Page 3 of 140
EBU17170
INTRODUCTION
EBU17321Congratulations on your purchase of the Yamaha YFM250R-W/YFM250RSE-W. This ATV represents the
result of many years of Yamaha experience in the production of fine sporting, touring, and pacesetting rac-
ing machines. With the purchase of this Yamaha, you can now appreciate the high degree of craftsmanship
and reliability that have made Yamaha a leader in these fields.
This manual will provide you with a good basic understanding of the features and operation of this ATV.
This manual includes important safety information. It provides information about special tech-
niques and skills necessary to ride the ATV. It also includes basic maintenance and inspection proce-
dures. If you have any questions regarding the operation or maintenance of your ATV, please consult a
Yamaha dealer.
AN IMPORTANT SAFETY MESSAGE:READ THIS MANUAL COMPLETELY BEFORE OPERATING YOUR ATV. MAKE SURE YOU UNDER-
STAND ALL INSTRUCTIONS.PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE WARNING AND NOTICE LABELS ON THE ATV.THIS ATV, AND ANY OTHER ATV OVER 90 cc, SHOULD NOT BE RIDDEN BY ANYONE UNDER 16
YEARS OF AGE.THIS ATV IS A HIGH-PERFORMANCE ATV FOR OFF-ROAD USE ONLY, FOR SPORT-TYPE REC-
REATIONAL AND COMPETITIVE USE BY EXPERIENCED OPERATORS.
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Page 4 of 140
EBU17330
IMPORTANT MANUAL INFORMATION
EBU17342FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE WARNINGS CONTAINED IN THIS MANUAL CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS IN-
JURY OR DEATH.
Particularly important information is distinguished in this manual by the following notations:
* Product and specifications are subject to change without notice.This is the safety alert symbol. It is used to alert you to potential per-
sonal injury hazards. Obey all safety messages that follow this sym-
bol to avoid possible injury or death.
A WARNING indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided,
could result in death or serious injury.
A NOTICE indicates special precautions that must be taken to avoid
damage to the vehicle or other property.
A TIP provides key information to make procedures easier or clearer.
WARNING
NOTICETIPU33B70E0.book Page 1 Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:38 PM
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EBU17420
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SAFETY INFORMATION .............................. 1-1
LOCATION OF THE WARNING AND
SPECIFICATION LABELS ............................ 2-1
DESCRIPTION .............................................. 3-1
Left view ...................................................... 3-1
Right view.................................................... 3-1
Controls and instruments ............................ 3-2
INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL
FUNCTIONS .................................................. 4-1
Main switch ................................................ 4-1
Indicator lights ............................................ 4-2
Speedometer .............................................. 4-2
Handlebar switches .................................... 4-3
Throttle lever .............................................. 4-4
Speed limiter .............................................. 4-5
Clutch lever ................................................ 4-6
Brake lever (YFM250R-W) .......................... 4-6
Brake lever (YFM250RSE-W) ..................... 4-7
Brake pedal ................................................ 4-7
Parking brake lever .................................... 4-8
Shift pedal .................................................. 4-9Fuel tank cap ..............................................4-9
Fuel ...........................................................4-10
Fuel cock ..................................................4-11
Starter (choke) ..........................................4-12
Steering lock .............................................4-13
Seat ..........................................................4-14
Adjusting the front shock absorber
assemblies (YFM250R-W).......................4-14
Adjusting the front shock absorber
assemblies (YFM250RSE-W) ..................4-15
Adjusting the rear shock absorber
assembly (YFM250R-W) .........................4-20
Adjusting the rear shock absorber
assembly (YFM250RSE-W).....................4-22
PRE-OPERATION CHECKS ..........................5-1
Pre-operation check list ..............................5-1
Fuel .............................................................5-3
Engine oil ....................................................5-3
Front and rear brakes .................................5-3
Throttle lever ...............................................5-4
Drive chain ..................................................5-4
Tires ............................................................5-4
Measuring the tire pressure ........................5-5U33B70E0.book Page 1 Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:38 PM
Page 11 of 140
1-3
1 speed when climbing a hill. If you stall or roll
backwards, follow the special procedure for
braking described in this manual. Dismount on
the uphill side or to a side if pointed straight up-
hill. Turn the ATV around and remount, following
the procedure described in this manual.
