YAMAHA VMAX 2009 Owner's Guide

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
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EAU12870
Shift pedal
The shift pedal is located on the left
side of the engine and is used in com-
bination with the clutch lever when
shifting the gears of the 5-speed con-
stant-mesh transmission equipped on
this motorcycle.
EAU33851
Brake lever
The brake lever is located at the right
handlebar grip. To apply the front
brake, pull the lever toward the handle-
bar grip.
The brake lever is equipped with a
brake lever position adjusting knob. To
adjust the distance between the brake
lever and the handlebar grip, turn the
adjusting knob while holding the lever
pushed away from the handlebar grip.
When the desired position is obtained,be sure to set it by aligning a groove on
the adjusting knob with the “” mark
on the brake lever.
1. Shift pedal
1

1. Brake lever
2. Brake lever position adjusting knob
3. “” mark
4. Distance between brake lever and
handlebar grip
1
4
2
3

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-18
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EAU12941
Brake pedal
The brake pedal is on the right side of
the motorcycle. To apply the rear
brake, press down on the brake pedal.
EAU46390
ABS
The Yamaha ABS (Anti-lock Brake
System) features a dual electronic con-
trol system, which acts on the front and
rear brakes independently. The ABS is
monitored by an ECU (Electronic Con-
trol Unit), which will have recourse to
manual braking if a malfunction occurs.
WARNING

EWA10090

The ABS performs best on long
braking distances.

On certain (rough or gravel)
roads, the braking distance may
be longer with than without the
ABS. Therefore, always keep a
sufficient distance to the vehi-
cle ahead to match the riding
speed.
TIP


When the ABS is activated, the
brakes are operated in the usual
way. A pulsating action may be felt
at the brake lever or brake pedal,
but this does not indicate a mal-
function.

This ABS has a test mode whichallows the owner to experience the
pulsating at the brake lever or
brake pedal when the ABS is oper-
ating. However, special tools are
required, so please consult your
Yamaha dealer when performing
this test.
NOTICE

ECA16120
Keep any type of magnets (including
magnetic pick-up tools, magnetic
screwdrivers, etc.) away from the
front and rear wheel hubs, otherwise
the magnetic rotors equipped in the
wheel hubs may be damaged, result-
ing in improper performance of the
ABS system.
1. Brake pedal
1

1. Front wheel hub
1

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-19
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EAU46850
Fuel tank cap
To remove the fuel tank cap
1. Pull the rider seat backrest release
lever on the left side of the vehicle
as shown. The backrest will slide
forward.
2. Insert the key into the lock, and
then turn it 1/4 turn clockwise. The
lock will be released and the fuel
tank cap can be removed.
1. Rear wheel hub
1

1. Rider seat backrest release lever
1

1. Rider seat backrest
1. Unlock.
1
1

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-20
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9To install the fuel tank cap
1. Insert the fuel tank cap into the
tank opening with the key inserted
in the lock and with the mark on the
cap aligned with the mark on the
fuel tank.
2. Turn the key counterclockwise to
the original position, and then re-
move it.
3. Return the backrest to the original
position.
TIP

The fuel tank cap cannot be installed
unless the key is in the lock. In addition,
the key cannot be removed if the cap is
not properly installed and locked.
WARNING

EWA10131
Make sure that the fuel tank cap is
properly installed before riding.
Leaking fuel is a fire hazard.
EAU13212
Fuel
Make sure there is sufficient gasoline in
the tank.
WARNING

EWA10881
Gasoline and gasoline vapors are
extremely flammable. To avoid fires
and explosions and to reduce the
risk of injury when refueling, follow
these instructions.
1. Before refueling, turn off the en-
gine and be sure that no one is sit-
ting on the vehicle. Never refuel
while smoking, or while in the vi-
cinity of sparks, open flames, or
other sources of ignition such as
the pilot lights of water heaters and
clothes dryers.
2. Do not overfill the fuel tank. Stop
filling when the fuel reaches the
bottom of the filler tube. Because
fuel expands when it heats up,
heat from the engine or the sun
can cause fuel to spill out of the
fuel tank.
1. Match marks
1

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
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3. Wipe up any spilled fuel immedi-
ately.
NOTICE:
Immediately wipe
off spilled fuel with a clean, dry,
soft cloth, since fuel may deteri-
orate painted surfaces or plastic
parts.

[ECA10071]

4. Be sure to securely close the fuel
tank cap.
WARNING

EWA15151
Gasoline is poisonous and can
cause injury or death. Handle gaso-
line with care. Never siphon gaso-
line by mouth. If you should swallow
some gasoline or inhale a lot of gas-
oline vapor, or get some gasoline inyour eyes, see your doctor immedi-
ately. If gasoline spills on your skin,
wash with soap and water. If gaso-
line spills on your clothing, change
your clothes.
EAU43421
NOTICE

ECA11400
Use only unleaded gasoline. The use
of leaded gasoline will cause severe
damage to internal engine parts,
such as the valves and piston rings,
as well as to the exhaust system.
Your Yamaha engine has been de-
signed to use premium unleaded gaso-
line with a research octane number of
95 or higher. If knocking (or pinging) oc-
curs, use a gasoline of a differentbrand. Use of unleaded fuel will extend
spark plug life and reduce maintenance
costs.
1. Fuel tank filler tube
2. Fuel level
12

Recommended fuel:
PREMIUM UNLEADED GASOLINE
ONLY
Fuel tank capacity:
15.0 L (3.96 US gal, 3.30 Imp.gal)
Fuel reserve amount (when the fuel
level warning indicator flashes):
3.9 L (1.03 US gal, 0.86 Imp.gal)

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-22
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EAU13445
Catalytic converters
This vehicle is equipped with catalytic
converters in the exhaust system.
WARNING

EWA10862
The exhaust system is hot after op-
eration. To prevent a fire hazard or
burns:

Do not park the vehicle near
possible fire hazards such as
grass or other materials that
easily burn.

