2012 YAMAHA YFZ450R Owners Manual

4-24
4
WARNING
EWB00430This shock absorber assembly contains highly
pressurized nitrogen gas. Read and under-
stand the following information before han-
dling the shock absorber assembly.
Do not tamper with or attempt to open the
cylinder assembly.
Do not subject the shock absorber assembly
to an open flame or other high heat source.
This may cause the unit to explode due to ex-
cessive gas pressure.
Do not deform or damage the cylinder 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.EBU29401Handlebar position The handlebar can be adjusted to one of four posi-
tions to suit the rider’s preference. Have a Yamaha
dealer adjust the position of the handlebar.
1. Handlebar
1
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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
Fuel 
Check 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 oil 
Check oil level in engine oil tank, and add recommended oil to spec-
ified level if necessary.
 Check ATV for oil leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-4, 8-16
Coolant 
Check coolant level in reservoir, and add recommended coolant to
specified level if necessary.
 Check cooling system for leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-4, 8-22
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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, 8-30, 8-32, 8-33
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, 8-30, 8-32, 8-34
Clutch 
Check operation, and correct if necessary.
 Lubricate cable if necessary.
 Check lever free play, and adjust if necessary. 8-36
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, 8-29
Control cables Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate if necessary. 8-40
Drive chain 
Check chain slack, and adjust if necessary.
 Check chain condition. Lubricate if necessary. 5-5, 8-38, 8-40
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. 8-42
Brake pedal 
Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate pedal pivoting point if
necessary. 8-42
ITEM ROUTINE PAGE
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Brake and clutch levers
Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate lever pivoting points if
necessary. 8-41
Chassis fasteners Make sure that all nuts, bolts and screws are properly tightened. 5-7
Instruments, lights and
switches 
Check operation, and correct if necessary. 5-7
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5-4
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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 8-16.)EBU19631Coolant Make sure that the coolant is at the specified level.
Add coolant as necessary. (See page 8-22.)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
8-34.) 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 8-32.)
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 8-30.) Specified brake fluid:
DOT 4
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EBU19761Throttle lever Check the operation of the throttle lever. It must
open smoothly and spring back to the idle position
when released. Have a Yamaha dealer correct if
necessary.EBU19770Drive chain Check the condition of the drive chain and check
the drive chain slack. Lubricate and adjust the
drive chain as necessary. (See page 8-38.)EBU19794Tires Check tire pressure regularly to make sure it is at
the recommended specifications. Also check for
wear and damage.
Tire pressure
Use the low-pressure tire gauge to check and ad-
just tire pressures when the tires are cold. Tire
pressures must be equal on both sides.
WARNING! Operation of this vehicle with im- proper tire pressure may cause severe injury
or death from loss of control or rollover. Tire
pressure below the minimum specified could also cause the tire to dislodge from the rim un-
der severe riding conditions.
[EWB02541]
Set tire
pressures to the following specifications:
The low-pressure tire gauge is included as stan-
dard equipment. Make two measurements of the
tire pressure and use the second reading. Dust or
dirt in the gauge could cause the first reading to be
incorrect. Recommended tire pressure:
Fro nt27.5 kPa (0.275 kgf/cm ², 4.0 psi)
Rear 30.0 kPa (0.300 kgf/cm ², 4.4 psi)
Minimum tire pressure: Fro nt24.5 kPa (0.245 kgf/cm ², 3.6 psi)
Rear 27.0 kPa (0.270 kgf/cm ², 4.0 psi)
Maximum tire seating pressure: Fro nt250 kPa (2.5 kgf/cm ², 36 psi)
Rear 250 kPa (2.5 kgf/cm ², 36 psi)
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Tire wear limit
When the tire groove decreases to 3 mm (0.12 in)
due to wear, replace the tire. Tire information
This ATV is equipped with tubeless tires with
valves.
WARNING
EWB02551Use of improper tires on this ATV may cause
loss of control, increasing your risk of an acci-
dent.After extensive tests, only the tires listed below
have been approved for this model by Yamaha
Motor Co., Ltd.
1. Low-pressure tire gauge
1
1. Tire wear limit
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5-7
5Aftermarket tires and rims
The tires and rims that came with your ATV were
designed to match the performance capabilities
and to provide the best combination of handling,
braking, and comfort. Other tires, rims, sizes, and
combinations may not be appropriate.
EBU19840Chassis fasteners Make sure that all nuts, bolts and screws are prop-
erly tightened.
EBU19850Instruments, lights and switches Check that all instruments, lights and switches are
working properly. Correct if necessary.
Front:
Manufacturer/model:DUNLOP/KT352 Radial
Size: AT21 x 7R10
Ty p e : Tu b e l e s s
Rear: Manufacturer/model:DUNLOP/KT357 Radial
Size: AT 2 0 x 1 0 R 9
Ty p e : Tu b e l e s s
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