2012 YAMAHA YFZ450 wheel

Checking the wheel hub bearings ............ 8-45
Lubricating the swingarm pivots ............... 8-46
Lubricating the upper and lower arm pivots ...................................................... 8-46
Lubricating the steering shaft ................... 8-47
Battery ...................................................... 8-48
Replacing the fuse ................................... 8-50
Replacing a headlight bulb ....................... 8-51
Adjusting a headlight beam ...................... 8-53
Replacing the tail/brake light bulb ............ 8-53
Removing a wheel .................................... 8-54
Installing a wheel ...................................... 8-55
Troubleshooting ....................................... 8-55
Troubleshooting charts ............................. 8-57
CLEANING AND STORAGE .......................... 9-1 Cleaning ..................................................... 9-1
Storage ....................................................... 9-2
SPECIFICATIONS ...................................... 10-1
CONSUMER INFORMATION ...................... 11-1 Identification numbers .............................. 11-1
U1PD60E0.book Page 3 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

2-1
2
EBU17431
SAFETY INFORMATION
EBU17594AN ATV IS NOT A TOY AND CAN BE HAZARD-OUS TO OPERATE.An ATV handles differently from other vehicles, in-
cluding motorcycles and cars. A collision or roll-
over can occur quickly, even during routine
maneuvers such as turning and riding on hills or
over obstacles, if you fail to take proper precau-
tions.
SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH can result if you do
not follow these instructions:
Read this manual and all labels carefully and fol-
low the operating procedures described.
Never operate an ATV without proper training or
instruction.
Always follow the age recommendation:
– A child under 16 years old should never oper-
ate an ATV with engine size greater than 90 cc.
Never allow a child under age 16 to operate an
ATV without adult supervision, and never allow
continued use of an ATV by a child if he or she
does not have the abilities to operate it safely.

Never carry a passenger on an ATV.
Always avoid operating an ATV on any paved
surfaces, including sidewalks, driveways, park-
ing lots and paved streets.
Never operate an ATV on any paved street,
paved road or motorway.
Watch carefully for other vehicles when operat-
ing on unpaved public streets or roads. Make
sure you know your country ’s laws and regula-
tions before you ride on unpaved public streets
or roads.
Never operate an ATV without wearing an ap-
proved motorcycle helmet that fits properly. You
should also wear eye protection (goggles or face
shield), gloves, boots, a long-sleeved shirt or a
jacket, and long pants.
Never consume alcohol or drugs before or while
operating this ATV.
Never operate at speeds too fast for your skills
or the riding conditions. Always go at a speed
that is proper for the terrain, visibility, operating
conditions, and your experience.
Never attempt wheelies, jumps, or other stunts.
U1PD60E0.book Page 1 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

5-2
5
Front brake
Check operation. If soft or spongy, have Yamaha dealer bleed hy-
draulic system.
 Check brake pads for wear, and replace if necessary.
 Check brake fluid level in reservoir, and add specified brake fluid to
specified level if necessary.
 Check hydraulic system for leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-4, 8-32, 8-33, 8-36
Rear brake 
Check operation. If soft or spongy, have Yamaha dealer bleed hy-
draulic system.
 Check brake pads for wear, and replace if necessary.
 Check brake fluid level in reservoir, and add specified brake fluid to
specified level if necessary.
 Check hydraulic system for leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-4, 8-32, 8-33, 8-36
Clutch 
Check operation, and correct if necessary.
 Lubricate cable if necessary.
 Check lever free play, and adjust if necessary. 8-39
Throttle lever 
Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate cable and lever hous-
ing if necessary.
 Check lever free play, and adjust if necessary. 5-5, 8-31
Control cables Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate if necessary. 8-43
Drive chain 
Check chain slack, and adjust if necessary.
 Check chain condition. Lubricate if necessary. 5-5, 8-41, 8-43
Wheels and tires 
Check wheel condition, and replace if damaged.
 Check tire condition and tread depth. Replace if necessary.
 Check air pressure. Correct if necessary. 5-5
Shift pedal 
Make sure that operation is smooth.
 Correct if necessary. 8-45
Brake pedal 
Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate pedal pivoting point if
necessary. 8-45
ITEM ROUTINE PAGEU1PD60E0.book Page 2 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

