YAMAHA XJ6 DIVERSION F (2010 - on) Review
At a glance
| Owners' reliability rating: | |
|---|---|
| Annual servicing cost: | £220 |
| Power: | 78 bhp |
| Seat height: | Medium (30.9 in / 785 mm) |
| Weight: | Medium (490 lbs / 222 kg) |
Prices
Overall rating
Next up: Ride & brakesYamaha's XJ6 Diversion is an unassuming, easy-going machine perfect for newbies wanting to make that leap to something bigger. It's also the ideal tool for riders wanting something dependable to tackle the daily grind.
Ride quality & brakes
Next up: EngineCompetent and unthreatening with a distinct budget feel. It can be ridden quite quickly, but is also reassuring in the wet and well-balanced at low speed. The cheap suspension is OK riding solo, but hard riding or taking a pillion highlights the slightly crude damping. For a bike designed with practicality in mind though, the wind protection is surprisingly poor. Approaching motorway speeds your head is constantly being buffeted, which can become a panin.
Engine
Next up: ReliabilityThe engine was used in the 2003 YZF-R6 once upon a time – so it has a slightly peculiar feeling of a willingness to rev, but it never seems to take off at the top end. The power curve is very flat which makes it unintimidating for new riders or on wet days. Response below 3000rpm is a bit fluffy, but above that it’ll drive cleanly in any gear, making overtaking easy. Not rocket ship fast, but it’s quick enough for this sort of bike.
Reliability & build quality
Next up: ValuePacking 25bhp less than the engine was originally designed to handle, it’s massively under stressed. Expect no problems there. Finish is OK, but the fussy detail is harder to clean than some rivals, and like any bike you’ll need to keep it clean during winter to prevent corrosion taking hold. Yamaha brakes are historically prone to corroding and seizing.
Value vs rivals
Next up: EquipmentYou may expect a fairly basic commuter bike like the Diversion to be quite cheap, but Yamaha seemed to be more affected by the pound/yen exchange rate than other manufacturers, which meant the Divvy was more expensive than its rivals. Used prices aren't too expensive, and if you shop around you'll find early ones for under £3000. Find a Yamaha XJ6 Diversion F for sale
Equipment
Good for a simple middleweight – ABS brakes as standard, a decent underseat cubby hole, centrestand and pillion grab rails are useful, practical touches. The digital dash is comprehensive, the mirrors work well and it’s comfy enough too. Compare and buy parts for the XJ6 Diversion in the MCN Shop.
Specs |
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| Engine size | 599cc |
|---|---|
| Engine type | Liquid-cooled, 16v inline four-cylinder. Six gears |
| Frame type | Tubular steel diamond |
| Fuel capacity | 17 litres |
| Seat height | 785mm |
| Bike weight | 222kg |
| Front suspension | None |
| Rear suspension | Preload |
| Front brake | 298mm twin discs, two-piston sliding calipers with ABS |
| Rear brake | 245mm disc, single-piston caliper, ABS |
| Front tyre size | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tyre size | 160/60-17 |
Mpg, costs & insurance |
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| Average fuel consumption | 45 mpg |
|---|---|
| Annual road tax | £84 |
| Annual service cost | £220 |
| New price | £6,699 |
| Used price | £3,000 - £3,500 |
| Insurance group |
10 of 17 How much to insure? |
| Warranty term | Two year unlimited mileage |
Top speed & performance |
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| Max power | 78 bhp |
|---|---|
| Max torque | 44 ft-lb |
| Top speed | 125 mph |
| 1/4 mile acceleration | - |
| Tank range | 170 miles |
Model history & versions
Model history
2009: New model, introduced in USA only as FZ6R.
2010: Introduced to Europe as XJ6 Diversion F. Changes limited to colour options, name and one-piece seat instead of two-piece.
Other versions
More Yamaha XJ family motorbikes
Owners' reviews for the YAMAHA XJ6 DIVERSION F (2010 - on)
11 owners have reviewed their YAMAHA XJ6 DIVERSION F (2010 - on) and rated it in a number of areas. Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below.
