2009 YAMAHA YZ450F Owners Manual

7-7
CHASSIS
A. Air spring characteristics in
relation to oil amount change
B. Load
C. Stroke
1. Max. oil amount
2. Standard oil amount
3. Min. oil amount
SETTING OF SPRING AFTER
REPLACEMENT
As the front fork setting can be easily
affected by rear suspension, take
care so that the machine front and
rear are balanced (in position, etc.)
when setting the front fork.
1. Use of soft spring
• Change the rebound damping.
Turn out one or two clicks.
• Change the compression damp-
ing.
Turn in one or two clicks.
Generally a soft spring gives a soft
riding feeling. Rebound damping
tends to become stronger and the
front fork may sink deeply over a se-
ries of gaps.
2. Use of stiff spring
• Change the rebound damping.
Turn in one or two clicks.
• Change the compression damp-
ing.
Turn out one or two clicks.
Generally a stiff spring gives a stiff
riding feeling. Rebound damping
tends to become weaker, resulting in
lack of a sense of contact with the
road surface or in a vibrating handle-
bar.
FRONT FORK SETTING PARTS
• Front fork spring "1"
The I.D. mark (slits) "a" is proved on
the end of the spring.
REAR SUSPENSION SETTING
The rear suspension setting should
be made depending on the rider's
feeling of an actual run and the circuit
conditions.
The rear suspension setting includes
the following two factors:
1. Setting of spring preload
• Change the set length of the
spring.
• Change the spring.
2. Setting of damping force
• Change the rebound damping.
• Change the compression damp-
ing.
CHOOSING SET LENGTH
1. Place a stand or block under the
engine to put the rear wheel
above the floor, and measure the
length "a" between the rear wheel
axle center and the rear fender
holding bolt.
2. Remove the stand or block from
the engine and with a rider astride
the seat, measure the sunken
length "b" between the rear wheel
axle center and the rear fender
holding bolt.3. Loosen the locknut "1" and make
adjustment by turning the spring
adjuster "2" to achieve the stan-
dard figure from the subtraction of
the length "b" from the length "a".
• If the machine is new and after it is
broken in, the same set length of
the spring may change because of
the initial fatigue, etc. of the spring.
Therefore, be sure to make reeval-
uation.
• If the standard figure cannot be
achieved by adjusting the spring
adjuster and changing the spring
set length, replace the spring with
an optional one and make readjust-
ment.
SETTING OF SPRING AFTER
REPLACEMENT
After replacement, be sure to adjust
the spring to the set length [sunken
length 90–100 mm (3.5–3.9 in)] and
set it.
1. Use of soft spring
• Set the soft spring for less re-
bound damping to compensate
for its less spring load. Run with
the rebound damping adjuster
one or two clicks on the softer
side and readjust it to suit your
preference.
2. Use of stiff spring
• Set the soft spring for more re-
bound damping to compensate
for its greater spring load. Run
with the rebound damping adjust-
er one or two clicks on the stiffer
side and readjust it to suit your
preference. TY
PESPRIN
G
RATESPRING PART
NUMBERI.D.
MA
RK
(slit
s)
SO
FT0.398 1C3-23141-A1 |
0.408 1C3-23141-B1 ||
0.418 1C3-23141-C1 |||
0.428 1C3-23141-D1 ||||
0.438 1C3-23141-E1 |||||
0.449 1C3-23141-F1 |-|
0.459 1C3-23141-G1 |-||
ST
D0.469 2S2-23141-L1 —
STI
FF0.479 1C3-23141-J1 |-||||
Standard figure:
90–100 mm (3.5–3.9 in)

7-8
CHASSIS
Adjusting the rebound damping will
be followed more or less by a change
in the compression damping. For cor-
rection, turn the low compression
damping adjuster on the softer side.
When using a rear shock absorber
other than currently installed, use
the one whose overall length "a"
does not exceed the standard as it
may result in faulty performance.
Never use one whose overall
length is greater than standard.
REAR SHOCK ABSORBER
SETTING PARTS
• Rear shock spring "1"
[Equal-pitch titanium spring][Equal-pitch steel spring]
[Unequal-pitch steel spring]
Install the spring seat "2" to the ti-
tanium spring.
• The unequal-pitch spring is softer in
initial characteristic than the equal-
pitch spring and is difficult to bottom
out under full compression.
• The I.D. mark "a" is marked at the
end of the spring.
• Spring specification varies accord-
ing to the color and quantity of I.D.
marks.
• Extent of adjustment (spring pre-
load)
• For the spring preload adjustment,
refer to "ADJUSTING THE REAR
SHOCK ABSORBER SPRING
PRELOAD" in the CHAPTER 3.
• Preload adjusting extent is the
same for the titanium and steel
springs.
Length "a" of standard
shock:
490 mm (19.29 in)
TYPESPRI
NG
RAT
ESPRING
PART
NUMBER
(-22212-)I.D.
MARK
SOFT
Green/1
4.5 1C3-00 Green/2
Green/3
Red/1
4.7 1C3-10 Red/2
Red/3
Black/1
4.9 1C3-20 Black/2
Black/3
Blue/1
5.1 1C3-30 Blue/2
Blue/3
Yellow/
1
5.3 1C3-40 Yellow/
2
Yellow/
3
1C3-50
(1C3-B0)Pink/1
STD 5.5 Pink/2
Pink/3
White/1
STIFF 5.7 1C3-60 White/2
White/3
TYPESPRI
NG
RAT
ESPRING
PART
NUM-
BER
(-22212-)I.D.
MARK/
Q'TY
4.3 5UN-00 Brown/1
TYPESPRI
NG
RAT
E
(ap-
prox.
)SPRING
PART
NUM-
BER
(-22212-)I.D.
MARK/
Q'TY
SOFT 4.5 5UN-A0 Green/2
4.7 5UN-B0 Red/2
4.9 5UN-C0 Black/2
5.1 5UN-D0 Blue/2
STIFF
5.3 5UN-E0Yellow/
2
5.5 5UN-F0 Pink/2
5.7 5UN-G0 White/2 TYPESPRI
NG
RAT
ESPRING
PART
NUMBER
(-22212-)I.D.
MARK
Maximum Minimum
Position in
which the
spring is turned
in 13 mm (0.51
in) from its free
length.Position in
which the
spring is turned
in 1.5 mm (0.06
in) from its free
length.

