brake light YAMAHA YFZ450R 2012 Owners Manual

EBU17420
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LOCATION OF THE WARNING AND
SPECIFICATION LABELS ............................ 1-1
SAFETY INFORMATION .............................. 2-1
DESCRIPTION .............................................. 3-1Left view ...................................................... 3-1
Right view.................................................... 3-1
Controls and instruments ............................ 3-2
INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL
FUNCTIONS .................................................. 4-1 Main switch ................................................ 4-1
Indicator light and warning lights ................ 4-2
Handlebar switches .................................... 4-3
Throttle lever .............................................. 4-4
Speed limiter .............................................. 4-5
Clutch lever ................................................ 4-5
Brake lever ................................................. 4-6
Brake pedal ................................................ 4-6
Parking brake lever .................................... 4-7
Shift pedal .................................................. 4-8
Fuel tank cap .............................................. 4-8
Fuel ............................................................ 4-9 Seat ..........................................................4-10
Adjusting the front shock absorber
assemblies ..............................................4-11
Adjusting the rear shock absorber assembly .................................................4-16
Handlebar position ....................................4-24
PRE-OPERATION CHECKS ..........................5-1 Fuel .............................................................5-4
Engine oil ....................................................5-4
Coolant .......................................................5-4
Front and rear brakes .................................5-4
Throttle lever ...............................................5-5
Drive chain ..................................................5-5
Tires ............................................................5-5
Chassis fasteners .......................................5-7
Instruments, lights and switches .................5-7
OPERATION...................................................6-1 Starting the engine ......................................6-1
Shifting ........................................................6-2
Engine break-in ...........................................6-4
Parking ........................................................6-4
Parking on a slope ......................................6-5U18P66E0.book Page 1 Monday, May 16, 2011 4:23 PM

