
FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of 
a Yamaha YZ series. This model is 
the culmination of Yamaha's vast ex-
perience in the production of paceset-
ting racing machines. It represents 
the highest grade of craftsmanship 
and reliability that have made Yama-
ha a leader.
This manual explains operation, in-
spection, basic maintenance and tun-
ing of your machine. If you have any 
questions about this manual or your 
machine, please contact your Yama-
ha dealer.
Yamaha continually seeks advance-
ments in product design and quality. 
Therefore, while this manual contains 
the most current product information 
available at the time of printing, there 
may be minor discrepancies between 
your machine and this manual. If you 
have any questions concerning this 
manual, please consult your Yamaha 
dealer.
PLEASE READ THIS MANUAL 
CAREFULLY AND COMPLETELY 
BEFORE OPERATING THIS MA-
CHINE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO OP-
ERATE THIS MACHINE UNTIL YOU 
HAVE ATTAINED A SATISFACTO-
RY KNOWLEDGE OF ITS CON-
TROLS AND OPERATING 
FEATURES AND UNTIL YOU HAVE 
BEEN TRAINED IN SAFE AND 
PROPER RIDING TECHNIQUES. 
REGULAR INSPECTIONS AND 
CAREFUL MAINTENANCE, 
ALONG WITH GOOD RIDING 
SKILLS, WILL ENSURE THAT YOU 
SAFETY ENJOY THE CAPABILI-
TIES AND THE RELIABILITY OF 
THIS MACHINE.
IMPORTANT MANUAL 
INFORMATION
Particularly important information is 
distinguished in this manual by the 
following notations.
This is the safety alert symbol. It is 
used to alert you to potential per-
sonal injury hazards. Obey all safe-
ty messages that follow this 
symbol to avoid possible injury or 
death. 
A WARNING indicates a hazardous 
situation which, if not avoided, 
could result in death or serious in-
jury. 
A NOTICE indicates special pre-
cautions that must be taken to 
avoid damage to the vehicle or oth-
er property. 
A TIP provides key information to 
make procedures easier or clearer. 
SAFETY INFORMATION
THIS MACHINE IS DESIGNED 
STRICTLY FOR COMPETITION 
USE, ONLY ON A CLOSED 
COURSE. It is illegal for this machine 
to be operated on any public street, 
road, or highway. Off-road use on 
public lands may also be illegal. 
Please check local regulations before 
riding.
• THIS MACHINE IS TO BE OPER-
ATED BY AN EXPERIENCED RID-
ER ONLY.
Do not attempt to operate this ma-
chine at maximum power until you 
are totally familiar with its character-
istics.
• THIS MACHINE IS DESIGNED TO 
BE RIDDEN BY THE OPERATOR 
ONLY.
Do not carry passengers on this 
machine.
• ALWAYS WEAR PROTECTIVE 
APPAREL.
When operating this machine, al-
ways wear an approved helmet with 
goggles or a face shield. Also wear 
heavy boots, gloves, and protective 
clothing. Always wear proper fitting 
clothing that will not be caught in 
any of the moving parts or controls 
of the machine.• ALWAYS MAINTAIN YOUR MA-
CHINE IN PROPER WORKING 
ORDER.
For safety and reliability, the ma-
chine must be properly maintained. 
Always perform the pre-operation 
checks indicated in this manual. 
Correcting a mechanical problem 
before you ride may prevent an ac-
cident.
• GASOLINE IS HIGHLY FLAMMA-
BLE.
Always turn off the engine while re-
fueling. Take care to not spill any 
gasoline on the engine or exhaust 
system. Never refuel in the vicinity 
of an open flame, or while smoking.
• GASOLINE CAN CAUSE INJURY.
If you should swallow some gaso-
line, inhale excess gasoline vapors, 
or allow any gasoline to get into 
your eyes, contact a doctor immedi-
ately. If any gasoline spills onto 
your skin or clothing, immediately 
wash skin areas with soap and wa-
ter, and change your clothes.
• ONLY OPERATE THE MACHINE 
IN AN AREA WITH ADEQUATE 
VENTILATION.
Never start the engine or let it run 
for any length of time in an enclosed 
area. Exhaust fumes are poison-
ous. These fumes contain carbon 
monoxide, which by itself is odor-
less and colorless. Carbon monox-
ide is a dangerous gas which can 
cause unconsciousness or can be 
lethal.
• PARK THE MACHINE CAREFUL-
LY; TURN OFF THE ENGINE.
Always turn off the engine if you are 
going to leave the machine. Do not 
park the machine on a slope or soft 
ground as it may fall over.
• THE ENGINE, EXHAUST PIPE, 
MUFFLER, AND OIL TANK WILL 
BE VERY HOT AFTER THE EN-
GINE HAS BEEN RUN.
Be careful not to touch them or to 
allow any clothing item to contact 
them during inspection or repair.
• PROPERLY SECURE THE MA-
CHINE BEFORE TRANSPORTING 
IT.
When transporting the machine in 
another vehicle, always be sure it is 
properly secured and in an upright 
position and that the fuel cock is in 
the "OFF" position. Otherwise, fuel 
may leak out of the carburetor or 
fuel tank. 

