Yamaha XVS250 User Manual

OWNER’S MANUAL

XVS250

5KR-28199-E2

INTRODUCTION

EAU10100

Welcome to the Yamaha world of motorcycling!
As the owner of the XVS250, you are benefiting from Yamaha’s vast experience and newest technology
regarding the design and manufacture of high-quality products, which have earned Yamaha a reputation
for dependability.
Please take the time to read this manual thoroughly, so as to enjoy all advantages of your XVS250. The
owner’s manual does not only instruct you in how to operate, inspect and maintain your motorcycle, but
also in how to safeguard yourself and others from trouble and injury.
In addition, the many tips given in this manual will help keep your motorcycle in the best possible con­dition. If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact your Yamaha dealer.
The Yamaha team wishes you many safe and pleasant rides. So, remember to put safety first!

IMPORTANT MANUAL INFORMATION

Particularly important information is distinguished in this manual by the following notations:

The Safety Alert Symbol means ATTENTION! BECOME ALERT! YOUR SAFETY IS INVOLVED!

EAU10150

WARNING

CAUTION:

NOTE:

Failure to follow WARNING instructions could result in severe injury or death
cycle operator, a bystander, or a person inspecting or repairing the motorcycle.

A CAUTION indicates special precautions that must be taken to avoid damage to the motor­cycle.

A NOTE provides key information to make procedures easier or clearer.

to the motor-

NOTE:

● This manual should be considered a permanent part of this motorcycle and should remain with it even if the motorcycle

is subsequently sold.

● Yamaha continually seeks advancements in product design and quality. Therefore, while this manual contains the most

current product information available at the time of printing, there may be minor discrepancies between your motorcycle
and this manual. If you have any questions concerning this manual, please consult your Yamaha dealer.

EWA10030

WARNING

PLEASE READ THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY AND COMPLETELY BEFORE OPERATING THIS MOTORCYCLE.

IMPORTANT MANUAL INFORMATION

EAU10200

XVS250

OWNER’S MANUAL

©2003 by Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.

1st edition, May 2003

All rights reserved.

Any reprinting or unauthorized use

without the written permission of

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.
is expressly prohibited.

Printed in Japan.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SAFETY INFORMATION ..................1-1

