2021 YAMAHA MT-125 engine

Instrument and control functions
3-22
3
With the engine turned off:
1. Move the sidestand down.
2. Set engine stop switch to run position.
3. Turn main switch to on position.
4. Shift transmission into neutral.
5. Push the start switch.
Does the engine start?
With the engine still running:
6. Move the sidestand up.
7. Pull the clutch lever.
8. Shift transmission into gear.
9. Move the sidestand down.
Does the engine stall?
After the engine has stalled:
10. Move the sidestand up.
11. Pull the clutch lever.
12. Push the start switch.
Does the engine start?
The system is OK. The motorcycle can be ridden.
YES NO YES NO YES NO
The neutral switch may not be working.
The motorcycle should not be ridden until
checked by a Yamaha dealer.
The clutch switch may not be working.
The motorcycle should not be ridden until
checked by a Yamaha dealer.The sidestand switch may not be working.
The motorcycle should not be ridden until
checked by a Yamaha dealer.If a malfunction is found, have the vehicle
inspected before riding.
WARNING
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For your safety – pre-operation checks
4-1
4
EAU1559B
Inspect your vehicle each time you use it to make sure the vehicle is in safe operating condition. Always follow the inspection
and maintenance procedures and schedules described in the Owner’s Manual.
WARNING
EWA11152
Failure to inspect or maintain the vehicle properly increases the possibility of an acci dent or equipment damag e.
Do not operate the vehicle if you fin d any pro blem. If a pro blem cannot be corrected b y the proce dures provi ded in
this manual, have the vehicle inspecte d b y a Yamaha dealer.Before using this vehicle, check the following points:
ITEM CHECKS PAGE
Fuel • Check fuel level in fuel tank.
• Refuel if necessary.
• Check fuel line for leakage.
• Check fuel tank breather hose and overflow hose for obstructions, cracks or
damage, and check hose connections. 3-16, 3-18
En gine oil • Check oil level in engine.
• If necessary, add recommended oil to specified level.
• Check vehicle for oil leakage. 6-10
Coolant • Check coolant level in reservoir.
• If necessary, add recommended coolant to specified level.
• Check cooling system for leakage. 6-13
Front brake • Check operation.
• If soft or spongy, have Yamaha dealer bleed hydraulic system.
• Check brake pads for wear.
• Replace if necessary.
• Check fluid level in reservoir.
• If necessary, add specified brake fluid to specified level.
• Check hydraulic system for leakage. 6-22, 6-22
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Operation and important ri din g points
5-1
5
EAU15952
Read the Owner’s Manual carefully to
become familiar with all controls. If
there is a control or function you do not
understand, ask your Yamaha dealer.
WARNING
EWA10272
Failure to familiarize yourself with
the controls can lead to loss of con-
trol, which coul d cause an acci dent
or injury.
EAU16831
En gine break-inThere is never a more important period
in the life of your engine than the period
between 0 and 1000 km (600 mi). For
this reason, you should read the fol-
lowing material carefully.
Since the engine is brand new, do not
put an excessive load on it for the first
1000 km (600 mi). The various parts in
the engine wear and polish themselves
to the correct operating clearances.
During this period, prolonged full-throt-
tle operation or any condition that
might result in engine overheating
must be avoided.
EAU16983
0–500 km (0–300 mi)
Avoid prolonged operation above 5000
r/min.
After every hour of operation, stop the
engine, and then let it cool for five to
ten minutes.
Vary the engine speed from time to
time. Do not operate the engine at one
set throttle position. 500–1000 km (300–600 mi)
Avoid prolonged operation above 7500
r/min.
Rev the engine freely through the
gears, but do not use full throttle at any
time.
NOTICE: After 1000 km (600 mi)
of operation, the en gine oil must b e
chan ged , the oil filter cartri dge or el-
ement replace d, an d the oil strainer
cleaned .
[ECA10322]
1000 km (600 mi) and b eyon d
The vehicle can now be operated nor-
mally.NOTICE
ECA10311
 Keep the en gine spee d out of
the tachometer red zone.
 If any en gine trou ble shoul d oc-
cur during the en gine break-in
perio d, imme diately have a
Yamaha dealer check the vehi-
cle.
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Operation and important rid ing points
5-2
5
EAU86690
Startin g the eng ineThe ignition circuit cut-off system will
enable starting when:
 the transmission is in the neutral
position or
 the transmission is in gear, the
sidestand is up, and the clutch le-
ver is pulled.
To start the engine1. Turn the main switch on and set the engine stop switch to the run
position.
2. Confirm the indicator and warning light(s) come on for a few sec-
onds, and the go off. (See page
3-2.)TIPDo not start the engine if the en-
gine trouble warning light remains
on.
 The ABS warning light should
come on and stay on until the ve-
hicle reaches a speed of 10 km/h
(6 mi/h).
NOTICE
ECA24110
If a warnin g or in dicator li ght does
not work as d escribed a bove, have a
Yamaha dealer check the vehicle.3. Shift the transmission into the
neutral position.
4. Start the engine by pushing the start switch.
5. Release the start switch when the engine starts, or after 5 seconds.
Wait 10 seconds before pressing
the switch again to allow battery
voltage to restore.NOTICE
ECA11043
For maximum en gine life, never ac-
celerate har d when the en gine is
col d!
EAU45312
TIPThis model is equipped with a lean an-
gle sensor to stop the engine in case of
a turnover. In this case, turn the main
switch off and then on. Failing to do so
will prevent the engine from starting
even though the engine will crank
when pushing the start switch.
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Operation and important ri din g points
5-3
5
EAU16674
Shiftin gShifting 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.TIPTo 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, do not
coast for lon g period s of time
with the eng ine off, and 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 forced shifting.
