Page about my Yamaha XJ600 Road Bike.

In late 1999 I joined Ulysses and in mid 2000 I bought a 1993 Yamaha XJ600 Road Bike.

The XJ600 is a light weight, smooth and quite powerful touring motorcycle. Being a superseded and second hand bike the price was also right. The semi-naked bike exposes an aggressive looking forward slanted air cooled engine. The fairing around the headlight is stylish and the screen offers good wind protection for your body.  It has a very comfortable upright seating position and a large padded seat sculptured for 2 up riding.

Click on picture to see my motorcycle.

Performance wise the XJ600 is no match for the current crop of 600cc sports bikes. But you appreciate that, when you come to pay insurance for the bike or to buy petrol and tyres. You also just have to accept that a WRX or hot V8 will probably beat you off at the lights. The XJ600 has the added safety feature of not quite doing a mono as it leaves most 4 or 6 cylinders cars behind in a traffic light derby.

However the bike is not without its minor faults. When starting from cold, you have to get used to waiting a couple of minutes for the bike to warm up before riding off. I only ride off after the engine runs ok with the choke in. There is also an engine harmonic vibration around 4000 rpm which I feel mainly on the legs from the fuel tank . Luckily this equates to about 80km in top gear, a speed I don't usually cruise at.  If I have to ride at 80km for any distance I do it in 5th gear. The only other niggle is a clunk when changing from 1st through neutral to 2nd gear. I don't know if that is particular to my bike, as all other gear changes are very smooth.

My bike came fitted with a top box at the rear, which is very handy for storing wet weather gear, the shopping, or to put your helmet in when away from the bike. I have found the bike ideal for going on Ulysses rides, as it has every thing I need for long distance cruising.


The XJ600 was available from 1992 till 1998.
In Australia and America it was known as the XJ600 Seca II.
In Europe and the rest of the world it was known as the XJ600 Diversion.

  Technical Specifications of XJ600

Four cylinders, Four stroke (DOHC),

2 valves per cylinder

Air cooled

(1996 models got an oil-cooler)

Displacement: 598.8cc

Bore & stroke: 58.5 x 55.7mm

Compression ratio: 10.0:1

Body Colour - various, depending on year

Carburetion: Four 28mm Mikuni BDST

Lubrication: Wet sump

Max power: 61.0 HP @ 8500 rpm

Max torque: 5.6 KG-M @ 7000 rpm

Transmission: 6-speed, Constant mesh

Clutch: Wet, Multiple discs

Final drive: Chain

Starter: Electric

Battery: 12 volt

Ignition: Electronic

Front suspension: Telescopic forks, 38mm

Rear suspension: Monocross

Front brake: 320mm Single disc

Rear brake: 245mm Single disc

Front tyre: 110/80-17 57H

Rear tyre: 130/70-18 63H

Overall length: 2170 mm

Overall width: 750 mm

Overall height: 1220mm

Wheelbase: 1445 mm

Seat height: 770mm (30")

Claimed dry weight: 187 kg

Fuel capacity: 17 litres (3.7 imp gal)

Average fuel consumption: 18.7 Km/litre

0-400m: 13.7 sec

Top speed: 190 Km/hr (117 Mph)

I traded the Yamaha XJ600 in, on a new Honda Deauville in April 2003.