2015 YAMAHA XT1200ZE ESP

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SAFETY INFORMATION
EAU1031C
Be a Responsible Owner
As the vehicle’s owner, you are re-
sponsible for the safe and proper oper-
ation of your motorcycle.
Motorcycles are single-track vehicles.
Their safe use and operation are de-
pendent upon the use of proper riding
techniques as well as the expertise of
the operator. Every operator should
know the following requirements be-
fore riding this motorcycle.
He or she should:  Obtain thorough instructions from
a competent source on all aspects
of motorcycle operation.
 Observe the warnings and mainte-
nance requirements in this Own-
er’s Manual.
 Obtain qualified training in safe
and proper riding techniques.
 Obtain professional technical ser-
vice as indicated in this Owner’s
Manual and/or when made neces-
sary by mechanical conditions. 
Never operate a motorcycle with-
out proper training or instruction.
Take a training course. Beginners
should receive training from a cer-
tified instructor. Contact an autho-
rized motorcycle dealer to find out
about the training courses nearest
you.
Safe Ri din g
Perform the pre-operation checks
each time you use the vehicle to make
sure it is in safe operating condition.
Failure to inspect or maintain the vehi-
cle properly increases the possibility of
an accident or equipment damage.
See page 4-1 for a list of pre-operation
checks.  This motorcycle is designed to
carry the operator and a passen-
ger.
 The failure of motorists to detect
and recognize motorcycles in traf-
fic is the predominating cause of
automobile/motorcycle accidents.
Many accidents have been
caused by an automobile driver
who did not see the motorcycle.
Making yourself conspicuous ap- pears to be very effective in reduc-
ing the chance of this type of
accident.
Therefore:
• Wear a brightly colored jacket.
• Use extra caution when you are approaching and passing
through intersections, since in-
tersections are the most likely
places for motorcycle accidents
to occur.
• Ride where other motorists can see you. Avoid riding in another
motorist’s blind spot.
• Never maintain a motorcycle without proper knowledge.
Contact an authorized motorcy-
cle dealer to inform you on ba-
sic motorcycle maintenance.
Certain maintenance can only
be carried out by certified staff.U2KBE1E0.book Page 1 Monday, August 18, 2014 9:42 AM

SAFETY INFORMATION
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1
Genuine Yamaha Accessories
Choosing accessories for your vehicle
is an important decision. Genuine
Yamaha accessories, which are avail- able only from a Yamaha dealer, have
been designed, tested, and approved
by Yamaha for use on your vehicle.
Many companies with no connection
to Yamaha manufacture parts and ac-
cessories or offer other modifications
for Yamaha vehicles. Yamaha is not in
a position to test the products that
these aftermarket companies produce.
Therefore, Yamaha can neither en-
dorse nor recommend the use of ac-
cessories not sold by Yamaha or
modifications not specifically recom-
mended by Yamaha, even if sold and
installed by a Yamaha dealer.
Aftermarket Parts, Accessories, an d
Mo difications
While you may find aftermarket prod-
ucts similar in design and quality to
genuine Yamaha accessories, recog-
nize that some aftermarket accesso-
ries or modifications are not suitable
because of potential safety hazards to
you or others. Installing aftermarket products or having other modifications
performed to your vehicle that change
any of the vehicle’s design or operation
characteristics can put you and others
at greater risk of serious injury or
death. You are responsible for injuries
related to changes in the vehicle.
Keep the following guidelines in mind,
as well as those provided under “Load-
ing” when mounting accessories.
 Never install accessories or carry
cargo that would impair the per-
formance of your motorcycle.
Carefully inspect the accessory
before using it to make sure that it
does not in any way reduce
ground clearance or cornering
clearance, limit suspension travel,
steering travel or control opera-
tion, or obscure lights or reflec-
tors.
• Accessories fitted to the han- dlebar or the front fork area can
create instability due to improp-
er weight distribution or aerody-
namic changes. If accessories
are added to the handlebar or front fork area, they must be as
lightweight as possible and
should be kept to a minimum.
• Bulky or large accessories may seriously affect the stability of
the motorcycle due to aerody-
namic effects. Wind may at-
tempt to lift the motorcycle, or
the motorcycle may become
unstable in cross winds. These
accessories may also cause in-
stability when passing or being
passed by large vehicles.
• Certain accessories can dis- place the operator from his or
her normal riding position. This
improper position limits the
freedom of movement of the
operator and may limit control
ability, therefore, such accesso-
ries are not recommended.
 Use caution when adding electri-
cal accessories. If electrical ac-
cessories exceed the capacity of
the motorcycle’s electrical sys-
tem, an electric failure could re-
sult, which could cause a
dangerous loss of lights or engine
power.
U2KBE1E0.book Page 4 Monday, August 18, 2014 9:42 AM