DESCRIPTION ..................................2-1

Left view ..........................................2-1

Right view........................................2-2

Controls and instruments.................2-3

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL

FUNCTIONS .......................................3-1

Main switch/steering lock ................3-1

Indicator and warning lights ............3-2

Speedometer unit ...........................3-3

Self-diagnosis device ......................3-3

Anti-theft alarm (optional) ...............3-3

Handlebar switches ........................3-4

Clutch lever .....................................3-5

Shift pedal .......................................3-5

Brake lever .....................................3-6

Brake pedal ....................................3-6

Fuel tank cap ..................................3-6

Fuel .................................................3-7

Fuel cock ........................................3-8

Starter (choke) lever .......................3-9

Helmet holder .................................3-9

Adjusting the shock absorber

assemblies ................................3-10

Sidestand ......................................3-10

Ignition circuit cut-off system ........3-11

PRE-OPERATION CHECKS..............4-1

Pre-operation check list ..................4-2

OPERATION AND IMPORTANT

RIDING POINTS.................................5-1

Starting a cold engine ....................5-1

Starting a warm engine .................. 5-2

Shifting ...........................................5-2

Tips for reducing fuel

consumption ...............................5-3

Engine break-in ..............................5-4

Parking ...........................................5-4

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND

MINOR REPAIR ................................. 6-1

Owner’s tool kit ...............................6-1

Periodic maintenance and

lubrication chart ..........................6-2

Removing and installing panels ..... 6-5

Checking the spark plugs ............... 6-6

Engine oil and oil filter element ...... 6-8

Cleaning the air filter element ......6-10

Adjusting the carburetor ............... 6-11

Adjusting the engine idling

speed ........................................6-12

Adjusting the throttle cable

free play .................................... 6-12

Adjusting the valve clearance ......6-13

Tires .............................................6-13

Spoke wheels ...............................6-15

Adjusting the clutch lever

free play .................................... 6-15

Adjusting the brake lever

free play .................................... 6-16

Adjusting the brake pedal

position and free play ............... 6-17

Adjusting the rear brake

light switch ................................ 6-18

Checking the front brake pads

and rear brake shoes ............... 6-19

Checking the brake fluid level ...... 6-19

Changing the brake fluid .............. 6-20

Drive chain slack .......................... 6-21

Lubricating the drive chain ........... 6-22

Checking and lubricating the

cables ....................................... 6-23

Checking and lubricating the

throttle grip and cable ............... 6-23

Checking and lubricating the

brake and shift pedals .............. 6-24

Checking and lubricating the

brake and clutch levers ............ 6-24

Checking and lubricating the

sidestand .................................. 6-24

Checking the front fork ................. 6-25

Checking the steering .................. 6-25

Checking the wheel bearings ....... 6-26

Battery ......................................... 6-26

Replacing the fuses ..................... 6-28

Replacing the headlight bulb ....... 6-28

Replacing the tail/brake

light bulb ................................... 6-30

Replacing a turn signal

light bulb ................................... 6-30

Supporting the motorcycle ........... 6-31

Front wheel ...................................6-32

Rear wheel ...................................6-33

Troubleshooting ............................6-35

Troubleshooting chart ...................6-36

MOTORCYCLE CARE AND

STORAGE ..........................................7-1

Care ................................................7-1

Storage ...........................................7-3

SPECIFICATIONS .............................8-1

CONSUMER INFORMATION.............9-1

Identification numbers ....................9-1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SAFETY INFORMATION

MOTORCYCLES ARE SINGLE
TRACK VEHICLES. THEIR SAFE USE

1

AND OPERATION ARE DEPENDENT
UPON THE USE OF PROPER RIDING
TECHNIQUES AS WELL AS THE EX­PERTISE OF THE OPERATOR. EV­ERY OPERATOR SHOULD KNOW
THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS
BEFORE RIDING THIS MOTOR­CYCLE.
HE OR SHE SHOULD:

● OBTAIN THOROUGH INSTRUC-

TIONS FROM A COMPETENT
SOURCE ON ALL ASPECTS OF
MOTORCYCLE OPERATION.

● OBSERVE THE WARNINGS AND

MAINTENANCE REQUIRE­MENTS IN THE OWNER’S MAN­UAL.

● OBTAIN QUALIFIED TRAINING

IN SAFE AND PROPER RIDING
TECHNIQUES.

● OBTAIN PROFESSIONAL TECH-

NICAL SERVICE AS INDICATED
BY THE OWNER’S MANUAL

EAU10250

AND/OR WHEN MADE NECES­SARY BY MECHANICAL CONDI­TIONS.

Safe riding

● Always make pre-operation

checks. Careful checks may help
prevent an accident.

● This motorcycle is designed to car-

ry the operator and a passenger.

● The failure of motorists to detect

and recognize motorcycles in traf­fic is the predominating cause of
automobile/motorcycle accidents.
Many accidents have been caused
by an automobile driver who did
not see the motorcycle. Making
yourself conspicuous appears to
be very effective in reducing the
chance of this type of accident.

Therefore:

• Wear a brightly colored jacket.

• Use extra caution when ap-

proaching and passing through
intersections, since intersec­tions are the most likely places
for motorcycle accidents to oc­cur.

• Ride where other motorists can
see you. Avoid riding in another
motorist’s blind spot.

● Many motorcycle accidents in-

volve inexperienced operators. In
fact, many operators who have
been involved in accidents do not
even have a current motorcycle li­cense.

• Make sure that you are qualified
and that you only lend your
motorcycle to other qualified op­erators.

• Know your skills and limits.
Staying within your limits may
help you to avoid an accident.

