2015 YAMAHA XVS950 brakes

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-11
3
EAU67580
ABSThe Yamaha ABS (Anti-lock Brake
System) features a dual electronic con-
trol system, which acts on the front and
rear brakes independently.
Operate the brakes with ABS as you
would conventional brakes. If the ABS
is activated, a pulsating sensation may
be felt at the brake lever or brake ped-
al. In this situation, continue to apply
the brakes and let the ABS work; do
not “pump” the brakes as this will re-
duce braking effectiveness.
WARNING
EWA16051
Always keep a sufficient distance
from the vehicle ahea d to match the
ri din g speed even with ABS.
 The ABS performs best with
lon g b rakin g d istances.
 On certain surfaces, such as
rou gh or g ravel roa ds, the b rak-
in g d istance may b e longer with
the ABS than without.The ABS is monitored by an ECU,
which will revert the system to conven-
tional braking if a malfunction occurs.
TIP The ABS performs a self-diagno-
sis test each time the vehicle first
starts off after the key is turned to
“ON” and the vehicle has traveled
at a speed of 10 km/h (6 mi/h) or
higher. During this test, a “click-
ing” noise can be heard from the
hydraulic control unit, and if the
brake lever or brake pedal is even
slightly applied, a vibration can be
felt at the lever and pedal, but
these do not indicate a malfunc-
tion.
 This ABS has a test mode which
allows the owner to experience
the pulsation at the brake lever or
brake pedal when the ABS is op-
erating. However, special tools are
required, so please consult your
Yamaha dealer.NOTICE
ECA20100
Be careful not to damag e the wheel
sensor or wheel sensor rotor; other-
wise, improper performance of the
ABS will result.
1. Rear wheel hub
2. Front wheel hub1
2
UB33E0E0.book Page 11 Monday, December 1, 2014 4:49 PM

OPERATION AND IMPORTANT RIDING POINTS
5-3
5
NOTICE
ECA10261
Even with the transmission in
the neutral position, do not
coast for lon g period s of time
with the en gine off, an d d o not
tow the motorcycle for lon g d is-
tances. The transmission is
properly lu bricated only when
the en gine is runnin g. Ina de-
quate lu brication may damag e
the transmission.
 Always use the clutch while
chan gin g g ears to avoi d d am-
a g in g the en gine, transmission,
an d d rive train, which are not
d esi gne d to withstan d the
shock of force d shifting .
EAU16682
To start out an d accelerate
1. Pull the clutch lever to disengage the clutch.
2. Shift the transmission into first gear. The neutral indicator light
should go out.
3. Open the throttle gradually, and at the same time, release the clutch
lever slowly. 4. At the recommended shift points
shown in the following table, close
the throttle, and at the same time,
quickly pull the clutch lever in.
5. Shift the transmission into second gear. (Make sure not to shift the
transmission into the neutral posi-
tion.)
6. Open the throttle part way and gradually release the clutch lever.
7. Follow the same procedure when shifting to the next higher gear.
TIPWhen shifting gears in normal operat-
ing conditions, use the recommended
shift points.
EAU16701
To decelerate
1. Apply both the front and the rear brakes to slow the motorcycle.
2. Shift the transmission into first gear when the motorcycle reaches
25 km/h (16 mi/h). If the engine is
about to stall or runs very roughly,
pull the clutch lever in and use the
brakes to stop the motorcycle. 3. Shift the transmission into the
neutral position when the motor-
cycle is almost completely
stopped. The neutral indicator
light should come on.
EAU16721
Recommen ded shift points
The recommended shift points during
acceleration and deceleration are
shown in the table below.Shift up points: 1st → 2nd: 20 km/h (12 mi/h)
2nd → 3rd: 30 km/h (19 mi/h)
3rd → 4th: 40 km/h (25 mi/h)
4th → 5th: 50 km/h (31 mi/h)
Shift down points:
5th → 4th: 25 km/h (16 mi/h)
4th → 3rd: 25 km/h (16 mi/h)
3rd → 2nd: 25 km/h (16 mi/h)
2nd → 1st: 25 km/h (16 mi/h)
UB33E0E0.book Page 3 Monday, December 1, 2014 4:49 PM

MOTORCYCLE CARE AND STORAGE7-3
7
3. To prevent corrosion, it is recom-
mended to apply a corrosion pro-
tection spray on all metal,
including chrome- and nickel-plat-
ed, surfaces.
4. Use spray oil as a universal clean- er to remove any remaining dirt.
5. Touch up minor paint damage caused by stones, etc.
6. Wax all painted and chrome-plat- ed surfaces. Avoid combination
cleaner waxes, many of which
contain abrasives that may mar
the paint or protective finish.
7. Let the motorcycle dry completely before storing or covering it.
WARNING
EWA11132
Contaminants on the b rakes or tires
can cause loss of control.  Make sure that there is no oil or
wax on the brakes or tires.
 If necessary, clean the brake
d iscs an d b rake linin gs with a
re gular brake disc cleaner or
acetone, an d wash the tires with
warm water an d a mil d d eter-
g ent. Before rid ing at hi gher spee
ds, test the motorcycle’s
b rakin g performance an d cor-
nerin g b ehavior.
NOTICE
ECA10951
 Apply spray oil an d wax spar-
in gly an d make sure to wipe off
any excess.
 Never apply oil or wax to the
drive belt.
 Never apply oil or wax to any
rubber an d plastic parts, b ut
treat them with a suita ble care
prod uct.
 Avoi d using abrasive polishin g
compoun ds as they will wear
away the paint.TIP Consult a Yamaha dealer for ad-
vice on what products to use.
 Washing, rainy weather or humid
climates can cause the headlight
lens to fog. Turning the headlight
on for a short period of time will
help remove the moisture from the
lens.
EAU26283
Stora geShort-term
Always store your motorcycle in a cool,
dry place and, if necessary, protect it
against dust with a porous cover. Be
sure the engine and the exhaust sys-
tem are cool before covering the mo-
torcycle.NOTICE
ECA10811
 Storin g the motorcycle in a
poorly ventilated room or cover-
in g it with a tarp, while it is still
wet, will allow water an d humi d-
ity to seep in an d cause rust.
 To prevent corrosion, avoi d
d amp cellars, stab les (because
of the presence of ammonia)
an d areas where stron g chemi-
cals are stored .Long-term
Before storing your motorcycle for sev-
eral months: 1. Follow all the instructions in the “Care” section of this chapter.
UB33E0E0.book Page 3 Monday, December 1, 2014 4:49 PM