
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT
7-20
7
EAU22580
Checking the brake fluid level Front brake
Rear brake
Insufficient brake fluid may allow air to
enter the brake system, possibly caus-
ing it to become ineffective.Before riding, check that the brake fluid
is above the minimum level mark and
replenish if necessary. A low brake fluid
level may indicate worn brake pads
and/or brake system leakage. If the
brake fluid level is low, be sure to check
the brake pads for wear and the brake
system for leakage.
Observe these precautions:
When checking the fluid level,
make sure that the top of the brake
fluid reservoir is level.
Use only the recommended quality
brake fluid, otherwise the rubber
seals may deteriorate, causing
leakage and poor braking perfor-
mance.
Refill with the same type of brake
fluid. Mixing fluids may result in a
harmful chemical reaction and
lead to poor braking performance.
Be careful that water does not en-
ter the brake fluid reservoir when
refilling. Water will significantly
lower the boiling point of the fluid
and may result in vapor lock.
Brake fluid may deteriorate paint-
ed surfaces or plastic parts. Al-
ways clean up spilled fluid
immediately.
As the brake pads wear, it is nor-
mal for the brake fluid level to grad-
ually go down. However, if the
brake fluid level goes down sud-
denly, have a Yamaha dealer
check the cause.
1. Minimum level mark
1. Minimum level mark
Recommended brake fluid:
DOT 4
U5PA88E0.book Page 20 Tuesday, June 9, 2009 8:44 AM

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT
7-21
7
EAU22731
Changing the brake fluid Have a Yamaha dealer change the
brake fluid at the intervals specified in
the TIP after the periodic maintenance
and lubrication chart. In addition, have
the oil seals of the master cylinders and
calipers as well as the brake hoses re-
placed at the intervals listed below or
whenever they are damaged or leak-
ing.
Oil seals: Replace every two
years.
Brake hoses: Replace every four
years.
EAU22760
Drive chain slack The drive chain slack should be
checked before each ride and adjusted
if necessary.
EAU41410
To check the drive chain slack
1. Install the removable sidestand
and place the motorcycle on it.TIPWhen checking and adjusting the drive
chain slack, there should be no weight
on the motorcycle.2. Shift the transmission into the neu-
tral position.
3. Move the rear wheel by pushing
the motorcycle to locate the tight-
est portion of the drive chain, and
then measure the drive chain slack
as shown.4. If the drive chain slack is incorrect,
adjust it as follows.
EAU41482
To adjust the drive chain slack
1. Loosen the axle nut and the lock-
nut on each side of the swingarm.
2. To tighten the drive chain, turn the
drive chain slack adjusting bolt on
each side of the swingarm in direc-
tion (a). To loosen the drive chain,
turn the adjusting bolt on each side
of the swingarm in direction (b),
and then push the rear wheel for-
ward. NOTICE: Improper drive
chain slack will overload the en-
gine as well as other vital parts
of the motorcycle and can lead
Drive chain slack:
35.0–45.0 mm (1.38–1.77 in)
1. Drive chain slack
U5PA88E0.book Page 21 Tuesday, June 9, 2009 8:44 AM

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT
7-23
7
EAU41842
Checking and lubricating the
cables The operation of all control cables and
the condition of the cables should be
checked before each ride, and the ca-
bles and cable ends should be lubricat-
ed if necessary. If a cable is damaged
or does not move smoothly, have a
Yamaha dealer check or replace it.
WARNING! Damage to the outer
housing of cables may result in in-
ternal rusting and cause interfer-
ence with cable movement. Replace
damaged cables as soon as possi-
ble to prevent unsafe conditions.[EWA10711]EAU23111
Checking and lubricating the
throttle grip and cable The operation of the throttle grip should
be checked before each ride. In addi-
tion, the cable should be lubricated at
the intervals specified in the periodic
maintenance chart.
EAU23142
Checking and lubricating the
brake and clutch levers Brake lever
Clutch lever
The operation of the brake and clutch
levers should be checked before each
ride, and the lever pivots should be lu-
bricated if necessary.
Recommended lubricant:
Yamaha Chain and Cable Lube or 4-
stroke engine oil
U5PA88E0.book Page 23 Tuesday, June 9, 2009 8:44 AM

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT
7-25
7
EAU23250
Lubricating the rear suspen-
sion The pivoting points of the rear suspen-
sion must be lubricated at the intervals
specified in the periodic maintenance
and lubrication chart.
EAU23272
Checking the front fork The condition and operation of the front
fork must be checked as follows at the
intervals specified in the periodic main-
tenance and lubrication chart.
To check the condition
Check the inner tubes for scratches,
damage and excessive oil leakage.
To check the operation
1. Place the vehicle on a level sur-
face and hold it in an upright posi-
tion. WARNING! To avoid injury,
securely support the vehicle so
there is no danger of it falling
over.
[EWA10751]
2. While applying the front brake,
push down hard on the handlebars
several times to check if the front
fork compresses and rebounds
smoothly.
NOTICE
ECA10590
If any damage is found or the front
fork does not operate smoothly,
have a Yamaha dealer check or re-
pair it.
Recommended lubricant:
Lithium-soap-based grease
U5PA88E0.book Page 25 Tuesday, June 9, 2009 8:44 AM