• We recommend that you prac­tice riding your motorcycle
where there is no traffic until you
have become thoroughly famil­iar with the motorcycle and all of
its controls.

● Many motorcycle accidents have

been caused by error of the motor­cycle operator. A typical error
made by the operator is veering

1-1

SAFETY INFORMATION

wide on a turn due to EXCESSIVE
SPEED or undercornering (insuffi­cient lean angle for the speed).

• Always obey the speed limit and
never travel faster than warrant­ed by road and traffic conditions.

• Always signal before turning or
changing lanes. Make sure that
other motorists can see you.

● The posture of the operator and

passenger is important for proper
control.

• The operator should keep both
hands on the handlebar and
both feet on the operator foot­rests during operation to main­tain control of the motorcycle.

• The passenger should always
hold onto the operator, seat
strap, or grab bar, if equipped,
with both hands and keep both
feet on the passenger footrests.

• Never carry a passenger unless
he or she can firmly place both
feet on the passenger footrests.

● Never ride under the influence of

alcohol or other drugs.

● This motorcycle is designed for on-

road use only, therefore, it is not
suitable for off-road use.

Protective apparel

The majority of fatalities from motor­cycle accidents are the result of head
injuries. The use of a safety helmet is
the single most critical factor in the pre­vention or reduction of head injuries.

● Always wear an approved helmet.

● Wear a face shield or goggles.

Wind in your unprotected eyes
could contribute to an impairment
of vision which could delay seeing
a hazard.

● The use of a jacket, heavy boots,

trousers, gloves, etc., is effective in
preventing or reducing abrasions
or lacerations.

● Never wear loose-fitting clothes,

otherwise they could catch on the
control levers, footrests, or wheels
and cause injury or an accident.

● Never touch the engine or exhaust

system during or after operation.
They become very hot and can

cause burns. Always wear protec­tive clothing that covers your legs,
ankles, and feet.

● Passengers should also observe

the precautions mentioned above.

Modifications

Modifications made to this motorcycle
not approved by Yamaha, or the re­moval of original equipment, may ren­der the motorcycle unsafe for use and
may cause severe personal injury.
Modifications may also make your
motorcycle illegal to use.

Loading and accessories

Adding accessories or cargo to your
motorcycle can adversely affect stabili­ty and handling if the weight distribution
of the motorcycle is changed. To avoid
the possibility of an accident, use ex­treme caution when adding cargo or
accessories to your motorcycle. Use
extra care when riding a motorcycle
that has added cargo or accessories.
Here are some general guidelines to
follow if loading cargo or adding acces­sories to your motorcycle:

1

1-2

SAFETY INFORMATION

Loading
The total weight of the operator, pas­senger, accessories and cargo must

1

not exceed the maximum load limit of
180 kg (397 lb). When loading within
this weight limit, keep the following in
mind:

● Cargo and accessory weight

should be kept as low and close to
the motorcycle as possible. Make
sure to distribute the weight as
evenly as possible on both sides of
the motorcycle to minimize imbal­ance or instability.

● Shifting weights can create a sud-

den imbalance. Make sure that ac­cessories and cargo are securely
attached to the motorcycle before
riding. Check accessory mounts
and cargo restraints frequently.

● Never attach any large or heavy

items to the handlebar, front fork,
or front fender. These items, in­cluding such cargo as sleeping
bags, duffel bags, or tents, can
create unstable handling or slow
steering response.

Accessories
Genuine Yamaha accessories have
been specifically designed for use on
this motorcycle. Since Yamaha cannot
test all other accessories that may be
available, you must personally be re­sponsible for the proper selection, in­stallation and use of non-Yamaha
accessories. Use extreme caution
when selecting and installing any ac­cessories.
Keep the following guidelines in mind,
as well as those provided under “Load-
ing” when mounting accessories.

