Yamaha XJ600N

[Chriss]

Anyone owned one? Anyone report on what they're like? Common problems with them? Found one for a nice price, not sure what they're like though. Common reports say along the lines of "Not great performance but reliable.

Thanks in advance for any further comments.
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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

[stinkwheel]

[Chriss]

And next to a Sports 600?

Still, sounds like what I'm after, as noone has anything bad to say, so must be nice and bland, so insurance should be cheap, and doesn't have any major problems!
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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

[iCraig]

Never owned but but rode one as a courtesey bike a few times.

I found it handled very well but it had nothing about it, majorly bland.
Infact the most bland bike I've ever ridden.

Only thing I would add if your thinking about buying one, is that corriosion is a major problem on them, so look out for it in the darkest places.

[stinkwheel]

I've only ridden one once, but for long enough to form an oppinion on it (about 300 miles on all types of road)

It felt slow compared to my GPZ500s but actually wasn't any slower. Just delivered the power in an unremarkable way. Probably just the thing for the winter to be honest, jump on it and go where you want in comfort with a minimum of fuss.

A true UJB (Universal Japanese Bike).
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Twisted2004]

I've got the faired version XJ600s. I've had it for about 4 months and im getting a little bored of it.

Its faster than most if not all cars from standing. 35ish in 1st, 65isn second (hitting rev limiter)

Good miles to the gallon 60mpg'ish.

Quick enough to about 80mph but after that very boring.

Not very exciting to look at...doesnt have the..."hey, thats MY bike" feel about owning it.

Things to watch out for - Gearbox i've been told!

Also they all tend to rattle/vibrate around 4000rpm.

Very partical, comfortable, does exactly what it says on the tin!
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Previous : DT125 > XJ600S > YZF1000R > Honda CBR1000RR-8 Fireblade (White) - Stolen > Honda CBR125R> Honda CBR1000RR-8 Fireblade (Red)
Current : Ducati Multistrada Pikes Peak (For Sale)

[Kickstart]

Hi

Had an XJ600S.

Yes they are boring to ride. Make a great bike for tanking down a motorway at 80~90. Handling is stable and adequate. Brakes are acceptable (later ones have twin disks). Engine is understressed. Build quality is not bad (certainly less corrosion than my Bandit).

Problems:-
Dire vacuum fuel on early ones. So pathetic that if you do not switch onto reserve in time, cranking it over on the starter has a good chance of killing the battery before the fuel gets through.
Brakes seize (it is a Yamaha).
Fuel tank a touch on the small side and not stunning on fuel (in the same use my FZR600 does about 5mpg better and has a larger tank).
Occasional clutch problems (thrust bearing fails, probably due to the Haynes manual having different instructions than the YAmaha one for what to lube a new one with).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[JeffT]

I have a 600s as my first bike.

Got it in July and looking at upgrading in the new year, found it a good forgiving bike to start on though.
BT45's seem the tyre of choice and have lasted well on mine.

I havn't suffered the fuel issue nentioned but I may be a lucky exception!

Problems with em.

Clutch basket rattle, just a quirk of the bike.
Vibration at 4k on most (although mine does it at 6k!)
Carbs need to be regularly balanced.
I found that the original screen wasn't brilliant at higher speeds so I bought a Power Bronze flip screen at the NEC show, big thumbs up to that!


I have found it excellent for my commute, nice and comfy and easy to ride at low speeds and is still capable of a bit of fun on a sunday. Its no R6, but it is a good compimise for what I need.

[Gazdaman]

I had a 600N as my first big bike. It's heavy, ugly, but cheap, and incredibly good fun.

Next to a sports 600 you may aswell be on a moped. I got mine to about 125mph, but that was after a head replacement, which I'm pretty sure my dad and I got fairly wrong.
Got about 120miles to the tank, no idea how big the tank is though. Cost about a tenner to fill. Nice stable ride, perfect commuter, but can handle thrashings and chucking around.

Mine didn't rattle at any RPM. The fairing did a good job. (Until I crashed and broke it)

They will lean over until the pegs touch down with no problems.

The handling is heavy, but you get used to it, and begin to love it. I could easily lead sports 600s/thous in the twisties on my XJ.

On a rideout once a GSX-r 600 SRAD following me in the twisties lowsided and I carried on without even noticing. He was going slower if anything.

Hot wired my one once aswell, incredibly easily, with no tools.
And try not to crash, replacement handlebars are hard to get hold of.

Only work I ever did to mine (other than damage repair ) Was a new rear wheel (it was only a tenner off eBay, and it was because the bearings were shagged in the original wheel)

I also replaced the rear disk on the new wheel with the original disk.
I added an alarm.

Clutch started slipping when I derestricted, but got a new one on eBay for a fiver.

It won't wheelie off the power, but will come up with a lil bit of clutch. Acceleration will see off 99% of cars.

I loved that bike. If I could find another cheap one, I'd buy it in a second. Any queries give me a shout, I rode mine religiously in a way that shouldn't be possible for 6 months. I'm very surprised it didn't blow up sooner.

Gaz