maintenance YAMAHA NIKEN GT 2020 Owner's Manual

Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-17
6 wei
ght of ri der, passen ger, car-
g o, an d accessories approve d
for this mo del.
WARNING
EWA10512
Never overloa d your vehicle. Opera-
tion of an overloa ded vehicle coul d
cause an acci dent.
Tire inspection
The tires must be checked before each
ride. If the center tread depth reaches
the specified limit, if the tire has a nail
or glass fragments in it, or if the side-
wall is cracked, have a Yamaha dealer
replace the tire immediately.TIPThe tire tread depth limits may differ
from country to country. Always com-
ply with the local regulations.
WARNING
EWA10472
 Have a Yamaha dealer replace
excessively worn tires. Besi des
b ein g ille gal, operatin g the vehi-
cle with excessively worn tires
d ecreases rid ing sta bility an d
can lead to loss of control.
 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 to do so.
 Ride at mo derate speed s after
chan gin g a tire since the tire
surface must first be “ broken
in” for it to develop its optimal
characteristics.
Col d tire air pressure:
1 person: Front:225 kPa (2.25 kgf/cm², 33 psi)
Rear: 290 kPa (2.90 kgf/cm², 42 psi)
2 persons:
Front:225 kPa (2.25 kgf/cm², 33 psi)
Rear:
290 kPa (2.90 kgf/cm², 42 psi)
Maximum loa d:
Vehicle:
191 kg (421 lb)
The vehicle’s maximum load is the
combined weight of the rider, pas-
senger, cargo, and any accessories.
1. Tire sidewall
2. Tire tread depthMinimum tire trea d d epth (front an d
rear): 1.6 mm (0.06 in)
UB5BE1E0.book Page 17 Wednesday, October 30, 2019 9:59 AM

Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-18
6
Tire information
This model is equipped with tubeless
tires and tire air valves.
Tires age, even if they have not been
used or have only been used occasion-
ally. Cracking of the tread and sidewall
rubber, sometimes accompanied by
carcass deformation, is an evidence of
ageing. Old and aged tires shall be
checked by tire specialists to ascertain
their suitability for further use.
WARNING
EWA10902

The front an d rear tires shoul d
b e of the same make an d d e-
si gn, otherwise the han dlin g characteristics of the motorcy-
cle may b
e different, which
coul d lea d to an acci dent.
 Always make sure that the valve
caps are securely installe d to
prevent air pressure leaka ge.
 Use only the tire valves an d
valve cores liste d below to
avoi d tire d eflation during a ride.
After extensive tests, only the tires list-
ed below have been approved for this
model by Yamaha.
WARNING
EWA10601
This motorcycle is fitte d with super-
hi gh-spee d tires. Note the followin g
points in or der to make the most ef-
ficient use of these tires.  Use only the specified replace-
ment tires. Other tires may run
the dan ger of bursting at super
hi gh spee ds.
 Bran d-new tires can have a rel-
atively poor grip on certain roa d
surfaces until they have been
“ b roken in”. Therefore, it is a d-
visa ble before doin g any hi gh-
speed ridin g to ri de conserva-
tively for approximately 100 km
(60 mi) after installin g a new tire.
 The tires must be warmed up
b efore a hi gh-spee d run.
 Always a djust the tire air pres-
sure accor din g to the operatin g
con ditions.
1. Tire air valve
2. Tire air valve core
3. Tire air valve cap with seal
Front tire:
Size:120/70 R 15 M/C 56V
Manufacturer/model: BRIDGESTONE/A41F M
Rear tire:
Size:190/55 R 17 M/C 75V
Manufacturer/model:
BRIDGESTONE/A41R M
FRONT an d REAR:
Tire air valve:
TR412
Valve core: #9100 (original)
UB5BE1E0.book Page 18 Wednesday, October 30, 2019 9:59 AM

Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-19
6
EAU61160
Cast wheelsTo maximize the performance, durabil-
ity, and safe operation of your vehicle,
note the following points regarding the
specified wheels.
 The wheel rims should be
checked for cracks, bends, warp-
age or other damage before each
ride. If any damage is found, have
a Yamaha dealer replace the
wheel. Do not attempt even the
smallest repair to the wheel. A de-
formed or cracked wheel must be
replaced.
 The front wheels should be bal-
anced whenever either the tires or
wheels have been changed or re-
placed. An unbalanced wheel can
result in poor performance, ad-
verse handling characteristics,
and a shortened tire life.
EAU22083
Adjustin g the clutch lever free
playMeasure the clutch lever free play as
shown.
Periodically check the clutch lever free
play and, if necessary, adjust it as fol-
lows.
To increase the clutch lever free play,
turn the clutch lever free play adjusting
bolt in direction (a). To decrease the
clutch lever free play, turn the adjusting
bolt in direction (b).
TIPIf the specified free play cannot be ob-
tained as described above or if the
clutch does not operate correctly, have
a Yamaha dealer check the internal
clutch mechanism.
1. Clutch lever free play adjusting bolt
2. Clutch lever free playClutch lever free play: 10.0–15.0 mm (0.39–0.59 in)
1 (a)
(b)
2
UB5BE1E0.book Page 19 Wednesday, October 30, 2019 9:59 AM

Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-20
6
EAU37914
Checkin g the brake lever free
playThere should be no free play at the
brake lever end. If there is free play,
have a Yamaha dealer inspect the
brake system.
WARNING
EWA14212
A soft or spon gy feelin g in the brake
lever can in dicate the presence of
air in the hy draulic system. If there is
air in the hy draulic system, have a
Yamaha dealer blee d the system be-
fore operatin g the vehicle. Air in the
hy draulic system will diminish the b
rakin g performance, which may re-
sult in loss of control an d an acci-
d ent.
EAU36505
Brake li ght switchesThe brake light should come on just
before braking takes effect. The brake
light is activated by switches connect-
ed to the brake lever and brake pedal.
Since the brake light switches are
components of the anti-lock brake sys-
tem, they should only be serviced by a
Yamaha dealer.
1. No brake lever free play
1
UB5BE1E0.book Page 20 Wednesday, October 30, 2019 9:59 AM

Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-21
6
EAU22393
Checkin g the front an d rear
b rake pa dsThe front and rear brake pads must be
checked for wear at the intervals spec-
ified in the periodic maintenance and
lubrication chart.
EAU22433
Front brake pa ds
Each front brake pad is provided with
wear indicator grooves, which allow
you to check the brake pad wear with-
out having to disassemble the brake.
To check the brake pad wear, check
the wear indicator grooves. If a brake
pad has worn to the point that the wear
indicator grooves have almost disap-
peared, have a Yamaha dealer replace
the brake pads as a set.
EAU46292
Rear brake pad s
Each rear brake pad is provided with
wear indicator grooves, which allow
you to check the brake pad wear with-
out having to disassemble the brake.
To check the brake pad wear, check
the wear indicator grooves. If a brake
pad has worn to the point that a wear
indicator groove almost appears, have
a Yamaha dealer replace the brake
pads as a set.
1. Brake pad wear indicator groove
1
1
1. Brake pad wear indicator groove
1
1
1. Brake pad wear indicator groove
1
1
UB5BE1E0.book Page 21 Wednesday, October 30, 2019 9:59 AM

Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-22
6
EAU40262
Checkin g the brake flui d levelBefore riding, check that the brake fluid
is above the minimum level mark.
Check the brake fluid level with the top
of the reservoir level. Replenish the
brake fluid if necessary.
Front brake Rear
brake
WARNING
EWA16011
Improper maintenance can result in
loss of b raking a bility. O bserve
these precautions:  Insufficient brake flui d may al-
low air to enter the b rake sys-
tem, re ducin g brakin g
performance.
 Clean the filler cap before re-
movin g. Use only DOT 4 b rake
flui d from a seale d container. 
Use only the specifie d b rake flu-
i d ; otherwise, the ru bber seals
may deteriorate, causin g leak-
a g e.
 Refill with the same type of
brake flui d. A dding a brake flui d
other than DOT 4 may result in a
harmful chemical reaction.
 Be careful that water or dust
d oes not enter the brake flui d
reservoir when refilling . Water
will si gnificantly lower the boil-
in g point of the flui d an d may re-
sult in vapor lock, an d d ir
t may
clo g the ABS hy draulic unit
valves.
NOTICE
ECA17641
Brake flui d may damag e painte d
surfaces or plastic parts. Always
clean up spille d flui d imme diately.As the brake pads wear, it is normal for
the brake fluid level to gradually go
down. A low brake fluid level may indi-
cate worn brake pads and/or brake
system leakage; therefore, be sure to
check the brake pads for wear and the
brake system for leakage. If the brake
1. Minimum level mark
1
1. Minimum level mark
Specified b rake flui d:
DOT 4
1
UB5BE1E0.book Page 22 Wednesday, October 30, 2019 9:59 AM

Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-23
6 fluid level goes down suddenly, have a
Yamaha dealer check the cause before further riding.
EAU22734
Chan gin g the brake flui dHave a Yamaha dealer change the
brake fluid every 2 years. In addition,
have the seals of the master cylinders
and brake calipers, as well as the brake
hoses replaced at the intervals listed
below or sooner if they are damaged or
leaking.
 Brake seals: every 2 years
 Brake hoses: every 4 years
EAU22762
Drive chain slackThe drive chain slack should be
checked before each ride and adjusted
if necessary.
EAU73530
To check the drive chain slack
1. Place the motorcycle on the cen- terstand.
2. Shift the transmission into the neutral position.
3. Measure the drive chain slack as shown.1. Drive chain slackDrive chain slack:5.0–15.0 mm (0.20–0.59 in)
1
UB5BE1E0.book Page 23 Wednesday, October 30, 2019 9:59 AM

Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-24
6
4. If the drive chain slack is incorrect,
adjust it as follows. NOTICE: Im-
proper drive chain slack will
overloa d the en gine as well as
other vital parts of the motorcy-
cle an d can lead to chain slip-
pa ge or b reakag e. If the d rive
chain slack is more than 50.0
mm (1.97 in), the chain can d am-
a g e the frame, swin garm, an d
other parts. To prevent this from
occurrin g, keep the d rive chain
slack within the specified limits.
[ECA17791]
EAU49314
To adjust the drive chain slack
Consult a Yamaha dealer before ad-
justing the drive chain slack. 1. Take the motorcycle off the cen- terstand, and then put the side-
stand down.
2. Loosen the axle nut and the lock- nut on each side of the swingarm. 3. Place the motorcycle on the cen-
terstand.
4. To tighten the drive chain, turn the drive chain slack adjusting bolt on
each side of the swingarm in di-
rection (a). To loosen the drive
chain, turn the adjusting bolt on
each side of the swingarm in di-
rection (b), and then push the rear
wheel forward.
TIPUsing the alignment marks on each
side of the swingarm, make sure that
both drive chain pullers are in the same
position for proper wheel alignment.
5. Take the motorcycle off the cen-terstand, and then put the side-
stand down.
6. Tighten the axle nut, then the lock- nuts to the specified torques.
7. Make sure that the drive chain pullers are in the same position,
the drive chain slack is correct,
and the drive chain moves
smoothly.
1. Axle nut
2. Locknut
2
1
1. Drive chain slack adjusting bolt
2. Drive chain puller
3. Alignment mark
Tightenin g torques:
Axle nut:
150 N·m (15 kgf·m, 111 lb·ft)
Locknut: 16 N·m (1.6 kgf·m, 12 lb·ft)
(a)(b)
1
2
3
UB5BE1E0.book Page 24 Wednesday, October 30, 2019 9:59 AM

Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-25
6
EAU23026
Cleanin g an d lu bricatin g the
d rive chainThe drive chain must be cleaned and
lubricated at the intervals specified in
the periodic maintenance and lubrica-
tion chart, otherwise it will quickly wear
out, especially when riding in dusty or
wet areas. Service the drive chain as
follows.NOTICE
ECA10584
The drive chain must b e lubricated
after washin g the motorcycle, ri din g
in the rain or ri din g in wet areas.1. Clean the drive chain with kero-
sene and a small soft brush.
NOTICE: To prevent d amaging
the O-rin gs, do not clean the
d rive chain with steam cleaners,
hi gh-pressure washers or inap-
propriate solvents.
[ECA11122]
2. Wipe the drive chain dry.
3. Thoroughly lubricate the drive chain with a special O-ring chain
lubricant. NOTICE: Do not use
en gine oil or any other lu bri-
cants for the drive chain, as they may contain su
bstances that
coul d damag e the O-rin gs.
[ECA11112] EAU23098
Checkin
g an d lu bricatin g the
cab lesThe operation of all control cables and
the condition of the cables should be
checked before each ride, and the ca-
bles and cable ends should be lubri-
cated if necessary. If a cable is
damaged or does not move smoothly,
have a Yamaha dealer check or re-
place it. WARNING! Dama ge to the
outer housin g of cab les may result
in internal rustin g an d cause inter-
ference with cab le movement. Re-
place damag ed cab les as soon as
possi ble to prevent unsafe con di-
tions.
[EWA10712]
Recommen ded lu bricant:
Yamaha cable lubricant or other
suitable cable lubricant
UB5BE1E0.book Page 25 Wednesday, October 30, 2019 9:59 AM

Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-26
6
EAU23115
Checkin g an d lu bricatin g the
throttle grip an d ca bleThe operation of the throttle grip
should be checked before each ride. In
addition, the cable should be lubricat-
ed by a Yamaha dealer at the intervals
specified in the periodic maintenance
chart.
The throttle cable is equipped with a
rubber cover. Make sure that the cover
is securely installed. Even though the
cover is installed correctly, it does not
completely protect the cable from wa-
ter entry. Therefore, use care not to
pour water directly onto the cover or
cable when washing the vehicle. If the
cable or cover becomes dirty, wipe
clean with a moist cloth.
EAU44276
Checkin g an d lu bricatin g the
b rake an d shift pe dalsThe operation of the brake and shift
pedals should be checked before each
ride, and the pedal pivots should be lu-
bricated if necessary.
Brake pe dal
Shift pe dal
Recommen ded lu bricant:
Lithium-soap-based grease
UB5BE1E0.book Page 26 Wednesday, October 30, 2019 9:59 AM