● Never install accessories or carry

cargo that would impair the perfor­mance of your motorcycle. Care­fully inspect the accessory before
using it to make sure that it does
not in any way reduce ground
clearance or cornering clearance,
limit suspension travel, steering
travel or control operation, or ob­scure lights or reflectors.

• Accessories fitted to the handle­bar or the front fork area can
create instability due to improper
weight distribution or aerody­namic changes. If accessories

1-3

are added to the handlebar or
front fork area, they must be as
lightweight as possible and
should be kept to a minimum.

• Bulky or large accessories may
seriously affect the stability of
the motorcycle due to aerody­namic effects. Wind may at­tempt to lift the motorcycle, or
the motorcycle may become un­stable in cross winds. These ac­cessories may also cause
instability when passing or being
passed by large vehicles.

• Certain accessories can dis­place the operator from his or
her normal riding position. This
improper position limits the free­dom of movement of the opera­tor and may limit control ability,
therefore, such accessories are
not recommended.

● Use caution when adding electri-

cal accessories. If electrical acces­sories exceed the capacity of the
motorcycle’s electrical system, an
electric failure could result, which
could cause a dangerous loss of
lights or engine power.

SAFETY INFORMATION

Gasoline and exhaust gas

● GASOLINE IS HIGHLY FLAMMA-

BLE:

• Always turn the engine off when
refueling.

• Take care not to spill any gaso­line on the engine or exhaust
system when refueling.

• Never refuel while smoking or in
the vicinity of an open flame.

● Never start the engine or let it run

for any length of time in a closed
area. The exhaust fumes are poi­sonous and may cause loss of
consciousness and death within a
short time. Always operate your
motorcycle in an area that has ad­equate ventilation.

● Always turn the engine off before

leaving the motorcycle unattended
and remove the key from the main
switch. When parking the motor­cycle, note the following:

• The engine and exhaust system
may be hot, therefore, park the
motorcycle in a place where pe­destrians or children are not like­ly to touch these hot areas.

• Do not park the motorcycle on a
slope or soft ground, otherwise it
may fall over.

• Do not park the motorcycle near
a flammable source (e.g. a kero­sene heater, or near an open
flame), otherwise it could catch
fire.

● When transporting the motorcycle

in another vehicle, make sure that
it is kept upright and that the fuel
cock is turned to “ON” or “RES” (for
vacuum type) / “OFF” (for manual
type). If it should lean over, gaso­line may leak out of the carburetor
or fuel tank.

● If you should swallow any gaso-

line, inhale a lot of gasoline vapor,
or allow gasoline to get into your
eyes, see your doctor immediately.
If any gasoline spills on your skin
or clothing, immediately wash the
affected area with soap and water
and change your clothes.

1

1-4

DESCRIPTION

Left view

2

1. Headlight (page 6-28)

2. Fuel cock (page 3-8)

3. Fuses (page 6-28)

4. Helmet holder (page 3-9)

5. Shock absorber assembly spring preload adjusting ring (page 3-10)

6. Shift pedal (page 3-5)

EAU10410

2-1

Right view

1. Owner’s tool kit (page 6-1)

2. Battery (page 6-26)

3. Air filter element (page 6-10)

4. Main switch/steering lock (page 3-1)

5. Brake pedal (page 3-6)

6. Engine oil filter element (page 6-8)

7. Engine oil level check window (page 6-8)

8. Shock absorber assembly spring preload adjusting ring (page 3-10)

DESCRIPTION

EAU10420

2

2-2

DESCRIPTION

Controls and instruments

2

1. Clutch lever (page 3-5)

2. Left handlebar switches (page 3-4)

3. Speedometer unit (page 3-3)

4. Right handlebar switches (page 3-4)

5. Brake lever (page 3-6)

6. Throttle grip (page 6-12)

7. Fuel tank cap (page 3-6)

EAU10430

2-3

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS

EAU10460

Main switch/steering lock

The main switch/steering lock controls
the ignition and lighting systems, and is
used to lock the steering. The various
positions are described below.

