engine YAMAHA YZF-R6 2016 Owner's Manual
Page 44 of 112
Instrument and control functions
3-29
3
With the engine turned off:
1. Move the sidestand down.
2. Make sure that the engine stop switch is set to “
3. Turn the key on. 
4. Shift the transmission into the neutral position.
5. Push the start switch.
Does the engine start?
With the engine still running:
6. Move the sidestand up.
7. Keep the clutch lever pulled.
8. Shift the transmission into gear.
9. Move the sidestand down.
Does the engine stall?
After the engine has stalled:
10. Move the sidestand up.
11. Keep the clutch lever pulled.
12. Push the start switch.
Does the engine start?
The system is OK.  The motorcycle can be ridden. The neutral switch may not be working correctly.
The motorcycle should not be ridden
 until
checked by a Yamaha dealer.
The sidestand switch may not be working correctly.
The motorcycle should not be ridden  until
checked by a Yamaha dealer.
The clutch switch may not be working correctly.
The motorcycle should not be ridden  until
checked by a Yamaha dealer.
YES NO YES NO YES NO
If a malfunction is noted, have a Yamaha
dealer check the system before riding.
WARNING
”.
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Page 45 of 112
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 accident or equipment d amage.
Do not operate the vehicle if you fin d any pro blem. If a pro blem cannot b e 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. 3-17, 3-19
En gine oil • Check oil level in engine.
• If necessary, add recommended oil to specified level.
• Check vehicle for oil leakage. 6-13
Coolant • Check coolant level in reservoir.
• If necessary, add recommended coolant to specified level.
• Check cooling system for leakage. 6-16
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. 6-25, 6-25
U2CXE2E0.book  Page 1  Tuesday, June 9, 2015  5:04 PM 
Page 48 of 112
Operation and important rid ing 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.
EAU47152
TIPThis model is equipped with:  a lean angle sensor to stop the en-
gine in case of a turnover. In this
case, the display will indicate error
code 30, but this is not a malfunc-
tion. Turn the key to “OFF” and
then to “ON” to clear the error co-
d e . F ai l in g  to  do  s o  wi ll  pr e v e nt  the
engine from starting even though
the engine will crank when push-
ing the start switch.
 an engine auto-stop system. The
engine stops automatically if left
idling for 20 minutes. In this case,
the display will indicate error code
70, but this is not a malfunction.
Push the start switch to clear the
error code and to restart the en-
gine.
EAU33016
Startin g the en gineIn order for the ignition circuit cut-off
system to enable starting, one of the
following conditions must be met:
 The transmission is in the neutral
position.
 The transmission is in gear with
the clutch lever pulled and the
sidestand up.
See page 3-28 for more informa-
tion.
1. Turn the key to “ON” and make sure that the engine stop switch is
set to “ ”.
The following warning lights and
indicator lights should come on for
a few seconds, then go off. Oil level warning light
 Fuel level warning light
 Coolant temperature warning
light
 Shift timing indicator light
 Engine trouble warning light
 Immobilizer system indicator
light
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Page 49 of 112
Operation and important ri din g points
5-2
5
NOTICE
ECA11834
If a warnin g or in dicator li ght  does
not come on initially when the key is
turne d to “ON”, or if a warnin g or in-
d icator li ght remains on, see pa ge
3-4 for the correspon din g warnin g
an d in dicator li ght circuit check.2. Shift the transmission into the
neutral position. The neutral indi-
cator light should come on. If not,
ask a Yamaha dealer to check the
electrical circuit.
3. Start the engine by pushing the start switch.
If the engine fails to start, release
the start switch, wait a few sec-
onds, and then try again. Each
starting attempt should be as
short as possible to preserve the
battery. Do not crank the engine
more than 10 seconds on any one
attempt.NOTICE
ECA11043
For maximum en gine life, never ac-
celerate har d when the en gine is
col d!
EAU16673
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, 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 d amage
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.
1. Shift pedal
2. Neutral position
U2CXE2E0.book  Page 2  Tuesday, June 9, 2015  5:04 PM 
Page 50 of 112
Operation and important rid ing 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.
EAU17085
0–1000 km (0–600 mi)
Avoid prolonged operation above 8300
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 dg e or element replace d.
 [ECA10303]
1000–1600 km (600–1000 mi)
Avoid prolonged operation above 9900
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
period , imme diately have a
Yamaha  dealer check the vehi-
cle.TIPDuring and after the engine break-in
period, the exhaust heat may cause
discoloration of the exhaust pipe, but
this is normal.
