2021 YAMAHA YZ85 spoke

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 ........................................ 4-7
Starter (choke) knob ....................... 4-7
Kickstarter ...................................... 4-8
Seat ................................................ 4-8
Adjusting the front fork ................... 4-9
Front fork bleeding ....................... 4-11
Adjusting the shock absorber assembly ................................... 4-12
Removable sidestand ................... 4-15
YPVS system ................................ 4-16
For your safety – pre-operation
checks ............................................... 5-1
Operation an d important ri din g
points ................................................ 6-1
Engine break-in .............................. 6-1
Starting and warming up a cold
engine ......................................... 6-3
Starting a warm engine .................. 6-3
Shifting ........................................... 6-4
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 chart ................... 7-32
Motorcycle care an d stora ge .......... 8-1
Matte color caution ......................... 8-1
Care................................................. 8-1
Storage............................................ 8-4
UB4B82E0.book Page 1 Wednesday, March 11, 2020 1:10 PM

For your safety – pre-operation checks
5-2
5
Drive chain• Check chain slack.
• Adjust if necessary.
• Check chain condition.
• Lubricate if necessary. 7-21,
7-23
Drive sprocket • Check the drive sprocket nut torque.
• Tighten if necessary.
—
Wheels an d tires •Check for damage.
• Check tire condition and tread depth.
• Check air pressure.
• Correct if necessary.
• Check for loose spokes and tighten if necessary. 7-14,
7-16
Shift ped al • Make sure that operation is smooth.
• Check the shift pedal bolt torque.
• Correct if necessary. 7-18
Brake ped al • Make sure that operation is smooth.
• Lubricate pedal pivoting point if necessary. 7-25
Brake an d clutch le-
vers • Make sure that operation is smooth.
• Lubricate lever pivoting points if necessary.
7-24
Steerin g • Check that the handlebar can be turned smoothly and
has no excessive play. 7-27
Front fork and rear
shock a bsor ber as-
sem bly • Check that they operate smoothly and there is no oil
leakage. 4-9,
4-11,
4-12, 7-26
Chassis fasteners • Make sure that all nuts, bolts and screws are properly
tightened.
• Check all cotter pins for damage and correct install- ment.
• Tighten or replace if necessary. —
Movin g parts an d ca-
b les • Check the control cables for damage.
• Check that the control cables move smoothly.
• Check that the control cables are not caught when the
handlebars are turned or when the front forks travel up
and down.
• Lubricate moving parts and cables if necessary. 7-23,
7-24,
7-26, 7-25
Exhaust system • Check that the exhaust pipe and muffler are tightly
mounted and have no cracks.
• Check for leakage. —
En gine stop switch • Check operation. 4-1
I g nition system • Check that all leads and cables are properly connected. 7-6
ITEM
CHECKSPAGE
UB4B82E0.book Page 2 Wednesday, March 11, 2020 1:10 PM

Operation and important ri din g points
6-2
6
the higher gears and check the
full-throttle response. Stop the en-
gine and check the spark plug.
5. After again allowing the engine to cool, restart and run the motorcy-
cle for 5 more minutes. Full throttle
and the higher gears may be used,
but sustained full-throttle opera-
tion should be avoided. Stop the
engine and check the spark plug
again.
6. Allow the engine to cool, remove the cylinder head and cylinder,
and inspect the piston and cylin-
der. Remove any high spots on
the piston with #600-grit wet
sandpaper. Clean all components
and carefully reassemble the cyl-
inder head and cylinder.
7. Drain the break-in oil-fuel mixture from the fuel tank and refill with
the normal oil-fuel mixture. (See
page 4-4.)
8. Start the engine and check its power delivery and throttle re-
sponse throughout all gear rang-
es. Stop the engine and check the
spark plug condition. It should be-
gin to lighten in color.
9. Restart the motorcycle and ride it for about 10 to 15 more minutes.
Stop the engine and check the
spark plug condition. (See page
7-6.)
10. Lastly, thoroughly check the mo- torcycle for loose parts, oil leak-
age and any other problems.
Check all fittings and fasteners
and tighten as necessary.
TIP
Be sure to inspect and make adjust-
ments thoroughly. In particular, check
control cable slack, drive chain slack
and for loose spokes.
Notes on en gine overhauls
If the following parts have been re-
placed, they must be broken in as fol-
lows.  Piston, rings or transmission
gears: 30 minutes of break-in op-
eration at half-throttle or less.
 Cylinder or crankshaft: 60 minutes
of break-in operation is necessary.
TIP
Observe the condition of the engine
carefully during break-in operation.
NOTICE
ECA10271
If any en gine trou ble shoul d occur
d urin g the en gine break-in perio d,
imme diately have a Yamaha dealer
check the vehicle.
UB4B82E0.book Page 2 Wednesday, March 11, 2020 1:10 PM

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
*Shock absorber
assembly Check operation and adjust. Tighten if necessary.
Lubricate with lithium-soap-based
grease.

