2015 YAMAHA XVS950 engine

TABLE OF CONTENTSSAFETY INFORMATION.................. 1-1
DESCRIPTION .................................. 2-1
Left view ......................................... 2-1
Right view ....................................... 2-2
Controls and instruments ............... 2-3
INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL
FUNCTIONS ...................................... 3-1
Immobilizer system......................... 3-1
Main switch .................................... 3-2
Indicator lights and warning lights............................................ 3-3
Multi-function meter unit ................ 3-5
Handlebar switches ........................ 3-8
Clutch lever .................................... 3-9
Shift pedal .................................... 3-10
Brake lever.................................... 3-10
Brake pedal .................................. 3-10
ABS .............................................. 3-11
Fuel tank cap ................................ 3-12
Fuel ............................................... 3-12
Fuel tank breather/overflow
hose .......................................... 3-14
Catalytic converter ....................... 3-14
Steering lock................................. 3-15
Seat .............................................. 3-15
Adjusting the shock absorber assemblies ................................ 3-16
Sidestand ..................................... 3-17
Ignition circuit cut-off system ....... 3-18 FOR YOUR SAFETY –
PRE-OPERATION CHECKS
............. 4-1
OPERATION AND IMPORTANT
RIDING POINTS ................................ 5-1
Starting the engine .......................... 5-1
Shifting ............................................ 5-2
Tips for reducing fuel consumption ................................ 5-4
Engine break-in ............................... 5-4
Parking ............................................ 5-5
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND
ADJUSTMENT ................................... 6-1
Owner’s tool kit ............................... 6-2
Periodic maintenance chart for the emission control system .............. 6-3
General maintenance and lubrication chart ........................... 6-4
Removing and installing the
panel ............................................ 6-8
Checking the spark plugs ............... 6-8
Engine oil and oil filter cartridge...... 6-9
Replacing the air filter element ..... 6-12
Checking the throttle grip free play ............................................ 6-13
Valve clearance ............................. 6-13
Tires .............................................. 6-13
Cast wheels................................... 6-15
Adjusting the clutch lever free play ............................................ 6-15 Checking the brake lever free
play ............................................ 6-16
Brake light switches ..................... 6-17
Checking the front and rear brake pads .......................................... 6-17
Checking the brake fluid level ...... 6-18
Changing the brake fluid .............. 6-19
Drive belt slack ............................. 6-19
Checking and lubricating the cables ........................................ 6-20
Checking and lubricating the
throttle grip and cable ............... 6-20
Checking and lubricating the brake and shift pedals............... 6-21
Checking and lubricating the brake and clutch levers ............. 6-21
Checking and lubricating the
sidestand................................... 6-22
Lubricating the swingarm pivots......................................... 6-22
Checking the front fork ................. 6-23
Checking the steering................... 6-23
Checking the wheel bearings ....... 6-24
Battery .......................................... 6-24
Replacing the fuses ...................... 6-25
Replacing the headlight bulb ........ 6-27
Replacing the auxiliary light bulb .......................................... 6-28
Tail/brake light .............................. 6-29
Replacing a turn signal light
bulb ........................................... 6-29UB33E0E0.book Page 1 Monday, December 1, 2014 4:49 PM

SAFETY INFORMATION
1-2
1

Many accidents involve inexperi-
enced operators. In fact, many op-
erators who have been involved in
accidents do not even have a cur-
rent motorcycle license.
• Make sure that you are qualified and that you only lend your mo-
torcycle to other qualified oper-
ators.
• Know your skills and limits. Staying within your limits may
help you to avoid an accident.
• We recommend that you prac- tice riding your motorcycle
where there is no traffic until you
have become thoroughly famil-
iar with the motorcycle and all of
its controls.
 Many accidents have been
caused by error of the motorcycle
operator. A typical error made by
the operator is veering wide on a
turn due to excessive speed or un-
dercornering (insufficient lean an-
gle for the speed).
• Always obey the speed limit and never travel faster than warrant-
ed by road and traffic condi-
tions. • Always signal before turning or
changing lanes. Make sure that
other motorists can see you.
 The posture of the operator and
passenger is important for proper
control.
• The operator should keep both hands on the handlebar and
both feet on the operator foot-
rests during operation to main-
tain control of the motorcycle.
• The passenger should always hold onto the operator, the seat
strap or grab bar, if equipped,
with both hands and keep both
feet on the passenger footrests.
Never carry a passenger unless
he or she can firmly place both
feet on the passenger footrests.
 Never ride under the influence of
alcohol or other drugs.
 This motorcycle is designed for
on-road use only. It is not suitable
for off-road use. Protective Apparel
The majority of fatalities from motorcy-
cle accidents are the result of head in-
juries. The use of a safety helmet is the
single most critical factor in the pre-
vention or reduction of head injuries.
 Always wear an approved helmet.
 Wear a face shield or goggles.
Wind in your unprotected eyes
could contribute to an impairment
of vision that could delay seeing a
hazard.
 The use of a jacket, heavy boots,
trousers, gloves, etc., is effective
in preventing or reducing abra-
sions or lacerations.
 Never wear loose-fitting clothes,
otherwise they could catch on the
control levers, footrests, or wheels
and cause injury or an accident.
 Always wear protective clothing
that covers your legs, ankles, and
feet. The engine or exhaust sys-
tem become very hot during or af-
ter operation and can cause
burns.
 A passenger should also observe
the above precautions.
UB33E0E0.book Page 2 Monday, December 1, 2014 4:49 PM

