suspension YAMAHA YZ450F 2011 Owners Manual

1-19
TORQUE-CHECK POINTS
TORQUE-CHECK POINTS
Concerning the tightening torque, refer to "TIGHTENING TORQUES" section in the CHAPTER 2.
Frame construction Frame to rear frame
Combined seat and fuel tank Fuel tank to frame
Exhaust system Silencer to rear frame
Engine mounting Frame to engine
Engine bracket to engine
Engine bracket to frame
Steering Steering stem to handlebar Steering stem to frame
Steering stem to upper bracket
Upper bracket to handlebar
Suspension Front Steering stem to front fork Front fork to upper bracket
Front fork to lower bracket
Rear For link type Assembly of links
Link to frame
Link to rear shock absorber
Link to swingarm
Installation of rear shock absorber Rear shock absorber to frame
Installation of swingarm Tightening of pivot shaft
Wheel Installation of wheel Front Tightening of wheel axle
Tightening of axle holder
Rear Tightening of wheel axle
Wheel to rear wheel sprocket
Brake Front Brake caliper to front fork
Brake disc to wheel
Tightening of union bolt
Brake master cylinder to handlebar
Tightening of bleed screw
Tightening of brake hose holder
Rear Brake pedal to frame
Brake disc to wheel
Tightening of union bolt
Brake master cylinder to frame
Tightening of bleed screw
Tightening of brake hose holder
Fuel system Fuel pump to fuel tank

2-2
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
Fuel:Type Premium unleaded gasoline only
Tank capacity 6.2 L (1.40 Imp gal, 1.64 US gal)
Throttle body: Type 30RA
Manufacturer KEIHIN
Spark plug: Type/manufacturer CR8E/NGK (resistance type)
Gap 0.7–0.8 mm (0.028–0.031 in)
Clutch type: Wet, multiple-disc
Transmission: Primary reduction system Gear
Primary reduction ratio 61/23 (2.652)
Secondary reduction system Chain drive
Secondary reduction ratio 48/13 (3.692) (For USA, CDN)
49/13 (3.769) (For EUROPE, AUS, NZ, ZA)
Transmission type Constant mesh, 5-speed
Operation Left foot operation
Gear ratio: 1st 27/14 (1.929)
2nd 23/15 (1.533)
3rd 23/18 (1.278)
4th 24/22 (1.091)
5th 20/21 (0.952)
Chassis: USA, CDN EUROPE AUS, NZ, ZA Frame type Semi double cra- dle←←
Caster angle 26.9° 26.8° 26.9°
Trail 118.6 mm (4.67 in)117.5 mm (4.63
in)119.0 mm (4.69
in)
Tire: Type With tube
Size (front) 80/100-21 51M
Size (rear) 120/80-19 63M (F or USA, CDN, AUS, NZ, ZA)
110/90-19 62M (For EUROPE)
Tire pressure (front and rear) 100 kPa (1.0 kgf/cm
2, 15 psi)
Brake: Front brake type Single disc brake
Operation Right hand operation
Rear brake type Single disc brake
Operation Right foot operation
Suspension: Front suspension Telescopic fork
Rear suspension Swingarm (link type monocross suspension)
Shock absorber: Front shock absorber Coil spring/oil damper
Rear shock absorber Coil spring/gas, oil damper

2-9
MAINTENANCE SPECIFICATIONS
CHASSIS
Item Standard Limit
Steering system:
Steering bearing typeTaper roller bearing ----
Front suspension: USA, CDN EUROPE, AUS, NZ, ZA
Front fork travel 310 mm (12.2 in)←----
Fork spring free length 470 mm (18.5 in)←465 mm (18.3
in)
Spring rate, STD K = 4.6 N/mm (0.469 kg/
mm, 26.3 lb/in)←----
Optional spring Yes←----
Oil capacity 544 cm
3 (19.1 lmp oz,
18.4 US oz)←----
Oil grade Suspension oil "S1"←----
Inner tube outer diameter 48 mm (1.89 in)←----
Front fork top end Zero mm (Zero in)←----
Rear suspension: USA, CDN EUROPE, AUS, NZ, ZA
Shock absorber travel 132.0 mm (5.20 in)←----
Spring free length 260 mm (10.24 in)←254.8 mm
(10.03 in)
Fitting length 252 mm (9.92 in) 253 mm (9.96 in) ----
Preload length
1.5–18 mm (0.06–0.71
in)←
Spring rate, STD K = 56.0 N/mm (5.7 kg/
mm, 319.2 lb/in)←----
Optional spring Yes←----
Enclosed gas pressure 1,000 kPa (10 kg/cm
2,
142 psi)←----
Swingarm:
Swingarm free play limit
End ---- 1.0 mm (0.04
in)
Wheel:
Front wheel type Spoke wheel ----
Rear wheel typeSpoke wheel ----
Front rim size/material 21 × 1.60/Aluminum ----
Rear rim size/material 19 × 2.15/Aluminum ----
Rim runout limit:
Radial ---- 2.0 mm (0.08
in)
Lateral ---- 2.0 mm (0.08
in)
Drive chain:
Type/manufacturer DID520DMA2 SDH/DAIDO ----
Number of links 113 links + joint ----
Chain slack 50–60 mm (2.0–2.4 in) ----
Chain length (15 links) ---- 242.9 mm
(9.563 in)

