Yamaha XJ600 Diversion (1992-2004)

I bought a 1997 divvy in October as my first big bike good in all weather it hasn't let me down.I recommend it for fist big bike but cont compare it to anything else as its my first big bike.

To ride. This is my first big bike and I'm not a experienced rider as I passed my CBT in May and my DAS in late July. Since then I have been riding a 25 year old KH125 which is about half the weight and a fraction of the power so was a bit concerned about riding the Divi the 80 miles home from Cambridge but was pleasently surprised to find it is one of the easiest bikes to ride that I have riden (and I am talking about the big bikes the riding school uses). Mine seems to pull top gear well from about 45 and just felt right from the off. Very comfy on the hour and a half trip home and handles better than I can. Highly recommended as a first big bike or comfy tourer with a bit of grunt.

but a good first bike. You have to rev the tits off it to get anywhere quickly though. The suspension is a bit soggy. The long wheel base both makes the bike stable, and not quite as nimble in the corners. As a first bike I think this is a great buy, and wouldn't let you down. It would would also be good for city commuting.

Bought mine last month, nine years old in great condition(from local Yamaha dealer),. It does exacly what I bought it for, every day use around town with occasional trips out, very flexible (low geared), does around 50mpg, cruises at 80+, comfortable for two, small screen remarkably effective. Just about cured the vibration at 4000rpm(or the symptoms of...)still have the clutch tick, ticking noise spoken about above, but I really find it very comfortable & flexible - but not a 'scratcher'in handling or performance. But I did'nt buy it for that!

the bike is very easy to ride, but lacks power, even above 6000 revs. the suspension is soft. It is good for beginners and won't steer them wrong, but they will quickly be wanting more out of a bike.

I bought mine after passing DAS. I`ve never felt intimidated. Bought it cheap and spent virtually nothing running it. If you want a cheap run around that you can sit comfortably on all day then this bike is perfect. Strengths: Cheap to buy, cheap to insure, cheap to run, comfortable soft suspension. WIll cruise at 80 all day. Weaknesses: Not the prettiest of bikes. Lacks some power for experienced riders. Exhaust is prone to rust and wheel bearings are known to fail.

After 20+ years riding a CB250RS and convincing myself I didn't need anything bigger, realising I'm getting older and after five and half years off two wheel or anything much with a chronic illness I decided that maybe something bigger would be nice, I decided I needed something that would cost me no more on the insurance, be cheap to run but give me adequate power and after reading about it had to be a CB500, a Bandit or one of these. In the end this one came up a the right price so had to be it, 30,000 on the clock, new tyres, chain and sprocks and a nice new MOT it couldn't be bettered although my boss was a little taken aback that I'd got a Yamaha instead of Honda. Great bike though, pulls like a train, more than enough power for the riding I do where I consider 80mph to be plenty fast enough, I love riding it, mind of the boss man offered to swop me a new CBF500 for it I'd be tempted. Strengths: Adequate power, good fuel consumption (60mpg plus) comfortable for me (6'4") and carries me and my nine year old with ease, easy servicing, just a good solid workhorse with the oomph to get me past the Sunday drivers. Weaknesses: Isn't a Honda and getting spares takes too long ( 2 weeks for a genuine speedo cable, got pattern in the end). Choke seems to do nothing but starts okay anyway and annoying vibration at 50mph but the at least the encourages me to crack on just a little faster.

I have looked everywhere and weeks for my first bike. Like many others, I looked for a Bandit to start and even test drived a few. But something was not right with the Bandit,..no Love I guess. I am 6ft2 and rugby player, so I needed a bike who was going to be just the right size, economical, solid and easy to look after. The XJ 600 had more all of the right attributes and much more! The seat and suspensions are comfortable, the handling is newbie friendly, the service is cheap and the parts very easy to find. the twin exhaust give that extra monster look. Please remember one thing, this is not a superbike! There is no electronic and pretty fairing. Just a good basic (solid) bike ideal for everyday commuting.. ask yourself the question? Do you really need to reach 160mph? Strengths: Good on fuel, enough power, easy to look after, solid engine good value for money. Weaknesses: Not commum as Bandit ... therefore harder to customize.

This is my 1st bike and from talking to people in the trade, friends and family, this type of bike seemed to fit the bill of what I wanted. I had only riden a bike 5 times (and that was doing my cbt and test) before riding it, and what a joy it was. For a complete novice it is a very user friendly bike. Also it is a very nippy bike that is able to get you out of trouble if required. Strengths: Usability for novices, and it lightness make it a great starter bike. The nippiness of the thing as well, make it a good starter bike. Weaknesses: Because it was only riden once in a year, I am finding if it is not ridden for a couple of days it can be very sluggish for a few miles, but thats just this bike. Apart from that I have not had it long enough to find a weakness.

I bought a 600N (the one with out the fairing) in 2004 as a way back to two wheels after 1 long time on four wheels. I have found the bike to be reliable, quick enough for getting used to two wheels again and plus a reasonable handling bike. The prices for these bikes are ridiculously low when you compare them to any of its logical competitors, it may not have the custome parts catalogue of the Bandit nor the assumed reliability of the CB500s but it does not suffer in most minds for this. Strengths: Reliable, robust, easy to work on (and I only just about know which end of a socket is which). Weaknesses: Image is its only weakness and possibly its low prices which work to make buyers happy but seems to be the yard stick by which many measure it. A same year bandit would probably cost near enough twice what I paid and I doubt would be any happier.