2011 YAMAHA YFZ450R warning

7-4
7
Apparel
Always wear the following to reduce risk of injury in
an accident:

Approved motorcycle helmet that fits properly
Eye protection (goggles, helmet face shield, or
protective eyewear)
Over-the-ankle boots, gloves, long-sleeved shirt
or jacket, and long pants
An approved helmet and other personal protective
equipment can reduce the severity of injuries in an
accident. WARNING! Operating without an ap-proved motorcycle helmet increases your
chances of a severe head injury or death in the
event of an accident.
[EWB01411]
Wear eye protection when operating your ATV to
reduce the risk of a serious accident or injury. Eye
protection, such as a face shield or goggles, may
reduce the risk of foreign material getting in your
eyes and help prevent loss of vision. WARNING!
Operating without eye protection can result in
an accident and increases your chances of a
severe injury in the event of an accident.[EWB02611]
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7-5
7
Do not operate after or while consuming alco-
hol or drugs.
The operator’s performance capability is reduced
by the influence of alcohol or drugs. Consuming al-
cohol or drugs could seriously affect your judg-
ment, cause you to react more slowly, and affect
your balance and perception. WARNING! Never
consume alcohol or drugs before or while driv-
ing this ATV. You increase your chance of an
accident.
[EWB01421]
Pre-operation checks
Always inspect your ATV each time you use it to
make sure the ATV is in safe operating condition.
Perform the pre-operation checks listed on page
5-1. Always follow the inspection and maintenance
procedures and schedules described in the Own-
er’s Manual. WARNING! Failure to inspect the
ATV before operating it and to maintain it prop-
erly increases the possibility of an accident or
equipment damage.
[EWB01431]
Speed limiter
For riders less experienced with this model, the
throttle lever housing is equipped with a speed lim-
iter. The speed limiter keeps the throttle from fully
1. Protective clothing
2. Goggles
3. Gloves
4. Boots
5. HelmetU18P64E0.book Page 5 Thursday, May 13, 2010 6:00 PM

7-6
7 opening, even when the throttle lever is pushed to
the maximum. Turning in the adjusting screw limits
the maximum engine power available and de-
creases the maximum speed of the ATV. Turning
in the adjusting screw decreases top speed, and
turning it out increases top speed. (See page 4-5.)
Loading and accessories
WARNING
EWB00972Improper loading or towing can increase the
risk of loss of control, an overturn, or other ac-
cident. To reduce the risk of an accident:

Do not exceed the maximum loading limits
for the vehicle (see “MAXIMUM LOADING
LIMIT” below or vehicle labeling).
Make sure the load does not interfere with
your control or ability to see where you are
going.
Reduce speed and allow more room to stop.
A heavier vehicle takes longer to stop.
Avoid hills and rough terrain. Choose terrain
carefully. Use extreme caution when towing
or carrying a load on inclines.
Turn gradually and go slowly.As originally equipped, this ATV is not designed to
carry cargo or tow a trailer. If you choose to add ac-
cessories to carry cargo, you must use common
sense and good judgment.
Use extra caution when riding the ATV with addi-
tional loads, such as accessories or cargo. The
ATV’s handling may be adversely affected. Re-
duce your speed when adding additional loads.
1. Adjusting screw
2. Locknut
2
1
MAXIMUM LOADING LIMIT
ATV loading limit (total weight of cargo, rider,
accessories, and tongue):
100.0 kg (220 lb)
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7-7
7During operation
Always keep your feet on the footrests during op-
eration; otherwise, they may contact the rear
wheels. WARNING! Removing even one hand
or foot can reduce your ability to control the
ATV or could cause you to lose your balance
and fall off of the ATV. If you remove a foot
from a footrest, your foot or leg may come into
contact with the rear wheels, which could in-
jure you or cause an accident.
[EWB02660]
Avoid wheelies and jumping. WARNING! At-
tempting wheelies, jumps, and other stunts in-
creases the chance of an accident, including
an overturn. Never attempt stunts, such as
wheelies or jumps. Don’t try to show off.[EWB01481]Modifications and accessories
Never modify this ATV through improper installa-
tion or use of accessories or other modification. All
parts and accessories added to this ATV should be
genuine Yamaha or equivalent components de-
signed for use on this ATV and should be installed
and used according to instructions. If you have
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7-8
7 questions, consult an authorized ATV dealer.
WARNING! Operating this ATV with improper
modifications may cause changes in handling
which in some situations could lead to an acci-
dent.
[EWB01491]
Exhaust system
WARNING
EWB01501
Dry grass or brush or other combustible ma-
terial accumulated around the engine area
could catch fire. Do not operate, idle, or park
the ATV in dry grass or other dry ground cov-
er. Keep the engine area free of dry grass,
brush, or other combustible material.
Someone touching the exhaust system dur-
ing or after operation could be burned. Do
not touch the hot exhaust system. Do not
park the ATV in a place where others might
be likely to touch it.The muffler and other engine parts become ex-
tremely hot during operation and remain hot after
the engine has stopped. To reduce the risk of fire
during operation or after leaving the ATV, do not let
brush, grass and other materials collect under the
vehicle, near the muffler or exhaust pipe, or next toother hot parts. Check under the vehicle after op-
erating in areas where combustible materials may
have collected. Do not idle or park the vehicle in
long dry grass or other dry ground cover.
To prevent burns, avoid touching the exhaust sys-
tem. Park the ATV in a place where pedestrians or
children are not likely to touch it.U18P64E0.book Page 8 Thursday, May 13, 2010 6:00 PM

