YAMAHA YFM250R-W 2009 Owner's Guide

4-13
4 Move the starter (choke) in direction (b) to turn off
the starter (choke).
See the “Starting a cold engine” section on page
6-1 for proper operation.
EBU28010Steering lock To lock the steering
1. Turn the handlebar all the way to either side.
2. Open the steering lock cap, and then insert
the steering lock key.
3. Turn the key 1/8 turn counterclockwise, push
it in, and then turn the key 1/8 turn clockwise.
4. Check that the steering is locked, remove the
key, and then close the steering lock cap.
1. Starter (choke)
(a)(b)1
1. Steering lock cap
2. Steering lock1
2
U33B70E0.book Page 13 Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:38 PM

4-14
4To unlock the steering
1. Open the steering lock cap, and then insert
the key.
2. Turn the key 1/8 turn counterclockwise to re-
lease the lock.
3. Remove the key, and then close the steering
lock cap.
EBU18890Seat To remove the seat
Insert your hand between the rear of the seat and
the rear fender, pull the seat lock lever upward and
pull up the seat at the rear.To install the seat
Insert the projections on the front of the seat into
the seat holders and push down on the seat at the
rear.
TIPMake sure that the seat is securely fitted.EBU18991Adjusting the front shock absorber as-
semblies (YFM250R-W)The spring preload can be adjusted to suit the rid-
er’s weight and the riding conditions.
Adjust the spring preload as follows.
1. Seat lock lever
1
1. Projection
2. Seat holder
1
2
U33B70E0.book Page 14 Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:38 PM

4-15
4 Turn the adjusting ring in direction (a) to increase
the spring preload and thereby harden the suspen-
sion, and in direction (b) to decrease the spring
preload and thereby soften the suspension.
TIPA special wrench can be obtained at a Yamahadealer to make this adjustment.
WARNING
EWB00400Always adjust the shock absorber assemblies
on the left and right side to the same setting.
Uneven adjustment can cause poor handling
and loss of stability, which could lead to an ac-cident.EBU29300Adjusting the front shock absorber as-
semblies (YFM250RSE-W)These shock absorber assemblies are equipped
with a spring preload adjusting nut, a rebound
damping force adjusting screw, with a compres-
sion damping force adjusting bolt (for fast com-
pression damping), and a compression damping
force adjusting screw (for slow compression damp-
ing).
1. Spring preload adjusting ring
2. Special wrench
3. Position indicator
(a)
(b)1
2
3
A
B
C
D
E
3
Spring preload setting:
Minimum (soft):
A
Standard:
B
Maximum (hard):
E
U33B70E0.book Page 15 Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:38 PM

4-16
4
WARNING
EWB00410These shock absorber assemblies contain
highly pressurized nitrogen gas. Read and un-
derstand the following information before han-
dling the shock absorber assemblies.
Do not tamper with or attempt to open the
cylinder assemblies.
Do not subject the shock absorber assem-
blies to an open flame or other high heat
source. This may cause the unit to explode
due to excessive gas pressure.
Do not deform or damage the cylinders in
any way. Cylinder damage will result in poor
damping performance.
Do not dispose of a damaged or worn out
shock absorber assembly yourself. Take the
shock absorber assembly to a Yamaha deal-er for any service.
Spring preload
1. Loosen the locknut.2. Turn the adjusting nut in direction (a) to in-
crease the spring preload and thereby harden
the suspension, and in direction (b) to de-
crease the spring preload and thereby soften
the suspension.
TIP
A special wrench can be obtained at a Yamaha
dealer to make this adjustment.
The spring preload setting is determined by
measuring distance A, shown in the illustration.
The shorter distance A is, the higher the spring
preload; the longer distance A is, the lower the1. Spring preload adjusting nut
2. Locknut
3. Special wrench
(a)
(b)1 2
3
U33B70E0.book Page 16 Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:38 PM

4-17
4 spring preload. With each complete turn of the
adjusting nut, distance A is changed by 1.5 mm
(0.06 in).
3. Tighten the locknut to the specified torque.
NOTICEECB00080Always tighten the locknut against the adjust-
ing nut, and then tighten it to the specifiedtorque.
Rebound damping force
Turn the adjusting screw in direction (a) to increase
the rebound damping force and thereby harden the
damping, and in direction (b) to decrease the re-
bound damping force and thereby soften the
damping. Spring preload setting:
Minimum (hard):
Distance A = 197.6 mm (7.78 in)
Standard:
Distance A = 206.0 mm (8.11 in)
Maximum (soft):
Distance A = 209.6 mm (8.25 in)
1. Distance A
1
Tightening torque:
Locknut:
42 Nm (4.2 m·kgf, 30 ft·lbf)
U33B70E0.book Page 17 Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:38 PM

4-18
4Compression damping force
Compression damping force (for fast compression
damping)To increase the compression damping force and
thereby harden the compression damping, turn the
adjusting bolt in direction (a). To decrease the
compression damping force and thereby soften
the compression damping, turn the adjusting bolt
in direction (b).
1. Rebound damping force adjusting screw
2. Position indicator marksRebound damping setting:
Minimum (soft):
20 click(s) in direction (b)*
Standard:
12 click(s) in direction (b)*
Maximum (hard):
3 click(s) in direction (b)*
* With the adjusting screw fully turned in direc-
tion (a)
1
(a) (b)
12
1. Compression damping force adjusting bolt (for fast
compression damping)
2. Position indicator marks
(b)(a)
1
12
U33B70E0.book Page 18 Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:38 PM