3-3
MAINTENANCE INTERVALS
AIR FILTER
Clean and lubricate●●Use foam air-filter oil or equivalent oil.
Replace●
OIL FILTER
Replace●●
ENGINE GUARD
Replace●Breakage
FRAME
Clean and inspect●●
FUEL TANK, FUEL PUMP
inspect●●
FUEL HOSE
Inspect●
Replace●Every four years
BRAKES
Adjust lever position and pedal
height●●
Lubricate pivot point●●
Check brake disc surface●●
Check fluid level and leakage●●
Retighten brake disc bolts, cali-
per bolts, master cylinder bolts
and union bolts●●
Replace pads●
Replace brake fluid●Every one year
FRONT FORKS
Inspect and adjust●●
Replace oil●●Suspension oil "S1"
Replace oil seal●
FRONT FORK OIL SEAL AND
DUST SEAL
Clean and lube●●Lithium base grease
PROTECTOR GUIDE
Replace●
REAR SHOCK ABSORBER
Inspect and adjust●●
Lube●(After
rain
ride)●Molybdenum disulfide grease
Retighten●●
DRIVE CHAIN GUIDE AND
ROLLERS
Inspect●● ItemAfter
break-
inEvery
race
(about
2.5
hours)
Every
third
(about
7.5
hours)Every
fifth
(about
12.5
hours)
As re-
quiredRemarks

5-19
FRONT FORK
The front fork with a built-in piston
rod has a very sophisticated inter-
nal construction and is particularly
sensitive to foreign material.
Use enough care not to allow any
foreign material to come in when
the oil is replaced or when the
front fork is disassembled and re-
assembled.
CHECKING THE BASE VALVE
1. Inspect:
• Base valve "1"
Wear/damage →Replace.
Contamination →Clean.
• O-ring "2"
Wear/damage →Replace.
• Piston metal "3"
Wear/damage →Replace.
• Spring "4"
Damage/fatigue →Replace base
valve.
• Air bleed screw "5"
Wear/damage →Replace.
CHECKING THE COLLAR
1. Inspect:
• Piston metal "1"
Wear/damage→Replace.CHECKING THE FORK SPRING
1. Measure:
• Fork spring free length "a"
Out of specification→Replace.
CHECKING THE INNER TUBE
1. Inspect:
• Inner tube surface "a"
Score marks→Repair or replace.
Use #1,000 grit wet sandpaper.
Damaged oil lock piece→Re-
place.
• Inner tube bends
Out of specification→Replace.
Use the dial gauge "1".
The bending value is shown by one
half of the dial gauge reading.
Do not attempt to straighten a bent
inner tube as this may dangerous-
ly weaken the tube.
CHECKING THE OUTER TUBE
1. Inspect:
• Outer tube "1"
Score marks/wear/damage→Re-
place.CHECKING THE ADJUSTER
1. Inspect:
•Adjuster "1"
• O-ring "2"
Wear/damage→Replace.
ASSEMBLING THE FRONT FORK
1. Wash the all parts in a clean sol-
vent.
2. Stretch the damper assembly ful-
ly.
3. Fill:
• Front fork oil "1"
To damper assembly.
• Be sure to use recommended
fork oil. If other oils are used,
they may have an excessively ad-
verse effect on the front fork per-
formance.
• Never allow foreign materials to
enter the front fork.
4. After filling, pump the damper as-
sembly "1" slowly up and down
(about 200 mm (7.9 in) stroke)
several times to bleed the damper
assembly of air.
Be careful not to excessive full stroke.
A stroke of 200 mm (7.9 in) or more
will cause air to enter. In this case, re-
peat the steps 2 to 4.
Fork spring free length:
470 mm (18.5 in)
: 465 mm (18.3
in)
Inner tube bending limit:
0.2 mm (0.008 in)
Recommended oil:
Suspension oil "S1"
Oil capacity:
197 cm
3 (6.93 Imp oz,
6.66 US oz)