MOTORCYCLE CARE AND STORAGE
8-4
83. Drain the fuel tank and fuel lines,
and the carburetor float chamber
by loosening the drain bolt; this will
prevent fuel deposits from building
up.
4. Perform the following steps to pro-
tect the cylinder, piston rings, etc.
from corrosion.
a. Remove the spark plug cap
and spark plug.
b. Pour a teaspoonful of engine oil
into the spark plug bore.
c. Install the spark plug cap onto
the spark plug, and then place
the spark plug on the cylinder
head so that the electrodes are
grounded. (This will limit spark-
ing during the next step.)
d. Turn the engine over several
times with the starter. (This will
coat the cylinder wall with oil.)
e. Remove the spark plug cap
from the spark plug, and then
install the spark plug and the
spark plug cap. WARNING! To
prevent damage or injury
from sparking, make sure toground the spark plug elec-
trodes while turning the en-
gine over.
[EWA10951]
5. Lubricate all control cables and the
pivoting points of all levers and
brake pedal.
6. Check and, if necessary, correct
the tire air pressure, and then lift
the motorcycle so that both of its
wheels are off the ground. Alterna-
tively, turn the wheels a little every
month in order to prevent the tires
from becoming degraded in one
spot.
7. Cover the muffler outlet with a
plastic bag to prevent moisture
from entering it.TIPMake any necessary repairs before
storing the motorcycle.
U5PA88E0.book Page 4 Tuesday, June 9, 2009 8:44 AM

INDEX
AAir filter element, cleaning .................... 7-12BBrake and clutch levers, checking and
lubricating ........................................... 7-23
Brake fluid, changing ............................ 7-21
Brake fluid level, checking .................... 7-20
Brake lever ............................................. 4-2
Brake pedal ............................................ 4-2
Brake pedal, checking and
lubricating ........................................... 7-24CCables, checking and lubricating .......... 7-23
Carburetor, adjusting ............................ 7-14
Care ........................................................ 8-1
Clutch lever............................................. 4-1
Clutch lever free play, adjusting ........... 7-17
Coolant ................................................. 7-10DDrive chain, cleaning and lubricating .... 7-22
Drive chain slack .................................. 7-21EEngine break-in ...................................... 6-3
Engine idling speed .............................. 7-14
Engine, starting a warm .......................... 6-1
Engine stop button.................................. 4-1FFront and rear brake pads, checking .... 7-19
Front brake lever free play, checking ... 7-18
Front fork, adjusting ................................ 4-7
Front fork, bleeding................................. 4-9
Front fork, checking .............................. 7-25
Fuel......................................................... 4-3
Fuel cock ................................................ 4-5Fuel tank breather hose .......................... 4-5
Fuel tank cap........................................... 4-3
HHandlebar switch..................................... 4-1IIdentification numbers ........................... 10-1KKickstarter ............................................... 4-6LLabels, location .......................................1-1MMatte color, caution .................................8-1
Model label ............................................ 10-1PParking ....................................................6-4
Part locations .......................................... 3-1
Periodic maintenance and lubrication
chart ......................................................7-2RRear suspension, lubricating ................. 7-25SSafety information ...................................2-1
Seat ......................................................... 4-7
Shifting ....................................................6-2
Shift pedal ............................................... 4-1
Shift pedal, checking ............................. 7-19
Shock absorber assembly, adjusting ...... 4-9
Sidestand .............................................. 4-12
Spark plug, checking ...............................7-8
Specifications .......................................... 9-1
Starter (choke) knob................................ 4-6
Starting and warming up a cold engine ... 6-1
Steering, checking.................................7-26
Storage....................................................8-3Supporting the motorcycle .................... 7-26
Swingarm pivots, lubricating ................. 7-24
TThrottle cable free play, adjusting ......... 7-14
Throttle grip and cable, checking and
lubricating ........................................... 7-23
Tires ...................................................... 7-15
Transmission oil ...................................... 7-9
Troubleshooting .................................... 7-29
Troubleshooting charts ......................... 7-31VVehicle identification number ................ 10-1WWheel bearings, checking..................... 7-26
Wheel (front) ......................................... 7-27
Wheel (rear) .......................................... 7-28
Wheels .................................................. 7-17
U5PA88E0.book Page 1 Tuesday, June 9, 2009 8:44 AM