
Table of contents
Location of important la bels ........... 1-1
Safety information ............................ 2-1
Description ....................................... 3-1
Left view ......................................... 3-1
Right view ....................................... 3-2
Controls and instruments ............... 3-3
Instrument an d 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 ................................................. 4-4
Fuel tank breather hose.................. 4-6
Fuel cock ........................................ 4-6
Starter (choke) knob ....................... 4-7
Kickstarter ...................................... 4-7
Seat ................................................ 4-8
Adjusting the front fork ................... 4-8
Front fork bleeding ....................... 4-10
Adjusting the shock absorber  assembly ................................... 4-10
Removable sidestand ................... 4-13
For your safety – pre-operation 
checks ............................................... 5-1
Operation an d important ri din g 
points ................................................ 6-1
Starting and warming up a cold  engine ......................................... 6-1
Starting a warm engine .................. 6-2
Shifting ........................................... 6-2
Engine break-in .............................. 6-3
Parking ........................................... 6-5
Perio dic maintenance an d 
a d justment ........................................ 7-1
Periodic maintenance and  lubrication chart .......................... 7-2
Checking the spark plug ................ 7-6
Transmission oil.............................. 7-7 Coolant ............................................ 7-8
Cleaning the air filter element ....... 7-10
Adjusting the carburetor ............... 7-12
Adjusting the engine idling 
speed ......................................... 7-13
Adjusting the throttle grip free  play ............................................ 7-13
Tires .............................................. 7-14
Spoke wheels ................................ 7-16
Adjusting the clutch lever free  play ............................................ 7-17
Checking the brake lever free  play ............................................ 7-18
Checking the shift pedal ............... 7-18
Checking the front and rear brake 
pads ........................................... 7-19
Checking the brake fluid level ....... 7-20
Changing the brake fluid ............... 7-21
Drive chain slack ........................... 7-21
Cleaning and lubricating the drive 
chain .......................................... 7-23
Checking and lubricating the  cables ........................................ 7-23
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 an d stora ge .......... 8-1
Matte color caution ......................... 8-1
Care................................................. 8-1
Storage............................................ 8-3
U1SN84E0.book  Page 1  Wednesday, June 10, 2015  10:24 AM 

Instrument and control functions
4-10
4
EAU51651
Front fork  blee din g
WARNING
EWA10201
Always  blee d b oth fork le gs, other-
wise poor han dlin g an d loss of sta-
b ility may result.
When riding in extremely rough condi-
tions, the air temperature and pressure
in the front fork will rise. This will in-
crease the spring preload and harden
the front suspension. If this occurs,
bleed the front fork as follows.
1. Lift the front wheel off the ground according to the procedure on
page 7-28.
TIP
When bleeding the front fork, there
should be no weight on the front end of
the vehicle.
2. Remove the bleed screws and al-low all of the air to escape from
each fork leg.
3. Install the bleed screws.
4. Lower the front wheel so that it is on the ground, install the remov-
able sidestand, and then rest the
motorcycle on it.
EAU41335
Adjustin g the shock a bsor ber 
assem bly
This shock absorber assembly is
equipped with a spring preload adjust-
ing nut, a rebound damping force ad-
justing screw and a compression
damping force adjusting screw.
NOTICE
ECA10102
To avoi d d amag ing the mechanism,
d o not attempt to turn b eyond the
maximum or minimum settin gs.
Sprin g preloa d
Adjust the spring preload as follows. 1. Loosen the locknut.
2. To increase the spring preload and thereby harden the suspen-
sion, turn the adjusting nut in di-
rection (a). To decrease the spring
preload and thereby soften the
suspension, turn the adjusting nut
in direction (b).
 A special wrench can be ob-
tained at a Yamaha dealer to
make this adjustment.
 The spring preload setting is
determined by measuring
distance A, shown in the illus-
1. Bleed screw1. Locknut
2. Spring preload adjusting nut
U1SN84E0.book  Page 10  Wednesday, June 10, 2015  10:24 AM 

Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
7-5
7
EAU42012
TIP
 Hydraulic brake service
• Regularly check and, if necessary, correct the brake fluid levels.
• Every two years replace the internal components of the brake master cyl- inders and calipers, and change the brake fluid.
• Replace the brake hoses every four years and if cracked or damaged.
NO. ITEM ROUTINEAfter
break-in
Everyrace
Every
third race
Every
fifth race
As
required
23 *Shock absorber 
assembly  Check operation and adjust.√√ Tighten if necessary.
 Lubricate with lithium-soap-based 
grease.
√√ ∗
24 *Drive chain roller 
and support guide  Check for wear or damage.√ Replace if necessary.
25
*Rear suspension  Check operation and tighten if 
necessary.√√
 Lubricate with lithium-soap-based grease.√√
 Check operation, free play, and tighten if necessary.√√
26 *
Steering head  Clean and lubricate with 
lithium-soap-based grease.√
 Replace bearings.√ Check tire air pressure, wheel runout, spokes for looseness, and tires for 
wear.
√√
 Tighten sprocket bolts if necessary.√√
27 *Tires and wheels
 Check wheel bearings for looseness.√ Lubricate wheel bearings with 
lithium-soap-based grease.√
 Replace wheel bearings.√
28 *Moving parts and ca-
bles  Lubricate.√√
29 *
Throttle grip  Check operation.√√ Check throttle grip free play, and 
adjust if necessary.
 Lubricate cable and grip housing.
After washing the motorcycle or riding in the rain.∗
U1SN84E0.book  Page 5  Wednesday, June 10, 2015  10:24 AM 