EAU10630

ON

All electrical systems are supplied with
power, and the engine can be started.
The key cannot be removed.

EAU10660

OFF

All electrical systems are off. The key
can be removed.

LOCK

EAU10680

The steering is locked, and all electrical
systems are off. The key can be re­moved.

To lock the steering

1. Push.

2. Turn.

1. Turn the handlebars all the way to
the left.

2. Push the key in from the “OFF” po­sition, and then turn it to “LOCK”
while still pushing it.

3. Remove the key.

To unlock the steering

3

1. Push.

2. Turn.

Push the key in, and then turn it to
“OFF” while still pushing it.

EWA10060

WARNING

Never turn the key to “OFF” or
“LOCK” while the vehicle is moving,
otherwise the electrical systems will
be switched off, which may result in
loss of control or an accident. Make
sure that the vehicle is stopped be­fore turning the key to “OFF” or
“LOCK”.

3-1

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS

(Parking)

The steering is locked, and the taillight
and auxiliary light are on, but all other
electrical systems are off. The key can
be removed.
The steering must be locked before the
key can be turned to “”.

3

CAUTION:

Do not use the parking position for
an extended length of time, other­wise the battery may discharge.

EAU10880

ECA11020

EAU11001

Indicator and warning lights

1. High beam indicator light “”

2. Turn signal indicator light “”

3. Neutral indicator light “”

4. Engine trouble warning light “”

EAU11020

Turn signal indicator light “”

This indicator light flashes when the
tu rn signal s witch is pu shed to the left or
right.

EAU11060

Neutral indicator light “”

This indicator light comes on when the
transmission is in the neutral position.

High beam indicator light “”

EAU11080

This indicator light comes on when the
high beam of the headlight is switched
on.

EAU11500

Engine trouble warning light “”

This warning light comes on or flashes
when an electrical circuit monitoring the
engine is defective. When this occurs,
have a Yamaha dealer check the self­diagnosis system.
The electrical circuit of the warning light
can be checked by turning the key to
“ON”. If the warning light does not come
on for a few seconds, then go off, have
a Yamaha dealer check the electrical
circuit.

3-2

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS

EAU11630

Speedometer unit

1. Speedometer

2. Odometer

3. Tripmeter

4. Tripmeter reset knob

The speedometer unit is equipped with
a speedometer, an odometer and a
tripmeter. The speedometer shows
riding speed. The odometer shows the
total distance traveled. The tripmeter
shows the distance traveled since it
was last set to zero with the reset knob.
The tripmeter can be used to estimate
the distance that can be traveled with a
full tank of fuel. This information will en­able you to plan future fuel stops.

EAU12090

Self-diagnosis device

This model is equipped with a self-diag­nosis device for various electrical cir­cuits.
If any of those circuits are defective, the
engine trouble warning light will come
on or flash. If this occurs, have a
Yamaha dealer check the vehicle.

ECA11170

CAUTION:

To prevent engine damage, be sure
to consult a Yamaha dealer as soon
as possible if this occurs.

EAU12330

Anti-theft alarm (optional)

This model can be equipped with an
optional anti-theft alarm by a Yamaha
dealer. Contact a Yamaha dealer for
more information.

3

3-3

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS

Handlebar switches

Left

3

1. Pass switch “”

2. Dimmer switch “ / ”

3. Turn signal switch “ / ”

4. Horn switch “”

EAU12342

Right

1. Engine stop switch “ / ”

2. Light switch “ //”

3. Start switch “”

EAU12350

Pass switch “”

Press this switch to flash the headlight.

EAU12400

Dimmer switch “ / ”

Set this switch to “” for the high
beam and to “” for the low beam.

EAU12460

Turn signal switch “ / ”

To signal a right-hand turn, push this
switch to “”. To signal a left-hand
turn, push this switch to “”. When re-
leased, the switch returns to the center

position. To cancel the turn signal
lights, push the switch in after it has re­turned to the center position.

