Yamaha XJ600n - how much to pay?

[jimster]

I'm going to look at a 1998 Yamaha XJ600n bike tomorrow morn...has anyone here owned one, and if so what do they think? MCN isn't that kind:

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikereviews/searchresults/Bike-Reviews/Yamaha/Yamaha-XJ600-Diversion-1992-2004/?&R=EPI-225

but it sounds ideal for me - I just want reliable and cheap. I've pottered around on 50cc's and 125cc's ever since passing my test in 2005 so have no desire to go fast, and I imagine the jump from 50cc to 599cc will be interesting.

Bike is £650, owner sounds totally honest and has owned the bike for four years. Apparently there is a 'tapping' sound in the engine when the bike is cold which has been there for the past four years without a problem, but otherwise the bike is completely reliable.

Any comments / suggestions?
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Current: Yamaha Diversion XJ900
Previous: Yamaha Diversion 600cc, Piaggio Zip 50cc, Honda CG125-W, Siamoto Caddy 50cc moped

[el_oso]

fairly bullet proof. i have a diversion and prefer the extra bit of wind protection as a lot of my journeys are motorway.
They have a simple engine that is a bit wierdly mounted. they therefore use a crappy vacuum fuel pump which means that if you ever drain the carbs completely they are a right b*tch to start again. they are very easy to ride and very comfortable for long journeys. also extremely cheap to run. can get 70mpg when driving eco and even can get 40mpg (ish) when going quite fast
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Duke 390
Previous: '05 XR125L | '96 XJ600S Diversion |'05 Suzuki GSXR1000 | '05 Honda CBR125-R | '97 YZF 600R Thundercat | '11 Honda CBR250
Car: Jeep Wrangler 4.0L

[jimster]

Thanks for reply!

How much should I pay?

I found the seller had put the bike on ebay last week but didn't meet the reserve - it went for £555. He now wants £650.

Bike has a couple of problems:

(i) oil stain on top of engine - about the size of a ten pound note - is this a leak? should I be concerned?
(ii) low oil light is permenantly on - he said the mechanics had said the light itself was broken and nothing to worry about.
(iii) rattle on start up - apparently cam chain - and nothing to worry about (backed up by the interweb forums).
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Current: Yamaha Diversion XJ900
Previous: Yamaha Diversion 600cc, Piaggio Zip 50cc, Honda CG125-W, Siamoto Caddy 50cc moped

[jimster]

Here's the bike:

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1998-YAMAHA-XJ-600-N-BLUE-/300424332006?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item45f2af82e6
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Current: Yamaha Diversion XJ900
Previous: Yamaha Diversion 600cc, Piaggio Zip 50cc, Honda CG125-W, Siamoto Caddy 50cc moped

[Paxovasa]

Here is what parkers says, although they usually under value the price of the bike.

https://www.parkers.co.uk/motorbikes/used-prices/Valuation.aspx?plate=57&deriv=2483

It does depend on condition. But I would be thinking of around £800
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Suzuki GSF600 K3 (in the fastest colour, black).

[iooi]

[Clanger]

Used Bike Guide is your friend. Sold in most newsagents and also online too.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[jimster]

Thanks for all the replies.

I ummed and awwed and eventually offered £575 for the bike...'twas accepted. So I'll be riding a XJ600 later this week. Woohoo!

It's got almost a year's tax and MOT on it so (barring misfortune) will require nowt doing until 2011.

Maybe I've paid a touch over the going rate, but not by a huge amount, and bikes on ebay seem to be going at a premium now that the sunny weekends are here. I just couldn't be faffed searching through gumtree for another couple of weeks to save £100.

Have I done the right thing?


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Current: Yamaha Diversion XJ900
Previous: Yamaha Diversion 600cc, Piaggio Zip 50cc, Honda CG125-W, Siamoto Caddy 50cc moped

[Darth]

For that money if the bike runs fine and has a fresh MOT on it then i wouldn't be too unhappy with the price. Not the bargain of the century but hardly a stitch up either. Just ride the thing and stop worrying!

And look at the rear brake!
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Harold_Shand wrote: I suppose it's like anything, you get your fingers burned when you start out, you learn from it and eventually become a complete arsehole about the whole thing.

[Herbalrick]

Good choice mate, maybe a bit over the going rate, but the bike will do ya well.

As Darth says make sure you look at the back brake. They seize up really easily, but are a real cinch to take apart and clean.

Also because your oil light is on the whole time make sure you check the levels regularly. XJ600's have a tendency to vomit oil from the breather pipe after a ride. Not much each time, but after a while you can end up with low oil levels.
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Current Bike: 98 XJ600S Diversion
Previous Rides: Piaggio Zip 50cc - Various 125cc Honda Wave/Innova things in Thailand - Yamaha YBR 125

[el_oso]

oil light is always a problem with these. uses an oil level instead of pressure. keep checking the window. it should be fine though. as long as you don't over fill the oil you shouldn't have any trouble with the oil in the air box problem.
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Duke 390
Previous: '05 XR125L | '96 XJ600S Diversion |'05 Suzuki GSXR1000 | '05 Honda CBR125-R | '97 YZF 600R Thundercat | '11 Honda CBR250
Car: Jeep Wrangler 4.0L

[hondapartsman]

Good for you, I spotted this to late to offer advice but I hope you find your XJ as solid and usable as I have mine. Watch out for the breather tube splurging oil and emulsified oil, also the clutch bearing. The emulsified oil - which seems to happen with an XJ unless all your journeys are long collects in the clutch- and the thrust bearing basically gets insufficient lubrication and breaks up. Mine made a horrible clonking noise, then graunching and the clutch more or less stopped working. Easy to fix really, I was lucky and had the spare parts to hand about £20.00 for the new bearing, thrust washer and gasket which I now have as spares. I did get some trade discount on that mind so mine was a little less. Change the oil as often as you can and it ought to go on well though, I've never seen more than 60 mpg from mine though but then I'm no lightweight and put up a fair bit or wind resistance and mine is the naked model. Good luck to you anyway.
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In the end all comes back to the beginning