Page 93 of 208

5-8
5
EBU35690Shift leverThe shift lever should move smoothly both
forward and backwards and return to its orig-
inal position after a gear change is made.
Check the shift lever and transmission for
roughness before starting off.TIPThe engine may need to be started for the
transmission to engage gears. EBU35700Fittings and fastenersAlways check the tightness of chassis and
wheel fittings and fasteners before starting
off. Take the vehicle to a Yamaha dealer or re-
fer to the Service Manual for correct tighten-
ing torque.EBU31840Instruments, lights and switchesCheck that all instruments, lights and switch-
es are working properly. Correct if necessary.
EBU31851Control cablesWhen driving in cold weather, always make
sure all control cables work smoothly before
starting off. WARNING! Control cables can
freeze in cold weather and you could be
unable to control the vehicle.
[EWB03280]
EBU35331
TiresCheck tire pressure regularly to make sure it
is at the recommended specifications. Also
check for wear and damage.
Tire pressure
Use the tire pressure gauge to check and ad-
just tire pressures when the tires are cold. Tire
pressures must be equal on both sides.
WARNING! Operation of this vehicle with improper tire pressure may cause severe
injury or death from loss of control or roll-
over. Tire pressure below the minimum
U2HC7ME0.book Page 8 Tuesday, April 19, 2016 10:33 AM
Page 100 of 208

6-5
6
can cause the tires to lose traction, reducing
control and increasing the possibility of an ac-
cident.
WARNING
EWB00712Make sure the engine has sufficiently
slowed before shifting to a lower gear. En-
gaging a lower gear when the engine
speed is too high could make the wheels
stop rotating and lose traction. This could
cause loss of control, an accident and inju-
ry. It could also cause engine or drivetrain
damage. Recommended shift points
The recommended shift points during accel-
eration and deceleration are shown in the ta-
ble below.To drive in reverse
WARNING
EWB03300Before you shift into reverse, make sure
there are no obstacles or people behind
you. When it is safe to proceed, go slowly.
Hitting an obstacle or
person could result
in serious inju ry or death. 1. Stop the vehicle and continue to apply
the brake pedal.
2. Check behind you.
3. Press the clutch pedal, and pull the re- verse gear lock lever.
4. Shift the transmission into reverse.Shift up points: 1st → 2nd: 19 km/h (12 mi/h)
2nd → 3rd: 33 km/h (21 mi/h)
3rd → 4th: 44 km/h (27 mi/h)
4th → 5th: 53 km/h (33 mi/h)
Shift down points: 5th → 4th: 30 km/h (19 mi/h)
4th → 3rd: 17 km/h (11 mi/h)
U2HC7ME0.book Page 5 Tuesday, April 19, 2016 10:33 AM
Page 118 of 208

7-14
7
Become familiar with the way the vehicle han-
dles in the various drive modes. Start off with
two-wheel drive “2WD”, then four-wheel drive
“4WD”, and finally four-wheel drive with the
differential locked “DIFF LOCK”. Steering
may take more effort in four-wheel drive with
the differential locked “DIFF LOCK”. Also
practice driving in reverse.TIPTake the time to learn basic operation of the
vehicle before driving at higher speeds or at-
tempting more difficult maneuvers.
Getting ready to ride
Perform the pre-operation checks on page
5-1. Follow the instructions on page 6-2 when
starting the engine.
Turning
Use care in turns — turning the steering wheel
too far or too fast can result in loss of control
or a rollover. Slow down before entering
turns. When making tight turns from a stand-
still or at slow speeds, avoid sudden or hard
acceleration. Driving aggressively or making
abrupt maneuvers even on flat, open areas
can cause side rollovers. Avoid sideways slid-
ing, skidding, or back-wheel sliding, and nev-
er do donuts. If you feel the vehicle begin to
slide sideways or the back wheels slide dur-
ing a turn, steer into the direction of the slide,
if possible, and gradually let off the accelera-
tor pedal to regain directional control and
avoid rollover. For example, if you feel the
back of the vehicle start to slide to your right,
steer to the right.
U2HC7ME0.book Page 14 Tuesday, April 19, 2016 10:33 AM
Page 123 of 208

7-19
7
over. Practice first on gentle slopes before at-
tempting steeper hills. Always check the
terrain carefully before attempting any hill.
To climb a hill, you need traction, momentum,
and steady throttle. For more traction and
control for climbing steeper and/or rougher
slopes, shift into low gear and select “4WD”
or “DIFF LOCK”. Travel fast enough to main-
tain momentum, but not so fast that you can-
not react to changes in the terrain as you
climb.
Slow down when you reach the crest of the
hill if you cannot see clearly what is on the
other side – there could be another person, an
obstacle, or a sharp drop-off.
If you start to lose traction or momentum
when climbing, and decide you will be unable
to continue, use the brakes to stop. Do not at-
tempt to turn the vehicle around. With your
foot on the brake pedal, look behind you and
plan your descent. Press the clutch pedal and
shift the transmission into reverse so you can
use engine braking to slow your descent. Re- lease the brake and clutch, and then begin to
coast down the hill. Use engine braking as
much as possible, gently applying the brakes
when necessary.
Downhill
Check the terrain carefully before going
downhill. When possible, choose a path that
lets you drive your vehicle straight downhill.
Choose your path carefully and drive slowly
enough to be able to react to obstacles that
you encounter.
For more traction and control, before going
down steeper and/or rougher slopes, shift
into low gear and select “4WD” or “DIFF
LOCK”. Engine braking will help you go
downhill slowly. Go as slowly as possible. If
you begin to go too fast, apply the brakes
gently. Avoid hard application of the brakes,
which could cause the vehicle to slide.U2HC7ME0.book Page 19 Tuesday, April 19, 2016 10:33 AM
Page 125 of 208