EAU85370
To start out an d accelerate
1. Pull the clutch lever to disengage the clutch.
2. Shift the transmission into first gear. The neutral indicator light
should go out.
3. Open the throttle gradually, and at the same time, release the clutch
lever slowly. 4. After starting out, close the throt-
tle, 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 part way and gradually release the clutch lever.
7. Follow the same procedure when shifting to the next higher gear.
EAU85380
To decelerate
1. Release the throttle and apply both the front and the rear brakes
smoothly to slow the motorcycle.
2. As the vehicle decelerates, shift to a lower gear.
3. When the engine is about to stall or runs roughly, pull the clutch le-
ver in, use the brakes to slow the
motorcycle, and continue to
downshift as necessary.
4. Once the motorcycle has stopped, the transmission can be
shifted into the neutral position.
1. Neutral position
2. Shift pedal
1 2 3 4 5
6
1
2
N
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Operation and important rid ing points
5-4
5 The neutral indicator light should
come on and then the clutch lever
can be released.
WARNING
EWA17380

Improper brakin g can cause
loss of control or traction. Al-
ways use b oth brakes an d apply
them smoothly.
 Make sure that the motorcycle
and the en gine have sufficiently
slowe d b efore shiftin g to a low-
er gear. En gag in g a lower gear
when the vehicle or en gine
speed is too hi gh coul d make
the rear wheel lose traction or
the en gine to over-rev. This
coul d cause loss of control, an
acci dent an d injury. It coul d also
cause en gine or drive train dam-
a g e.
EAU16811
Tips for re ducin g fuel con-
sumptionFuel consumption depends largely on
your riding style. Consider the follow-
ing tips to reduce fuel consumption:
 Shift up swiftly, and avoid high en-
gine speeds during acceleration.
 Do not rev the engine while shift-
ing down, and avoid high engine
speeds with no load on the en-
gine.
 Turn the engine off instead of let-
ting it idle for an extended length
of time (e.g., in traffic jams, at traf-
fic lights or at railroad crossings).
EAU17214
Parkin gWhen parking, stop the engine, and
then remove the key from the main
switch.
WARNING
EWA10312
Since the en gine an d exhaust
system can become very hot,
park in a place where pe destri-
ans or chil dren are not likely to
touch them an d b e burne d.
 Do not park on a slope or on soft
groun d, otherwise the vehicle
may overturn, increasin g the
risk of a fuel leak an d fire.
 Do not park near grass or other
flammab le materials which
mi ght catch fire.
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Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-1
6
EAU17246
Periodic inspection, adjustment, and
lubrication will keep your vehicle in the
safest and most efficient condition
possible. Safety is an obligation of the
vehicle owner/operator. The most im-
portant points of vehicle inspection,
adjustment, and lubrication are ex-
plained on the following pages.
The intervals given in the periodic
maintenance charts should be simply
considered as a general guide under
normal riding conditions. However, de-
pending on the weather, terrain, geo-
graphical location, and individual use,
the maintenance intervals may need to
be shortened.
WARNING
EWA10322
Failure to properly maintain the vehi-
cle or performin g maintenance ac-
tivities incorrectly may increase
your risk of injury or death during
service or while usin g the vehicle. If
you are not familiar with vehicle ser-
vice, have a Yamaha d ealer perform
service.
WARNING
EWA15123
Turn off the en gine when performin g
maintenance unless otherwise
specified .
 A runnin g en gine has movin g
parts that can catch on b ody
parts or clothin g an d electrical
parts that can cause shocks or
fires.
 Runnin g the eng ine while ser-
vicin g can lead to eye injury,
b urns, fire, or car bon monoxi de
poisonin g – possi bly lea din g to
d eath. See pag e 1-3 for more in-
formation a bout car bon monox-
i d e.
WARNING
EWA15461
Brake discs, calipers, drums, an d
linin gs can b ecome very hot during
use. To avoi d possi ble burns, let
b rake components cool before
touching them.
EAU17303
Emission controls not only function to
ensure cleaner air, but are also vital to
proper engine operation and maximum
performance. In the following periodic
maintenance charts, the services relat-
ed to emissions control are grouped
separately. These services require
specialized data, knowledge, and
equipment. Maintenance, replace-
ment, or repair of the emission control
devices and systems may be per-
formed by any repair establishment or
individual that is certified (if applicable).
Yamaha dealers are trained and
equipped to perform these particular
services.
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Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-3
6
EAU71021
TIP The annual checks must be performe d every year, except if a distance- based maintenance is performe d in-
stea d.
 From 30000 km (17500 mi), repeat the maintenance intervals starting from 6000 km (3500 mi).
 Items marked with an asterisk should be performed by a Yamaha dealer as they require special tools, data and tech-
nical skills.
EAU71041
Perio dic maintenance chart for the emission control systemNO. ITEM CHECK OR MAINTENANCE JOB ODOMETER READING
ANNUAL
CHECK
1000 km
(600 mi) 6000 km
(3500 mi) 12000 km
(7000 mi) 18000 km
(10500 mi) 24000 km
(14000 mi)
1 *Fuel line • Check fuel hoses for cracks or
damage.
• Replace if necessary. √√√√√
2 *Spark plu g • Check condition.
• Adjust gap and clean.
√√
•Replace. √√
3 *Valve clearance • Check and adjust. √√√√
4 *Fuel injection • Check and adjust engine idle
speed. √√√√√√
5 *Exhaust system • Check for leakage.
• Tighten if necessary.
• Replace gasket if necessary. √√√√√
6 *Evaporative emis-
sion control system • Check control system for dam-
age.
• Replace if necessary. √√
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