2011 YAMAHA YFZ450R oil

EBU17420
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LOCATION OF THE WARNING AND
SPECIFICATION LABELS ............................ 1-1
SAFETY INFORMATION .............................. 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 light and warning lights ................ 4-2
Handlebar switches .................................... 4-3
Throttle lever .............................................. 4-4
Speed limiter .............................................. 4-5
Clutch lever ................................................ 4-5
Brake lever ................................................. 4-6
Brake pedal ................................................ 4-6
Parking brake lever .................................... 4-7
Shift pedal .................................................. 4-8
Fuel tank cap .............................................. 4-8
Fuel ............................................................ 4-9Seat ..........................................................4-10
Adjusting the front shock absorber
assemblies ..............................................4-11
Adjusting the rear shock absorber
assembly .................................................4-16
Handlebar position ....................................4-24
PRE-OPERATION CHECKS ..........................5-1
Fuel .............................................................5-4
Engine oil ....................................................5-4
Coolant .......................................................5-4
Front and rear brakes .................................5-4
Throttle lever ...............................................5-5
Drive chain ..................................................5-5
Tires ............................................................5-5
Chassis fasteners .......................................5-7
Instruments, lights and switches .................5-7
OPERATION...................................................6-1
Starting the engine ......................................6-1
Shifting ........................................................6-2
Engine break-in ...........................................6-4
Parking ........................................................6-4
Parking on a slope ......................................6-5U18P64E0.book Page 1 Thursday, May 13, 2010 6:00 PM

Accessories and loading ............................ 6-6
RIDING YOUR ATV ...................................... 7-1
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR ATV............... 7-2
RIDE WITH CARE AND GOOD
JUDGMENT .............................................. 7-2
BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU RIDE ............. 7-9
TURNING YOUR ATV .............................. 7-12
CLIMBING UPHILL ................................... 7-13
RIDING DOWNHILL.................................. 7-16
CROSSING A SLOPE............................... 7-18
CROSSING THROUGH SHALLOW
WATER ................................................... 7-19
RIDING OVER ROUGH TERRAIN ........... 7-20
SLIDING AND SKIDDING ......................... 7-21
WHAT TO DO IF... .................................... 7-22
WHAT TO DO... ........................................ 7-22
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND
ADJUSTMENT ............................................... 8-1
Owner’s manual and tool kit ....................... 8-2
Periodic maintenance chart for
the emission control system ..................... 8-3
General maintenance and
lubrication chart ........................................ 8-5
Removing and installing the cowling and
panels ....................................................... 8-9Checking the spark plug ...........................8-12
Engine oil and oil filter element .................8-13
Coolant .....................................................8-19
Cleaning the air filter element ...................8-20
Cleaning the spark arrester ......................8-24
Adjusting the throttle lever free play .........8-26
Valve clearance ........................................8-27
Brakes .......................................................8-27
Checking the front and rear brake pads ...8-27
Checking the brake fluid level ...................8-29
Changing the brake fluid ...........................8-30
Checking the front brake lever free play ...8-30
Checking the brake pedal height ..............8-30
Adjusting the parking brake free play .......8-31
Brake light switches ..................................8-32
Adjusting the clutch lever free play ...........8-33
Drive chain slack .......................................8-34
Lubricating the drive chain ........................8-36
Checking and lubricating the cables .........8-37
Checking and lubricating the brake and
clutch levers ............................................8-38
Checking the shift pedal ...........................8-38
Checking and lubricating the brake
pedal .......................................................8-38
Checking the wheel hub bearings .............8-39
Lubricating the swingarm pivots ...............8-39
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3-1
3
EBU17680
DESCRIPTION
EBU17690Left view
EBU17700Right view
1. Front shock absorber assembly compression damping
force adjusting bolt (for fast compression damping)
2. Front shock absorber assembly compression damping
force adjusting screw (for slow compression damping)
3. Front shock absorber assembly spring preload adjusting
nut
4. Engine oil tank filler cap
5. Rear brake fluid reservoir
6. Battery
7. Shift pedal
8. Coolant reservoir
9. Front shock absorber assembly rebound damping force
adjusting screw
7 8 95 3 1
6
4
2
1. Spark arrester
2. Fuse
3. Rear shock absorber assembly spring preload adjusting
nut
4. Rear shock absorber assembly compression damping
force adjusting bolt (for fast compression damping)
5. Rear shock absorber assembly compression damping
force adjusting screw (for slow compression damping)
6. Oil filter element
7. Brake pedal
8. Rear brake light switch
9. Rear shock absorber assembly rebound damping force
adjusting screw
6 7 8 1
2
3
4
5
9
U18P64E0.book Page 1 Thursday, May 13, 2010 6:00 PM

4-12
4
WARNING
EWB02491
Suspension components become hot during
operation. Never touch the compression
damping force adjusting bolt and screw, the
rebound damping force adjusting screw or
the oil reservoir with your bare hand or skin
until suspension components have cooled.
Always adjust the shock absorber assem-
blies on the left and right side to the same
setting. Uneven adjustment can cause poor
handling and loss of stability, which could
lead to an accident.NOTICEECB00090Never turn an adjusting mechanism beyond
the minimum and maximum settings.TIPAlthough the total number of clicks or turns of a
damping force adjusting mechanism may not ex-
actly match the following specifications due to
small differences in production, the actual number
of clicks or turns always represents the entire ad-
justing range. To obtain a precise adjustment, itwould be advisable to check the number of clicks
or turns of each damping force adjusting mecha-
nism and to modify the specifications as neces-
sary.
Spring preload
1. Loosen the locknut.
2. Turn the spring preload adjusting nut in direc-
tion (a) to increase the spring preload and
thereby harden the suspension, and in direc-
tion (b) to decrease the spring preload and
thereby soften the suspension.1. Locknut
2. Spring preload adjusting nut
3. Special wrench
(a)
(b)2 1
3
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4-16
4
WARNING
EWB00410These shock absorber assemblies contain
highly pressurized nitrogen gas. Read and un-
derstand the following information before han-
dling the shock absorber assemblies.
Do not tamper with or attempt to open the
cylinder assemblies.
Do not subject the shock absorber assem-
blies to an open flame or other high heat
source. This may cause the unit to explode
due to excessive gas pressure.
Do not deform or damage the cylinders in
any way. Cylinder damage will result in poor
damping performance.