Review your YAMAHA XJ6 DIVERSION F (2010 - on)
Summary of owners' reviews |
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| Overall rating: | |
|---|---|
| Ride quality & brakes: | |
| Engine: | |
| Reliability & build quality: | |
| Value vs rivals: | |
| Equipment: | |
| Annual servicing cost: | £220 |
Year: 2010
Annual servicing cost: £100
As a relative novice, this was my first sports tourer and a good value second hand purchase. Smooth power delivery and rewarding to ride briskly. It has all the power most real world riders would ever need in truth.
I can compare this with a newer 2015 Honda CB500X I'd previously owned. The engine feels stronger than the Honda and better built, as does the gearbox. They are different bikes and different power of course, but I am happy with the braking on the Yamaha in comparison.
Smooth easy power delivery. It starts first time, every time and runs beautifully even at 12 years old. The water cooled engine does tend to kick in the radiator fan in traffic during warm weather, when the gauge nudges 100°. The blast of warm air isn't comfortable, but at least the engine is doing its job.
The swing arm is a typical rust spot on my example and the faring looks good but a bit flimsy and fiddly to remove and vibey at mid revs. Other than that the engine is rock solid and the gearbox is precise and positive.
At this age of bike (12 years old now), I'm happy to self service it which keeps costs low. Yamaha dealers apparently charge £280 for an annual service. The coolant tank is difficult to check levels without removing the faring and looks like a bit of effort to replace coolant too.
ABS brakes is a reassuring feature on this age of bike, although thankfully haven't needed it to kick in yet. The standard screen is small and offers little protection from wind and buffeting but it's typical of sports tourers from what I've seen. No gear indicator which is expected, but a good reliable fuel gauge.
Buying experience: Bought privately for £2000 with 12k miles on it from a mature owner. Some surface rust and marks around the bike and no MOT at the time, but passed with no advisories. A little TLC has revived it nicely and it should last a few more years yet.
Version: Sports tourer
Year: 2013
The colour of the bike is amazing
Ride is smooth quality bike for the price
Abs is great
Buying experience: Bought from main dealer and it was fantastic service from them
Year: 2013
Annual servicing cost: £350
Do it all bike at a bargain price.
Decent all round ride, even though the suspension is basic. Always handles what I throw at it. Upgrade from stock tyres and the grip level shoots up in all conditions.
I find the delivery nice and manageable in all conditions. Open the taps up and you get a decent amount of power. Naturally revs high but you get used to it.
I've ridden this all year round for a year and a half and nothing has ever broke. Exactly what you want from a commuter.
6000 mile service interval is not ideal but average for a bike of this age. Stock tyres wore out by 6000 miles but Michelin Pilot Road 4s already up to 8000 and barely look worn in.
Comes with a centre stand as standard. Why don't all bikes??!! Fairing means no room for hand guards. Loads of aftermarket accessories to make it your own.
Version: Half-faired version.
Year: 2013
It did everything well but had no character whatsoever, and not at all relaxing to ride with a very revvy engine.
Decent ride quality, steered well with handling on the sporty side, no complaints in this department.
A very revvy engine, decent power but lacking in character.
Never failed to start, all components do their job quite well. Seemed well made although some components show their budget origins.
It was heavy on fuel for a Jap 600 4. I got 38-42 mpg, which was a bit of a shock after my CBF600's 55-60 mpg.
Usual with no bells or whistles to speak of.
Buying experience: No problems here.
Year: 2011
Annual servicing cost: £200
A very user friendly bike , Excellent brakes and ridden sensibly not likely to catch you out, I've owned 2 of this model and 11 of the early divis, Also 6 goldwings ,3 Vfr800s, 4 Tdm 900s A blackbird and most bikes in between ( 77 in all ), Ridden to Alicante In Spain many times on Diversions , They have Never let me down. Only criticism on the latest is Selecting Neutral when Warm/Hot.
Normally a 3/4 hour ride is comfortable enough even at the ripe age of 69 .
more than adequate for comfortable blast through our Welsh hills and towns.
No rusting on joints, A smooth comfortable ride, Good gearbox Except when trying to select Neutral when Warm / Hot.
I do my own servicing so costs are minimal If parts are sourced from ebay.
Sadly I have no gripes about the machine.
Buying experience: Entered a deal with Westmidlands motorcycles, PX d a CBF1000 A8, I paid Just £250 over the PX, well satisfied.
Year: 2010
Outstanding fun and value for money
Overall it will do more than you can and give you a few kicks in the pants on the way. It is giddy and can tire you on along journey but that's part of the fun.
