2015 YAMAHA FZR Owners Manual

Safety information
11
EJU30683
The safe use and operation of this water-
craft is dependent upon the use of proper
riding techniques, as well as upon the
common sense, good judgment, and ex-
pertise of the operator. Before using this
watercraft, make sure that its use is per-
mitted under local laws, bylaws, and regu-
lations, and always operate the watercraft
in full conformity with any requirements
and limitations imposed. Every operator
should know the following requirements
before riding the watercraft.
Before operating the watercraft, read this
owner’s/operator’s manual, the Riding
Practice Guide, the Riding Instruction card,
and all labels on the watercraft. These ma-
terials should give you an understanding of
the watercraft and its operation.
Never allow anyone to operate this water-
craft until they too have read this own-
er’s/operator’s manual, the Riding Practice
Guide, the Riding Instruction card, and all
labels.
EJU30721
Limitations on who may
operate the watercraft
Yamaha recommends a minimum operator
age of 16 years old.
Adults must supervise use by minors.
Know your local operator age and training
requirements.
This watercraft is designed to carry the op-
erator and 1 passenger. Never exceed the
maximum load limit or allow more than 2
persons to ride the watercraft at any time.
Do not operate the watercraft with a pas-
senger on board until you have consider-
able practice and experience riding alone.
Operating the watercraft with a passenger
requires more skill. Take the time to be-
come accustomed to the handling charac-
teristics of the watercraft before trying any
difficult maneuvers.Maximum load:
160 kg (353 lb)
Load is the total weight of cargo, op-
erator, and passenger.
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Safety information
12
EJU30762
Cruising limitations
Scan constantly for people, objects, and
other watercraft. Be alert for conditions
that limit your visibility or block your vision
of others.
Operate defensively at safe speeds and
keep a safe distance away from people,
objects, and other watercraft.
Do not follow directly behind watercraft or
other boats.
Do not go near others to spray or splash
them with water.
Avoid sharp turns or other maneuvers that
make it hard for others to avoid you or un-
derstand where you are going.
Avoid areas with submerged objects or
shallow water.
Take early action to avoid collisions. Re-
member, watercraft and other boats do not
have brakes.
Do not release the throttle lever when trying
to steer away from objects—you need
throttle to steer. Always check throttle and
steering controls before starting the water-
craft.
Ride within your limits and avoid aggres-
sive maneuvers to reduce the risk of loss of
control, ejection, and collision.
This is a high performance boat—not a toy.
Sharp turns or jumping wakes or waves
can increase the risk of back/spinal injury(paralysis), facial injuries, and broken legs,
ankles, and other bones. Do not jump
wakes or waves.
Do not operate the watercraft in rough wa-
ter, bad weather, or when visibility is poor;
this may lead to an accident causing injury
or death. Be alert to the possibility of ad-
verse weather. Take note of weather fore-
casts and the prevailing weather
conditions before setting out on your wa-
tercraft.
As with any water sport, you should not op-
erate your watercraft without someone else
nearby. If you operate further than swim-
ming distance from shore, you should be
accompanied by another boat or water-
craft, but make sure you stay a safe dis-
tance away. It’s good, common sense.
Never operate in water that is less than 60
cm (2 ft) deep from the bottom of the wa-
tercraft, otherwise you increase your chan-
ce of hitting a submerged object, which
could result in injury.
This watercraft is not equipped with light-
ing required for night operation. Do not op-
erate the watercraft after sunset or before
dawn, otherwise you increase the risk of
60 cm (2 ft)
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Safety information
13
colliding with another boat, which could re-
sult in severe injury or death.
Follow navigation rules, and state/provin-
cial and local laws that apply to watercraft.
EJU30802
Operation requirements
All riders must wear a personal flotation de-
vice (PFD) that is approved by the appro-
priate authorities and is suitable for
personal watercraft use.
Wear protective clothing. Severe internal
injuries can occur if water is forced into
body cavities as a result of falling into the
water or being near the jet thrust nozzle.
