Yamaha XJ6 Diversion F – Ride Review

Extending my pleasure of riding with experience of years adds on to bring something only few can relate to. After a long day at work whether you commute on a bike or you ride on the weekends or you just do the touring there is everykind of bike for every moment of the occassion. Challenge is when you can fit all the modes of your riding style into one and you get a perfect blend of excitement.

“Escape the ordinary” as the promoted by YAMAHA for this XJ6 Diversion F ABS model. It is 600cc, liquid coolded 4 cyclinder engine that is guranteed to bring a joy to the rider as the braking is sharp coupled with a very well balanced weight distributed bike. I got a chance to ride on this new demo YAMAHA XJ6 DIVERSION F ABS model as mine Yamaha FAZER FZ6 S2 was in for its 30,000miles service. This new Yamaha XJ6 Diversion F is a bit too small in the feel if you are coming from a bigger bike.  In the first stance from the front it does give you a big feel of a bigger bike but then once you step on it just makes you feel you are the boss. Thats a very welcoming feel for anyone who is coming from a smaller bike or is looking to start for the first big bike. I personally was bit surprised to sit on the bike as it makes you feel you are riding a very light and flickable bike which I will mention in the later section of the blog.

First bit was to get used to clutch and power delivery. Not a problem at all, this bike proved itself a very smooth handling perfectly balanced and light even when you are enjoying the ride. For a change this does not feel like a 600cc at all. This bike gives you a feel of 250cc but actually is lot more under its tank. I had a full day to explore this bike to the limits which is exactly what I did. Plenty of time to observe notice and see how this bike felt. Amazingly, I only have positive feed back for a bike in a very very long time that satisfy all the boxes in the green section.

Riding on the smaller country side roads where you possibly are prone to some rough section of roads with patches of loose gravel you would enjoy the balance this motorcycle provides you. On the smoother section of the roads, this gets even more amazing since the power delivery kicks in and it invites you open the wrist of your right hand as far as you enjoy. Smoother it gets once you get a hang of it. Coming from a standpoint of an advance rider with over 100,000miles under my belt – it does makes me feel enjoy this bike but certainly not very attractive with the prices.

When you get off the bike after your first ride you may want to wonder what makes this so agile, enjoyable and sturdy bike. Some of your answers lie in hidden sections of dynamics and physics behind this bike. The more centralised weight distribution with smaller tyres compared to previous 600cc era, reduction in the size of the exhaust pipes and still you will be astonished to know that this weighs a good 222kgs. Dont be surprised but it does give me shock to feel that it just doesnt have that massive bulky feel to it all. 

I did not get a chance to empty the full tank but the fuel mileage given the consideration over the previous 600cc almost 98BHP bikes this only earns a 75BHP on the same engine which certainly gives all the credit to enhanced fuel mileage. You are looking at between 10-12miles per litre which I would say is very inviting given the fuel prices are only going rocketing high in years to come.

Speedometer is digital just as was in the previous FZ series although it does have a little reduction in its size as compared to previous bikes. The tachometer dial is well presented with extra dash of lines between each thousand RPM reading. I find it overly hard at times to get the figure but it could have been avoided. I think was aimed at the new riders so that does the justice for them. The Indicator and emergency light blinker is all merged into one green double arrowed light indicator. On the right lower side of the tachometer you will find few extra lights with orange, red and amber lights for extra information of ABS or low oil.

Not just Europe but this one bike that is set to rule the heart of Asians too. I would hope that this bike makes its mark in countries like India where 600cc battle is raging on and this bike will set the rest apart. In traffic or on open roads the bike is so flickable that you want to enjoy the feel of the  torque or speed at high revs.

I would personally rate this bike high given it is VFM and possibly very reliable 600.  Unlike its previous successor Fazer this would be a low scoring bike on the power but is good and aimed at same kind of high revs. Top speed is about 120mph where as Fazer FZ6 S2 marks a top of 146mph not to forget that engine is almost 25BHP extra power.

Verdict: Overall a good bike, VFM, good mileage, sleek, smart looks.
(-)ve: None to find but if you are coming from a bigger bike this is not a bike for you. You would rather want to go for older FZ series which are very good engines. Even the 10years old Yamaha FZS6 would give you good power range.

Price comparisons between the XJ series is included in the gallery with technical specs, although all the three models share same specs.

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Special thanks to Saunders Yamaha, Knebworth for providing the bike.
For more pictures visit me on my FB page. Feel free to LIKE the page.
All images are copyright content owned by Mani Babbar Photography.