7-9
7BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU RIDE
This ATV is designed for use on unpaved surfaces
only. WARNING! Paved surfaces may seriously
affect handling and control of the ATV, and
may cause the ATV to go out of control. Always
avoid paved surfaces, including sidewalks,
driveways, parking lots and streets.
[EWB01511]
While riding on unpaved public streets or roads
may be legal in your area, such operation can in-
crease the risk of collision with other vehicles.Watch carefully for other vehicles. Make sure you
know your country’s laws and regulations before
you ride on unpaved public streets or roads. Do not
ride on any paved public street, road or motorway.
WARNING! Never operate this ATV on any
paved street, paved road or motorway. You can
collide with another vehicle.
[EWB01521]
Know the terrain where you ride. Ride cautiously in
unfamiliar areas. Stay alert for holes, rocks, or
roots in the terrain, and other hidden hazards
which may cause the ATV to upset. WARNING!
The ATV could go out of control if you do not
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7-10
7 have enough time to react to hidden rocks,
bumps, or holes. Go slowly and be extra care-
ful when operating on unfamiliar terrain. Al-
ways be alert to changing terrain conditions
when operating the ATV.
[EWB01531]
Do not operate on rough, slippery, or loose terrain
until you have learned and practiced the skills nec-
essary to control the ATV on such terrain. Always
be especially cautious on these kinds of terrain.
WARNING! Failure to use extra care when op-
erating on excessively rough, slippery, orloose terrain could cause loss of traction or
ATV control, which could result in an accident,
including an overturn.
[EWB01541]
When riding in an area where you might not easily
be seen, such as desert terrain, mount a caution
flag on the ATV. DO NOT use the flag pole bracket
as a trailer hitch. WARNING! You could collide
with another vehicle if operating in areas where
you cannot easily be seen. Mount a caution
flag on the ATV to make you more visible.
Watch carefully for other vehicles.
[EWB01551]
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7-11
7Do not ride in areas posted “no trespassing”.
Do not ride on private property without getting per-
mission.Select a large, flat, unpaved area to become famil-
iar with your ATV. Make sure that this area is free
of obstacles and other riders. You should practice
control of the throttle, brakes, shifting procedures,
and turning techniques in this area before trying
more difficult terrain.
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. As you
get on the ATV, be sure not to accidentally move
the shift pedal. With the engine idling, pull the
clutch lever to disengage the clutch and shift into
1st gear, and then release the parking brake. Open
the throttle gradually, and at the same time, re-
lease the clutch lever slowly. Once the ATV has at-
tained adequate speed, release the throttle lever
and at the same time, quickly pull in the clutch le-
ver and shift into 2nd gear. Open the throttle part
way and gradually release the clutch. WARNING!
If the throttle is applied too abruptly or if the
throttle is not released during shifting, or if the
shift pedal is not released before applying the
throttle, the front wheels may lift off the
ground, resulting in a loss of directional con-
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