7-21
7
Wet brakes may have reduced effectiveness.
After leaving the water, test your brakes. If
necessary, apply the brakes several times to
let friction dry out the linings.NOTICEECB02950After driving your vehicle in water, be sure
to drain the trapped water by removing the
check hoses at the bottom of the air filter
case. Wash the vehicle in fresh water if it
has been operated in salt water or muddy
conditions. Loose terrain/slippery terrain
When driving on slippery terrain, including
wet, muddy, or icy conditions, as well as
loose gravel, be aware that you could begin
skidding or sliding. To avoid loss of control,
slow down and put the vehicle in four-wheel
drive before driving on a slippery surface and
plan your path to avoid making abrupt ma-
neuvers. If you feel the vehicle begin to slide sideways
or the back wheels slide during a turn, steer
into the direction of the slide if possible, to re-
gain directional control. For example, if you
feel the back of the vehicle start to slide to
your right, steer to the right.
Brush or wooded areas
When operating in areas with brush or trees,
watch carefully on both sides and above the
vehicle for obstacles such as branches that
the vehicle might hit, causing an accident.
Watch for brush that might enter the vehicle
as you pass and strike you or the passenger.
Never hold onto the cage/frame. The passen-
ger should always hold onto the passenger
handhold with both hands.
The muffler and other engine parts become
extremely hot during operation and remain
hot after the engine has stopped. To reduce
the risk of fire during operation or after leaving
the vehicle, do not let
brush, grass and other
materials collect under the vehicle, near theU2HC7ME0.book Page 21 Tuesday, April 19, 2016 10:33 AM
Page 132 of 208
8-6
8
EBU35800General maintenance and lubrication chartNO. ITEMROUTINE INITIAL
EVERY
Whichev- er comes
first month136612
km
(mi) 320
(200) 1300
(800) 2500
(1600) 2500
(1600) 5000
(3200)
hours 20 80 160 160 320
1 *Cooling system • Check coolant leakage.
• Repair if necessary.
√√√√√
• Change coolant. Every 2 years
2 Primary air filter
(foam)
•Clean.
• Replace if necessary. Every 300–600 km (200–400 mi)
(more often in wet or dusty condi- tions)
* Secondary air fil-
ter (paper) • Replace. Every 2000–5000 km (1200–3000
mi)
(more often in wet or dusty condi- tions)
3Engine oil • Change (warm engine before draining). √ √√√
4 Engine oil filter
cartridge
• Replace.
√√√
5 Transmission oil • Check oil level and for leakage.
√√√√√
•Change. √ √√√
6 Final gear oil/Dif-
ferential gear oil • Check oil level and for leakage.
√√√√√
•Change. √√
U2HC7ME0.book Page 6 Tuesday, April 19, 2016 10:33 AM
Page 135 of 208

8-9
8
EBU35070TIPInspect and service the vehicle more frequently if you drive aggressively or in severe conditions
such as rain, mud, sand or unusually dusty areas.
Service the clutch system in similar fashion and at similar intervals to the brake system.
The service items contained herein should not be considered exhaustive, therefore:
• have your YXZ1000R checked and serviced by your Yamaha dealer at regular intervals.
• replace any damaged or visibly worn part immediately. 21 *Drive shaft uni-
versal joint • Lubricate with lithium-soap-based grease.
√√√
22 *Engine mount • Check for cracks or damage.
• Check bolt tightness.
√√√
23 *Front and rear
axle boots • Check for cracks or other damage, and re-
place if necessary. √√
24 *Fittings and fas-
teners • Check all chassis fittings and fasteners.
• Correct if necessary.
√√√√√
NO. ITEM ROUTINE
INITIAL EVERY
Whichev- er comes first month 1 3 6 6 12
km
(mi) 320
(200) 1300
(800) 2500
(1600) 2500
(1600) 5000
(3200)
hours 20 80 160 160 320U2HC7ME0.book Page 9 Tuesday, April 19, 2016 10:33 AM
Page 141 of 208

8-15
8
To install the panelPlace the panel in the original position, and
then install the quick fastener screws.EBU35434Engine oil and oil filterCheck the engine oil level before each opera-
tion. In addition, change the oil and replace
the filter at the intervals specified in the gen-
eral maintenance and lubrication chart.
To check the engine oil level1. Park the vehicle on a level surface.
2. Remove panel C (page 8-10). 3. Start the engine and warm it up to a nor-
mal operating temperature (the engine oil
temperature should reach 60 °C [140 °F]),
then let the engine idle for a minimum of
ten seconds before turning the engine off.
TIPIf the engine is cold, take the vehicle for a
short drive or let it idle for approximately ten
minutes before checking the engine oil level. 4. Remove the engine oil tank filler cap and
wipe the dipstick with a clean rag.
5. Insert the dipstick back into the oil tank
(without screwing it in), and then remove
it again to check the oil level.TIPThe engine oil level should be between the tip
of the dipstick and the maximum level mark.
U2HC7ME0.book Page 15 Tuesday, April 19, 2016 10:33 AM