2015 YAMAHA YZ450F suspension

CHASSIS
3-32
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Low compression dampingECA@
NOTICE
Do not turn the adjuster forcibly beyond its
adjusting range.
1. Adjust:
• Low compression damping
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a. Turn the adjuster “1” in the direction of “a” or
“b” to make an adjustment.
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EAS1SL5108
CHECKING THE TIRES
1. Measure:
• Tire pressure
Out of specification  Regulate.
TIP
• Check the tire while it is cold.
• Loose bead stoppers allow the tire to slip off
its position on the rim when the tire pressure
is low.
• If the tire valve stem is found tilted, the tire is
considered to be slipping off its position. Cor-
rect the tire position.
EAS1SL5109CHECKING AND TIGHTENING THE
SPOKES
1. Check:
• Spokes
Bend/damage  Replace.
Loose  Tighten.
TIP
A tight spoke will emit a clear, ringing tone; a
loose spoke will sound flat. Direction “a”
Low compression damping force is in-
creased (suspension is harder).
Direction “b”
Low compression damping force is de-
creased (suspension is softer).
Low compression damping
Maximum
Turn it in finger-tight.
STD
Turn it out by 12 clicks.*
(USA)(CAN)
Turn it out by 10 clicks.*
(EUR)(JPN)(AUS)(NZL)(ZAF)
Minimum
Turn it out by 20 clicks.*
* With the adjuster fully turned in
1
a b
1ba
Tire pressure
100 kPa (1.0 kgf/cm2,15 psi)

FRONT FORK
4-41
5. Check:
• Base valve “1”
Wear/damage  Replace.
Contamination  Clean.
• O-rings “2”
Wear/damage  Replace.
• Base valve bushing “3”
Wear/damage  Replace.
• Spring “4”
Damage/fatigue  Replace the base valve.
• Air bleed screw “5”
Wear/damage  Replace.
6. Check:
• Contacting surface “a”
Wear/damage  Replace.
7. Check:
• Adjuster “1”
• O-rings “2”
Wear/damage  Replace.EAS1SL5170ASSEMBLING THE FRONT FORK LEGSEWA13660
WARNING
• Make sure the oil levels in both front fork
legs are equal.
• Uneven oil levels can result in poor han-
dling and a loss of stability.
TIP
• When assembling the front fork leg, be sure to
replace the following parts:
• Inner tube bushing
• Outer tube bushing
• Oil seals
• Copper washers
• Before assembling the front fork leg, make
sure that all of the components are clean.
1. Stretch the damper assembly fully.
2. Fill:
• Damper assembly
ECA14210
NOTICE
• Be sure to use the recommended oil. Other
oils may have an adverse effect on front
fork performance.
• When disassembling and assembling the
front fork leg, take care not to allow any
foreign material to enter the front fork.
3. After filling, pump the damper assembly “1”
slowly up and down (about 200 mm (7.9 in)
stroke) several times to bleed the damper
assembly of air.
TIP
Avoid excessive full stroke. A stroke of 200 mm
(7.9 in) or more will cause air to enter. In this
case, repeat the steps 1 to 3.
21
New
New
New
2
21 543
a
New
Recommended oil
Suspension oil S1
Standard oil amount
204 cm
3 (6.90 US oz, 7.20
Imp.oz)
New
1
2

FRONT FORK
4-47
30.Fill:
• Front fork leg
ECA14210
NOTICE
• Be sure to use the recommended oil. Other
oils may have an adverse effect on front
fork performance.
• When disassembling and assembling the
front fork leg, do not allow any foreign ma-
terial to enter the front fork.
31.Install:
• Damper assembly “1”
(to the outer tube)
TIP
Temporarily tighten the damper assembly.
32.Install:
• Protector guide “1”
EAS1SL5171INSTALLING THE FRONT FORK LEGS
1. Install:
• Front fork “1”
TIP
• Temporarily tighten the pinch bolts (lower
bracket).
• Do not tighten the pinch bolts (upper bracket)
yet.
2. Tighten:
• Damper assembly “1”
TIP
Use the cap bolt ring wrench “2” to tighten the
damper assembly. Recommended oil
Suspension oil S1
Standard oil amount
315 cm
3 (10.65 US oz, 11.11 lmp
oz) (USA) (CAN)
355 cm
3 (12.00 US oz, 12.52 lmp
oz) (EUR) (JPN) (AUS) (NZL)
(ZAF)
Extent of adjustment
300–365 cm
3 (10.14–12.34 US
oz, 10.58–12.87 lmp oz)
Damper assembly
30 Nm (3.0 m·kgf, 22 ft·lbf)
Cap bolt ring wrench
90890-01501
YM-01501
1
T R..
2
1

