Page 47 of 92

Operation and important ri din g points
6-4
6
EAU16674
Shiftin g
Shifting gears lets you control the
amount of engine power available for
starting off, accelerating, climbing hills,
etc.
The gear positions are shown in the il-
lustration.
TIP
To shift the transmission into the neu-
tral position ( ), press the shift pedal
down repeatedly until it reaches the
end of its travel, and then slightly raise
it.
NOTICE
ECA10261
Even with the transmission in
the neutral position, d o not
coast for lon g period s of time
with the en gine off, an d d o not
tow the motorcycle for lon g d is-
tances. The transmission is
properly lu bricated only when
the en gine is runnin g. Ina de-
quate lu brication may damag e
the transmission.
Always use the clutch while
chan gin g g ears to avoi d d am-
a g in g the en gine, transmission, an
d d rive train, which are not
d esi gne d to withstan d the
shock of force d shiftin g.
EAU16691To start out an d accelerate
1. Pull the clutch lever to disengage the clutch.
2. Shift the transmission into first gear.
3. Open the throttle gradually and si- multaneously release the clutch
lever slowly.
4. Once the motorcycle has reached a speed high enough to change
gears, close the throttle, and at the
same time, quickly pull the clutch
lever in.
5. Shift the transmission into second gear. (Make sure not to shift the
transmission into the neutral posi-
tion.)
6. Open the throttle halfway and gradually release the clutch lever.
7. Follow the same procedure when
shifting to the next gear.
EAU16711To decelerate
1. Close the throttle and apply both the front and the rear brakes to
slow the motorcycle.
2. Downshift through the gears and shift the transmission into the neu-
tral position when the motorcycle
is almost completely stopped.
1. Gear positions
2. Shift pedal
2
1
1
N 2 3
4
5
6
UB4B81E0.book Page 4 Friday, March 1, 2019 2:54 PM
Page 52 of 92

Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
7-4
7
23 *Front fork Check operation and for oil leakage.
Adjust if necessary.
Clean dust seal and lubricate with
lithium-soap-based grease.
Replace fork oil.
Replace oil seals.
NO. ITEM ROUTINE
After
break-in
Everyrace
Every
third race
Every
fifth race
As
required
Check coolant level and for leakage.
17 *
Cooling system Check hoses for cracks or damage. Check radiator cap spring operation. Change coolant.
Every 2 years
Every year Check all chassis fitting and fasteners.
18
*Chassis fasteners
Correct or tighten if necessary.
19Air filter element Clean. Replace.
20 *Frame Clean and check for damage.
21
*Fuel line Clean and check for leakage.
22 *
Brakes Adjust lever position and pedal height.
Lubricate pivot points.
Check brake disk surface.
Check fluid level and for leakage.
Tighten brake disk bolts, caliper bolts,
master cylinder bolts and union bolts.
Replace brake pads.
Replace brake fluid.
UB4B81E0.book Page 4 Friday, March 1, 2019 2:54 PM
Page 82 of 92

Motorcycle care and stora ge
8-1
8
EAU37834
Matte color caution
NOTICE
ECA15193
Some mo dels are equipped with
matte colore d finishe d parts. Be
sure to consult a Yamaha dealer for
a d vice on what pro ducts to use be-
fore cleanin g the vehicle. Usin g a
b rush, harsh chemical prod ucts or
cleanin g compoun ds when cleanin g
these parts will scratch or damag e
their surface. Wax also shoul d not
b e applied to any matte colored fin-
ishe d parts.
EAU86440
Care
Frequent, thorough cleaning of the ve-
hicle will not only enhance its appear-
ance but also will improve its general
performance and extend the useful life
of many components. Washing, clean-
ing, and polishing will also give you a
chance to inspect the condition of the
vehicle more frequently. Be sure to
wash the vehicle after riding in the rain
or near the sea, because salt is corro-
sive to metals.
TIP
The roads of heavy snowfall areas
may be sprayed with salt as a de-
icing method. This salt can stay on
the roads well into spring, so be
sure to wash the underside and
chassis parts after riding in such
areas.
Genuine Yamaha care and main-
tenance products are sold under
the YAMALUBE brand in many
markets worldwide.
NOTICE
ECA26280
Improper cleanin g can cause cos-
metic an d mechanical dama ge. Do
not use: high-pressure washers or
steam-jet cleaners. Excessive
water pressure may cause wa-
ter seepag e and d eterioration of
wheel bearin gs, brakes, trans-
mission seals an d electrical de-
vices. Avoi d hi gh-pressure
d eter gent applications such as
those availa ble in coin-operate d
car washers.
UB4B81E0.book Page 1 Friday, March 1, 2019 2:54 PM
Page 84 of 92

Motorcycle care and stora ge
8-3
8 2. For drive chain-equipped models:
Dry and then lubricate the drive
chain to prevent rust.
3. Use a chrome polish to shine chrome, aluminum, and stainless
steel parts. Often the thermally in-
duced discoloring of stainless
steel exhaust systems can be re-
moved through polishing.
4. Apply a corrosion protection spray on all metal parts including
chrome or nickel-plated surfaces.
WARNING! Do not apply silicone or oil spray to seats, han d g rips,
ru bber foot pe gs or tire trea ds.
Otherwise these parts will be-
come slippery, which coul d
cause loss of control. Thor-
ou ghly clean the surfaces of
these parts before operatin g the
vehicle.
[EWA20650]
5. Treat rubber, vinyl, and unpainted plastic parts with a suitable care
product.
6. Touch up minor paint damage caused by stones, etc.
7. Wax all painted surfaces using a non-abrasive wax or use a detail
spray for motorcycles.
8. When finished cleaning, start the engine and let it idle for several mi-
nutes to help dry any remaining
moisture.
9. If the headlight lens has fogged up, start the engine and turn on
the headlight to help remove the
moisture.
10. Let the vehicle dry completely be- fore storing or covering it.
NOTICE
ECA26320
Do not apply wax to ru bber or
unpainte d plastic parts.
Do not use a brasive polishin g
compoun ds as they will wear
away the paint.
Apply sprays an d wax sparin gly.
Wipe off excess afterwar ds.
WARNING
EWA20660
Contaminants left on the b rakes or
tires can cause loss of control. Make sure there is no lu bricant
or wax on the brakes or tires.
If necessary, wash the tires with
warm water an d a mil d d eter-
g ent.
If necessary, clean the brake
d iscs an d pa ds with b rake
cleaner or acetone.
Before ri din g at hi gher spee ds,
test the vehicle’s brakin g per-
formance an d cornerin g b ehav-
ior.
UB4B81E0.book Page 3 Friday, March 1, 2019 2:54 PM