2015 Yamaha YZF-R3 Maintenance Schedule and Service Intervals
This is the maintenance schedule and associated service intervals for the 2015 Yamaha YZF-R3.
It’s very similar to the maintenance schedule for subsequent years of the R3, as well as the MT-03, which shares many of the same components.
Also, many Yamaha motorcycles use similar re-usables like oil and spark plugs.
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What you need to service the Yamaha R3
If you’re doing scheduled maintenance on an R3, you at least need
- Motorcycle maintenance tools — things like an oil catch pan, a paddock stand, and so on
- Basic consumables — things like oil, coolant, and so on.
For the Yamaha R3, the manual recommends the following specific consumables.
| Engine oil | Yamalube 10W-40 or 10W-50 as recommended by Yamaha. The manual suggests it and it’s affordable on Amazon with a solid 5-star rating. Other lubricants would do, but that’s your call. Don’t over-torque the bolt (spec is 20 Nm/15 lb-ft per the manual) — use a torque wrench if you don’t have experience with how much torque is enough. |
| Oil filter | Needs to be changed every time you change the oil. Either get a stock one (part 5GH-13440-50-00, used for many Yamaha products) or the K&N KN-204-1. Torque is 17 Nm/13 lb-ft. |
| Engine coolant | Yamaha recommends “Yamacool”, but use any coolant with a 50/50 mix of ethylene glycol and water. You can either use pre-mix or concentrate (for which you’d need demineralised water). I usually recommend this Valvoline 50/50 pre-mix. |
| Spark Plugs | NGK/CR8E. This is what the manual and mechanics suggest. Make sure it’s gapped correctly to 0.7-0.8mm (get a gapping tool) and torqued to 18 Nm/13 lb-ft (new) or 13Nm/10 lb-ft (after checking). |
| Air filter | Yamaha part number 1WD-E4451-00. You can also get the K&N equivalent, YA-3215. |
| Brake pads | I recommend EBC double hardened brake pads for extra life and better brake feel. For the R3 and MT-03 you need one set for the front (FA663HH) and rear (FA662HH). |
And the following general consumables are useful as well.
| Product | Thumbnail | Description |
| Chain lubricant |  | The chain needs to be lubricated every 800 km/500 miles (or more, if it gets wet/dirty). Motul chain paste is cheap and well-loved. |
| Chain cleaner brush |  | A chain cleaner brush makes cleaning off grime and then distributing new lubricant much more easy. |
| Paddock stand |  | Lubricating the chain and changing the oil both become a lot easier once you use an affordable paddock stand. |
| Cable lubricant |  | Remember to lubricate your clutch cable (and brake cables if you have them) with a cable lubricant. Protect All Cable Life is a good general-purpose lubricant. |
| Grease |  | Get a good lithium soap based grease for lubricating major components like your side stand, centre stand, and bearings. |
2015 Yamaha YZF-R3 Maintenance Schedule
Below is the maintenance schedule for the 2015 Yamaha YZF-R3.
The maintenance for the 2015 Yamaha YZF-R3 is broken into two sections: periodic maintenance for emission control systems, and general maintenance and lubrication.
Periodic Maintenance Emission Control System
TIP:
• From 19000 mi (31000 km) or 36 months, repeat the maintenance intervals starting from 7000 mi (11000 km) or 12 months.
• Items marked with an asterisk require special tools, data and skills, have a Yamaha dealer perform the service
| No. | Item | Routine | 600 mi (1,000 km) or 1 month | 4000 mi (6000 km) or 6 months | 7000 mi (11000 km) or 12 months | 10000 mi (16000 km) or 18 months | 13000 mi (21000 km) or 24 months | 16000 mi (26000 km) or 30 months | |
| 1 | * | Fuel line | •Check fuel hoses for cracks or damage •Replace if necessary | • | • | • | • | • | |
| 2 | Spark plugs | •Check condition •Adjust gap and clean •Replace every 7000 mi (11000 km) or 12 months and thereafter every 6000 mi (10000 km) or 12 months | • | Replace | • | Replace | • | ||
| 3 | * | Valve clearance | •Check and adjust valve clearance when engine is cold | Every 26600 mi (42000 km) | |||||
| 4 | * | Crankcase breather system | •Check breather hose for cracks or damage
•Replace if necessary | • | • | • | • | • | |
| 5 | * | Fuel injection | •Adjust synchronization | • | • | • | • | • | |
| 6 | * | Exhaust system | •Check for leakage •Tighten if necessary •Replace gasket(s) if necessary | • | • | • | • | • | |
| 7 | * | Evaporative emission control system (For California only) | •Check control system for damage •Replace if necessary | • | • | ||||
| 8 | * | Air induction system | •Check the air cut valve and reed valve, and hose for damage •Replace any damaged parts if necessary | • | • |
General Maintenance and Lubrication Chart
| No. | Item | Routine | 600 mi (1,000 km) or 1 month | 4000 mi (6000 km) or 6 months | 7000 mi (11000 km) or 12 months | 10000 mi (16000 km) or 18 months | 13000 mi (21000 km) or 24 months | 16000 mi (26000 km) or 30 months | |
| 1 | Air filter element | • Replace. | • | ||||||
| 2 | Air filter check hose | • Clean | • | • | • | • | • | • | |
| 3 | * | Clutch | • Check operation. • Adjust or replace cable. | • | • | • | • | • | • |
| 4 | * | Front brake | • Check operation, fluid level, and for fluid leakage. • Replace brake pads if necessary. | • | • | • | • | • | • |
| 5 | * | Rear brake | • Check operation, fluid level, and for fluid leakage. • Replace brake pads if necessary. | • | • | • | • | • | • |
| 6 | * | Brake hose | • Check for cracks or damage. • Check for correct routing and clamping | • | • | • | • | • | |
| • Replace. | Every 4 years | ||||||||
| 7 | * | Brake fluid | • Replace. | Every 2 years | |||||
| 8 | * | Wheels | • Check runout and for damage. • Replace if necessary. | • | • | • | • | • | |
| 9 | * | Tires | • Check tread depth and for damage. • Replace if necessary. • Check air pressure. • Correct if necessary. | • | • | • | • | • | |
| 10 | * | Wheel bearings | • Check bearings for smooth operation. • Replace if necessary. | • | • | • | • | • | |
| 11 | * | Swingarm pivot bearings | • Check bearing assemblies for looseness • Moderately repack with lithium-soap-based grease | • | Repack | ||||
| 12 | Drive chain | • Check chain slack, alignment and condition. • Adjust and lubricate chain with a special O-ring chain lubricant thoroughly. | Every 500 mi (800 km) and after washing the motorcycle or riding in the rain | ||||||
| 13 | * | Steering bearings | • Check bearing assemblies for looseness. • Moderately repack with lithium- soap-based grease | • | • | • | • | Repack | • |
| 14 | * | Chassis fasteners | • Check all chassis fitting and fasteners. • Correct if necessary. | • | • | • | • | • | |
| 15 | Brake lever pivot shaft | • Apply silicone grease lightly | • | • | • | • | • | ||
| 16 | Brake pedal pivot shaft | • Apply lithium-soap-based grease lightly. | • | • | • | • | • | ||
| 17 | Clutch lever pivot shaft | • Apply lithium-soap-based grease lightly. | • | • | • | • | • | ||
| 18 | Shift pedal pivots shaft | • Apply lithium-soap-based grease lightly. | • | • | • | • | • | ||
| 19 | Sidestand pivot | • Check operation. • Apply lithium-soap-based grease lightly. | • | • | • | • | • | ||
| 20 | * | Sidestand switch | • Check operation and replace if necessary. | • | • | • | • | • | • |
| 21 | * | Front fork | • Check operation and for oil leakage. • Replace if necessary. | • | • | • | • | • | |
| 22 | * | Shock absorber assembly | • Check operation and for oil leakage. • Replace if necessary. | • | • | • | • | • | |
| 23 | Engine oil | • Change (see pages 4-4 and 7-10) | • | When the oil indicator flashes | |||||
| • Check oil level and vehicle for oil leakage | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||
| 24 | Engine oil filter cartridge | • Replace. | • | • | • | ||||
| 25 | * | Cooling system | • Check hoses for cracks or damage. • Replace if necessary. | • | • | • | • | • | |
| * | • Change coolant | • | |||||||
| 26 | * | Front and rear brake switches | • Check operation | • | • | • | • | • | • |
| 27 | * | Control cables | • Apply Yamaha chain and cable lube or engine oil thoroughly. | • | • | • | • | • | • |
| 28 | * | Throttle grip | • Check operation and free play. • Adjust the throttle cable free play if necessary. • Lubricate the throttle grip housing and cable. | • | • | • | • | • | |
| 29 | * | Lights, signals and switches | • Check operation • Adjust headlight beam | • | • | • | • | • | • |
TIP:
●Air filter
•This model’s air filter is equipped with a disposable oil-coated paper element, which must not be cleaned with compressed air to avoid damaging it
•The air filter element needs to be replaced more frequent when riding in unusually wet or dusty areas
● Hydraulic brake service
• After disassembling the brake master cylinders and calipers, always change the fluid. Regularly check the brake and clutch fluid levels and fill the reservoirs as required
• 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 or if cracked or damaged.
About the 2015 Yamaha YZF-R3
At the heart of this sporty ride is a rev-loving, two-cylinder, parallel-twin mill that delivers rather docile performance at lower rpms but comes alive when you get closer to the five-digit mark. A 68 mm bore and 44.1 mm stroke gives us a 321 cc total displacement with an 11.2-to-1 compression ratio. Dual over-head cams time the four-valve heads with lightweight, forged pistons in offset cylinders to reduce friction along the piston skirts.
As far as engine management goes, we have electronic fuel injection and a Transistor Controlled Ignition, but nothing in the way of traction control or variable riding modes. A six-speed transmission sends power to the rear wheel via chain drive, and surprisingly, couples to engine power through a standard, non-slipper clutch. I’m OK with making the kids learn how to properly feather the clutch and blip the throttle to rev match to prevent rear-wheel hop, but some of us appreciate the reduced effort needed to operate a slip-and-assist clutch.
Manual for the 2015 Yamaha YZF-R3
The above information was gleaned from the owner’s manual for the 2015 Yamaha YZF-R3.
You can download it from Yamaha’s website here.