Do not dispose of a damaged or worn out
shock absorber assembly yourself. Take the
shock absorber assembly to a Yamaha deal-
er for any service.EBU30140Adjusting the rear shock absorber as-
sembly This shock absorber assembly is equipped with a
spring preload adjusting nut, a rebound damping
force adjusting screw, a compression damping
force adjusting bolt (for fast compression damp-
ing), and a compression damping force adjusting
screw (for slow compression damping).
WARNING
EWB02680Suspension components become hot during
operation. Never touch the compression
damping force adjusting bolt and screw, the re-
bound damping force adjusting screw or the
oil reservoir with your bare hand or skin until
the suspension components have cooled.
Compression damping setting (for slow com-
pression damping):
Minimum (soft):
18 click(s) in direction (b)*
Standard:
10 click(s) in direction (b)*
Maximum (hard):
1 click(s) in direction (b)*
* With the adjusting screw fully turned in di-
rection (a)
U18P64E0.book Page 16 Thursday, May 13, 2010 6:00 PM

5-1
5
EBU19201
PRE-OPERATION CHECKS
EBU19224Inspect your vehicle each time you use it to make sure the vehicle is in safe operating condition. Always
follow the inspection and maintenance procedures and schedules described in the Owner’s Manual.
WARNING
EWB00481Failure to inspect or maintain the vehicle properly increases the possibility of an accident or equip-
ment damage. Do not operate the vehicle if you find any problem. If a problem cannot be corrected
by the procedures provided in this manual, have the vehicle inspected by a Yamaha dealer.Before using this vehicle, check the following points:
ITEM ROUTINE PAGE
FuelCheck fuel level in fuel tank, and add recommended fuel if neces-
sary.
Check fuel line for leakage. Correct if necessary.4-9, 5-4
Engine oilCheck oil level in engine, and add recommended oil to specified lev-
el if necessary.
Check ATV for oil leakage. Correct if necessary.5-4, 8-13
CoolantCheck coolant level in reservoir, and add recommended coolant to
specified level if necessary.
Check cooling system for leakage. Correct if necessary.5-4, 8-19
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5-4
5
EBU19541Fuel Make sure that there is sufficient fuel in the tank.
(See page 4-9.)EBU19560Engine oil Make sure that the engine oil is at the specified lev-
el. Add oil as necessary. (See page 8-13.)EBU19631Coolant Make sure that the coolant is at the specified level.
Add coolant as necessary. (See page 8-19.)TIPThe coolant level must be checked on a cold en-
gine since the level varies with engine tempera-
ture.EBU19711Front and rear brakes Brake lever and brake pedal
Check that there is no free play in the brake le-
ver. If there is free play, have a Yamaha dealer
check the brake system.

Check for correct brake pedal height. (See page
8-30.) If the pedal height is incorrect, have a
Yamaha dealer adjust it.
Check the operation of the lever and pedal. They
should move smoothly and there should be a
firm feeling when the brakes are applied. If not,
have a Yamaha dealer check the brake system.
Brake fluid level
Check the brake fluid level. Add fluid if necessary.
(See page 8-29.)
Brake fluid leakage
Check to see if any brake fluid is leaking out of the
pipe joints or brake fluid reservoirs. Apply the
brakes firmly for one minute. If there is any leak-
age, have a Yamaha dealer check the brake sys-
tem.
Brake operation
Test the brakes at slow speed after starting out to
make sure they are working properly. If the brakes
do not provide proper braking performance, check
the brake pads for wear. (See page 8-27.)Recommended brake fluid:
DOT 4
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8-7
8
14*Chassis fastenersMake sure that all nuts, bolts, and screws are
properly tightened.√√√√√
15*Shock absorber as-
sembliesCheck operation and correct if necessary.
Check for oil leakage and replace if necessary.√√√
16*Rear suspension re-
lay arm and con-
necting arm
pivoting pointsCheck operation and correct if necessary.√√√√
17*Steering shaftLubricate with lithium-soap-based grease.√√√
18*Steering systemCheck operation and repair or replace if damaged.
Check toe-in and adjust if necessary.√√√√√
19 Engine oilChange.
Check ATV for oil leakage, and correct if neces-
sary.√ √√√
20Engine oil filter ele-
mentReplace.√√√
21*Cooling systemCheck coolant level and ATV for coolant leakage,
and correct if necessary.√√√√√
Replace coolant. Every 2 years
22*Moving parts and
cablesLubricate.√√√√ NO. ITEMCHECK OR MAINTENANCE
JOBINITIAL EVERY
Whichev-
er comes
firstmonth136612
km
(mi)320
(200)1300
(800)2500
(1600)2500
(1600)5000
(3200)
hours 20 80 160 160 320U18P64E0.book Page 7 Thursday, May 13, 2010 6:00 PM