Normal swimwear does not adequately
protect against forceful water entry into the
rectum or vagina. All riders must wear a
wetsuit bottom or clothing that provides
equivalent protection. Such clothing in-
cludes thick, tightly woven, sturdy and
snug-fitting apparel such as denim, but
does not include spandex or similar fab-
rics, like those used in bicycle shorts.
Eye protection is recommended to keep
wind, water, and glare from the sun out of
your eyes while you operate your water-
craft. Restraining straps for eyewear are
made which are designed to float should
your eyewear fall in the water.
Footwear and gloves are recommended.
You must decide whether to wear a helmet
while you ride for recreation. You should
know that a helmet could help protect you
1Authority-approved PFD
2Wetsuit bottom
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Safety information
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in certain kinds of accidents and that it
could injure you in others.
A helmet is designed to provide some head
protection. Although helmets cannot pro-
tect against all foreseeable impacts, a hel-
met might reduce your injuries in a collision
with a boat or other obstacle.
A helmet may have potential safety haz-
ards, as well. Falling into the water could
risk the chance of the helmet catching wa-
ter, commonly known as “bucketing”, and
the resulting strain on your neck could cau-
se choking, severe and permanent neck in-
juries, or death. A helmet could also
increase the risk of an accident if it reduces
your vision or hearing, or if it distracts you
or increases your fatigue.
How should you decide if a helmet’s poten-
tial safety benefits outweigh its potential
risks for you? Consider your particular rid-
ing conditions. Consider factors such as
your riding environment and your riding
style and ability. Also consider the likeli-
hood of traffic congestion, and the water
surface conditions.
If you decide to wear a helmet based upon
your riding circumstances, choose one
carefully. Look for a helmet designed for
personal watercraft use, if possible. If you
will be engaging in closed-course competi-
tion, follow the helmet requirements of the
sanctioning organization.
Never operate the watercraft after consum-
ing alcohol or taking other drugs.
For reasons of safety and proper care of
the watercraft, always perform the pre-op-
eration checks listed on page 54 before op-
erating the watercraft.
The operator and passenger should always
keep their feet on the floor of the footwell
when the watercraft is in motion. Liftingyour feet increases the chances of losing
your balance, or hitting objects outside the
watercraft with your feet. Do not give a ride
to a child whose feet cannot reach the floor
of the footwell.
The passenger should firmly hold on to the
operator.
Never allow a passenger to ride in front of
the operator.
Always consult your doctor on whether it is
safe for you to ride this watercraft if you are
pregnant or in poor health.
Do not attempt to modify this watercraft.
Modifications to your watercraft may re-
duce safety and reliability, and render the
watercraft unsafe or illegal for use.
Attach the engine shut-off cord (lanyard) to
y o u r l ef t w r is t an d k ee p i t fr e e f r o m t h e h an -
dlebars so that the engine stops if you, the
operator, fall off. After riding, remove the
engine shut-off cord (lanyard) from the wa-
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Safety information
15
tercraft to avoid accidental starting or un-
authorized use by children or others.
Scan carefully for swimmers and stay away
from swimming areas. Swimmers are hard
to see and you could accidentally hit some-
one in the water.
Avoid being hit by another boat. You
should always take the responsibility to
watch for traffic; other boaters may not be
watching for you. If they do not see you, or
if you maneuver more quickly than other
boaters expect, you risk a collision.
Maintain a safe distance from other boats
and watercraft, and also watch for ski
ropes or fishing lines. Obey the “Safe boat-
ing rules” and be sure to check behind you
before making a turn. (See “Safe boating
rules” on page 18.)
EJU30841
Recommended equipment
The following items should be carried on
board your watercraft:
Sound-signaling device
You should carry a whistle or other sound-
signaling device that can be used to signal
other boats.
Visual distress signals
It is recommended that a pyrotechnic de-
vice, which is approved by the appropriate
authorities, be stored in a waterproof con-
tainer on your watercraft. A mirror can also
be used as an emergency signal. Contact a
Yamaha dealer for more information.
Watch
A watch is helpful so you will know how
long you have been operating the water-
craft.
Towline
A towline can be used to tow a disabled
watercraft in an emergency.