Year: 2010
Decent bike and often overlooked. It's flaws are weight and the lack of ABS is Australia in comparison to it's rivals. It's a great all round bike, it's entertaining when pushed, easy to commute of each day(as I do) and cheap(ish). Style is average, a little weird actually. It's nice naked but the stubby bulky fairing doesn't suit the slight back end. The new CBR650R looks very similar but heaps better. All in all, it's great but I can't help but want something else... If it looked good then I reckon I'd keep it so I'll be changing to something I find more aesthetically pleasing when I can afford to. However, I reckon it's going to be tough to find a decent all rounder that's rides and looks sporty, is comfortable on long distances, has windy protection and is easy to commute on..... VFR800??? Sigh, although they look sweet, pity about the price....
Tingle through the bars at 5000rpm+ and spoils the long rides. Brakes are ok but lack bite.
Bit of everything. A bit thrashy and encourages to short shift. 6th gear at 60kph is silky smooth and there is power available but 4th is safer but feels like you should shift up...
Fuel economy is consistent around the 5-5.5 ltrs per 100Kms. That commuting to work and having a bit of fun. Get almost 30% more on the freeway.
No ABS in Australia is a killer. Would like a gear indicator.
A pleasure to ride now I've discovered that when the bike is driven from cold, it is best to apply the throttle slowly after gear changes until it warms up >70oC. No problems otherwise. Need to build my arms up though - definitely a lot heavier to the ybr 125 I had before but, you don't notice this when you're driving either slowly through traffic or going fast on the open road.
I have only been riding for 2 months and recently passed the 1000 mile mark on my XJ6 Diversion S. Obviously I don't have much to compare it to other than the 15 year old XJ6 I passed my full A license on. I think from an absolute newbie's perspective this could be (and I hope) will be a handy review. Looks: I have the half faired version (S) and it looks brilliant. I was considering a Kawasaki ER-6F, but the Yamaha wins on looks hands down and in the Race Blu matte finish, it looks even better. I love to tinker with things and it looks like the fairing will come off quite easily for some summer naked riding. It is also about £400 cheaper than the full faired version (F). Comfort: Feels good. The seat is nice and spongy and there is plenty of room to move around. I am 5ft 11 and can place my feet firmly on the ground when stationary. Suspension does a good job of soaking up all, but the harshest of bumps. If on longer journeys there is plenty of room to adjust your whole body including your feet. Handling: This is something that will be difficult to explain. To me it feels like the best bike I've ever riden, that's because it is, but it's only the 2nd big bike I have riden. Suffice to say despite it's 200kg+ weight it feels light and nimble. It's also quite a narrow bike making commuter type filtering a breeze. Because of it's compact size and safe composed feel I was quickly confident enough to filter at slower speeds. Engine: At first I was disappointed as I spent the first 800 miles running the bike in. It will happily pull at most of the rev range in any gear, but up to about 6,000 revs it felt sluggish. However, after it's first service I could fully open it up and after the 6k mark it goes ballistic! I know it isn't the fastest bike in the world, but I used to have a 400bhp Subaru WRX and this bike is much quicker. Gears from 1 to 3 and back are a bit clunky, but this maybe because it is still brand new. Running costs: £57 tax a year About £550 insurance a year £20 a fill up and abut 180 miles Nuff said. I could write more, but it is nearly 9pm and Homeland is on.
I've been a bike for a while now, had some spills, had many different bikes but age catches up with you and that's why I bought an XJ6 Diversion. Although the bike suspension is basic it handles the bends well (enough to keep up with the big boys). The bike is a bit heavy (220kg) but after 1200 miles the bike has started to come to life. Fuel consumption is average, riding position is excellent and build quality is quite good to. In a nutshell, it's a good bike for knocking about on and nipping to work.
As the title suggests this is my first proper bike and I like it. It's a comfy commuter specially as I'm 6ft 2 and found it difficult to come across a bike that was comfortable for someone with long legs. Just completed the first 1k miles and no problems to report. I think a must with this is bike is to invest in a bigger screen, feel the wind a bit too much from the nips upwards. I like the predictable power you get from the engine, great for building confidence for a new rider and as it says above gears pull very well as long you're above 3000RPM, anything below and the engine doesn't sound too well. The bike looks great just wish it had the exhaust note to match. Can't have it all for a brand new bike at £6k I guess...
