Yamaha, XJ6 Diversion ABS 600

The XJ-6 is the first big bike I've owned, but far from the first one I've tried. While in training and since I've fooled around on the Hornet (fun but wants to get away from you), CBF600R (heavy and slow for what it is), ER-5 (lot of fun but poor front brake), MT-03 (had as a loaner, not a great machine), Thunderace (scary, lardy high-maitenance beast) and a few others. Hardly a huge range but enough to know what makes a good motorcycle.

And I'm happy to say that the Yamaha XJ-6 Diversion is a damn good motorcycle. I have the semi-faired edition without ABS (I personally don't care for ABS, it encourages laziness and over-reliance on the brakes to get you out of trouble when you should be going down through the gears for smooth engine braking where possible) in the darker metallic blue finish and ever since the first few miles it's never failed to impress me. It's not perfect but it does a lot of things right.

Yamaha obviously made a great deal of effort with the design of this bike. It's primary role is as a commuter with a bit of sports touring heritage thrown in, and it largely succeeds at this in a way I did not expect. Almost every aspect has been considered and optimised for a reliable everyday bike:

* It has an easily engaged main stand so it's easy to lube the chain, brim the tank when filling over long distances etc.

* It includes just enough under seat storage to carry some essentials: cable ties, wet wipes for cleaning your visor or getting mud off the chain guard/fairing, a towel for getting rain off the seat when needed and a perfect slot at the back for a small can of Yamalube chain spray.

* There is easy provision for fitting a top back rack and panniers, probably a tank bag too. Personally I just have the top box rack and a 46L Yamaha branded Givi top box to store helmet, shopping or some clothes if I'm travelling.

* The mirrors fold in on the stalks, and better still the stalks fold inwards towards the front screen. This means, should you ever drop the bike, the mirrors are more likely to push inwards and not be snapped off.

* The engine is a detuned R6/Fazer derivative. Rather than create a new engine Yamaha have chosen a proven design that they have refined for this particular use. As a result after 6,000 miles of riding the oil level was still nearly at maximum, and the coolant only really needs topping up every 1,500 miles or so - surprisingly low maintenance. Same with the brake fluid, even after long distances it barely seems to go down.

* Talking about the engine, this is a nice piece of work. It seems they decided to sacrifice top speed for more torque across the rev range and chose a close ratio gearbox to match this approach. This means despite only 77BHP and weighing around 210KG the bike is surprisingly quick - it's as if there are two torque bands, the first up to 5K for sensible riding and short shifting, the second of 6K and up when you really want to accelerate hard. I think you could wheelie this thing in second gear but I'm not skilled enough to test this theory!

* The digital head up display is simple and uncluttered. Nice big MPH readout, two trip meters in addition to the odometer, and a simple yet effective "fuel trip" warning which counts up when you're low on fuel, meaning you need to gas up within the next 30-40 miles before you burn through the reserve.

* The bike has both hazard warning lights and a full beam flash for when letting people out or waking up dozy drivers who aren't paying attention, something not all of them have at this price point.

* Crash bungs on the handlebars and crash bars on the bottom are effective. I've only dropped the bike twice at low speeds and they have done their job, none of the fairing was damaged.

* The regular seat is fairly comfortable for 50-100 mile stretches but for any more than that probably something more gel based would be a better option, i.e. touring and doing 200+ miles a day on the road.

* Tank range is slightly above average for this kind of bike, based on my own observations using premium fuel (I recommend Esso Supreme Unleaded) and including dipping into the reserve I average 150-200 miles. If I rode more economically and wasn't at the speed limit all the time I'm sure I could get more, but where's the fun in that?

Now I want to list some of the negative aspects before delving back into the positives to close the review:

* Like a fair few bikes the speedometer overestimates the speed by an estimated 5-10%, although this is good for avoiding tickets from Johnny Law it means you need another way to get an accurate speed reading.

