2012 YAMAHA YFZ450 height

Parking ....................................................... 6-5
Parking on a slope ..................................... 6-6
Accessories and loading ............................ 6-7
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 panel ..............8-9
Checking the spark plug ...........................8-10
Engine oil and oil filter element .................8-14
Coolant .....................................................8-20
Cleaning the air filter element ...................8-24
Cleaning the spark arrester ......................8-28
Adjusting the carburetor ............................8-30
Checking the engine idling speed .............8-30
Adjusting the throttle lever free play .........8-31
Valve clearance ........................................8-31
Brakes .......................................................8-32
Checking the front and rear brake pads ...8-32
Checking the brake fluid level ...................8-33
Changing the brake fluid ...........................8-36
Checking the front brake lever free play ...8-36
Checking the brake pedal height ..............8-36
Adjusting the parking brake free play .......8-37
Brake light switches ..................................8-38
Adjusting the clutch lever free play ...........8-39
Drive chain slack .......................................8-41
Lubricating the drive chain ........................8-43
Checking and lubricating the cables .........8-43
Checking and lubricating the brake and
clutch levers ............................................8-44
Checking the shift pedal ...........................8-45
Checking and lubricating the brake pedal .......................................................8-45
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5-4
5
EBU19541Fuel Make sure that there is sufficient fuel in the tank.
(See page 4-8.)EBU19560Engine oil Make sure that the engine oil is at the specified lev-
el. Add oil as necessary. (See page 8-14.)EBU19631Coolant Make sure that the coolant is at the specified level.
Add coolant as necessary. (See page 8-20.)TIPThe coolant level must be checked on a cold en-
gine since the level varies with engine tempera-
ture.EBU19712Front 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
8-36.) 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 8-33.)
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 8-32.) Specified brake fluid:
DOT 4
U1PD60E0.book Page 4 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

8-36
8brake pads for wear and the brake system for leak-
age. If the brake fluid level goes down suddenly,
have a Yamaha dealer check the cause before fur-
ther riding.
EBU24291Changing 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 cali-
pers as well as the brake hoses replaced at the in-
tervals listed below or whenever they are damaged
or leaking.
Oil seals: Replace every two years.
Brake hoses: Replace every four years.EBU24394Checking the front brake lever free play The brake lever free play must be checked at the
intervals specified in the periodic maintenance and
lubrication chart. The brake lever should have no
free play as shown. If there is free play, have a
Yamaha dealer check the brake system.
EBU24613Checking the brake pedal height The brake pedal height must be checked and, if
necessary, adjusted at the intervals specified in the
periodic maintenance and lubrication chart.
The top of the brake pedal should be positioned
11.7 mm (0.46 in) below the top of the footrest as
shown. If the brake pedal is not positioned as spec-
ified, have a Yamaha dealer adjust it.1. No brake lever free play
1
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8-37
8
EBU24715Adjusting the parking brake free play The parking brake free play must be checked and,
if necessary, adjusted at the intervals specified in
the periodic maintenance and lubrication chart.
Cable length “A ” should measure 47 –51 mm
(1.85 –2.01 in). Adjust the parking brake free play
as follows. 1. Release the parking brake by moving the
parking brake lever to the right.
2. Fully loosen the locknut and the adjusting bolt at the rear brake caliper.
3. Slide the rubber cover back at the brake ca- ble.
4. Loosen the locknut.
5. Turn the parking brake free play adjusting nut in direction (a) to increase the cable length,
and in direction (b) to decrease it.1. Brake pedal height
1
1. Adjusting bolt
2. Cable length “A”
3. Locknut
2
3 1
U1PD60E0.book Page 37 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

10-1
10
EBU25961
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions:Overall length:1840 mm (72.4 in)
Overall width: 1170 mm (46.1 in)
Overall height:
1090 mm (42.9 in)
Seat height: 810 mm (31.9 in)
Wheelbase: 1280 mm (50.4 in)
Ground clearance:
255 mm (10.0 in)
Minimum turning radius: 3500 mm (138 in)Weight:With oil and fuel:
169.0 kg (373 lb)Noise and vibration level:Noise level (77/311/EEC):82.0 dB(A)@3750 r/min (EUR)(FRA)(GBR)
A-weighted sound power level:
98.0 dB(A)@3750 r/min (EUR)(FRA)(GBR)
Vibration on seat (EN1032, ISO5008): Will not exceed 0.5 m/s ² (EUR)(FRA)(GBR)
Vibration on handlebar (EN1032, ISO5008): Will not exceed 2.5 m/s ² (EUR)(FRA)(GBR)
Engine:Engine type:
Liquid cooled 4-stroke, DOHC
Cylinder arrangement: Forward-inclined single cylinder
Displacement:
449 cm ³
Bore × stroke:
95.0 × 63.4 mm (3.74 × 2.50 in)
Compression ratio: 11.40 : 1
Starting system:
Electric starter
Lubrication system: Dry sumpEngine oil:Recommended brand:
YAMALUBE
U1PD60E0.book Page 1 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

INDEX
AAccessories and loading ................................................ 6-7
Air filter element, cleaning ............................................ 8-24BBattery .......................................................................... 8-48
Brake and clutch levers, checking and lubricating ....... 8-44
Brake fluid, changing ................................................... 8-36
Brake fluid level, checking ........................................... 8-33
Brake lever ..................................................................... 4-5
Brake lever free play, checking the front ...................... 8-36
Brake light switches ..................................................... 8-38
Brake pads, checking the front and rear ...................... 8-32
Brake pedal .................................................................... 4-6
Brake pedal, checking and lubricating ......................... 8-45
Brake pedal height, checking ....................................... 8-36
Brakes .......................................................................... 8-32
Brakes, front and rear .................................................... 5-4CCables, checking and lubricating ................................. 8-43
Carburetor, adjusting ................................................... 8-30
Chassis fasteners .......................................................... 5-7
Cleaning ......................................................................... 9-1
Clutch lever .................................................................... 4-5
Clutch lever free play, adjusting ................................... 8-39
Coolant .................................................................. 5-4, 8-20
Coolant temperature warning light ................................. 4-2DDrive chain ..................................................................... 5-5Drive chain, lubricating ................................................ 8-43
Drive chain slack .......................................................... 8-41
EEngine break-in .............................................................. 6-5
Engine, cold start ........................................................... 6-1
Engine idling speed ..................................................... 8-30
Engine oil ....................................................................... 5-4
Engine oil and oil filter element .................................... 8-14
Engine, starting a warm ................................................. 6-3
Engine stop switch ......................................................... 4-3FFuel ......................................................................... 4-8, 5-4
Fuel cock ..................................................................... 4-10
Fuel tank cap ................................................................. 4-8
Fuse, replacing ............................................................ 8-50HHandlebar switches ....................................................... 4-3
Headlight beam, adjusting ........................................... 8-53
Headlight bulb, replacing ............................................. 8-51IIdentification numbers .................................................. 11-1
Indicator light and warning light ..................................... 4-2
Instruments, lights and switches .................................... 5-7LLabel locations ............................................................... 1-1
Light switch .................................................................... 4-3MMain switch .................................................................... 4-1
U1PD60E0.book Page 1 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM