2016 YAMAHA VMAX warning

Introduction
EAU10103
Welcome to the Yamaha world of motorcycling!
As the owner of the VMX17, you are benefiting from Yamaha’s vast experience and newest technology regarding the design
and manufacture of high-quality products, which have earned Yamaha a reputation for dependability.
Please take the time to read this manual thoroughly, so as to enjoy all advantages of your VMX17. The Owner’s Manual
does not only instruct you in how to operate, inspect and maintain your motorcycle, but also in how to safeguard yourself
and others from trouble and injury.
In addition, the many tips given in this manual will help keep your motorcycle in the best possible condition. If you have any
further questions, do not hesitate to contact your Yamaha dealer.
The Yamaha team wishes you many safe and pleasant rides. So, remember to put safety first!
Yamaha continually seeks advancements in product design and quality. Therefore, while this manual contains the most cur- rent product information available at the time of printing, there may be minor discrepancies between your motorcycle and
this manual. If there is any question concerning this manual, please consult a Yamaha dealer.
WARNING
EWA10032
Please rea d this manual carefully an d completely before operatin g this motorcycle.
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Important manual information
EAU10134
Particularly important information is distinguished in this manual by the following notations:
*Product and specifications are subject to change without notice.This is the safety alert sym
bol. It is use d to alert you to potential personal injury
hazar ds. Ob ey all safety messa ges that follow this sym bol to avoi d possi ble injury
or death.
A WARNING in dicates a hazar dous situation which, if not avoid ed , coul d result in
d eath or serious injury.
A NOTICE in dicates special precautions that must b e taken to avoid d ama ge to the
vehicle or other property.
A TIP provides key information to make procedures easier or clearer.
WARNING
NOTICETIP
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Table of contentsSafety information ............................ 1-1
Description ....................................... 2-1
Left view ......................................... 2-1
Right view ....................................... 2-2
Controls and instruments ............... 2-3
Instrument an d control functions ... 3-1
Immobilizer system......................... 3-1
Main switch/steering lock............... 3-2
Indicator lights and warning lights............................................ 3-4
Speedometer unit ........................... 3-7
Multi-function display ..................... 3-8
Handlebar switches ...................... 3-17
Clutch lever .................................. 3-18
Shift pedal .................................... 3-19
Brake lever.................................... 3-19
Brake pedal .................................. 3-20
ABS .............................................. 3-20
Fuel tank cap ................................ 3-21
Fuel ............................................... 3-22
Fuel tank breather hose and overflow hose ............................ 3-24
Catalytic converters ..................... 3-24
Seats ............................................ 3-25
Adjusting the front fork ................. 3-26
Adjusting the shock absorber assembly ................................... 3-28
Luggage strap holders ................. 3-30
EXUP system ................................ 3-31 Sidestand ...................................... 3-31
Ignition circuit cut-off system ....... 3-32
For your safety – pre-operation
checks ............................................... 4-1
Operation an d important ri din g
points ................................................. 5-1
Starting the engine .......................... 5-1
Shifting ............................................ 5-2
Tips for reducing fuel consumption ................................ 5-3
Engine break-in ............................... 5-3
Parking ............................................ 5-4
Perio dic maintenance an d
a d justment ........................................ 6-1
Owner’s tool kits ............................. 6-2
Periodic maintenance chart for the emission control system .............. 6-3
General maintenance and lubrication chart ........................... 6-4
Removing and installing the
cowling and panels ...................... 6-8
Checking the spark plugs ............. 6-10
Engine oil and oil filter cartridge.... 6-11
Final gear oil .................................. 6-14
Coolant.......................................... 6-16
Air filter element ............................ 6-19
Checking the engine idling speed ......................................... 6-20 Checking the throttle grip free
play ............................................ 6-20
Valve clearance............................. 6-20
Tires .............................................. 6-21
Cast wheels .................................. 6-23
Clutch lever................................... 6-23
Checking the brake lever free play ............................................ 6-24
Brake light switches ..................... 6-24
Checking the front and rear brake pads ................................ 6-25
Checking the brake fluid level ...... 6-25
Changing the brake and clutch fluids .......................................... 6-27
Checking and lubricating the cables ........................................ 6-27
Checking and lubricating the
throttle grip and cable ............... 6-27
Checking and lubricating the brake and shift pedals............... 6-28
Checking and lubricating the brake and clutch levers ............. 6-28
Checking and lubricating the
sidestand................................... 6-29
Lubricating the swingarm pivots......................................... 6-29
Checking the front fork ................. 6-30
Checking the steering................... 6-30
Checking the wheel bearings ....... 6-31
Battery .......................................... 6-31
Replacing the fuses ...................... 6-34U2CEE1E0.book Page 1 Thursday, November 19, 2015 10:32 AM

1-1
1
Safety information
EAU1028B
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.U2CEE1E0.book Page 1 Thursday, November 19, 2015 10:32 AM

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.
EAU10474
Main switch/steerin g lockThe main switch/steering lock controls
the ignition and lighting systems, and is
used to lock the steering. The various
positions are described below.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.
EAU10662
OFF
All electrical systems are off. The key
can be removed.
WARNING
EWA10062
Never turn the key to “OFF” or
“LOCK” while the vehicle is movin g.
Otherwise the electrical systems will
b e switche d off, which may result in
loss of control or an acci dent.
ON
OFF
LOCK
P
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Instrument and control functions
3-4
3
EAU49398
In dicator lig hts and warning
lig hts
EAU11032
Turn si gnal in dicator li ghts “ ”
an d“”
Each indicator light will flash when its
corresponding turn signal lights are
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.
EAU46567
Oil level warnin g lig ht “ ”
This warning light comes on if the en-
gine oil level is low.
To check the electrical circuit of the
warning light, place the vehicle on a
level surface, set the engine stop
switch to “ ” and turn the key from
“OFF” to “ON”.
If the warning light does not come on
for a few seconds and then go off, have
a Yamaha dealer check the vehicle. If the warning light stays on, proceed
as follows.
1. Set the engine stop switch to “ ”.
2. Turn the key to “OFF”, wait two minutes, and then turn the key to
“ON”.
3. If the warning light comes on and does not go off, check the engine
oil level. (See page 6-11.) If the
warning light still stays on after
confirming the oil level is correct,
have a Yamaha dealer check the
vehicle.
TIPThis warning light will not come
on:
• when the engine is idling
• when riding
• if the engine has stalled and the key has not been turned from
“ON” to “OFF” and then back to
“ON”
However, if the warning light is on
when the engine is started, it will
stay on until the key is turned to
“OFF”.
1. Shift timing indicator light
2. Fuel level warning light “ ”
3. Right turn signal indicator light “ ”
4. Coolant temperature warning light “ ”
5. Neutral indicator light “ ”
6. High beam indicator light “ ”
7. Engine trouble warning light “ ”
8. Left turn signal indicator light “ ”
9. Immobilizer system indicator light
10.Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) warning light “ ”
11.Oil level warning light “ ”11
10 2
1
9
3
4
5
8
7
6
ABS
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Instrument and control functions
3-5
3 
This model is equipped with a self-
diagnosis device for the oil level
detection circuit. If a problem is
detected in the oil level detection
circuit, the oil level warning light
will flash repeatedly. If this occurs,
have a Yamaha dealer check the
vehicle.
EAU48702
Fuel level warnin g li ght “ ”
This warning light comes on when the
fuel level drops below approximately
3.9 L (1.03 US gal, 0.86 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 after
refueling, have a Yamaha dealer check
the vehicle.TIPThis model is equipped with a self-di-
agnosis device for the fuel level detec-
tion circuit. If a problem is detected in the fuel level detection circuit, the fuel
level warning light, the fuel meter and
the fuel level warning indicator will
flash repeatedly. If this occurs, have a
Yamaha dealer check the vehicle.
EAU11447
Coolant temperature warnin g
li g ht “ ”
This warning light comes on if the en-
gine overheats. If this occurs, stop the
engine immediately and allow the en-
gine to cool.
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.NOTICE
ECA10022
Do not continue to operate the en-
g ine if it is overheatin g.
TIP For radiator-fan-equipped vehi-
cles, the radiator fan(s) automati-
cally switch on or off according to
the coolant temperature in the ra-
diator.
 If the engine overheats, see page
6-42 for further instructions.
EAU46443
Engine trou ble warnin g lig ht “ ”
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 3-16 for
an explanation of the self-diagnosis
device.)
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.
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Instrument and control functions
3-6
3
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
The ABS may not work correctly. If any
of the above occurs, have a Yamaha
dealer check the system as soon as
possible. (See page 3-20 for an expla-
nation of the ABS.)
WARNING
EWA16041
If the ABS warnin g li ght does not go
off after travelin g at a speed of 10
km/h (6 mi/h) or hi gher, or if the warnin
g lig ht comes on or flashes
while ri din g, the b rake system re-
verts to conventional b raking. If ei-
ther of the a bove occurs, or if the
warnin g lig ht does not come on at
all, use extra caution to avoi d possi-
b le wheel lock d uring emer gency
b rakin g. Have a Yamaha d ealer
check the brake system an d electri-
cal circuits as soon as possi ble.
TIPIf the start switch is pushed while the
engine is running, the ABS warning
light will come on, but this is not a mal-
function.
EAU48522
Shift timin g in dicator li ght
This indicator light can be set to come
on and go off at the desired engine
speeds and is used to inform the rider
when it is time to shift to the next high-
er gear. (See “Select mode” on page
3-10 for an explanation on how to set
this indicator light.) The electrical circuit of the indicator
light can be checked by turning the key
to “ON”. The indicator light should
come on for a few seconds, and then
go off.
If the indicator light does not come on
initially when the key is turned to “ON”,
or if the indicator light remains on, have
a Yamaha dealer check the electrical
circuit.
EAU38626
Immo
bilizer system in dicator li ght
When the key is turned to “OFF” and
30 seconds have passed, the indicator
light will start flashing indicating the im-
mobilizer system is enabled. After 24
hours have passed, the indicator light
will stop flashing, however the immobi-
lizer system is still enabled.
The electrical circuit of the indicator
light can be checked by turning the key
to “ON”. The indicator light should
come on for a few seconds, and then
go off.
ABS
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