5-22
FRONT FORK
25. Install:
• Damper assembly "1"
To inner tube "2".
To install the damper assembly
into the inner tube, hold the inner
tube aslant. If the inner tube is held
vertically, the damper assembly
may fall into it, damaging the valve
inside.
26. Loosen:
• Rebound damping adjuster "1"
• Loosen the rebound damping ad-
juster finger tight.
• Record the set position of the ad-
juster (the amount of turning out the
fully turned in position).
27. Install:
• Push rod "1"
• Copper washer "2"
• Adjuster "3"
To damper assembly "4".
• While compressing the inner tube
"5", set the cap bolt ring wrench "7"
between the inner tube and locknut
"6".
• Fully finger tighten the adjuster onto
the damper assembly.
28. Inspect:
• Gap "a" between the adjuster "1"
and locknut "2".
Out of specification → Retighten
and readjust the locknut.
If the adjuster is installed out of spec-
ification, proper damping force can-
not be obtained.
29. Tighten:
• Adjuster (locknut) "1"
Hold the locknut "2" and tighten the
adjuster with specified torque.
30. Install:
• Adjuster "1"
To inner tube.31. Fill:
• Front fork oil "1"
From outer tube top.
Never fail to make the oil amount
adjustment between the maximum
and minimum amount and always
adjust each front fork to the same
setting. Uneven adjustment can
cause poor handling and loss of
stability.
• Be sure to use recommended
fork oil. If other oils are used,
they may have an excessively ad-
verse effect on the front fork per-
formance.
• Never allow foreign materials to
enter the front fork.
32. Install:
• Damper assembly "1"
To outer tube.
Temporarily tighten the damper as-
sembly.
Cap bolt ring wrench:
YM-01501/90890-01501
Gap "a" between the ad-
juster and locknut:
0.5–1.0 mm (0.02–0.04
in)
Adjuster (locknut):
29 Nm (2.9 m•kg, 21
ft•lb)
Adjuster:
55 Nm (5.5 m•kg, 40
ft•lb)
Recommended oil:
Suspension oil "S1"
Standard oil amount:
355 cm
3 (12.5 Imp oz,
12.0 US oz)
Extent of adjustment:
300–365 cm
3
(10.6–12.8 Imp
oz,10.1–12.3 US oz)

8-2
CHASSIS
A. Air spring characteristics in
relation to oil amount change
B. Load
C. Stroke
1. Max. oil amount
2. Standard oil amount
3. Min. oil amount
SETTING OF SPRING AFTER
REPLACEMENT
As the front fork setting can be easily
affected by rear suspension, take
care so that the machine front and
rear are balanced (in position, etc.)
when setting the front fork.
1. Use of soft spring
• Change the rebound damping.
Turn out one or two clicks.
• Change the compression damp-
ing.
Turn in one or two clicks.
Generally a soft spring gives a soft
riding feeling. Rebound damping
tends to become stronger and the
front fork may sink deeply over a se-
ries of gaps.
2. Use of stiff spring
• Change the rebound damping.
Turn in one or two clicks.
• Change the compression damp-
ing.
Turn out one or two clicks.
Generally a stiff spring gives a stiff
riding feeling. Rebound damping
tends to become weaker, resulting in
lack of a sense of contact with the
road surface or in a vibrating handle-
bar.
FRONT FORK SETTING PARTS
• Front fork spring "1"
The I.D. mark (slits) "a" is proved on
the end of the spring.
REAR SUSPENSION SETTING
The rear suspension setting should
be made depending on the rider's
feeling of an actual run and the circuit
conditions.
The rear suspension setting includes
the following two factors:
1. Setting of spring preload
• Change the set length of the
spring.
• Change the spring.
2. Setting of damping force
• Change the rebound damping.
• Change the compression damp-
ing.CHOOSING SET LENGTH
1. Place a stand or block under the
engine to put the rear wheel
above the floor, and measure the
length "a" between the rear wheel
axle center and the rear fender
holding bolt.
2. Remove the stand or block from
the engine and with a rider astride
the seat, measure the sunken
length "b" between the rear wheel
axle center and the rear fender
holding bolt.
3. Loosen the locknut "1" and make
adjustment by turning the spring
adjuster "2" to achieve the stan-
dard figure from the subtraction of
the length "b" from the length "a".
• If the machine is new and after it is
broken in, the same set length of
the spring may change because of
the initial fatigue, etc. of the spring.
Therefore, be sure to make reeval-
uation.
• If the standard figure cannot be
achieved by adjusting the spring
adjuster and changing the spring
set length, replace the spring with
an optional one and make readjust-
ment.
TY
PESPRIN
G
RATESPRING PART
NUMBERI.D.
MA
RK
(slit
s)
SO
FT0.459 33D-23141-20 |-||
ST
D0.46933D-23141-30 |-|||
33D-23141-D0—
STI
FF0.479 33D-23141-40 |-||||
Standard figure:
90–100 mm (3.5–3.9 in)
8