7-9
CHASSIS
SUSPENSION SETTING (FRONT FORK)
• If any of the following symptoms is experienced with the standard position as the base, make resetting by reference to
the adjustment procedure given in the same chart.
• Before any change, set the rear shock absorber sunken length to the standard figure 90–100 mm (3.5–3.9 in).
SymptomSection
Check Adjust
JumpLarge
gapMedi-
um
gapSmall
gap
Stiff over entire
range○○○Compression damping Turn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Oil amount Decrease oil amount by about 5–10 cm
3 (0.2–0.4
Imp oz, 0.2–0.3 US oz).
Spring Replace with soft spring.
Unsmooth move-
ment over entire
range○○○○Outer tube Check for any bends, dents, and other noticeable
scars, etc. If any, replace affected parts.
Inner tube
Slide metal Replace with a new one for extended use.
Piston metal Replace with a new one for extended use.
Under bracket tighten-
ing torqueRetighten to specified torque.
Poor initial move-
ment○Rebound damping Turn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Oil seal Apply grease in oil seal wall.
Soft over entire
range, bottoming
out○○Compression damping Turn adjuster clockwise (about 2 clicks) to in-
crease damping.
Oil amount Increase oil amount by about 5–10 cm
3 (0.2–0.4
Imp oz, 0.2–0.3 US oz).
Spring Replace with stiff spring.
Stiff toward stroke
end○Oil amountDecrease oil amount by about 5 cm
3 (0.2 Imp
oz,0.2 US oz).
Soft toward stroke
end, bottoming out○Oil amountIncrease oil amount by about 5 cm
3 (0.2 Imp
oz,0.2 US oz).
Stiff initial move-
ment○○○○Compression dampingTurn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Low front, tending to
lower front posture○○Compression damping Turn adjuster clockwise (about 2 clicks) to in-
crease damping.
Rebound damping Turn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Balance with rear end Set sunken length for 95–100 mm (3.7–3.9 in)
when one passenger is astride seat (lower rear
posture).
Oil amount Increase oil amount by about 5 cm
3 (0.2 Imp oz,
0.2 US oz).
"Obtrusive" front,
tending to upper
front posture○○Compression damping Turn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Balance with rear end Set sunken length for 90–95 mm (3.5–3.7 in)
when one passenger is astride seat (upper rear
posture).
Spring Replace with soft spring.
Oil amount Decrease oil amount by about 5–10 cm
3 (0.2–0.4
Imp oz, 0.2–0.3 US oz).

7-10
CHASSIS
SUSPENSION SETTING (REAR SHOCK ABSORBER)
• If any of the following symptoms is experienced with the standard position as the base, make resetting by reference to
the adjustment procedure given in the same chart.
• Adjust the rebound damping in 2-click increments or decrements.
• Adjust the low compression damping in 1-click increments or decrements.
• Adjust the high compression damping in 1/6 turn increments or decrements.
SymptomSection
Check Adjust
JumpLarge
gapMedi-
um
gapSmall
gap
Stiff, tending to sink○○Rebound damping Turn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Spring set length Set sunken length for 90–100 mm (3.5–3.9 in)
when one passenger is astride seat.
Spongy and unsta-
ble○○Rebound damping Turn adjuster clockwise (about 2 clicks) to in-
crease damping.
Low compression
dampingTurn adjuster clockwise (about 1 click) to increase
damping.
Spring Replace with stiff spring.
Heavy and dragging○○Rebound damping Turn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Spring Replace with soft spring.
Poor road gripping○Rebound damping Turn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Low compression
dampingTurn adjuster clockwise (about 1 clicks) to in-
crease damping.
High compression
dampingTurn adjuster clockwise (about 1/6 turn) to in-
crease damping.
Spring set length Set sunken length for 90–100 mm (3.5–3.9 in)
when one passenger is astride seat.
Spring Replace with soft spring.
Bottoming out○○High compression
dampingTurn adjuster clockwise (about 1/6 turn) to in-
crease damping.
Spring set length Set sunken length for 90–100 mm (3.5–3.9 in)
when one passenger is astride seat.
Spring Replace with stiff spring.
Bouncing○○Rebound damping Turn adjuster clockwise (about 2 clicks) to in-
crease damping.
Spring Replace with soft spring.
Stiff travel○○High compression
dampingTurn adjuster counterclockwise (about 1/6 turn) to
decrease damping.
Spring set length Set sunken length for 90–100 mm (3.5–3.9 in)
when one passenger is astride seat.
Spring Replace with soft spring.

PRINTED IN JAPAN
(E) PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER YAMAHA MOTOR CO., LTD.
2500 SHINGAI IWATA SHIZUOKA JAPAN