Page 36 of 120

5-4
Tires
Brake operation
Test the brakes at slow speed after starting out to
make sure they are working properly. If the brakes
do not provide proper braking performance, check
the brakes for wear. (See pages 8-22 and 8-25.)
5
WARNING
Throttle lever Check the operation of the throttle lever. It must
open smoothly and spring back to the idle position
when released. Have a Yamaha dealer correct if
necessary.
WARNING
Always check the brakes at the start of every
ride. Do not ride the ATV if you find any prob-
lem with the brakes or you could lose braking
ability, which could lead to an accident. If a
problem cannot be corrected by the adjust-
ment procedures provided in this manual, havea Yamaha dealer check for the cause.
WARNING
Use of improper tires on this ATV, or operation
of this ATV with improper or uneven tire pres-
sure, may cause loss of control, increasing
your risk of accident.
Pay attention to the following.The tires listed below have been approved
by Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. for this model.
Other tire combinations are not recommend-
ed.Front: Manufacturer/model:MAXXIS/M939
Size: AT18 x 7-8
Type: Tubeless
Rear: Manufacturer/model:MAXXIS/M940
Page 40 of 120
6-1
OPERATION
6
N O T I C E
See the “Engine break-in” section on page 6-4prior to operating the engine for the first time.1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the fuel cock to “ON”.
3. Turn the main switch to “ON” and the engine stop switch to “RUN”.
Read the Owner’s Manual carefully before riding
the ATV.
WARNING
Read the Owner’s Manual carefully to become
familiar with all controls in order to help pre-
vent any loss of control, which could cause an
accident or injury. If there is a control or func-
tion you do not understand, ask your Yamahadealer. Starting a cold engine
WARNING
Always make sure all control cables work
smoothly before you begin riding in cold
weather. If the control cables are frozen or do
not work smoothly, you could be unable to
control the ATV, which could lead to an acci-dent or collision.
Page 41 of 120
6-2
Ambient temp./choke position
5. Completely close the throttle lever and start
the engine by pushing the start switch.TIPIf the engine fails to start, release the start switch,
then push it again. Pause a few seconds before
the next attempt. Each cranking should be as short
as possible to preserve battery energy. Do not1. Fully open “ON”
2. Half open (warming up position)
3. Closed “OFF”
4. Choke
0°
30° 10°
20° 30°
50° 70° 90° °F
°C
1
3
TIPThis model is equipped with an ignition circuit cut-
off system. The engine can be started only when
the rear brake lever is applied.4. Use the choke in reference to the figure:
Position (1):Cold engine start with ambient temperature be-
low 30 °C (90 °F).
Position (2):Warming up position.
Position (3):Cold engine start with ambient temperature
above 25 °C (80 °F).
66
1 3
2 4
Page 42 of 120

6-3
6
crank the engine more than 10 seconds on eachattempt.6. If the engine is started with the choke in posi- tion (1), the choke should be returned to posi-
tion (2) to warm up the engine. If the engine is
started with the choke in position (2), keep the
choke in this position to warm up the engine.
N O T I C E
For maximum engine life, always warm the en-
gine up before starting off. Never acceleratehard when the engine is cold!
7. Continue warming up the engine until it idles smoothly, then return the choke to position (3)
before riding.TIPThe engine is warm when it responds normally tothe throttle with the choke turned off. Starting a warm engine Follow the same procedure as for starting a cold
engine, with the exception that the choke is not re-
quired when the engine is warm. Instead, start the
engine with the throttle slightly open.
To start out and accelerate1. Squeeze the front brake lever to release the parking brake.
2. Gradually open the throttle while slowly re- leasing the rear brake lever. To decelerate
When slowing down or stopping, release the throt-
tle and apply the brakes smoothly and evenly. Im-
proper use of the brakes can cause the tires to lose
traction, reducing control and increasing the possi-
bility of an accident.
WARNING
Opening the throttle abruptly or releasing the
clutch lever too quickly could make the ATV
wheelie, which would increase the chance ofan accident, including an overturn.
Page 43 of 120

Engine break-in There is never a more important period in the life of
your engine than the first 320 km (200 mi) or 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 320 km (200 mi) or 20
hours. The various parts in the engine wear and
N O T I C E Do not tow the ATV for long distances. The
transmission is properly lubricated only when
the engine is running. Inadequate lubrication
may damage the transmission.
160–320 km (100–200 mi) or 10–20 hours
Avoid prolonged operation above 3/4 throttle. Rev
the engine freely, but do not use full throttle at any
time.
N O T I C E
If any engine trouble should occur during the
engine break-in period, immediately have a ParkingWhen parking the ATV, stop the engine, shift the
drive select lever into the drive position, apply the
parking brake, and then turn the fuel cock to “OFF”. Yamaha dealer check the ATV. 320 km (200 mi) or 20 hours and beyond
The ATV can now be operated normally.0–160 km (0–100 mi) or 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.
polish themselves to the correct operating clear-
ances. During this period, prolonged full-throttle
operation or any condition that might result in en-
gine overheating must be avoided.
6-4
6
Page 44 of 120
6-5
Parking on a slope1. Bring the ATV to a stop by applying the brakesin the drive position.
2. Stop the engine.
3. Apply the parking brake.
1. Parking brake lock button
1. Locked position
6
1
1
WARNING
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, stop the engine, apply 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 sosteep you could not walk up them easily.
Page 61 of 120

7-15
Do not ride in areas posted “no trespassing”.
Do not ride on private property without getting per-
mission.
Select a large, flat area off-road to become familiar
with your ATV. Make sure that this area is free of
obstacles and other riders. You should practice
control of the throttle, brakes, and turning tech-
niques in this area before trying more difficult ter-
rain. Always avoid riding on paved surfaces: the
ATV is designed for off-road use only, and han-
dling maneuvers are more difficult to perform on
pavement.
Set the parking brake and follow the instruction on
page 6-1 to start the engine. Once it has warmed
up you are ready to begin riding your ATV. Re-
7
member that the engine and exhaust pipe will be
hot when riding and afterwards; do not allow skin
or clothing to come in contact with these compo-
nents.
Apply the throttle slowly and smoothly. You will
start to accelerate. If the throttle is applied too
abruptly, the front wheels may lift off the ground,
resulting in a loss of directional control. Avoid
higher speeds until you are thoroughly familiar
with the operation of your ATV.
When slowing down or stopping, release the throt-
tle and apply the brakes smoothly and evenly. Im-
proper use of the brakes can cause the tires to lose
traction, reducing control and increasing the possi-
bility of an accident.
TURNING YOUR ATV
To achieve maximum traction while riding off-road,
the two rear wheels are mounted solidly on one
axle and turn together at the same speed. There-
fore, unless the wheel on the inside of the turn is al-
lowed 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 With the engine idling, release the parking brake.
Page 65 of 120

7-19
If your ATV has stalled or stopped and you believe
you can continue up the hill, restart carefully to
make sure you do not lift the front wheels which
could cause you to lose control. If you are unable
to continue up the hill, dismount the ATV on the up-
hill side. Physically turn the ATV around and then
descend the hill.
If you start to roll backwards, DO NOT apply the
rear brake to stop or try to put the ATV in gear. The
ATV could easily tip over backwards. Instead, ap-
ply the front brake gradually, or dismount the ATV
immediately on the uphill side.
OK
7
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 onany hill. Avoid crossing the side of a steep hill
if possible.
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 theATV.