* The engine is overly revvy even when you're at low speeds meaning if you're anything like me you'll short shift a lot to keep it manageable at town speeds. There is a good side though - because it's making a fair old noise people will hear you, so high revs when filtering can help act as a warning you're coming through. Probably annoy some riders though.

* I don't like the location of the "parking light" mode, or that there is one at all. I've run down the battery by over twisting the key when engaging the steering lock and leaving the lights on at work before which is annoying - electric starter means you can't turn the engine over when the battery is flat without jumping from another battery or similar. Bump starting doesn't work.

* Personally I don't think it's a particularly good looking bike, there are better ones within Yamaha's own range, but still this isn't really something you notice when you're sitting on it.

* The gearbox, like a few Yammys I've tried, is a bit notchy. The all-important shift from first to second can be clunky and it's too easy to find neutral when you don't want it, and not get neutral when you're trying to park. Second to third and upwards can be smoother, but overall this gearbox requires a gentle touch and some finesse in your shifting especially with a passenger. I knock it into false neutral a little more often than I'd like too - for me this gearbox is the only major weakness on the bike, although on a good day it seems to tighten up and behave, especially just after filling the tank.

Anyway, back to the good stuff. For the weight and size this is a surprisingly nimble bike, get it up to a decent speed and it handles beautifully, it naturally wants to lean into the corners with you and flatters the way you ride in a way that's satisfying no matter how short the journey - I have some Maxxis Diamond Supermaxx tyres which replaced the original Bridgestone BT-021 rubber that was on there and the increased grip/slightly more pronounced understeer encourages you to lean further in on tight corners and roundabouts with confidence. Brakes even without ABS are very effective, do go easy on the back one though, if it's used in anger it unsettles the bike. It's pretty easy to take a pillion - the provision for a second person isn't an afterthought like it is on certain sports bikes, it's been considered so it's not a tiny rear seat with the passenger two foot higher than the rider. It doesn't vibrate heavily through the bars and pegs until you're well over a ton when solo riding, I kind of like this as an indication that you're going fast and need to pay as much attention as possible to the road.

Overall this is a brilliant introduction to the world of big bikes and would suit anyone looking for something affordable, reliable and capable of long distances with ease - a practical motorcycle with some fun further up the rev range if you don't mind pinning the throttle. It always puts a smile on my face, and I can't imagine getting rid of this any time soon, or at least not for a couple of years and some 50,000 miles. I don't know how it compares to the original 90s Diversion but it stands on it's own as a great machine - yes it may be a little "middle of the road" but how many people want to be riding a 1000cc high maintenance/cost sportsbike everywhere anyway? I'd rather have something that works best on a day to day basis which doesn't need the oil topped up every few hundred miles, personally.

I've given it five stars because four just isn't quite enough. Genuinely impressed with this bike, and if it fits what you want to use it for, it might impress you too.

Having owned this bike now for 3 months I am pretty pleased with it so far. Here's my honest and personal review of the Yamah XJ6 S.

Lets start with the good points, as usual.

For one it looks great, the front end gives it an aggressive style and the under slung exhaust means there's no ugly steel exhaust on one side or the other, it just looks really well balanced. People have complained at the back being ugly, but I really like it. It's also strangely comfortable for a bike with such a compact layout, a friend of mine thought I'd bought a 125 when he saw it from a distance. I mean I'm 6'5 and have yet to have any subnormal aches or pains which is a miracle in itself, as on my old bike(s) I'd get about an hour before I needed to stand up and walk around to avoid a booking with the chiropractor. And it's good you can stay seated for a while as the tank range is pretty impressive if your careful. I managed to get 206 miles to a tank on a recent trip to a friend's. This was all 60-70 mph on dual carriageway/motorway, it was very low when I filled up (less than 1/2 a litre left), but anyway, it worked out at about 58mpg, which isn't half bad. On my usual 40 mile round trip to work I get about 43 mpg, but it's a bit hit and miss with city traffic etc.