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Safety information
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EJU36851
Hazard information
Never start the engine or let it run for any
length of time in an enclosed area. Exhaust
fumes contain carbon monoxide, a color-
less, odorless gas that may cause loss of
consciousness and death within a short
time. Always operate the watercraft in an
open area.
Do not touch the hot muffler or engine dur-
ing or immediately after engine operation;
they can cause serious burns.
EJU30921
Watercraft characteristics
Jet thrust turns the watercraft. Releasing
the throttle lever completely produces only
minimum thrust. If you are traveling at
speeds above trolling, you will have rapidly
decreasing ability to steer without throttle.
This model is equipped with the Yamaha
Engine Management System (YEMS) that
includes an off-throttle steering (OTS) sys-
tem. It will activate at planing speeds
should you attempt to steer the watercraft
after releasing the throttle lever. The OTS
system assists in turning by continuing to
supply some thrust while the watercraft is
decelerating, but you can turn more sharp-
ly if you apply throttle while turning the han-
dlebars.
The OTS system does not function below
planing speeds or when the engine is off.
Once the engine slows down, the water-
craft will no longer turn in response to han-
dlebar input until you apply throttle again or
you reach trolling speed.
Practice turning in an open area without
obstacles until you have a good feel for this
maneuver.
This watercraft is water-jet propelled. The
jet pump is directly connected to the en-
gine. This means that jet thrust will produce
some movement whenever the engine is
running. There is no “neutral” position. You
are in either “forward” or “reverse”, de-
pending upon the shift lever position.
Do not use the reverse function to slow
d o w n o r s t o p t h e w a t e r c r a f t a s i t c o u l d c a u -
se you to lose control, be ejected, or im-
pact the handlebars.
This could increase the risk of back/spinal
injury (paralysis), facial injuries, and broken
legs, ankles, and other bones. You could
also damage the shift mechanism.
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Safety information
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Reverse can be used to slow down or stop
during slow-speed maneuvering, such as
when docking. Once the engine is idling,
shift into reverse and gradually increase
engine speed. Make sure that there are no
obstacles or people behind you before
shifting into reverse.
Keep away from the intake grate while the
engine is on. Items such as long hair, loose
clothing, or PFD straps can become entan-
gled in moving parts, resulting in severe in-
jury or drowning.
Never insert any object into the jet thrust
nozzle while the engine is running. Severe
injury or death could result from coming in
contact with the rotating parts of the jet
pump.
Stop the engine and remove the clip from
the engine shut-off switch before removingany debris or weeds, which may have col-
lected around the jet intake.
1Intake grate
2Jet thrust nozzle
1
2
1Clip
2Engine shut-off switch
2
1
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Safety information
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EJU30971
Safe boating rules
Your Yamaha watercraft is legally considered
a powerboat. Operation of the watercraft
must be in accordance with the rules and
regulations governing the waterway on which
it is used.
EJU30992
Enjoy your watercraft
responsibly
You share the areas you enjoy when riding
your watercraft with others and with nature.
So your enjoyment includes a responsibility
to treat these other people, and the lands,
waters, and wildlife with respect and courte-
sy.
Whenever and wherever you ride, think of
yourself as the guest of those around you.
Remember, for example, that the sound of
your watercraft may be music to you, but it
could be just noise to others. And the exciting
splash of your wake can make waves others
won’t enjoy.
Avoid riding close to shoreline homes and
waterfowl nesting areas or other wildlife ar-
eas, and keep a respectful distance from fish-
ermen, other boats, swimmers, and
populated beaches. When travel in areas like
these is unavoidable, ride slowly and obey all
laws.
Proper maintenance is necessary to ensure
that the exhaust emission and sound levels of
your watercraft will continue to be within reg-
ulated limits. You have the responsibility to
make sure that the recommended mainte-
nance in this owner’s/operator’s manual is
carried out.
Remember, pollution can be harmful to the
environment. Do not refuel or add oil where a
spill could cause damage to nature. Remove
your watercraft from the water and move it
away from the shoreline before refueling. Dis-
pose of water and any fuel and oil residue in
the engine compartment according to local
regulations. And keep your surroundings
pleasant for the people and wildlife that share
the waterways: don’t litter.
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