7-15
7Do not attempt to climb hills until you have mas-
tered basic maneuvers on flat ground. Always
check the terrain carefully before attempting any
hill. In all cases avoid inclines with slippery or loose
surfaces, or obstacles that might cause you to lose
control.
To climb a hill, you need traction, momentum, and
steady throttle. For more traction and control for
climbing steeper and/or rougher slopes, select the
“4WD” or 4WD-LOCK (“DIFF. LOCK”). Travel fast
enough to maintain momentum, but not so fast that
you cannot react to changes in the terrain as you
climb.
It is important when climbing a hill to make sure
that your weight is transferred forward on the ATV.
This can be accomplished by leaning forward and,
on steeper inclines, standing on the footboards
and leaning forward over the handlebars. Whenev-
er possible, ride straight up hills.
Slow down when you reach the crest of the hill if
you cannot see clearly what is on the other side –
there could be another person, an obstacle, or a
sharp drop-off. Use common sense and remember
that some hills are too steep for you to climb or de-
scend.If you are climbing a hill and you find that you have
not properly judged your ability to make it to the
top, you should turn the ATV around while you still
have forward motion (provided you have the room
to do so) and go down the hill.
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 either
brake abruptly. If you are in “2WD”, apply only the
front brake. When fully stopped, apply the rear
brake as well, and then shift to the park position. If
you are in “4WD”, because all wheels are intercon-
nected by the drive train, applying either brake will
brake all wheels, therefore, avoid sudden applica-
tion of either the front or rear brake as the wheels
on the uphill side could come off the ground. The
ATV could easily tip over backwards. Apply both
the front and rear brakes gradually. When fully
stopped, shift to the park position and dismount the
ATV immediately on the uphill side, or to a side if
pointed straight uphill. Turn the ATV around and
U37S61E0.book Page 15 Tuesday, June 2, 2009 10:33 AM
7-16
7 remount, following the procedure described in the
Owner’s Manual. WARNING! Stalling, rolling
backwards or improperly dismounting while
climbing a hill could result in ATV overturning.
If you cannot control the ATV, dismount imme-
diately on the uphill side.
[EWB01802]
RIDING DOWNHILL
WARNING
EWB01621Going down a hill improperly could cause
overturns or loss of control. Always follow
proper procedures for going down hills as de-
scribed in this Owner’s Manual.
Always check the terrain carefully before
you start down any hill.Never operate the ATV on hills too steep for
the ATV or for your abilities. The ATV can
overturn more easily on extremely steep hills
than on level surfaces or small hills.Shift your weight backward and to the up
side of the hill.Never go down a hill at high speed.Avoid going down a hill at an angle that
would cause the ATV to lean sharply to one
side. Go straight down the hill where possi-
ble.Improper braking can cause the wheels on
the uphill side to come off the ground or
cause loss of traction. Apply brakes gradual-
ly. If in “2WD”, apply only the rear brake.When riding your ATV downhill, shift your weight
as far to the rear and uphill side of the ATV as pos-
sible. Move back on the seat and sit with your arms
straight. Engine compression will do most of the
braking for you. For maximum engine compres-
sion braking effect, select the low-range position
and change to “4WD” before beginning to descend
the hill.
U37S61E0.book Page 16 Tuesday, June 2, 2009 10:33 AM
7-18
7
Shift your weight to the uphill side of the
ATV.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
on any hill.Traversing a sloping surface on your ATV requires
you to properly position your weight to maintain
proper balance. Be sure that you have learned the
basic riding skills on flat ground before attempting
to cross a sloping surface. Avoid slopes with slip-
pery surfaces or rough terrain that may upset your
balance.
As you travel across a slope, lean your body in the
uphill direction. It may be necessary to correct the
steering when riding on loose surfaces by pointing
the front wheels slightly uphill. When riding on
slopes, be sure not to make sharp turns either up
or down hill.
If your ATV does begin to tip over, gradually steer
in the downhill direction if there are no obstacles in
your path. As you regain proper balance, gradually
steer again in the direction you wish to travel.CROSSING THROUGH SHALLOW WATER
WARNING
EWB01641Operating this vehicle through deep or fast-
flowing water can lead to loss of control or an
overturn. To reduce your risk of drowning or
other injuries, use care when crossing through
water. Never operate this ATV water deeper
than the depth specified in your Owner’s Man-
ual, as tires may float, increasing the risk of an
overturn.
U37S61E0.book Page 18 Tuesday, June 2, 2009 10:33 AM
7-22
7
Learn to safely control skidding or sliding by
practicing at low speeds and on level,
smooth terrain.On extremely slippery surfaces, such as ice,
go slowly and be very cautious in order to re-
duce the chance of skidding or sliding out of
control.Care should be used when riding on loose or slip-
pery surfaces since the ATV may slide. If unex-
pected and uncorrected, sliding could lead to an
accident.
To reduce the tendency for the front wheels to slide
in loose or slippery conditions, positioning your
weight over the front wheels will sometimes help.If the rear wheels of your ATV start to slide side-
ways, control can usually be regained (if there is
room to do so) by steering in the direction of the
slide. Applying the brakes or accelerating is not
recommended until you have corrected the slide.