8-4
CHASSIS
SUSPENSION SETTING (FRONT FORK)
• If any of the following symptoms is experienced with the standard position as the base, make resetting by reference to
the adjustment procedure given in the same chart.
• Before any change, set the rear shock absorber sunken length to the standard figure 90–100 mm (3.5–3.9 in).
SymptomSection
Check Adjust
JumpLarge
gapMedi-
um
gapSmall
gap
Stiff over entire
range○○○Compression damping Turn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Oil amount Decrease oil amount by about 5–10 cm
3 (0.2–0.4
Imp oz, 0.2–0.3 US oz).
Spring Replace with soft spring.
Unsmooth move-
ment over entire
range○○○○Outer tube Check for any bends, dents, and other noticeable
scars, etc. If any, replace affected parts.
Inner tube
Slide metal Replace with a new one for extended use.
Piston metal Replace with a new one for extended use.
Under bracket tighten-
ing torqueRetighten to specified torque.
Poor initial move-
ment○Rebound damping Turn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Oil seal Apply grease in oil seal wall.
Soft over entire
range, bottoming
out○○Compression damping Turn adjuster clockwise (about 2 clicks) to in-
crease damping.
Oil amount Increase oil amount by about 5–10 cm
3 (0.2–0.4
Imp oz, 0.2–0.3 US oz).
Spring Replace with stiff spring.
Stiff toward stroke
end○Oil amountDecrease oil amount by about 5 cm
3 (0.2 Imp
oz,0.2 US oz).
Soft toward stroke
end, bottoming out○Oil amountIncrease oil amount by about 5 cm
3 (0.2 Imp
oz,0.2 US oz).
Stiff initial move-
ment○○○○Compression dampingTurn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Low front, tending to
lower front posture○○Compression damping Turn adjuster clockwise (about 2 clicks) to in-
crease damping.
Rebound damping Turn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Balance with rear end Set sunken length for 95–100 mm (3.7–3.9 in)
when one passenger is astride seat (lower rear
posture).
Oil amount Increase oil amount by about 5 cm
3 (0.2 Imp oz,
0.2 US oz).
"Obtrusive" front,
tending to upper
front posture○○Compression damping Turn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Balance with rear end Set sunken length for 90–95 mm (3.5–3.7 in)
when one passenger is astride seat (upper rear
posture).
Spring Replace with soft spring.
Oil amount Decrease oil amount by about 5–10 cm
3 (0.2–0.4
Imp oz, 0.2–0.3 US oz).

8-5
CHASSIS
SUSPENSION SETTING (REAR SHOCK ABSORBER)
• If any of the following symptoms is experienced with the standard position as the base, make resetting by reference to
the adjustment procedure given in the same chart.
• Adjust the rebound damping in 2-click increments or decrements.
• Adjust the low compression damping in 1-click increments or decrements.
• Adjust the high compression damping in 1/6 turn increments or decrements.
SymptomSection
Check Adjust
JumpLarge
gapMedi-
um
gapSmall
gap
Stiff, tending to sink○○Rebound damping Turn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Spring set length Set sunken length for 90–100 mm (3.5–3.9 in)
when one passenger is astride seat.
Spongy and unsta-
ble○○Rebound damping Turn adjuster clockwise (about 2 clicks) to in-
crease damping.
Low compression
dampingTurn adjuster clockwise (about 1 click) to increase
damping.
Spring Replace with stiff spring.
Heavy and dragging○○Rebound damping Turn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Spring Replace with soft spring.
Poor road gripping○Rebound damping Turn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Low compression
dampingTurn adjuster clockwise (about 1 clicks) to in-
crease damping.
High compression
dampingTurn adjuster clockwise (about 1/6 turn) to in-
crease damping.
Spring set length Set sunken length for 90–100 mm (3.5–3.9 in)
when one passenger is astride seat.
Spring Replace with soft spring.
Bottoming out○○High compression
dampingTurn adjuster clockwise (about 1/6 turn) to in-
crease damping.
Spring set length Set sunken length for 90–100 mm (3.5–3.9 in)
when one passenger is astride seat.
Spring Replace with stiff spring.
Bouncing○○Rebound damping Turn adjuster clockwise (about 2 clicks) to in-
crease damping.
Spring Replace with soft spring.
Stiff travel○○High compression
dampingTurn adjuster counterclockwise (about 1/6 turn) to
decrease damping.
Spring set length Set sunken length for 90–100 mm (3.5–3.9 in)
when one passenger is astride seat.
Spring Replace with soft spring.