Park the vehicle in a place
where pedestrians or children
are not likely to touch the hot
exhaust system.

Make sure that the exhaust sys-
tem has cooled down before do-
ing any maintenance work.

Do not allow the engine to idle
more than a few minutes. Long
idling can cause a build-up of
heat.
NOTICE

ECA10701
Use only unleaded gasoline. The use
of leaded gasoline will cause unre-pairable damage to the catalytic
converter.
EAU46840
Seats
Rider seat
To remove the rider seat
1. Pull the rider seat backrest release
lever on the left side of the vehicle
as shown. The backrest will slide
forward.

1. Rider seat backrest release lever
1

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
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2. Remove the bolts, and then pull
the rider seat off.
To install the rider seat
1. Insert the projection on the front of
the rider seat into the seat holderas shown.
2. Place the rider seat in the original
position, and then tighten the bolts.
TIP

Make sure that the rider seat is properly
secured before riding.
3. Return the backrest to the original
position.
Passenger seat
To remove the passenger seat
1. Pull the rider seat backrest release
lever on the left side of the vehicle
as shown. The backrest will slideforward.
2. Remove the bolts, and then pull
the passenger seat off.

1. Rider seat backrest
1. Bolt
11

1. Projection
2. Seat holder
1
2

1. Rider seat backrest release lever
1. Bolt
2. Passenger seat
12
1

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-24
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To install the passenger seat
1. Insert the projection on the pas-
senger seat into the holder as
shown.
2. Place the passenger seat in the
original position, and then install
the bolts.
3. Return the backrest to the original
position.TIP

Make sure that the passenger seat is
properly secured before riding.
EAU14732
Adjusting the front fork
WARNING

EWA10180
Always adjust both fork legs equal-
ly, otherwise poor handling and loss
of stability may result.
This front fork is equipped with spring
preload adjusting bolts, rebound damp-
ing force adjusting knobs and compres-
sion damping force adjusting screws.
NOTICE

ECA10101
To avoid damaging the mechanism,
do not attempt to turn beyond the
maximum or minimum settings.Spring preload
To increase the spring preload and
thereby harden the suspension, turn
the adjusting bolt on each fork leg in di-
rection (a). To decrease the spring pre-
load and thereby soften the
suspension, turn the adjusting bolt on
each fork leg in direction (b).
Align the appropriate groove on the ad-
justing mechanism with the top of the
front fork cap bolt.
1. Projection
2. Seat holder
1
2

1. Spring preload adjusting bolt
(a)
(b)
1

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-25
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9 Rebound damping force
To increase the rebound damping force
and thereby harden the rebound damp-
ing, turn the adjusting knob on each
fork leg in direction (a). To decrease the
rebound damping force and thereby
soften the rebound damping, turn the
adjusting knob on each fork leg in direc-
tion (b).
Compression damping force
To increase the compression damping
force and thereby harden the compres-
sion damping, turn the adjusting screw
on each fork leg in direction (a). To de-
crease the compression damping force
and thereby soften the compression
damping, turn the adjusting screw on
each fork leg in direction (b).

1. Current setting
2. Front fork cap bolt
Spring preload setting:
Minimum (soft):
5
Standard:
4
Maximum (hard):
1
54321
2 1

1. Rebound damping force adjusting knob
Rebound damping setting:
Minimum (soft):
17 click(s) in direction (b)*
Standard:
12 click(s) in direction (b)*
Maximum (hard):
1 click(s) in direction (b)*
* With the adjusting knob fully turned in
direction (a)
(a)
(b)1

1. Compression damping force adjusting
screw
1
(b)(a)

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-26
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TIP

Although the total number of clicks of a
damping force adjusting mechanism
may not exactly match the above spec-
ifications due to small differences in
production, the actual number of clicks
always represents the entire adjusting
range. To obtain a precise adjustment,
it would be advisable to check the num-
ber of clicks of each damping force ad-
justing mechanism and to modify the
specifications as necessary.
EAU46491
Adjusting the shock absorber
assembly
This shock absorber assembly is
equipped with a spring preload adjust-
ing knob and rebound and compres-
sion damping force adjusting knobs.
NOTICE

ECA10101
To avoid damaging the mechanism,
do not attempt to turn beyond the
maximum or minimum settings.
Spring preload
To increase the spring preload and
thereby harden the suspension, turn
the adjusting knob in direction (a). To
decrease the spring preload and there-
by soften the suspension, turn the ad-
justing knob in direction (b).
TIP

Align the appropriate mark on the ad-
justing mechanism with the end of the
adjusting knob.
Compression damping setting:
Minimum (soft):
20 click(s) in direction (b)*
Standard:
12 click(s) in direction (b)*
Maximum (hard):
1 click(s) in direction (b)*
* With the adjusting screw fully turned
in direction (a)
1. Spring preload adjusting knob
(a)
(b)
1
Spring preload setting:
Minimum (soft):
11
Standard:
6
Maximum (hard):
1
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2
1
11
67
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