Other good points, it handles decently I'd say, the front can be a bit vague when pushed, which doesn't inspire massive amounts of confidence at big lean angles, especially in the wet. But this is no R6, so knee down action is gonna be pretty rare. It pulls decently as well, it's no monster but it's 78 bhp is all over the power range, so overtaking is efoortless and it'll outrun any 4 wheeled effort off the line without fail. Top speed wise I haven't really bothered, I guess it's about 130 mph, but anything up to 90-95 is pretty comfortable.

The brakes are quite frankly, immense. The ABS is excellent and when you think you've got them on fully the ABS kicks in just to make sure you stop, they're absolutely terrific. The display and lights are also good, the led screen is clear as day, the rev counter is easy to read, and the 2 into 1 front headlight instead of the one on, one off style stops the car drivers flashing you cause they think you have a bulb out. Under seat storage is decent too, obviously you can't put a helmet under there, but there's room for a lock, or a small lunch box, or next door's cat.

Now for the bad points, there are only 2 but they annoy me from time to time, and I said I'd be honest, so here goes.

Number 1; The gearbox. Don't get me wrong it's nothing severe, it's just very clunky and false neutrals are gonna happen a fair bit. Maybe it's just because I'm a bit of a girl (a view shared by friends) but it needs a good old kick to get into 2nd. And it just feels agricultural, the gap between gears feels like a small eternity compared to other bikes I've ridden. Again this is a personal choice, not so much a fault. The clutch itself is fine, predictable, light etc etc.

And number 2 is that detuned R6 lump. Power wise it's fine, it makes a great noise and is fuel efficient. But the way it revs constantly has me searching for an extra gear. I owned a Suzuki Burgman 400 briefly in 2009 and it had lower revs at 70 mph than the XJ6 does and it's not got any gears and just 1 cylinder. Again it's nothing really bad or major, but I just think I'm constantly in 5th or 4th, with how high it revs in top.

Apart from my small issues both of which are probably more me than the bike, it's a tidy, fun and frugal little thing. And at 5.5k new it's an absolute steal. Would definitely recommend.

hi i have the xj6n 2009 in white 78bhp and its a great bike it pulls well handels good and gets you to 3 figuer speeds very quick in the book it says 0-60 in 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 135 which i think is all you need or less you talking super sports bikes im 6ft 2 and find no problems or uncomfort even when ive got my partner on the back it still pulls good the only thing i could pick at would be the gear change could be a bit smoother but that mite be just me i would reckermend this bike to anyone.

I spent about a year experimenting with scooters, and then decided to get a "proper" bike. On the advice of a friend who is also an experienced rider, I wanted something in the 600cc bracket. The Yamaha XJ6 Diversion was my first choice. I also considered Suzuki Gladius, and Honda CBF600 Hornet, but I wanted a bike with at least a partial fairing. The XJ6 was highly acclaimed, and I sat astride of one at the Police BikeSafe Show at Hendon in June 2009. The riding position was perfect for me. I have a short reach for my height, but it was not a problem. The XJ6 even has handlebar adjustment - the bars can be adjusted to one of two fixed positions, but I found the standard bar setup to be OK. The seat is low, but so are the foot pegs, so you don't have to sit scrunched up. For an extra £300, I chose the ABS version - known as the XJ6SA.

I love this bike! It's everything I wanted, with no disappointments. Never mind what you're read elsewhere - I can tell you that the engine is a little gem. I keep it above 4000rpm, and there is lots of power from there through the range. Red line is 11,666rpm. Handling is agile and easy to manage. There is some engine vibration which can be felt through the bars and foot pegs at times, but usually indicates that it's time to change gear. There is a single indicator warning light for both left and right, positioned right next to the digital speedo, where you're likely to notice it if you forget to cancel an indicator.

A gear indicator in the electronic display would have been nice, especially as this bike is going to be the first big bike for many. Suzuki Gladius has this, and it would be a nice enhancement on the XJ6.

Even though the fairing is only partial, with a little fly screen, it does seem very effective during wet weather. I've ridden through downpours where I would have got soaked on a naked bike, but got only damp on the XJ6SA.