SAFETY INFORMATION
1-3
1Avoi
d Car bon Monoxi de Poisonin g
All engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide, a deadly gas. Breathing
carbon monoxide can cause head-
aches, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea,
confusion, and eventually death.
Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odor-
less, tasteless gas which may be pres-
ent even if you do not see or smell any
engine exhaust. Deadly levels of car-
bon monoxide can collect rapidly and
you can quickly be overcome and un-
able to save yourself. Also, deadly lev-
els of carbon monoxide can linger for
hours or days in enclosed or poorly
ventilated areas. If you experience any
symptoms of carbon monoxide poi-
soning, leave the area immediately, get
fresh air, and SEEK MEDICAL TREAT-
MENT.  Do not run engine indoors. Even if
you try to ventilate engine exhaust
with fans or open windows and
doors, carbon monoxide can rap-
idly reach dangerous levels.
 Do not run engine in poorly venti-
lated or partially enclosed areas
such as barns, garages, or car-
ports. 
Do not run engine outdoors where
engine exhaust can be drawn into
a building through openings such
as windows and doors.
Loa din g
Adding accessories or cargo to your
motorcycle can adversely affect stabil-
ity and handling if the weight distribu-
tion of the motorcycle is changed. To
avoid the possibility of an accident, use
extreme caution when adding cargo or
accessories to your motorcycle. Use
extra care when riding a motorcycle
that has added cargo or accessories.
Here, along with the information about
accessories below, are some general
guidelines to follow if loading cargo to
your motorcycle:
The total weight of the operator, pas-
senger, accessories and cargo must
not exceed the maximum load limit.
Operation of an overloa ded vehicle
coul d cause an acci dent. When loading within this weight limit,
keep the following in mind:
 Cargo and accessory weight
should be kept as low and close to
the motorcycle as possible. Se-
curely pack your heaviest items as
close to the center of the vehicle
as possible and make sure to dis-
tribute the weight as evenly as
possible on both sides of the mo-
torcycle to minimize imbalance or
instability.
 Shifting weights can create a sud-
den imbalance. Make sure that
accessories and cargo are se-
curely attached to the motorcycle
before riding. Check accessory
mounts and cargo restraints fre-
quently.
• Properly adjust the suspension for your load (suspension-ad-
justable models only), and
check the condition and pres-
sure of your tires.
• Never attach any large or heavy items to the handlebar, front
fork, or front fender. These
items, including such cargo as
sleeping bags, duffel bags, or
Maximum loa d:
206 kg (454 lb)
UB33E0E0.book Page 3 Monday, December 1, 2014 4:49 PM

SAFETY INFORMATION
1-5
1operator 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.
Aftermarket Tires an d Rims
The tires and rims that came with your
motorcycle were designed to match
the performance capabilities and to
provide the best combination of han-
dling, braking, and comfort. Other
tires, rims, sizes, and combinations
may not be appropriate. Refer to page
6-13 for tire specifications and more in-
formation on replacing your tires.
Transportin g the Motorcycle
Be sure to observe following instruc-
tions before transporting the motorcy-
cle in another vehicle.  Remove all loose items from the
motorcycle. 
Check that the fuel cock (if
equipped) is in the “OFF” position
and that there are no fuel leaks.
 Point the front wheel straight
ahead on the trailer or in the truck
bed, and choke it in a rail to pre-
vent movement.
 Shift the transmission in gear (for
models with a manual transmis-
sion).
 Secure the motorcycle with tie-
downs or suitable straps that are
attached to solid parts of the mo-
torcycle, such as the frame or up-
per front fork triple clamp (and not,
for example, to rubber-mounted
handlebars or turn signals, or
parts that could break). Choose
the location for the straps carefully
so the straps will not rub against
painted surfaces during transport.
 The suspension should be com-
pressed somewhat by the tie-
downs, if possible, so that the mo-
torcycle will not bounce exces-
sively during transport.
UB33E0E0.book Page 5 Monday, December 1, 2014 4:49 PM

