2015 YAMAHA YZ85 engine

TABLE OF CONTENTS
LOCATION OF IMPORTANT
LABELS..............................................1-1
SAFETY INFORMATION ...................2-1
DESCRIPTION ...................................3-1
Left view ..........................................3-1
Right view ........................................3-2
Controls and instruments ................3-3
INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL
FUNCTIONS .......................................4-1
Handlebar switch ............................4-1
Clutch lever .....................................4-1
Shift pedal .......................................4-2
Brake lever ......................................4-2
Brake pedal .....................................4-3
Fuel tank cap ...................................4-3
Fuel ..................................................4-3
Fuel tank breather hose...................4-5
Fuel cock .........................................4-6
Starter (choke) knob ........................4-6
Kickstarter .......................................4-7
Seat .................................................4-7
Adjusting the front fork ....................4-8
Front fork bleeding ..........................4-9
Adjusting the shock absorber assembly ....................................4-10
Removable sidestand ....................4-12 FOR YOUR SAFETY –
PRE-OPERATION CHECKS
............. 5-1
OPERATION AND IMPORTANT
RIDING POINTS ................................ 6-1
Starting and warming up a cold engine .......................................... 6-1
Starting a warm engine................... 6-1
Shifting............................................ 6-2
Engine break-in............................... 6-3
Parking ............................................ 6-4
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND
ADJUSTMENT .................................. 7-1
Periodic maintenance and lubrication chart .......................... 7-2
Checking the spark plug................. 7-8
Transmission oil .............................. 7-9
Coolant ......................................... 7-10
Cleaning the air filter element ....... 7-12
Adjusting the carburetor ............... 7-14
Adjusting the engine idling speed......................................... 7-14
Adjusting the throttle grip free play ............................................ 7-15
Tires .............................................. 7-15
Spoke wheels ............................... 7-17
Adjusting the clutch lever free play ............................................ 7-18
Checking the brake lever free play ............................................ 7-19 Checking the shift pedal ............... 7-19
Checking the front and rear brake
pads ........................................... 7-20
Checking the brake fluid level ....... 7-20
Changing the brake fluid ............... 7-22
Drive chain slack ........................... 7-22
Cleaning and lubricating the drive chain .......................................... 7-23
Checking and lubricating the cables ........................................ 7-24
Checking and lubricating the
throttle grip and cable ............... 7-24
Checking and lubricating the brake and clutch levers ............. 7-24
Checking and lubricating the brake pedal ................................ 7-25
Lubricating the rear suspension.... 7-25
Lubricating the swingarm pivots ... 7-26
Checking the front fork ................. 7-26
Checking the steering ................... 7-27
Checking the wheel bearings ........ 7-27
Supporting the motorcycle ........... 7-28
Front wheel ................................... 7-28
Rear wheel .................................... 7-29
Troubleshooting ............................ 7-31
Troubleshooting charts ................. 7-32
MOTORCYCLE CARE AND
STORAGE .......................................... 8-1
Matte color caution ......................... 8-1
Care................................................. 8-1
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SAFETY INFORMATION
2-2
2

Many accidents involve inexperi-
enced operators.
• 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 until
you have become thoroughly
familiar 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). Never travel
faster than warranted by condi-
tions.
 Ride cautiously in unfamiliar ar-
eas. You may encounter hidden
obstacles that could cause an ac-
cident. 
The posture of the operator is im-
portant for proper control. The op-
erator should keep both hands on
the handlebar and both feet on the
operator footrests during opera-
tion to maintain control of the mo-
torcycle.
 Never ride under the influence of
alcohol or other drugs.
 Be sure the transmission is in neu-
tral before starting the engine.
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.
Avoi 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-
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SAFETY INFORMATION
2-3
2soning, 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.
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 that
would impair the performance 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 suspen-
sion travel, steering travel or con-
trol operation.
• Accessories fitted to the han- dlebar or the front fork area can
create instability due to improp-
er weight distribution. If acces-
sories 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. Wind may at-
tempt to lift the motorcycle, or
the motorcycle may become
unstable in cross winds.
• Certain accessories can dis- place the operator from his or
her normal riding position. This
improper position limits the
freedom of movement of the
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SAFETY INFORMATION
2-4
2
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.
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
7-15 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.
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DESCRIPTION
3-3
3
EAU10431
Controls and instruments
4
13
2
1. Clutch lever (page 4-1)
2. Engine stop switch (page 4-1)
3. Brake lever (page 4-2)
4. Throttle grip (page 7-15)U1SN83E0.book Page 3 Monday, September 8, 2014 2:36 PM