Specifications
9-2
9
Caster angle:26.00 ° (YZ85LW, YZ85LWG)
26.30 ° (YZ85, YZ85G)
Trail: 88 mm (3.5 in) (YZ85, YZ85G)
99 mm (3.9 in) (YZ85LW, YZ85LWG)
Front tire:
Type:With tube
Size:
70/100-17 40M (YZ85, YZ85G)
70/100-19 42M (YZ85LW, YZ85LWG)
Manufacturer/model:
DUNLOP/MX51F
Rear tire:
Type: With tube
Size: 90/100-14 49M (YZ85, YZ85G)
90/100-16 52M (YZ85LW, YZ85LWG)
Manufacturer/model: DUNLOP/MX51
Tire air pressure (measure d on col d 
tires):
Front:
100 kPa (1.00 kgf/cm², 15 psi)
Rear:
100 kPa (1.00 kgf/cm², 15 psi)
Front wheel:
Wheel type:Spoke wheel
Rim size:
17 x 1.40 (YZ85, YZ85G)
19 x 1.40 (YZ85LW, YZ85LWG)
Rear wheel:
Wheel type:Spoke wheel
Rim size: 14 x 1.60 (YZ85, YZ85G)
16 x 1.85 (YZ85LW, YZ85LWG)
Front  brake:
Type:
Hydraulic single disc brake
Specified brake fluid: DOT 4
Rear  brake:
Type:
Hydraulic single disc brake
Specified brake fluid: DOT 4
Front suspension:
Type:Telescopic fork
Spring:
Coil spring
Shock absorber: Hydraulic damper
Wheel travel: 275 mm (10.8 in)
Rear suspension:
Type:Swingarm (link suspension)
Spring: Coil spring
Shock absorber: Gas-hydraulic damper
Wheel travel:
282 mm (11.1 in) (YZ85, YZ85G)
287 mm (11.3 in) (YZ85LW, YZ85LWG)
Electrical system:
Ignition system:CDI
Charging system: CDI magneto
U1SN84E0.book  Page 2  Wednesday, June 10, 2015  10:24 AM 

11-1
11
Index
A
Air filter element, cleaning .................... 7-10
B
Brake and clutch levers, checking and 
lubricating ........................................... 7-24
Brake fluid, changing ............................ 7-21
Brake fluid level, checking .................... 7-20
Brake lever .............................................. 4-2
Brake lever free play, checking............. 7-18
Brake pedal............................................. 4-3
Brake pedal, checking and  lubricating ........................................... 7-25
C
Cables, checking and lubricating ......... 7-23
Carburetor, adjusting ............................ 7-12
Care ........................................................ 8-1
Clutch lever ............................................. 4-1
Clutch lever free play, adjusting ........... 7-17
Coolant ................................................... 7-8
D
Drive chain, cleaning and lubricating .... 7-23
Drive chain slack................................... 7-21
E
Engine break-in....................................... 6-3
Engine idling speed .............................. 7-13
Engine serial number ............................ 10-1
Engine, starting a warm .......................... 6-2
Engine stop switch ................................. 4-1
F
Front and rear brake pads, checking.... 7-19
Front fork, adjusting................................ 4-8
Front fork, bleeding .............................. 4-10
Front fork, checking .............................. 7-26
Fuel ......................................................... 4-4
Fuel cock ................................................ 4-6
Fuel tank breather hose .......................... 4-6
Fuel tank cap .......................................... 4-3
H
Handlebar switch .................................... 4-1
I
Identification numbers .......................... 10-1
K
Kickstarter............................................... 4-7
L
Labels, location....................................... 1-1
M
Matte color, caution ................................ 8-1
P
Parking .................................................... 6-5
Part locations .......................................... 3-1 Periodic maintenance and lubrication 
chart ..................................................... 7-2
R
Rear suspension, lubricating ................ 7-25
S
Safety information .................................. 2-1
Seat ........................................................ 4-8
Shifting ................................................... 6-2
Shift pedal .............................................. 4-2
Shift pedal, checking ............................ 7-18
Shock absorber assembly, adjusting ... 4-10
Sidestand ............................................. 4-13
Spark plug, checking ............................. 7-6
Specifications ......................................... 9-1
Starter (choke) knob ............................... 4-7
Starting and warming up a cold engine .................................................. 6-1
Steering, checking................................ 7-27
Storage ................................................... 8-3
Supporting the motorcycle................... 7-28
Swingarm pivots, lubricating ................ 7-26
T
Throttle grip and cable, checking and  lubricating .......................................... 7-24
Throttle grip free play, adjusting........... 7-13
Tires ...................................................... 7-14
Transmission oil ..................................... 7-7
Troubleshooting ................................... 7-31
Troubleshooting charts ........................ 7-32
V
Vehicle identification number ............... 10-1
W
Wheel bearings, checking .................... 7-27
Wheel (front) ......................................... 7-28
Wheel (rear) .......................................... 7-29
Wheels .................................................. 7-16
U1SN84E0.book  Page 1  Wednesday, June 10, 2015  10:24 AM