*Drive chain roller
and support guide Check for wear or damage. Replace if necessary.
*Rear suspension Check operation and tighten if
necessary.
Lubricate with molybdenum disulfidegrease.
Check operation, free play, andtighten if necessary.
*
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.
*Tires and wheels
Check wheel bearings for looseness. Lubricate wheel bearings with
lithium-soap-based grease.
Replace wheel bearings.
*Moving parts and ca-
bles Lubricate.
*
Throttle grip Check operation. Check throttle grip free play, and
adjust if necessary.
27 *Swingarm pivot
bearings 
Lubricate cable and grip housing.
After washing the motorcycle or riding in the rain.
Lubricate with molybdenum
disulfide grease. Check bearing assemblies for
looseness.
24
25
26
28
29
30
31
UB4B82E0.book Page 5 Wednesday, March 11, 2020 1:10 PM

Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
7-16
7 
The replacement of all wheel-
and b rake-relate d parts, inclu d-
in g the tires, shoul d b e left to a
Yamaha dealer, who has the
necessary professional knowl-
e dge an d experience.
 It is not recommen ded to patch
a punctured tube. If unavoi d-
a b le, however, patch the tu be
very carefully an d replace it as
soon as possi ble with a hi gh-
quality pro duct.
EAU48322
Spoke wheels
WARNING
EWA10611
The wheels on this mod el are not
d esi gne d for use with tu beless tires.
Do not attempt to use tu beless tires
on this mod el.
To maximize the performance, durabil-
ity, and safe operation of your motor-
cycle, note the following points
regarding the specified wheels.
 The wheel rims should be
checked for cracks, bends, warp-
age or other damage and the
spokes for looseness or damage
before each ride. If any damage is
found, have a Yamaha dealer re-
place the wheel. Do not attempt
even the smallest repair to the
wheel. A deformed or cracked
wheel must be replaced.
 The wheel should be balanced
whenever either the tire or wheel
has been changed or replaced. An
unbalanced wheel can result in
poor performance, adverse han-
dling characteristics, and a short-
ened tire life.
UB4B82E0.book Page 16 Wednesday, March 11, 2020 1:10 PM

Motorcycle care and stora ge
8-2
8

harsh chemicals, inclu din g
stron g aci dic wheel cleaners,
especially on spoke or mag ne-
sium wheels.
 harsh chemicals, ab rasive
cleanin g compoun ds, or wax on
matte-finished parts. Brushes
can scratch an d damag e the
matte-finish, use soft spon ge or
towel only.
 towels, spon ges, or brushes
contaminate d with a brasive
cleanin g prod ucts or stron g
chemicals such as, solvents,
g asoline, rust removers, brake
flui d, or antifreeze, etc.
Before washin g
1. Park the vehicle out of direct sun- light and allow it to cool. This will
help avoid water spots.
2. Make sure all caps, covers, elec- trical couplers and connectors are
tightly installed.
3. Cover the muffler end with a plas- tic bag and a strong rubber band.
4. Pre-soak stubborn stains like in- sects or bird droppings with a wet
towel for a few minutes.
5. Remove road grime and oil stains with a quality degreasing agent
and a plastic-bristle brush or
sponge. NOTICE: Do not use
d eg reasin g a gent on areas re-
quirin g lu brication such as
seals, gaskets, an d wheel axles.
Follow prod uct instructions.
[ECA26290]
Washing
1. Rinse off any degreaser and spray down the vehicle with a garden
hose. Use only enough pressure
to do the job. Avoid spraying wa-
ter directly into the muffler, instru-
ment panel, air inlet, or other inner
areas such as underseat storage
compartments.
2. Wash the vehicle with a quality au- tomotive-type detergent mixed
with cool water and a soft, clean
towel or sponge. Use an old tooth-
brush or plastic-bristle brush for
hard-to-reach places. NOTICE:
Use col d water if the vehicle has
b een exposed to salt. Warm wa-
ter will increase salt’s corrosive
properties.
[ECA26301]
3. For windshield-equipped vehicles: Clean the windshield with a soft
towel or sponge dampened with
water and a pH neutral detergent.
If necessary, use a high-quality
windshield cleaner or polish for
motorcycles. NOTICE: Never use
any stron g chemicals to clean
the win dshiel d. A dditionally,
some cleanin g compoun ds for
plastic may scratch the wind -
shiel d, so b e sure to test all
cleanin g prod ucts before gen-
eral application.
[ECA26310]
4. Rinse off thoroughly with clean water. Be sure to remove all deter-
gent residues, as they can be
harmful to plastic parts.
After washin g
1. Dry the vehicle with a chamois or absorbent towel, preferably mi-
crofiber terrycloth.
UB4B82E0.book Page 2 Wednesday, March 11, 2020 1:10 PM