YAMAHA NIKEN 2018 Workshop Manual

Instrument and control functions
3-36
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
UBD5E0E0.book Page 36 Wednesday, April 25, 2018 2:23 PM

For your safety – pre-operation checks
4-1
4
EAU15599
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 overflow hose for obstructions, cracks or damage, and check
hose connection. 3-24, 3-26
En gine oil • Check oil level in engine.
• If necessary, add recommended oil to specified level.
• Check vehicle for oil leakage. 6-11
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. 6-20, 6-21
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For your safety – pre-operation checks
4-2
4
Rear 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. 6-20, 6-21
Clutch • Check operation.
• Lubricate cable if necessary.
• Check lever free play.
• Adjust if necessary.
6-19
Throttle grip • Make sure that operation is smooth.
• Check throttle grip free play.
• If necessary, have Yamaha dealer adjust throttle grip free play and lubricate ca-
ble and grip housing. 6-15, 6-25
Control ca bles • Make sure that operation is smooth.
• Lubricate if necessary. 6-25
Drive chain • Check chain slack.
• Adjust if necessary.
• Check chain condition.
• Lubricate if necessary.
6-23, 6-24
Wheels an d tires • Check for damage.
• Check tire condition and tread depth.
• Check air pressure.
• Correct if necessary.
6-16, 6-18
Brake an d shift pe dals • Make sure that operation is smooth.
• Lubricate pedal pivoting points if necessary. 6-26
Brake an d clutch levers • Make sure that operation is smooth.
• Lubricate lever pivoting points if necessary.
6-26
Si destan d • Make sure that operation is smooth.
• Lubricate pivot if necessary.
6-27
ITEM CHECKS PAGE
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For your safety – pre-operation checks
4-3
4
Chassis fasteners• Make sure that all nuts, bolts and screws are properly tightened.
• Tighten if necessary. —
Instruments, li ghts, si gnals
an d switches • Check operation.
• Correct if necessary.
—
Si destan d switch • Check operation of ignition circuit cut-off system.
• If system is not working correctly, have Yamaha dealer check vehicle. 3-34
ITEM CHECKS PAGE
UBD5E0E0.book Page 3 Wednesday, April 25, 2018 2:23 PM

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.
EAUM3632
TIPThis model is equipped with:  a lean angle sensor. This sensor
stops the engine in case of a vehi-
cle turnover. If this happens, the
engine trouble warning light will
come on, but this is not a malfunc-
tion. Turn the vehicle power off
and then back on again to cancel
the warning light. Failing to do so
will prevent the engine from start-
ing even though the engine will
crank when pushing the start
switch.
 an engine auto-stop system. The
engine stops automatically if left
idling for 20 minutes. If the engine
stops, simply push the start
switch to restart the engine.
EAU84620
Startin g the en gineUnder normal conditions, shift the
transmission into neutral before start-
ing the engine. To start the engine with
the transmission in gear, the sidestand
must be up and the clutch lever pulled.
To start the engine1. Set the engine stop switch to “ ”.
2. Turn the main switch to “ ”.
3. Confirm the following lights per-
form a circuit check. Coolant temperature warning
light
 Oil level warning light
 Engine trouble warning light
 ABS warning light
 Traction control system indi-
cator light
 Cruise control indicator lights
 Shift indicator light
 Immobilizer system indicator
lightTIP The ABS warning light should go
off after reaching a speed of 10
km/h (6 mi/h) or higher.
UBD5E0E0.book Page 1 Wednesday, April 25, 2018 2:23 PM

Operation and important rid ing points
5-2
5 
The neutral position indicator light
should be on when the transmis-
sion is in neutral.
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.4. Push the start switch “ ”.
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!
EAU84370
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.TIPTo shift the transmission into the
neutral position ( ), press the
shift pedal down repeatedly until it
reaches the end of its travel, and
then slightly raise it. 
This model is equipped with a
quick shift system. (See page
3-19.)
NOTICE
ECA23990
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.
 Except when upshiftin g with the
quick shift system, always use
the clutch while chan gin g g ears
to avoi d d amag ing the en gine,
transmission, an d drive train,
which are not desi gne d to with-
stan d the shock of forced shift-
in g.
1. Gear positions
2. Shift pedal
2
1
1
N 2 3 4
5
6
UBD5E0E0.book Page 2 Wednesday, April 25, 2018 2:23 PM

Operation and important ri din g points
5-3
5
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).
EAU16842
Engine break-inThere is never a more important period
in the life of your engine than the period
between 0 and 1600 km (1000 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
1600 km (1000 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.
EAU17094
0–1000 km (0–600 mi)
Avoid prolonged operation above 5600
r/min. NOTICE: After 1000 km (600
mi) of operation, the en gine oil must
b e chan ged an d the oil filter car-
tri dge or element replace d.
[ECA10303]
1000–1600 km (600–1000 mi)
Avoid prolonged operation above 6700
r/min. 1600 km (1000 mi) an
d 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.
UBD5E0E0.book Page 3 Wednesday, April 25, 2018 2:23 PM

Operation and important rid ing points
5-4
5
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 and 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 g rass or other
flammab le materials which
mi ght catch fire.
UBD5E0E0.book Page 4 Wednesday, April 25, 2018 2:23 PM

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.
UBD5E0E0.book Page 1 Wednesday, April 25, 2018 2:23 PM

Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-2
6
EAU84630
Tool kitThe tool kit is located on the bottom of
the passenger seat. (See page 3-27.)
The information included in this manual
and the tools provided in the tool kit are
intended to assist you in the perfor-
mance of preventive maintenance and
minor repairs. However, a torque
wrench and other tools are necessary
to perform certain maintenance work
correctly.TIPIf you do not have the tools or experi-
ence required for a particular job, have
your Yamaha dealer perform it for you.1. Tool kit
1
UBD5E0E0.book Page 2 Wednesday, April 25, 2018 2:23 PM