4-19
4
TIPMake sure that the position indicator marks are
aligned when the shock absorber assembly is setto the standard setting.
Compression damping force (for slow compres-sion damping)To increase the compression damping force and
thereby harden the compression damping, turn the
adjusting screw in direction (a). To decrease the
compression damping force and thereby soften
the compression damping, turn the adjusting
screw in direction (b).Compression damping setting (for fast com-
pression damping):
Minimum (soft):
4 turn(s) out from the fully turned in posi-
tion
Standard:
2 turn(s) out from the fully turned in posi-
tion
Maximum (hard):
Fully turned in
1. Compression damping force adjusting screw (for slow
compression damping)Compression damping setting (for slow com-
pression damping):
Minimum (soft):
16 click(s) in direction (b)*
Standard:
10 click(s) in direction (b)*
Maximum (hard):
1 click(s) in direction (b)*
* With the adjusting screw fully turned in direc-
tion (a)
(b)(a)
1
U33B70E0.book Page 19 Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:38 PM

4-20
4
NOTICEECB00090Never turn an adjusting mechanism beyondthe minimum and maximum settings.TIPAlthough the total number of clicks of a damping
force adjusting mechanism may not exactly match
the above specifications due to small differences in
production, the actual number of clicks always rep-
resents the entire adjusting range. To obtain a pre-
cise adjustment, it would be advisable to check the
number of clicks of each damping force adjusting
mechanism and to modify the specifications asnecessary.
WARNING
EWB02490
Suspension components become hot during
operation. Never touch the compression
damping force adjusting bolt and screw, the
rebound damping force adjusting screw or
the oil reservoir with your bare hand or skin
until suspension components have cooled.
Always adjust the shock absorber assem-
blies on the left and right side to the same
setting.

Uneven adjustment can cause poor handling
and loss of stability, which could lead to anaccident.EBU28240Adjusting the rear shock absorber as-
sembly (YFM250R-W)The spring preload can be adjusted to suit the rid-
er’s weight and the riding conditions.
Adjust the spring preload as follows.
1. Loosen the locknut.
2. Turn the adjusting nut in direction (a) to in-
crease the spring preload and thereby harden
the suspension, and in direction (b) to de-
crease the spring preload and thereby soften
the suspension.
U33B70E0.book Page 20 Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:38 PM

4-21
4
TIP
A special wrench can be obtained at a Yamaha
dealer to make this adjustment.
The spring preload setting is determined by
measuring distance A, shown in the illustration.
The shorter distance A is, the higher the spring
preload; the longer distance A is, the lower the
spring preload. With each complete turn of the
adjusting nut, distance A is changed by 1.0 mm(0.04 in).
NOTICEECB00090Never turn an adjusting mechanism beyondthe minimum and maximum settings.
3. Tighten the locknut to the specified torque.NOTICEECB00080Always tighten the locknut against the adjust-
ing nut, and then tighten it to the specifiedtorque.
1. Locknut
2. Spring preload adjusting nut
3. Distance A
2
1
(b) 3(a)
Spring preload setting:
Minimum (hard):
Distance A = 222 mm (8.74 in)
Standard:
Distance A = 230 mm (9.06 in)
Maximum (soft):
Distance A = 234 mm (9.21 in)
Tightening torque:
Locknut:
42 Nm (4.2 m·kgf, 30 ft·lbf)
U33B70E0.book Page 21 Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:38 PM

4-22
4
WARNING
EWB00450This shock absorber assembly contains highly
pressurized nitrogen gas. If the shock absorb-
er assembly is damaged, it could explode
causing injury or property damage. Shock ab-
sorber cylinder damage could also result in
poor handling which could cause an accident.
Do not tamper with or attempt to open the
cylinder assembly.
Do not subject the shock absorber assembly
to an open flame or other high heat.
Do not deform or damage the cylinder in any
way.
Do not dispose of a damaged or worn out
shock absorber assembly yourself. Take the
shock absorber assembly to a Yamaha deal-er for any service.EBU29310Adjusting the rear shock absorber as-
sembly (YFM250RSE-W)The spring preload, rebound damping and com-
pression damping forces of the rear shock absorb-
er assembly can be adjusted to suit the rider’s
weight and the riding conditions.
WARNING
EWB00430This shock absorber assembly contains highly
pressurized nitrogen gas. Read and under-
stand the following information before han-
dling the shock absorber assembly.
Do not tamper with or attempt to open the
cylinder assembly.
Do not subject the shock absorber assembly
to an open flame or other high heat source.
This may cause the unit to explode due to ex-
cessive gas pressure.
Do not deform or damage the cylinder in any
way. Cylinder damage will result in poor
damping performance.
Do not dispose of a damaged or worn out
shock absorber assembly yourself. Take the
shock absorber assembly to a Yamaha deal-er for any service.
Spring preload
1. Loosen the locknut.
U33B70E0.book Page 22 Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:38 PM