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
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EAU49397
Indicator lig hts and warning
lig hts
EAU11031
Turn si gnal in dicator li ghts “ ”
an d“”
The corresponding indicator light
flashes when the turn signal switch is
pushed to the left or right.
EAU11061
Neutral in dicator li ght “ ”
This indicator light comes on when the
transmission is in the neutral position.
EAU11081
Hi gh beam in dicator li ght “ ”
This indicator light comes on when the
high beam of the headlight is switched
on.
EAU11255
Oil level warnin g lig ht “ ”
This warning light comes on if the en-
gine oil level is low.
The electrical circuit of the warning
light can be checked by turning the key
to “ON”. The warning light should
come on for a few seconds, and then
go off. If the warning light does not come on
initially when the key is turned to “ON”,
or if the warning light remains on, have
a Yamaha dealer check the electrical
circuit.
TIP
Even if the oil level is sufficient, the
warning light may flicker when rid-
ing on a slope or during sudden
acceleration or deceleration, but
this is not a malfunction.
 This model is also equipped with a
self-diagnosis device for the oil
level detection circuit. If a problem
is detected in the oil level detec-
tion circuit, the following cycle will
be repeated until the malfunction
is corrected: The oil level warning
light will flash ten times, then go
off for 2.5 seconds. If this occurs,
have a Yamaha dealer check the
vehicle.
EAU58400
Cruise control in dicator li ghts
These indicator lights come on when
the cruise control system is activated.
See page 3-7 for a detailed explanation
of the function of these indicator lights.
1. Left turn signal indicator light “ ”
2. Right turn signal indicator light “ ”
3. Electronically adjustable suspension sys- tem warning light “ ”
4. Oil level warning light “ ”
5. Engine trouble warning light “ ”
6. Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) warning light “ ”
7. Traction control system indicator/warning light “TCS”
8. Cruise control indicator lights
9. High beam indicator light “ ”
10.Neutral indicator light “ ”
11.Immobilizer system indicator light “ ”
GEARN
25
A.TEMP ˚C
Lo
C.TEMP˚C
0:00
TIME TRIP34567
9
8
1011
1
2
ABS
U2KBE1E0.book Page 4 Monday, August 18, 2014 9:42 AM

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-37
33. Align the slide plate holders withthe match marks at the desired
position.
TIPMake sure that the slide plate
holders are aligned with the match
marks at the same height on both
sides of the windshield.
 Make sure that the projection on
each slide plate holder fits into the
corresponding hole in the slide
plate.
4. Tighten the adjusting knobs.
EAU55424
Adjustin g the front an d rear
suspensionThis model is equipped with an elec-
tronically adjustable suspension sys-
tem. The preload of the rear shock
absorber and the damping forces of
both the front fork and rear shock ab-
sorber can be adjusted.
WARNING
EWA12423
Be sure to stop the vehicle before
makin g any settin g chan ges to the
multi-function meter unit. Chan gin g
settin gs while ri din g can distract the
operator an d increase the risk of an
acci dent.Preloa d
When riding with luggage or a passen-
ger, use the preload adjusting function
to adjust the suspension system to
match the load. There are 4 preload
settings.TIP The preload adjusting function will
appear only when the engine is
running.
1. Slide plate holder
1
1. Match mark
2. Slide plate
2
1
U2KBE1E0.book Page 37 Monday, August 18, 2014 9:42 AM

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
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EAU15306
Sidestan dThe sidestand is located on the left
side of the frame. Raise the sidestand
or lower it with your foot while holding
the vehicle upright.TIPThe built-in sidestand switch is part of
the ignition circuit cut-off system,
which cuts the ignition in certain situa-
tions. (See the following section for an
explanation of the ignition circuit cut-
off system.)
WARNING
EWA10242
The vehicle must not be ri dden with
the si destan d d own, or if the si de-
stan d cannot b e properly move d up
(or does not stay up), otherwise the
si destan d coul d contact the groun d
an d d istract the operator, resultin g
in a possi ble loss of control.
Yamaha’s ig nition circuit cut-off
system has been desi gne d to assist
the operator in fulfillin g the respon-
si bility of raisin g the si destan d b e-
fore startin g off. Therefore, check this system re
gularly an d have a
Yamaha dealer repair it if it does not
function properly.
EAU54491
I g nition circuit cut-off systemThe ignition circuit cut-off system
(comprising the sidestand switch,
clutch switch and neutral switch) has
the following functions.
 It prevents starting when the
transmission is in gear and the
sidestand is up, but the clutch le-
ver is not pulled.
 It prevents starting when the
transmission is in gear and the
clutch lever is pulled, but the side-
stand is still down.
 It cuts the running engine when
the transmission is in gear and the
sidestand is moved down.
Periodically check the operation of the
ignition circuit cut-off system accord-
ing to the following procedure.
U2KBE1E0.book Page 43 Monday, August 18, 2014 9:42 AM