10
TUNING
CHASSIS........................................................................................................ 10-1
SELECTION OF THE SECONDARY REDUCTION
RATIO (SPROCKET) .............................................................................. 10-1
DRIVE AND REAR WHEEL SPROCKETS SETTING PARTS ................ 10-1
TIRE PRESSURE..................................................................................... 10-2
FRONT FORK SETTING.......................................................................... 10-2
CHANGE IN AMOUNT AND CHARACTERISTICS OF FORK OIL.......... 10-2
SETTING OF SPRING AFTER REPLACEMENT .................................... 10-3
FRONT FORK SETTING PARTS............................................................. 10-3
REAR SUSPENSION SETTING .............................................................. 10-3
CHOOSING SET LENGTH ...................................................................... 10-3
SETTING OF SPRING AFTER REPLACEMENT .................................... 10-4
REAR SHOCK ABSORBER SETTING PARTS ....................................... 10-5
SUSPENSION SETTING (FRONT FORK)............................................... 10-6
SUSPENSION SETTING (REAR SHOCK ABSORBER) ......................... 10-7

CHASSIS
10-3
EAS1SL5372SETTING OF SPRING AFTER REPLACE-
MENT
As the front fork setting can be easily affected
by the rear suspension, take care so that the
front and the rear are balanced (in position etc.)
when setting the front fork.
1. Use of soft spring
• Change the rebound damping force.
Turn out one or two clicks.
• Change the compression damping force.
Turn in one or two clicks.
TIP
Generally a soft spring gives a soft riding feel-
ing. Rebound damping tends to become stron-
ger and the front fork may sink deeply over a
series of gaps.
2. Use of stiff spring
• Change the rebound damping force.
Turn in one or two clicks.
• Change the compression damping force.
Turn out one or two clicks.
TIP
Generally a stiff spring gives a stiff riding feel-
ing. Rebound damping tends to become weak-
er, resulting in lack of a sense of contact with
the road surface or in a vibrating handlebar.
EAS1SL5373FRONT FORK SETTING PARTS
• Front fork spring “1”
*Except for USA and CAN
TIP
The I.D. mark (slits) “a” is proved on the end of
the spring.
EAS1SL5374REAR SUSPENSION SETTING
The rear shock absorber setting should be
made depending on the rider’s feeling of an ac-
tual run and the circuit conditions.
The rear suspension setting includes the fol-
lowing two factors:
1. Setting of spring preload
• Change the set length of the spring.
• Change the spring.
2. Setting of damping force
• Change the rebound damping force.
• Change the compression damping force.
EAS1SL5375CHOOSING SET LENGTH
1. Place a stand or a block under the engine to
put the rear wheel above the floor, and mea-
sure the length “a” between the rear wheel
axle center and the rear fender holding bolt. TypeSpring
rate N/
mmPart numberI.D.
Mark
(slits)
SOFT4.5 1SL-23141-20 |-||
4.6 1SL-23141-30 |-|||
STD* 4.71SL-23141-10 —
1SL-23141-40 |-||||
4.8 1SL-23141-50 |-|||||
4.91SL-23141-60 ||-||
STD 5.01SL-23141-90 —
1SL-23141-70 ||-|||
STIFF 5.1 1SL-23141-80 ||-||||
a
1

