjusting knob fully turned in
direction (a)
(b)(a)
1

1. Compression damping force adjusting
knob
(b)
(a) 1

Compression damping setting:
Minimum (soft):
12 clicks in direction (b)*
Standard:
10 clicks in direction (b)*
Maximum (hard):
1 clicks in direction (b)*
* With the adjusting knob fully turned in
direction (a)

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-29
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EAU15301
Sidestand
The sidestand is located on the left side
of the frame. Raise the sidestand or
lower it with your foot while holding the
vehicle upright.
TIP

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.)
WARNING

EWA10240
The vehicle must not be ridden with
the sidestand down, or if the side-
stand cannot be properly moved up
(or does not stay up), otherwise the
sidestand could contact the ground
and distract the operator, resulting
in a possible loss of control.
Yamaha’s ignition circuit cut-off
system has been designed to assist
the operator in fulfilling the respon-
sibility of raising the sidestand be-
fore starting off. Therefore, check
this system regularly as described
below and have a Yamaha dealer re-pair it if it does not function proper-
ly.
EAU44892
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.

It prevents starting when the trans-
mission is in gear and the side-
stand is up, but the clutch lever is
not pulled.

It prevents starting when the trans-
mission is in gear and the clutch le-
ver is pulled, but the sidestand is
still down.

It cuts the running engine when the
transmission is in gear and the sid-
estand is moved down.
Periodically check the operation of the
ignition circuit cut-off system according
to the following procedure.

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-30
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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 on.
4. Shift the transmission into the neutral position.
5. Push the start switch.
Does the engine start?
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 system is OK. The motorcycle can be ridden.The neutral switch may not be working correctly.
The motorcycle should not be ridden until
checked by a Yamaha dealer.
The sidestand switch may not be working correctly.
The motorcycle should not be ridden until
checked by a Yamaha dealer.
The clutch switch may not be working correctly.
The motorcycle should not be ridden until
checked by a Yamaha dealer.
YES NO YES NO YES NO
If a malfunction is noted, have a Yamaha
dealer check the system before riding.
WARNING
”.

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FOR YOUR SAFETY – PRE-OPERATION CHECKS
EAU15596
Inspect your vehicle each time you use it to make sure the vehicle is in safe operating condition. Always follow the inspection
and maintenance procedures and schedules described in the Owner’s Manual.
WARNING

EWA11151
Failure to inspect or maintain the vehicle properly increases the possibility of an accident or equipment damage.
Do not operate the vehicle if you find any problem. If a problem cannot be corrected by the procedures provided in
this manual, have the vehicle inspected by a Yamaha dealer.
Before using this vehicle, check the following points:
ITEM CHECKS PAGE
Fuel

Check fuel level in fuel tank.

Refuel if necessary.

Check fuel line for leakage.3-20
Engine oil

Check oil level in engine.

If necessary, add recommended oil to specified level.

Check vehicle for oil leakage.6-9
Final gear oil

Check vehicle for oil leakage. 6-12
Coolant

Check coolant level in reservoir.

If necessary, add recommended coolant to specified level.

Check cooling system for leakage.6-14
Front brake

Check operation.

If soft or spongy, have Yamaha dealer bleed hydraulic system.

Check brake pads for wear.

Replace if necessary.

Check fluid level in reservoir.

If necessary, add recommended brake fluid to specified level.

Check hydraulic system for leakage.6-22, 6-23

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OPERATION AND IMPORTANT RIDING POINTS
EAU15951
Read the Owner’s Manual carefully to
become familiar with all controls. If
there is a control or function you do not
understand, ask your Yamaha dealer.
WARNING

EWA10271
Failure to familiarize yourself with
the controls can lead to loss of con-
trol, which could cause an accident
or injury.
EAU46632
TIP

This model is equipped with:

a lean angle sensor to stop the en-
gine in case of a turnover. In this
case, the multi-function display in-
dicates error code 30, but this is
not a malfunction. Turn the key to
“OFF” and then to “ON” to clear the
error code. Failing to do so will pre-
vent the engine from starting even
though the engine will crank when
pushing the start switch.

an engine auto-stop system. The
engine stops automatically if left
idling for 20 minutes. In this case,
the multi-function display indicates
error code 70, but this is not a mal-
function. Push the start switch to
clear the error code and to restart
the engine.
EAU46530
Starting the 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.
See page 3-29 for more information.
1. Turn the key to “ON” and make
sure that the engine stop switch is
set to “”.
The following warning lights and
indicator light should come on for a
few seconds, then go off.

Oil level warning light

Fuel level warning light

Coolant temperature warning light

Engine trouble warning light

ABS warning light

Immobilizer system indicator light
NOTICE

ECA11831
If a warning or indicator light does
not go off, see page 3-3 for the corre-
sponding warning and indicator

OPERATION AND IMPORTANT RIDING POINTS
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EAU16841
Engine break-in
There is never a more important period
in the life of your engine than the period
between 0 and 1600 km (1000 mi). For
this reason, you should read the follow-
ing material carefully.
Since the engine is brand new, do not
put an excessive load on it for the first
1600 km (1000 mi). The various parts in
the engine wear and polish themselves
to the correct operating clearances.
During this period, prolonged full-throt-
tle operation or any condition that might
result in engine overheating must be
avoided.
EAU17122
0–1000 km (0–600 mi)
Avoid prolonged operation above
4700 r/min.
NOTICE:
After 1000 km
(600 mi) of operation, the engine oil
and final gear oil must be changed,
and the oil filter cartridge or ele-
ment replaced.

[ECA10332]

1000–1600 km (600–1000 mi)
Avoid prolonged operation above7000 r/min.
1600 km (1000 mi) and beyond
The vehicle can now be operated nor-
mally.
NOTICE

ECA10310

Keep the engine speed out of
the tachometer red zone.

If any engine trouble should oc-
cur during the engine break-in
period, immediately have a
Yamaha dealer check the vehi-
cle.
EAU17213
Parking
When parking, stop the engine, and
then remove the key from the main
switch.
WARNING

EWA10311

Since the engine and exhaust
system can become very hot,
park in a place where pedestri-
ans or children are not likely to
touch them and be burned.

Do not park on a slope or on soft
ground, otherwise the vehicle
may overturn, increasing the
risk of a fuel leak and fire.

Do not park near grass or other
flammable materials which
might catch fire.