EAU12500

Horn switch “”

Press this switch to sound the horn.

EAU12590

Light switch “ //”

Set this switch to “” to turn on the
auxiliary light, meter lighting and tail­light. Set the switch to “” to turn on
the headlight also. Set the switch to “”
to turn off all the lights.

EAU12660

Engine stop switch “ / ”

Set this switch to “” before starting
the engine. Set this switch to “” to
stop the engine in case of an emergen­cy, such as when the vehicle overturns
or when the throttle cable is stuck.

EAU12710

Start switch “”

Push this switch to crank the engine
with the starter.

3-4

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS

ECA10050

CAUTION:

See page 5-1 for starting instruc­tions prior to starting the engine.

EAU12820

Clutch lever

1. Clutch lever 1. Shift pedal

The clutch lever is located at the left
handlebar grip. To disengage the
clutch, pull the lever toward the handle­bar grip. To engage the clutch, release
the lever. The lever should be pulled
rapidly and released slowly for smooth

Shift pedal

The shift pedal is located on the left
side of the engine and is used in com­bination with the clutch lever when
shifting the gears of the 5-speed con­stant-mesh transmission equipped on

this motorcycle.
clutch operation.
The clutch lever is equipped with a
clutch switch, which is part of the igni­tion circuit cut-off system. (See page
3-11.)

EAU12870

3

3-5

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS

Brake lever

EAU12890

Brake pedal

EAU12941

3

1. Brake lever 1. Brake pedal 1. Unlock.

The brake lever is located at the right
handlebar grip. To apply the front
brake, pull the lever toward the handle-

The brake pedal is on the right side of
the motorcycle. To apply the rear
brake, press down on the brake pedal.

bar grip.

EAU13000

Fuel tank cap

To remove the fuel tank cap

Insert the key into the lock and turn it
1/4 turn clockwise. The lock will be re­leased and the fuel tank cap can be re­moved.

To install the fuel tank cap

1. Push the fuel tank cap into position
with the key inserted in the lock.

2. Turn the key counterclockwise to
the original position, and then re­move it.

3-6

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS

NOTE:

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.

EWA11140

WARNING

Make sure that the fuel tank cap is
properly installed before riding.

EAU13210

Fuel

1. Fuel tank filler tube

2. Fuel level

Make sure that there is sufficient fuel in
the tank. Fill the fuel tank to the bottom
of the filler tube as shown.

EWA10880

WARNING

● Do not overfill the fuel tank, oth-

erwise it may overflow when the
fuel warms up and expands.

● Avoid spilling fuel on the hot en-

gine.

ECA10070

CAUTION:

Immediately wipe off spilled fuel
with a clean, dry, soft cloth, since
fuel may deteriorate painted surfac­es or plastic parts.

EAU13320

Recommended fuel:

REGULAR UNLEADED GASOLINE
ONLY

Fuel tank capacity:

11.0 L (2.91 US gal) (2.42 Imp.gal)

Fuel reserve amount:

3.4 L (0.90 US gal) (0.75 Imp.gal)

ECA11400

CAUTION:

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.

3

3-7

Your Yamaha engine has been de­signed to use regular unleaded gaso­line with a research octane number of
91 or higher. If knocking (or pinging) oc­curs, use a gasoline of a different brand

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS

or premium unleaded fuel. Use of un­leaded fuel will extend spark plug life
and reduce maintenance costs.

3

EAU13580

Fuel cock

This model is equipped with a negative
pressure fuel cock. The fuel cock sup­plies fuel from the tank to the carburetor
while also filtering it.
The fuel cock lever positions are ex­plained as follows and shown in the il­lustrations.

ON

1. Pointed end positioned over “ON”

With the fuel cock lever in this position,
fuel flows to the carburetor when the
engine is running. Turn the fuel cock le­ver to this position when starting the en­gine and riding.

RES

1. Pointed end positioned over “RES”

This indicates reserve. With the fuel
cock lever in this position, the fuel re­serve is made available. Quickly turn
the fuel cock lever to this position if you
run out of fuel while riding, otherwise
the engine may stall and will have to be
primed (see “PRI”). After turning the
fuel cock lever to “RES”, refuel as soon
as possible and be sure to turn the fuel
cock lever back to “ON”!

3-8

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS

PRI

1. Pointed end positioned over “PRI”

This indicates prime. With the fuel cock
lever in this position, the engine can be
“primed”. Turn the fuel cock lever to this
position when the engine has been al­lowed to run out of fuel. This sends fuel
directly to the carburetor, which will
make starting easier. After the engine
has started, be sure to turn the lever to
“ON” (or “RES” if you have not refueled
yet).

EAU13590

Starter (choke) lever “”

1. Starter (choke) lever “” 1. Helmet holder

Starting a cold engine requires a richer
air-fuel mixture, which is supplied by
the starter (choke).
Move the lever in direction (a) to turn on
the starter (choke).
Move the lever in direction (b) to turn off
the starter (choke).

Helmet holder

2. Unlock.

To open the helmet holder, insert the
key into the lock, and then turn the key
as shown.
To lock the helmet holder, place it in the
original position, and then remove the
key.

WARNING

Never ride with a helmet attached to
the helmet holder, since the helmet
may hit objects, causing loss of con­trol and possibly an accident.

EAU14281

3

EWA10160

3-9

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS

Adjusting the shock absorber
assemblies

3

1. Spring preload adjusting ring

2. Position indicator

Each shock absorber assembly is
equipped with a spring preload adjust­ing ring.

CAUTION:

Never attempt to turn an adjusting
mechanism beyond the maximum or
minimum settings.

EAU14880

ECA10100

EWA10210

WARNING

Always adjust both shock absorber
assemblies equally, otherwise poor
handling and loss of stability may
result.

Adjust the spring preload as follows.
To increase the spring preload and
thereby harden the suspension, turn
the adjusting ring on each shock ab­sorber assembly in direction (a). To de­crease the spring preload and thereby
soften the suspension, turn the adjust­ing ring on each shock absorber as­sembly in direction (b).

NOTE:

Align the appropriate notch in the ad­justing ring with the position indicator
on the shock absorber.

Spring preload setting:

Minimum (soft):

1

Standard:

2

Maximum (hard):

5

EAU15300

Sidestand

The sidestand is located on the left side
of the frame. Raise the sidestand or
lower it with your foot while holding the
vehicle upright.

NOTE:

The built-in sidestand switch is part of
the ignition circuit cut-off system, which
cuts the ignition in certain situations.
(See further down for an explanation of
the ignition circuit cut-off system.)

EWA10240

WARNING

The vehicle must not be ridden with
the sidestand down, or if the side­stand cannot be properly moved up
(or does not stay up), otherwise the
sidestand could contact the ground
and distract the operator, resulting
in a possible loss of control.
Yamaha’s ignition circuit cut-off
system has been designed to assist
the operator in fulfilling the respon­sibility of raising the sidestand be­fore starting off. Therefore, check
this system regularly as described

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INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS

below and have a Yamaha dealer re­pair it if it does not function proper­ly.

EAU15311

Ignition circuit cut-off system

The ignition circuit cut-off system (com­prising the sidestand switch, clutch
switch and neutral switch) has the fol­lowing functions.

● It prevents starting when the trans-

mission is in gear and the side­stand is up, but the clutch lever is
not pulled.

● It prevents starting when the trans-

mission is in gear and the clutch le­ver is pulled, but the sidestand is
still down.

● It cuts the running engine when the

transmission is in gear and the sid-

estand is moved down.
Periodically check the operation of the
ignition circuit cut-off system according
to the following procedure.

EWA10250

WARNING

If a malfunction is noted, have a
Yamaha dealer check the system be­fore riding.

3

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