2009 YAMAHA XVS950 ESP

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SAFETY INFORMATION
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Be a Responsible Owner
As the vehicle’s owner, you are respon-
sible for the safe and proper operation
of your motorcycle.
Motorcycles are single-track vehicles.
Their safe use and operation are de-
pendent upon the use of proper riding
techniques as well as the expertise of
the operator. Every operator should
know the following requirements before
riding this motorcycle.
He or she should:

Obtain thorough instructions from
a competent source on all aspects
of motorcycle operation.

Observe the warnings and mainte-
nance requirements in this Own-
er’s Manual.

Obtain qualified training in safe
and proper riding techniques.

Obtain professional technical ser-
vice as indicated in this Owner’s
Manual and/or when made neces-
sary by mechanical conditions.
Safe Riding
Perform the pre-operation checks eachtime you use the vehicle to make sure it
is in safe operating condition. Failure to
inspect or maintain the vehicle properly
increases the possibility of an accident
or equipment damage. See page 4-1
for a list of pre-operation checks.

This motorcycle is designed to car-
ry the operator and a passenger.

The failure of motorists to detect
and recognize motorcycles in traf-
fic is the predominating cause of
automobile/motorcycle accidents.
Many accidents have been caused
by an automobile driver who did
not see the motorcycle. Making
yourself conspicuous appears to
be very effective in reducing the
chance of this type of accident.
Therefore:

Wear a brightly colored jacket.

Use extra caution when you are
approaching and passing
through intersections, since in-
tersections are the most likely
places for motorcycle accidents
to occur.

Ride where other motorists can
see you. Avoid riding in anothermotorist’s blind spot.

Many accidents involve inexperi-
enced operators. In fact, many op-
erators who have been involved in
accidents do not even have a cur-
rent motorcycle license.

Make sure that you are qualified
and that you only lend your mo-
torcycle to other qualified opera-
tors.

Know your skills and limits.
Staying within your limits may
help you to avoid an accident.

We recommend that you prac-
tice riding your motorcycle
where there is no traffic until you
have become thoroughly famil-
iar with the motorcycle and all of
its controls.

Many accidents have been caused
by error of the motorcycle opera-
tor. A typical error made by the op-
erator is veering wide on a turn
due to excessive speed or under-
cornering (insufficient lean angle
for the speed).

Always obey the speed limit and
never travel faster than warrant-

SAFETY INFORMATION
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ucts similar in design and quality to
genuine Yamaha accessories, recog-
nize that some aftermarket accessories
or modifications are not suitable be-
cause of potential safety hazards to you
or others. Installing aftermarket prod-
ucts or having other modifications per-
formed to your vehicle that change any
of the vehicle’s design or operation
characteristics can put you and others
at greater risk of serious injury or death.
You are responsible for injuries related
to changes in the vehicle.
Keep the following guidelines in mind,
as well as those provided under “Load-
ing” when mounting accessories.

Never install accessories or carry
cargo that would impair the perfor-
mance of your motorcycle. Care-
fully inspect the accessory before
using it to make sure that it does
not in any way reduce ground
clearance or cornering clearance,
limit suspension travel, steering
travel or control operation, or ob-
scure lights or reflectors.

Accessories fitted to the handle-
bar or the front fork area cancreate instability due to improper
weight distribution or aerody-
namic changes. If accessories
are added to the handlebar or
front fork area, they must be as
lightweight as possible and
should be kept to a minimum.

Bulky or large accessories may
seriously affect the stability of
the motorcycle due to aerody-
namic effects. Wind may at-
tempt to lift the motorcycle, or
the motorcycle may become un-
stable in cross winds. These ac-
cessories may also cause
instability when passing or being
passed by large vehicles.

Certain accessories can dis-
place the operator from his or
her normal riding position. This
improper position limits the free-
dom of movement of the opera-
tor and may limit control ability,
therefore, such accessories are
not recommended.

Use caution when adding electri-
cal accessories. If electrical acces-
sories exceed the capacity of themotorcycle’s electrical system, an
electric failure could result, which
could cause a dangerous loss of
lights or engine power.
Aftermarket Tires and Rims
The tires and rims that came with your
motorcycle were designed to match the
performance capabilities and to provide
the best combination of handling, brak-
ing, and comfort. Other tires, rims, siz-
es, and combinations may not be
appropriate. Refer to page 6-12 for tire
specifications and more information on
replacing your tires.

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
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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

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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.
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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.

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MOTORCYCLE CARE AND STORAGE
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Matte color caution
NOTICE

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Some models are equipped with
matte colored finished parts. Be
sure to consult a Yamaha dealer for
advice on what products to use be-
fore cleaning the vehicle. Using a
brush, harsh chemical products or
cleaning compounds when cleaning
these parts will scratch or damage
their surface. Wax also should not
be applied to any matte colored fin-
ished parts.
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Care
While the open design of a motorcycle
reveals the attractiveness of the tech-
nology, it also makes it more vulnera-
ble. Rust and corrosion can develop
even if high-quality components are
used. A rusty exhaust pipe may go un-
noticed on a car, however, it detracts
from the overall appearance of a motor-
cycle. Frequent and proper care does
not only comply with the terms of the
warranty, but it will also keep your mo-
torcycle looking good, extend its life
and optimize its performance.
Before cleaning
1. Cover the muffler outlet with a
plastic bag after the engine has
cooled down.
2. Make sure that all caps and covers
as well as all electrical couplers
and connectors, including the
spark plug caps, are tightly in-
stalled.
3. Remove extremely stubborn dirt,
like oil burnt onto the crankcase,
with a degreasing agent and a
brush, but never apply such prod-ucts onto seals, gaskets, the drive
belt and wheel axles. Always rinse
the dirt and degreaser off with wa-
ter.
Cleaning
NOTICE

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Avoid using strong acidic wheel
cleaners, especially on spoked
wheels. If such products are
used on hard-to-remove dirt, do
not leave the cleaner on the af-
fected area any longer than in-
structed. Also, thoroughly rinse
the area off with water, immedi-
ately dry it, and then apply a cor-
rosion protection spray.

Improper cleaning can damage
plastic parts (such as cowlings,
panels, windshields, headlight
lenses, meter lenses, etc.) and
the mufflers. Use only a soft,
clean cloth or sponge with wa-
ter to clean plastic. However, if
the plastic parts cannot be thor-
oughly cleaned with water, di-
luted mild detergent with water
may be used. Be sure to rinse