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Page 51 of 112
Operation and important ri din g 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 b ecome 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
flamma ble materials which
mi ght catch fire.
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Page 52 of 112
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  durin g
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  body
parts or clothin g an d electrical
parts that can cause shocks or
fires.
 Runnin g the en gine 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, and
linin gs can b ecome very hot d uring
use. To avoi d possi ble  burns, let
b rake components cool  before
touchin g 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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Page 63 of 112
Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-12
6
To install a panel
Place the panel in the original position,
and then install the bolts.
EAU19653
Checkin
g the spark plug sThe spark plugs are important engine
components, which should be
checked periodically, preferably by a
Yamaha dealer. Since heat and depos-
its will cause any spark plug to slowly
erode, they should be removed and
checked in accordance with the peri-
odic maintenance and lubrication
chart. In addition, the condition of the
spark plugs can reveal the condition of
the engine.
The porcelain insulator around the
center electrode of each spark plug
should be a medium-to-light tan (the
ideal color when the vehicle is ridden
normally), and all spark plugs installed
in the engine should have the same
color. If any spark plug shows a dis-
tinctly different color, the engine could
be operating improperly. Do not at-
tempt to diagnose such problems
yourself. Instead, have a Yamaha deal-
er check the vehicle.
If a spark plug shows signs of elec-
trode erosion and excessive carbon or
other deposits, it should be replaced. Before installing a spark plug, the
spark plug gap should be measured
with a wire thickness gauge and, if
necessary, adjusted to specification.
Clean the surface of the spark plug
gasket and its mating surface, and
then wipe off any grime from the spark
plug threads.
1. Panel B
2. Bolt
Specified
 spark plu g:
NGK/CR10EK
1. Spark plug gap
Spark plu g g ap:
0.6–0.7 mm (0.024–0.028 in)
Ti ghtenin g torque:
Spark plug: 13 Nm (1.3 m·kgf, 9.4 ft·lbf)
1
1
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Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-13
6
TIPIf a torque wrench is not available
when installing a spark plug, a good
estimate of the correct torque is 1/4–
1/2 turn past finger tight. However, the
spark plug should be tightened to the
specified torque as soon as possible.NOTICE
ECA10841
Do not use any tools to remove or in-
stall the spark plu g cap, otherwise
the i gnition coil coupler may  get
d amag ed . The spark plu g cap may
b e  difficult to remove b ecause the
ru bber seal on the en d of the cap fits
ti g htly. To remove the spark plu g
cap, simply twist it b ack and forth
while pullin g it out; to install it, twist
it  back an d forth while pushin g it in.
EAU3899E
En gine oil an d oil filter car-
tri dgeThe engine oil level should be checked
before each ride. In addition, the oil
must be changed and the oil filter car-
tridge replaced at the intervals speci-
fied in the periodic maintenance and
lubrication chart.
To check the en gine oil level
1. Place the vehicle on a level surfa- ce and hold it in an upright posi-
tion. A slight tilt to the side can
result in a false reading.
2. Start the engine, warm it up for several minutes, and then turn it
off.
3. Wait a few minutes until the oil set- tles.
4. Remove the engine oil dipstick and wipe it clean, insert it back
into the hole (without screwing it
in), and then remove it again to
check the oil level.TIPThe engine oil should be between the
minimum and maximum level marks.
5. If the engine oil is at or below theminimum level mark, remove the
engine oil filler cap, and then add
sufficient oil of the recommended
type to raise it to the correct level.1. Engine oil dipstick
2. Maximum level mark
3. Minimum level mark
1. Engine oil filler cap
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Page 65 of 112
Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-14
6
6. Insert and tighten the engine oil
dipstick, and then install and tight-
en the oil filler cap.
To chan ge the en gine oil (with or
without oil filter cartri dge replace-
ment) 1. Place the vehicle on a level surfa- ce.
2. Remove cowling A. (See page 6-8.)
3. Start the engine, warm it up for several minutes, and then turn it
off.
4. Place an oil pan under the engine to collect the used oil.
5. Remove the engine oil filler cap, the engine oil drain bolt and its
gasket to drain the oil from the
crankcase.
TIPSkip steps 6–12 if the oil filter cartridge
is not being replaced.6. Remove the shift arm bolt, andthen pull the shift arm off the shift
shaft.
7. Remove the fuel tank breather hose and overflow hose from the
guides. 8. Remove the oil filter cartridge with
an oil filter wrench.1. Engine oil drain bolt
2. Gasket
12
1. Bolt
2. Shift arm
3. Oil filter cartridge
4. Guide
5. Fuel tank breather hose and overflow hose
1. Oil filter wrench
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