DESCRIPTION
2-1
2
EAU10411
Left view
1
2
3
4,5,6
7
8
9
10
1. Headlight (page 6-27)
2. Owner’s tool kit (page 6-2)
3. Shock absorber assembly spring preload adjusting ring (page 3-16)
4. Main fuse (page 6-25)
5. Fuse box (page 6-25)
6. ABS motor fuse (page 6-25)
7. Engine oil drain bolt (page 6-9)
8. Shift pedal (page 3-10)9. Engine oil filter cartridge (page 6-9)
10.Engine oil filler cap (page 6-9)
UB33E0E0.book Page 1 Monday, December 1, 2014 4:49 PM

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-2
3

Keep other immo bilizer system
keys away from the main switch
as they may cause si gnal inter-
ference.
EAU57670
Main switchThe main switch controls the ignition
and lighting systems. The various main
switch positions are described below.NOTICE
ECA17961
Do not use metal key chains or keep
more than one key on the same key
rin g. While the vehicle is in motion, a
metal key chain, metallic key rin gs,
or a dditional keys coul d contact sur-
roun din g components an d scratch
them. Therefore, it is recommen ded
to use a cloth or leather key chain.
TIPBe sure to use the standard key (black
bow) for regular use of the vehicle. To
minimize the risk of losing the code re-
registering key (red bow), keep it in a
safe place and only use it for code re-
registering.
EAU38531
ON
All electrical circuits are supplied with
power; the meter lighting, taillight, li-
cense plate light and auxiliary light
come on, and the engine can be start-
ed. The key cannot be removed.TIPThe headlight comes on automatically
when the engine is started and stays
on until the key is turned to “OFF”,
even if the engine stalls.
EAU45752
OFF
All electrical systems are off. The key
can be removed.
P
ON
OFF
UB33E0E0.book Page 2 Monday, December 1, 2014 4:49 PM

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-3
3
WARNING
EWA10073
Never turn the key to “OFF” while
the vehicle is moving, otherwise the
electrical systems will be switched
off, which may result in loss of con-
trol or an acci dent.
EAU62271
(Parkin g)
The hazard lights and turn signal lights
can be turned on, but all other electri-
cal systems are off. The key can be re-
moved.
The key must be pushed in from the
“OFF” position to be turned to “ ”.
NOTICE
ECA20760
Usin g the hazar d or turn si gnal li ghts
for an exten ded len gth of time may
cause the battery to d ischarge.
EAU49398
In dicator li ghts an d warnin g
li g hts
EAU11022
Turn si gnal in dicator li ght “ ”
This indicator light flashes when a turn
signal light is flashing.
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 li ght “ ”
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.
1. Oil level warning light “ ”
2. Immobilizer system indicator light “ ”
3. Turn signal indicator light “ ”
4. Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) warning light “ ”
5. Fuel level warning light “ ”
6. Engine trouble warning light “ ”
7. Neutral indicator light “ ”
8. High beam indicator light “ ”
1
35 42
8
7
6
ABS
UB33E0E0.book Page 3 Monday, December 1, 2014 4:49 PM

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-4
3
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.
EAU11367
Fuel level warnin g li ght “ ”
This warning light comes on when the
fuel level drops below approximately
2.8 L (0.74 US gal, 0.62 Imp.gal). When
this occurs, refuel as soon as possible.
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.
TIPThis model is also equipped with a self-
diagnosis device for the fuel level de-
tection circuit. If a problem is detected
in the fuel level detection circuit, the
following cycle will be repeated until
the malfunction is corrected: The fuel
level warning light will flash eight times,
and then go off for 3.0 seconds. If this
occurs, have a Yamaha dealer check
the vehicle.
EAU46443
En
gine trou ble warnin g li ght “ ”
This warning light comes on if a prob-
lem is detected in the electrical circuit
monitoring the engine. If this occurs,
have a Yamaha dealer check the self-
diagnosis system. (See page 3-7 for an
explanation of the self-diagnosis de-
vice.) 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.
TIPThis warning light will come on when
the key is turned to “ON” and the start
switch is pushed, but this does not in-
dicate a malfunction.
EAU51662
ABS warnin
g lig ht “ ”
In normal operation, the ABS warning
light comes on when the key is turned
to “ON”, and goes off after traveling at
a speed of 10 km/h (6 mi/h) or higher.
If the ABS warning light:  does not come on when the key is
turned to “ON”
 comes on or flashes while riding
 does not go off after traveling at a
speed of 10 km/h (6 mi/h) or high-
er
ABS
UB33E0E0.book Page 4 Monday, December 1, 2014 4:49 PM