With practice, over a period of time, skill at con-
trolled sliding can be developed. The terrain
should be chosen carefully before attempting such
maneuvers, since both stability and control are re-
duced. Bear in mind that sliding maneuvers should
always be avoided on extremely slippery surfaces
such as ice, since all control may be lost.U37S61E0.book Page 22 Tuesday, June 2, 2009 10:33 AM
7-23
7WHAT TO DO IF...
This section is designed to be a reference guide
only. Be sure to read each section on riding tech-
niques completely.
WHAT TO DO...
If your ATV doesn’t turn when you want it to:
Bring the ATV to a stop and practice the turning
maneuvers again. Be sure you are putting your
weight on the footboard to the outside of the
turn. Position your weight over the front wheels
for better control. (See page 7-12.)If your ATV begins to tip while turning:
Lean more into the turn to regain balance. If nec-
essary, gradually let off the throttle and/or steer
to the outside of the turn. (See page 7-12.)If your ATV starts to slide sideways:
Steer in the direction of the slide if you have the
room. Applying the brakes or accelerating is not
recommended until you have corrected the
slide. (See page 7-21.)If your ATV can’t make it up a hill you are trying
to climb:
Turn the ATV around if you still have forward
speed. If not, stop, dismount on the uphill side of
the ATV and physically turn the ATV around. If
the ATV starts to slip backwards, DO NOT USETHE REAR BRAKE IF THE ATV IS IN “2WD” –
the ATV may tip over on top of you. Dismount
the ATV on the uphill side. (See page 7-13.)
If your ATV is traversing a sloping surface:
Be sure to ride with your weight positioned to-
wards the uphill side of the ATV to maintain
proper balance. If the ATV starts to tip, steer
down the hill (if there are no obstacles in your
way) to regain balance. If you discover that the
ATV is going to tip over, dismount on the uphill
side. (See page 7-17.)If your ATV encounters shallow water:
Ride slowly and carefully through slow moving
water, watching for obstacles. Be sure to let wa-
ter drain from the ATV and CHECK YOUR
BRAKES FOR PROPER OPERATION when
you come out of the water. Do not continue to
ride your ATV until you have regained adequate
braking ability. (See page 7-18.)
U37S61E0.book Page 23 Tuesday, June 2, 2009 10:33 AM
10-1
10
EBU25960
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions:Overall length:
1991 mm (78.4 in)
Overall width:
1093 mm (43.0 in)
Overall height:
1120 mm (44.1 in)
Seat height:
850 mm (33.5 in)
Wheelbase:
1233 mm (48.5 in)
Ground clearance:
245 mm (9.6 in)
Minimum turning radius:
3000 mm (118 in)Weight:With oil and fuel:
YFM450FAZ 289.0 kg (637 lb)
YFM45FGHZ 285.0 kg (628 lb)
YFM45FGZ 285.0 kg (628 lb)Noise and vibration level:Noise level (77/311/EEC):
YFM45FGHZ 78.3 dB(A)
YFM45FGZ 78.3 dB(A)
Vibration on seat (EN1032, ISO5008):
YFM45FGHZ Will not exceed 0.5 m/s²
YFM45FGZ Will not exceed 0.5 m/s²Vibration on handlebar (EN1032, ISO5008):
YFM45FGHZ Will not exceed 2.5 m/s²
YFM45FGZ Will not exceed 2.5 m/s²
Engine:Engine type:
Liquid cooled 4-stroke, SOHC
Cylinder arrangement:
Forward-inclined single cylinder
Displacement:
421 cm³
Bore × stroke:
84.5 × 75.0 mm (3.33 × 2.95 in)
Compression ratio:
10.00 :1
Starting system:
Electric and recoil starter
Lubrication system:
Wet sumpEngine oil:Recommended brand:
YAMALUBE
U37S61E0.book Page 1 Tuesday, June 2, 2009 10:33 AM
10-4
10
Loading:Maximum loading limit:
210.0 kg (463 lb)
(Total weight of rider, cargo, accessories, and tongue)Tire air pressure (measured on cold tires):Recommended:
Front:
25.0 kPa (0.250 kgf/cm², 3.6 psi)
Rear:
25.0 kPa (0.250 kgf/cm², 3.6 psi)
Minimum:
Front:
22.0 kPa (0.220 kgf/cm², 3.2 psi)
Rear:
22.0 kPa (0.220 kgf/cm², 3.2 psi)Front wheel:Wheel type:
Panel wheel
Rim size:
12 x 6.0ATRear wheel:Wheel type:
Panel wheel
Rim size:
12 x 7.5ATFront brake:Type:
Dual disc brake
Operation:
Right hand operationRecommended fluid:
DOT 4
Rear brake:Type:
Wet multiple disc brake
Operation:
Left hand and right foot operationFront suspension:Type:
Double wishbone
Spring/shock absorber type:
Coil spring/oil damper
Wheel travel:
160 mm (6.3 in)Rear suspension:Type:
Double wishbone
Spring/shock absorber type:
Coil spring/oil damper
Wheel travel:
180 mm (7.1 in)Electrical system:Ignition system:
DC. CDI
Charging system:
AC magnetoBattery:Model:
YTX20L-BS
Voltage, capacity:
12 V, 18.0 Ah
U37S61E0.book Page 4 Tuesday, June 2, 2009 10:33 AM