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
4-1
4
EAU40661
Handle bar switch
EAU53962
En gine stop switch “ENGINE STOP”
Hold this switch pushed until the en-
gine stops.
EAU64022
Clutch leverThe clutch lever is located at the left
handlebar grip. To disengage the
clutch, pull the lever toward the han-
dlebar grip. To engage the clutch, re-
lease the lever. The lever should be
pulled rapidly and released slowly for
smooth clutch operation.
The clutch lever is equipped with a
clutch lever position adjusting bolt. Ad-
just the distance between the clutch le-
ver and the handlebar grip as follows. 1. Loosen the locknut.
2. While holding the clutch lever pulled slightly towards the handle-
bar grip, turn the adjusting bolt in
direction (a) to increase the dis-
tance, and in direction (b) to de-
crease it. 3. Tighten the locknut.
1. Engine stop switch “ENGINE STOP”
1. Clutch lever
2. Locknut
3. Clutch lever position adjusting bolt
4. Distance between clutch lever and handle-
bar grip4
2
1
3
(b)(a)
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INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
4-3
4
EAU12944
Brake pedalThe brake pedal is located on the right
side of the motorcycle. To apply the
rear brake, press down on the brake
pedal.
EAU13183
Fuel tank capTo remove the fuel tank cap, turn it
counterclockwise, and then pull it off.
To install the fuel tank cap, insert it into
the tank opening, and then turn it
clockwise.
WARNING
EWA11092
Make sure that the fuel tank cap is
properly close d after fillin g fuel.
Leakin g fuel is a fire hazar d.
EAU41835
FuelThis motorcycle has been designed to
use a premixed fuel of gasoline and 2-
stroke engine oil. Always mix the gaso-
line and oil in a clean container before
filling the fuel tank.NOTICE
ECA15602
Always use fresh gasoline, an d fill
the fuel tank with a fresh mix just be-
fore ri din g. Do not use premixe d fuel
that is more than a few hours ol d.Mixin g g asoline an d 2-stroke en gine
oil
Pour 2-stroke engine oil into a clean
container, and then add gasoline. To
mix the fuel thoroughly, shake the con-
tainer from side to side.
1. Brake pedal
1. Fuel tank cap
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INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
4-4
4
NOTICE
ECA15591
Use only unleaded g asoline. The use
of lead ed g asoline will cause severe
d amag e to internal en gine parts,
such as the piston rin gs as well as to
the exhaust system.
Your Yamaha engine has been de-
signed to use premium unleaded gas-
oline with a pump octane number
[(R+M)/2] of 91 or higher, or a research
octane number of 95 or higher. If
knocking (or pinging) occurs, use a
gasoline of a different brand.
If the recommended 2-stroke engine
oil is not available, use an equivalent
oil.NOTICE
ECA15552
Never mix two bran ds of 2-stroke
en gine oil in the same batch. Always
use the same type of oil to ensure
maximum en gine performance.
Shoul d it b e necessary to use a dif-
ferent oil b rand, b e sure to d rain the
fuel tank an d the car buretor float
cham ber of the ol d premixe d fuel
prior to filling with the new type.
Filling the fuel tank
Make sure there is sufficient gasoline in
the tank.
WARNING
EWA10882
Gasoline an d g asoline vapors are
extremely flamma ble. To avoi d fires
an d explosions an d to re duce the
risk of injury when refuelin g, follow
these instructions.1. Before refueling, turn off the en- gine and be sure that no one is sit-
ting on the vehicle. Never refuel
while smoking, or while in the vi-
cinity of sparks, open flames, or
1. 2-stroke engine oil
2. Gasoline
3. ContainerRecommen ded fuel:
Premium unleaded gasoline only
Recommen ded 2-stroke en gine oil:
See page 9-1.
Fuel tank capacity:
5.0 L (1.32 US gal, 1.10 Imp.gal)
Mixin g ratios ( gasoline to oil):
Break-in period: 15:1
After break-in: 30:1
1. Maximum fuel level
2. Fuel tank filler tube
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