OPERATION AND IMPORTANT RIDING POINTS
5-2
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NOTICE
ECA11834
If a warning or in dicator li ght does
not come on initially when the key is
turne d to “ON”, or if a warning or in-
d icator li ght remains on, see pag e
3-4 for the correspon din g warnin g
an d in dicator li ght circuit check.
The ABS warning light should
come on when the key is turned to
“ON”, and then go off after travel-
ing at a speed of 10 km/h (6 mi/h)
or higher.
NOTICE
ECA17682
If the ABS warnin g lig ht does not
come on an d then g o off as ex-
plaine d a bove, see pa ge 3-4 for the
warnin g lig ht circuit check.2. Shift the transmission into the
neutral position. The neutral indi-
cator light should come on. If not,
ask a Yamaha dealer to check the
electrical circuit.
3. Start the engine by pushing the “ ” side of the start/engine
stop switch. If the engine fails to start, release
the start/engine stop switch, wait
a few seconds, and then try again.
Each starting attempt should be
as short as possible to preserve
the battery. Do not crank the en-
gine more than 10 seconds on any
one attempt.
NOTICE
ECA11043
For maximum en
gine life, never ac-
celerate har d when the en gine is
col d!
EAU16673
Shiftin gShifting gears lets you control the
amount of engine power available for
starting off, accelerating, climbing hills,
etc.
The gear positions are shown in the il-
lustration.TIPTo shift the transmission into the neu-
tral position, press the shift pedal down
repeatedly until it reaches the end of its
travel, and then slightly raise it.1. Shift pedal
2. Neutral position
1
2
654321N
U2KBE1E0.book Page 2 Monday, August 18, 2014 9:42 AM

MOTORCYCLE CARE AND STORAGE7-1
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EAU37834
Matte color cautionNOTICE
ECA15193
Some models are equipped with
matte colored finished parts. Be
sure to consult a Yamaha dealer for
a d vice on what prod ucts to use be-
fore cleanin g the vehicle. Usin g a
b rush, harsh chemical pro ducts or
cleanin g compoun ds when cleanin g
these parts will scratch or damag e
their surface. Wax also shoul d not
b e applie d to any matte colored fin-
ishe d parts.
EAU54711
CareWhile the open design of a motorcycle
reveals the attractiveness of the tech-
nology, it also makes it more vulnera-
ble. Rust and corrosion can develop
even if high-quality components are
used. A rusty exhaust pipe may go un-
noticed on a car, however, it detracts
from the overall appearance of a mo-
torcycle. Frequent and proper care
does not only comply with the terms of
the warranty, but it will also keep your
motorcycle looking good, extend its
life and optimize its performance.
Before cleanin g
1. Cover the muffler outlet with a plastic bag after the engine has
cooled down.
2. Make sure that all caps and cov- ers as well as all electrical cou-
plers and connectors, including
the spark plug caps, are tightly in-
stalled.
3. Remove extremely stubborn dirt, like oil burnt onto the crankcase,
with a degreasing agent and a
brush, but never apply such prod- ucts onto seals, gaskets and
wheel axles. Always rinse the dirt
and degreaser off with water.
Cleanin g
NOTICE
ECA10773
Avoi d usin g stron g aci dic wheel
cleaners, especially on spoked
wheels. If such pro ducts are
use d on har d-to-remove dirt, do
not leave the cleaner on the af-
fected area any lon ger than in-
structed . Also, thorou ghly rinse
the area off with water, immed i-
ately dry it, an d then apply a cor-
rosion protection spray.
 Improper cleanin g can d amage
plastic parts (such as cowlin gs,
panels, win dshiel ds, hea dlig ht
lenses, meter lenses, etc.) an d
the mufflers. Use only a soft,
clean cloth or spon ge with wa-
ter to clean plastic. However, if
the plastic parts cannot be thor-
ou ghly cleaned with water, di-
lute d mil d d eter gent with water
may be used . Be sure to rinse
U2KBE1E0.book Page 1 Monday, August 18, 2014 9:42 AM