Accessories and loading ............................ 6-6
RIDING YOUR ATV ...................................... 7-1 GETTING TO KNOW YOUR ATV............... 7-2
RIDE WITH CARE AND GOOD JUDGMENT .............................................. 7-2
BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU RIDE ............. 7-9
TURNING YOUR ATV .............................. 7-12
CLIMBING UPHILL ................................... 7-13
RIDING DOWNHILL.................................. 7-16
CROSSING A SLOPE............................... 7-18
CROSSING THROUGH SHALLOW WATER ................................................... 7-19
RIDING OVER ROUGH TERRAIN ........... 7-20
SLIDING AND SKIDDING ......................... 7-21
WHAT TO DO IF... .................................... 7-22
WHAT TO DO... ........................................ 7-22
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND
ADJUSTMENT ............................................... 8-1 Owner’s manual and tool kit ....................... 8-2
Periodic maintenance chart for the emission control system ........................... 8-3
General maintenance and lubrication chart ......................................................... 8-5
Removing and installing the cowling and panels ....................................................... 8-9 Checking the spark plug ...........................8-15
Engine oil and oil filter element .................8-16
Coolant .....................................................8-22
Cleaning the air filter element ...................8-23
Cleaning the spark arrester ......................8-27
Adjusting the throttle lever free play .........8-29
Valve clearance ........................................8-30
Brakes .......................................................8-30
Checking the front and rear brake pads ...8-30
Checking the brake fluid level ...................8-32
Changing the brake fluid ...........................8-33
Checking the front brake lever free play ...8-33
Checking the brake pedal height ..............8-34
Adjusting the parking brake free play .......8-34
Brake light switches ..................................8-36
Adjusting the clutch lever free play ...........8-36
Drive chain slack .......................................8-38
Lubricating the drive chain ........................8-40
Checking and lubricating the cables .........8-40
Checking and lubricating the brake and
clutch levers ............................................8-41
Checking the shift pedal ...........................8-42
Checking and lubricating the brake pedal .......................................................8-42
Checking the wheel hub bearings .............8-42
Lubricating the swingarm pivots ...............8-43
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Lubricating the upper and lower arm pivots ...................................................... 8-43
Lubricating the steering shaft ................... 8-44
Battery ...................................................... 8-45
Replacing the fuse ................................... 8-47
Replacing a headlight bulb ....................... 8-48
Adjusting a headlight beam ...................... 8-50
Tail/brake light .......................................... 8-50
Removing a wheel .................................... 8-50
Installing a wheel ...................................... 8-51
Troubleshooting ....................................... 8-52
Troubleshooting charts ............................. 8-53
CLEANING AND STORAGE .......................... 9-1 Cleaning ..................................................... 9-1
Storage ....................................................... 9-2
SPECIFICATIONS ...................................... 10-1
CONSUMER INFORMATION ...................... 11-1 Identification numbers .............................. 11-1
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3-1
3
EBU17680
DESCRIPTION
EBU17690Left view
EBU17700Right view
1. Front shock absorber assembly compression damping force adjusting bolt (for fast compression damping)
2. Front shock absorber assembly compression damping force adjusting screw (for slow compression damping)
3. Front shock absorber assembly spring preload adjusting nut
4. Engine oil tank filler cap
5. Rear brake fluid reservoir
6. Battery
7. Shift pedal
8. Coolant reservoir
9. Front shock absorber assembly rebound damping force adjusting screw
78
9 5
31
6
4
2
1. Spark arrester
2. Fuse
3. Rear shock absorber assembly spring preload adjusting
nut
4. Rear shock absorber assembly compression damping force adjusting bolt (for fast compression damping)
5. Rear shock absorber assembly compression damping force adjusting screw (for slow compression damping)
6. Oil filter element
7. Brake pedal
8. Rear brake light switch
9. Rear shock absorber assembly rebound damping force adjusting screw
678
1
2
3
4
5
9
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3-2
3
EBU17712Controls and instrumentsTIPThe ATV you have purchased may differ slightly
from the figures shown in this manual.1. Clutch lever
2. Parking brake lever
3. Handlebar switches
4. Fuel tank cap
5. Main switch
6. Front brake fluid reservoir
7. Throttle lever
8. Brake lever
2
1
3
7
6
5
8
4
U18P66E0.book Page 2 Monday, May 16, 2011 4:23 PM

5-3
5
Brake and clutch levers
Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate lever pivoting points if
necessary. 8-41
Chassis fasteners Make sure that all nuts, bolts and screws are properly tightened. 5-7
Instruments, lights and
switches 
Check operation, and correct if necessary. 5-7
ITEM ROUTINE PAGEU18P66E0.book Page 3 Monday, May 16, 2011 4:23 PM

6-1
6
EBU19881
OPERATION
EBU19901Read the Owner’s Manual carefully before riding
the ATV. If there is a control or function you do not
understand, ask your Yamaha dealer.
WARNING
EWB00631Read the Owner ’s Manual carefully to become
familiar with all controls in order to help pre-
vent any loss of control, which could cause an
accident or injury.EBU29952Starting the engine NOTICEECB00150See the “Engine break-in ” section on page 6-4
prior to operating the engine for the first time.1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the key to “” (on) and the engine stop
switch to “”.
The following warning lights should come on
for a few seconds, then go off.

Coolant temperature warning light
Fuel level warning light
Engine trouble warning light
NOTICEECB00824If a warning light does not go off, see page 4-2
for the corresponding warning light circuit
check. To avoid possible damage, do not oper-
ate the ATV if a warning light stays on.3. Shift the transmission into neutral. The neutral indicator light should come on, if it does not
come on, have a Yamaha dealer check the
electrical circuit.TIPThis model is equipped with an ignition circuit cut-
off system. The engine can be started under the
following conditions.
The transmission is in neutral.
The clutch is disengaged with the transmission
in gear. However, it is recommended to shift into
neutral before starting the engine.
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6-2
64. Completely close the throttle lever and start
the engine by pushing the start switch.
TIPIf the engine fails to start, release the start switch,
then push it again. Pause a few seconds before
the next attempt. Each cranking should be as short
as possible to preserve battery energy. Do not
crank the engine more than 10 seconds on each
attempt.NOTICEECB00163For maximum engine life, never accelerate
hard when the engine is cold!EBU20522Shifting This ATV has a 5-speed forward transmission. The
transmission allows you to control the amount of
power you have available at a given speed or for
starting, accelerating, climbing hills, etc.
To shift into neutral, release the throttle lever, ap-
ply the clutch, and then repeatedly depress the
shift pedal until it stops. When it stops, it will be in first gear. Raise the pedal
slightly to reach the neutral position, and then re-
lease the clutch.
EBU20592To start out and accelerate
1. Release the throttle lever, apply the front or rear brake, and then release the parking
brake.1. Shift pedal
2. Neutral position
1
2 2 3
4 5
N1
U18P66E0.book Page 2 Monday, May 16, 2011 4:23 PM

7-12
7
trol.
[EWB02631]

NOTICE: Do not shift gears without
releasing the throttle. Damage to the engine or
drive train may occur.
[ECB01071]
Use this same procedure as you move into the
higher gears. Be sure to coordinate the use of the
throttle and shift pedal properly.
Avoid higher speeds until you are thoroughly famil-
iar with the operation of your ATV.
When slowing down or stopping, release the throt-
tle and apply the brakes smoothly and evenly. As
you slow down, shift to a lower gear. Be sure that
the engine has sufficiently slowed before engaging
a lower gear. Improper use of the brakes or shifting
can cause the tires to lose traction, reducing con-
trol and increasing the possibility of an accident.
TURNING YOUR ATV
WARNING
EWB01771Always follow proper procedures for turning
as described in this Owner ’s Manual. Practice
turning at low speeds before attempting to turn
at faster speeds. Do not turn at speeds too fast
for your skills or the conditions. ATV could go
out of control, causing a collision or overturn.
To achieve maximum traction on unpaved surfac-
es, the two rear wheels turn together at the same
speed. Therefore, unless the wheel on the inside
of the turn is allowed to slip or lose some traction,
the ATV will resist turning. A special turning tech-
nique must be used to allow the ATV to make turns
quickly and easily. It is essential that this skill be
learned first at low speed.
As you approach a curve, slow down and begin to
turn the handlebars in the desired direction. As you
do so, put your weight on the footrest to the outside
of the turn (opposite your desired direction) and
lean your upper body into the turn. Use the throttle
to maintain an even speed through the turn. This
maneuver will let the wheel on the inside of the turn
slip slightly, allowing the ATV to make the turn
properly.
U18P66E0.book Page 12 Monday, May 16, 2011 4:23 PM

8-8
8
EBU29430TIP
Some maintenance items need more frequent service if you are riding in unusually wet, dusty, sandy or
muddy areas, or at full-throttle.
Replace the fuel hose every five years and if cracked or damaged.
Hydraulic brake service
Regularly check and, if necessary, correct the brake fluid level.
 Every two years replace the internal components of the brake master cylinders and calipers, and
change the brake fluid.
 Replace the brake hoses every four years and if cracked or damaged.23 *Throttle lever 
Check operation.
 Check throttle lever free play, and adjust if neces-
sary.
 Lubricate cable and lever housing. √√√√√
24 *Front and rear brake
switches

Check operation and correct if necessary. √√√√√
25 *Lights and switches 
Check operation and correct if necessary.
 Adjust headlight beams. √√√√√
NO. ITEM
CHECK OR MAINTENANCE
JOB INITIAL EVERY
Whichev- er comes first month136612
km
(mi) 320
(200) 1300
(800) 2500
(1600) 2500
(1600) 5000
(3200)
hours 20 80 160 160 320U18P66E0.book Page 8 Monday, May 16, 2011 4:23 PM