3-7
ENGINE
3. Radiator cap
2. Apply the specified pressure.
3. Inspect:
• Pressure
Impossible to maintain the speci-
fied pressure for 10 seconds →
Replace.     
CHECKING THE COOLING 
SYSTEM
1. Inspect:
• Coolant level
2. Attach:
• Radiator cap tester "1" and adapt-
er "2"
3. Apply the specified pressure.
• Do not apply pressure more than 
specified pressure.
• Radiator should be filled fully.
4. Inspect:
• Pressure
Impossible to maintain the speci-
fied pressure for 10 seconds →
Repair.          
•Radiator "1"
• Radiator hose joint "2"
Coolant leakage →Repair or re-
place.
• Radiator hose "3"
Swelling → Replace.          ADJUSTING THE CLUTCH LEVER 
FREE PLAY
1. Check:
• Clutch lever free play "a"
Out of specification →Adjust.   
2. Adjust:
• Clutch lever free play
Clutch lever free play adjustment 
steps:
a. Loosen the locknuts "1".
b. Turn the adjuster "2" until free 
play "a" is within the specified lim-
its.
c. Tighten the locknuts.
• Before adjustment, expose the ad-
juster by moving the boot "3" and 
cap "4" away.
• Make minute adjustment on the le-
ver side using the adjuster "5".
• After adjustment, check proper op-
eration of clutch lever.
3. Install:
• Cap "1"
•Boot "2"
Place the tip "a" of the cap in the boot.
ADJUSTING THE THROTTLE GRIP 
FREE PLAY
1. Check:
• Throttle grip free play "a"
Out of specification →Adjust.
2. Adjust:
• Throttle grip free play
Adjustment steps:
a. Slide the adjuster cover.
b. Loosen the locknut "1".
c. Turn the adjuster "2" until the 
specified free play is obtained.
d. Tighten the locknut.
Prior to adjusting throttle grip free 
play, the engine idling speed should 
be adjusted.
After adjusting the throttle grip 
free play, turn the handlebar to the 
right and to the left to ensure that 
this does not cause the engine 
idling speed to change.
Radiator cap opening 
pressure:
95–125 kPa (0.95–1.25 
kg/cm
2, 13.5–17.8 psi)
Radiator cap tester:
YU-24460-01/90890-
01325
Radiator cap tester 
adapter:
YU-33984/90890-01352
Standard pressure:
180 kPa (1.8 kg/cm
2, 
25.6 psi)
Clutch lever free play "a" 
:
8–13 mm (0.31–0.51 in)
Locknut:
4 Nm (0.4 m•kg, 2.9 
ft•lb)Throttle grip free play 
"a":
3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in)
Locknut:
7 Nm (0.7 m•kg, 5.1 
ft•lb) 

5-9
FRONT BRAKE AND REAR BRAKE
DISASSEMBLING THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER
Order Part name Q'ty Remarks
A. Front
B. Rear
1 Brake master cylinder cap 1
2 Diaphragm 1
3 Reservoir float 1
4 Push rod (Front) 1
5 Brake master cylinder boot 1
6 Circlip 1 Use a long nose circlip pliers.
7 Washer 1
8 Push rod (Rear) 1
9 Brake master cylinder kit 1 

5-12
FRONT BRAKE AND REAR BRAKE
INSTALLING THE REAR BRAKE 
CALIPER
1. Install:
• Pad support "1"
• Brake pad "2"
• Pad pin "3"
• Install the brake pads with their pro-
jections "a" into the brake caliper re-
cesses "b".
• Temporarily tighten the pad pin at 
this point.
2. Install:
• Brake disc cover "1"
• Bolt (brake disc cover) "2"
3. Install:
• Brake caliper "1"
• Rear wheel "2"
Refer to "FRONT WHEEL AND 
REAR WHEEL" section.
4. Tighten:
• Pad pin "3"
5. Install:
• Pad pin plug "4"INSTALLING THE BRAKE 
MASTER CYLINDER KIT
1. Clean:
• Brake master cylinder
• Brake master cylinder kit
Clean them with brake fluid.
2. Install:
• Brake master cylinder cup (prima-
ry) "1"
• Brake master cylinder cup (sec-
ondary) "2"
To brake master cylinder piston 
"3".
Apply the brake fluid on the brake 
master cylinder cup.
After installing, cylinder cup 
should be installed as shown di-
rection. Wrong installation cause 
improper brake performance.
3. Install:
• Spring "1"
To brake master cylinder piston 
"2".
Install the spring at the smaller diam-
eter side.
4. Install:
• Brake master cylinder kit "1"
• Washer (front brake) "2"
• Push rod (rear brake) "2"
• Circlip "3"
• Brake master cylinder boot "4"
• Push rod (front brake) "5"
To brake master cylinder.
• Apply the brake fluid on the brake 
master cylinder kit.
• Apply the silicone grease on the tip 
of the push rod.
• When installing the circlip, use a 
long nose circlip pliers.
A. Front
B. Rear
INSTALLING THE FRONT BRAKE 
MASTER CYLINDER
1. Install:
• Brake master cylinder "1"
• Brake master cylinder bracket "2"
• Bolt (brake master cylinder brack-
et) "3"
• Install the bracket so that the arrow 
mark "a" face upward.
• First tighten the bolts on the upper 
side of the brake master cylinder 
bracket, and then tighten the bolts 
on the lower side.
Bolt (brake disc cover):
10 Nm (1.0 m•kg, 7.2 
ft•lb)
Pad pin:
18 Nm (1.8 m•kg, 13 
ft•lb)
Pad pin plug:
3 Nm (0.3 m•kg, 2.2 
ft•lb)
Bolt (brake master cylin-
der bracket):
9 Nm (0.9 m•kg, 6.5 
ft•lb)