6-4
6
3. Shift into first gear, and then release the
brake.
4. Open the throttle gradually and at the same time, release the clutch lever slowly.
WARNING! Opening the throttle abruptly or releasing the clutch lever too quickly
could make the ATV wheelie, which would
increase the chance of an accident, includ-
ing an overturn.
[EWB00731]
5. Once the ATV has attained adequate speed, release the throttle, and at the same time,
quickly pull in the clutch lever.
6. Shift the transmission into second gear. (Make sure not to shift the transmission into
neutral.)
7. Open the throttle part way and gradually re- lease the clutch lever.
8. Follow the same procedure when shifting to the next higher gear.EBU20650To decelerate
When slowing down or stopping, release the throt-
tle and apply the brakes smoothly and evenly. As
you slow down, shift to a lower gear. Be sure that
the engine has sufficiently slowed before engaging a lower gear. Improper use of the brakes or shifting
can cause the tires to lose traction, reducing con-
trol and increasing the possibility of an accident.
WARNING
EWB00710Make sure the engine has sufficiently slowed
before shifting to a lower gear. Engaging a low-
er gear when the engine speed is too high
could make the wheels stop rotating and lose
traction. This could cause loss of control, an
accident and injury. It could also cause engine
or drive train damage.NOTICEECB00180
Even with the transmission in the neutral po-
sition, do not coast for long periods of time
with the engine off, and do not tow the ATV
for long distances. The transmission is prop-
erly lubricated only when the engine is run-
ning. Inadequate lubrication may damage
the transmission.
U1PD60E0.book Page 4 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

6-6
6
EBU20865Parking on a slope
WARNING
EWB00851Avoid parking on hills or other inclines. Park-
ing on a hill or other incline could cause the
ATV to roll out of control, increasing the
chance of an accident. If you must park on an
incline, place the ATV transversely across the
incline, shift into first gear, stop the engine, ap-
ply the parking brake, and then block the front
and rear wheels with rocks or other objects.Never park the ATV on hills that are too steep
to walk up easily.
1. Bring the ATV to a stop by applying the front
brake, shift into first gear, and then stop the
engine.
2. With the front and rear brakes applied, apply the parking brake.
3. Release the front and rear brakes.
4. Turn the fuel cock to “OFF ”.
1. Parking brake lever (locked position)U1PD60E0.book Page 6 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

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
U1PD60E0.book Page 7 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

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-
U1PD60E0.book Page 11 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

7-12
7
trol.
[EWB02631]

NOTICE: Do not shift gears without
releasing the throttle. Damage to the engine or
drive train may occur.
[ECB01071]
Use this same procedure as you move into the
higher gears. Be sure to coordinate the use of the
throttle and shift pedal properly.
Avoid higher speeds until you are thoroughly famil-
iar with the operation of your ATV.
When slowing down or stopping, release the throt-
tle and apply the brakes smoothly and evenly. As
you slow down, shift to a lower gear. Be sure that
the engine has sufficiently slowed before engaging
a lower gear. Improper use of the brakes or shifting
can cause the tires to lose traction, reducing con-
trol and increasing the possibility of an accident.
TURNING YOUR ATV
WARNING
EWB01771Always follow proper procedures for turning
as described in this Owner ’s Manual. Practice
turning at low speeds before attempting to turn
at faster speeds. Do not turn at speeds too fast
for your skills or the conditions. ATV could go
out of control, causing a collision or overturn.
To achieve maximum traction on unpaved surfac-
es, the two rear wheels turn together at the same
speed. Therefore, unless the wheel on the inside
of the turn is allowed to slip or lose some traction,
the ATV will resist turning. A special turning tech-
nique must be used to allow the ATV to make turns
quickly and easily. It is essential that this skill be
learned first at low speed.
As you approach a curve, slow down and begin to
turn the handlebars in the desired direction. As you
do so, put your weight on the footrest to the outside
of the turn (opposite your desired direction) and
lean your upper body into the turn. Use the throttle
to maintain an even speed through the turn. This
maneuver will let the wheel on the inside of the turn
slip slightly, allowing the ATV to make the turn
properly.
U1PD60E0.book Page 12 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM