Ok, I've worked on many bikes, and for quite a few years, but since buying my Roadie I've not got much deeper than the spark plugs. No need yet. I've got a service manual, but again, I've seldom had a need for it. I consider that a good testament to the quality of the Roadstar. Well, today I was flipping through the manual for lack of anything better to do, and it left me with a question for those of you more familiar with the inner working of these machines than I. I noticed that Yamaha uses a direct gear drive between the engine and the transmission (with no idler gear), and then a drive chain between the tranny and the transfer case. So, my question is, when you're looking at the engine from the right side, the engine rotates counter clockwise? I assumed it it rotated clockwise like the Harleys I'm more familiar with. But, being Yammi uses a direct gear drive instead of a chain or belt, it would have to rotate in the opposite direction. Unless there's an idler gear in the tranny I didn't see in the manual. Am I right on this, or am I missing something? It got me wondering, and I know I can get the straight scoop here.

yes.

So our crankshaft turns backwards?

Don't know about "backwards", but when you adjust the valves you access the crank from the left side and turn it counter clockwise to reach TDC.

Well, counter clockwise from the left side is the same as clockwise from the right. So I guess they do rotate the same as a Harley. The rotation's reversed going into the tranny, but it must be striaghtened in the tranny gearing.