Always check for obstacles before operating in a
new area.Never attempt to operate over large obstacles,
such as large rocks or fallen trees. Always follow
proper procedures when operating over obsta-
cles as described in this manual.Always be careful when skidding or sliding.
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 con-
trol.Never operate an ATV in fast flowing water or in
water deeper than that recommended in this
manual. Remember that wet brakes may have
reduced stopping ability. Test your brakes after
leaving water. If necessary, apply them several
times to let friction dry out the linings.
Always use the size and type of tires specified in
this manual.Always maintain proper tire pressure as de-
scribed in this manual.Never modify an ATV through improper installa-
tion or use of accessories.Never exceed the stated load capacity for an
ATV. Cargo should be properly distributed and
securely attached. Reduce speed and follow in-
structions in this manual for carrying cargo or
pulling a trailer. Allow greater distance for brak-
ing.
WARNING
EWB00061Always turn off the engine when refueling.Do not refuel right after the engine has been
running and is still very hot.Do not spill gasoline on the engine or ex-
haust pipe/muffler when refueling. Never re-
fuel while smoking, or in the vicinity of
sparks, open flames, or other sources of ig-
nition such as the pilot lights of water heat-
ers and clothes dryers. Gasoline can catch
fire and you could be burned.
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Page 12 of 140
1-4
1
When transporting the ATV in another vehi-
cle, be sure it is kept upright and that the fuel
cock is in the “OFF” position. Otherwise, fuel
may leak out of the carburetor or fuel tank.Gasoline is poisonous. If you should swal-
low some gasoline or inhale a lot of gasoline
vapor, or get some gasoline in your eyes,
seek medical help immediately. If gasoline
spills on your skin, wash with soap and wa-
ter. If gasoline spills on your clothing,change your clothes.
WARNING
EWB00070Always operate your ATV in an area with ade-
quate ventilation. Never start or run the engine
in a closed area. Exhaust fumes are poisonous
and may cause loss of consciousness anddeath within a short time.
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Page 13 of 140
2-1
2
EBU17660
LOCATION OF THE WARNING AND SPECIFICATION LABELS
4
5
6
8
7
3 2
1
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4-5
4
Before starting the engine, check the throttle to be
sure it is operating smoothly. Make sure it returns
to the idle position as soon as the lever is released.
WARNING
EWB00250Malfunction of the throttle could make it diffi-
cult to speed up or slow down when you need
to. This could cause an accident. Check the op-
eration of the throttle lever before you start the
engine. If the throttle does not work smoothly,
check for the cause. Correct the problem be-fore riding the ATV or consult a Yamaha dealer.
EBU18321Speed limiter Your ATV was delivered with an adjustable speed
limiter. The speed limiter keeps the throttle from
fully opening, even when the throttle lever is
pushed to the maximum.
1. Loosen the locknut.
2. To increase the maximum engine power avail-
able and the maximum speed of the ATV, turn
the adjusting screw in direction (a). To de-
crease the maximum engine power available
and the maximum speed of the ATV, turn the
adjusting screw in direction (b).
1. Throttle lever
1. Locknut
2. Adjusting screw
3. No more than 12 mm (0.47 in)
31
2
(a)(b)
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Page 24 of 140
4-6
43. Tighten the locknut.
WARNING
EWB00240Improper adjustment of the speed limiter and
throttle could cause throttle cable damage or
improper throttle operation. You could lose
control, have an accident or be injured. Do not
turn the adjusting screw out more than 12 mm
(0.47 in) or the throttle cable could be dam-
aged. Always make sure the throttle lever free
play is adjusted to 2.0–4.0 mm (0.08–0.16 in).(See page 8-20.)EBU18382Clutch lever The clutch lever is located on the left handlebar
and the ignition circuit cut-off system is incorporat-
ed in the clutch lever holder. To disengage the
clutch, pull the clutch lever toward the handlebar
grip. To engage the clutch, release the clutch lever.
The clutch lever should be pulled rapidly and re-
leased slowly for smooth clutch operation. (See
page 6-1 for a description of the ignition circuit cut-
off system.)
EBU18411Brake lever (YFM250R-W)The brake lever is located at the right handlebar
grip. To apply the front brake, pull the brake lever
toward the handlebar grip.1. Clutch lever
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