CHASSIS
10-6
EAS1SL5378SUSPENSION SETTING (FRONT FORK)
TIP
• If any of the following symptoms is experienced with the standard position as the base, make reset-
ting by reference to the adjustment procedure given in the same chart.
• Before any change, set the rear shock absorber sunken length to the standard figure 90–100 mm
(3.5–3.9 in).
SymptomSection
Check Adjust
JumpLarge
gapMedi-
um
gapSmall
gap
Stiff over entire
rangeCompression
damping forceTurn adjuster counterclock-
wise (about 2 clicks) to de-
crease damping.
Oil amount Decrease oil amount by about
5–10 cm
3 (0.2–0.3 US oz, 0.2–
0.4 Imp.oz).
Spring Replace with soft spring.
Unsmooth
movement over
entire rangeOuter tube
Inner tubeCheck for any bends, dents,
other noticeable scars, etc. If
any, replace affected parts.
Slide metal Replace with a new one for ex-
tended use.
Piston metal Replace with a new one for ex-
tended use.
Lower bracket
tightening
torqueRetighten to specified torque.
Poor initial
movementRebound
damping forceTurn adjuster counterclock-
wise (about 2 clicks) to de-
crease damping.
Oil seals Apply grease in oil seal wall.
Soft over entire
range, bottom-
ing outCompression
damping forceTurn adjuster clockwise (about
2 clicks) to increase damping.
Oil amount Increase oil amount by about
5–10 cm
3 (0.2–0.3 US oz, 0.2–
0.4 Imp.oz).
Spring Replace with stiff spring.
Stiff toward
stroke endOil amountDecrease oil amount by about
5 cm
3 (0.2 US oz, 0.2 Imp.oz).
Soft toward
stroke end, bot-
toming outOil amountIncrease oil amount by about 5
cm
3 (0.2 US oz, 0.2 Imp.oz).
Stiff initial
movementCompression
damping forceTurn adjuster counterclock-
wise (about 2 clicks) to de-
crease damping.

CHASSIS
10-7
EAS1SL5379SUSPENSION SETTING (REAR SHOCK ABSORBER)
TIP
• If any of the following symptoms is experienced with the standard position as the base, make reset-
ting by reference to the adjustment procedure given in the same chart.
• Adjust the rebound damping in 2-click increments or decrements.
• Adjust the low compression damping in 1-click increments or decrements.
• Adjust the high compression damping in 1/6 turn increments or decrements. Low front, tend-
ing to lower
front postureCompression
damping forceTurn adjuster clockwise (about
2 clicks) to increase damping.
Rebound
damping forceTurn adjuster counterclock-
wise (about 2 clicks) to de-
crease damping.
Balance with
rear endSet sunken length for 95–100
mm (3.7–3.9 in) when one
passenger is astride seat (low-
er rear posture).
Oil amount Increase oil amount by about 5
cm
3 (0.2 US oz, 0.2 Imp.oz).
“Obtrusive”
front, tending to
upper front pos-
tureCompression
damping forceTurn adjuster counterclock-
wise (about 2 clicks) to de-
crease damping.
Balance with
rear endSet sunken length for 90–95
mm (3.5–3.7 in) when one
passenger is astride seat (up-
per rear posture).
Spring Replace with soft spring.
Oil amount Decrease oil amount by about
5–10 cm
3 (0.2–0.3 US oz, 0.2–
0.4 Imp.oz).
SymptomSection
Check Adjust
JumpLarge
gapMedi-
um
gapSmall
gap
Stiff, tending to
sinkRebound
damping forceTurn adjuster counterclock-
wise (about 2 clicks) to de-
crease damping.
Spring set
lengthSet sunken length for 90–100
mm (3.5–3.9 in) when one
passenger is astride seat.
Spongy and un-
stableRebound
damping forceTurn adjuster clockwise (about
2 clicks) to increase damping.
Low compres-
sion dampingTurn adjuster clockwise (about
1 click) to increase damping.
Spring Replace with stiff spring. SymptomSection
Check Adjust
JumpLarge
gapMedi-
um
gapSmall
gap