Finally a relief

After a long wait, I finally managed to get one off the eBay.  Ah, sorry I need to mention that this is about the Touring Screen which is almost impossible to find now. Yamaha OEM accessory parts for the discontinued motorcycles is almost impossible to find.

All those people who ride all year long despite the ever-changing weather know the importance of the right riding kit. Especially when you do long distances everyday for your commute, you would definitely prefer to have a tall windscreen. When I bought my motorcycle I was not traveling 66miles a day and when I started searching for the screen it was already out of stock due to the discontinuation of the OEM accessories.

The original Touring screen Acryl(pic below) is no where to be found although there is always aftermarket GIVI, PUIG and few others but I don’t trust anything that is not OEM especially when it meant for the bike. After waiting, searching and looking continuously for the one I was lucky and timing was good that I got a very good deal for the OEM Yamaha Touring screen on eBay. At first I had my doubts but the listing clearly was for unused OEM Yamaha FZ6 touring screen that I was looking for. So without second thought I decided instantly on what I was after for all this time.

After a slow PayPal eCheque transfer via eBay I got my almost new or say it New Yamaha FZ6 Windscreen. It came in as two parts – the first being the acryl touring screen and second the trimming which unlike the original screen is not part of the windscreen but a rubberized trimming which is bit hard to get on to the screen.

As you can see the difference between the original and touring screen is quite a bit. In practical life, don’t know yet but my excitement is all about the getting it on to the bike right now.

First task was to get the trimming right. Unable to find it online as where to cut the trimming so using a full trim first on the corner and putting it on the cowl I realized that it just wont allow the nuts to be screwed. After getting the rough idea from the previous moulded screen and this one I decided to strip the trim so I can re-add it again.

So Finally after the adjustments the screen was sitting tight on the front of the cowl with the new much awaited extended screen.

Ready, the final addition is completed  and we shall see how long it keeps me happy since after 30,000miles the urge to have more and more is always never ending.

Source of life .. [Sun] – II

Sun, the basic necessity of life which we lack in real terms of life. People run to go south, further south, further east but all of sudden when it decides to show up.. It never lacks to release that power of fresh feeling energy ..

Here we go.. .It was first a decision not to go but then .. Did I really want to miss this expensive sunny day – may be the last one this calendar year of 2011.. baaah baaah.. baaah.. Ja, I m going !!

At first, it seems to be good but it needs to get better until it is the best !! Ride “ON” now @ ranting mankii

Did someone ever say, more is never enough.. So what.. you can get even more.. Just Kick your Pedals 😉 La la laa…

The purpose is never fulfilled – it’s the way we humans are.. I m not going to kick anymore for anymore.. enough is enough.. WAIT, there was a challenger ..

What .. where .. !! It bloody hot, no one is out here !!
Damn, I need to see open my eyes .. Start sleeping in night – Man

You know what .. !! .. It’s a good thought to lose sometimes, I am going to enjoy the hot heat ..my way.. M Y W A Y

To forget, to forgive and yet to be One with yourself – You need to Sweat hard dude!! Oh yeaah.. was doing it out loud.

Sweat is good for health if you still know that you can sweat in October, its bloody cold .. Stop cribbing start ENjoyIng .. Shut up n Ride the RAMP

After all that sweat, you do feel like color blind – sweating like a dog who only has his sweat glands in his mouth !! Damn, oh yes, that true and some believe dogs dont see colours as well.. It seems becoming one was easy when u sweat

Life can be so colourless at times and at the blink of eye it can be the most colourful thing, Autumn is all around !! Yeah, its strange – its summer heat combined with Autumn – that too in Britain !! HELLYEAH

Sing me .. a Song… Song of love, the leaves are going to fall and we are going to separate – love of my life and apple of my eye – I love you to see you but to see you go, you come again in my life – is that what the trees sing to the falling leaves ?? – HOW CAN I KNOW 😀 LoL

It seriously is getting hot.. indeed hotter .. seems I was back home today – the weather brought the hot sultry wind along and the whole landscape seems so classic – faded in luxurious sun

But as we all know.. we must keep going this time to the downhill – the speed and the adrenalin comes along till the flat road hits again – was I really not going to capture it .. OH COME ooON..WHEN DO I EVER STOP

And a little bit more.. A bit more the brit way — goooooooooo

Aaah.. there’s still some more curves along the road.. Can I make some more of them .. OFCOURSE

Dont I get tired, Yes I do .. and when I am tired I am back to doing – what I love to do .. Be myself, Do as the Romans in Rome, Love the nature when in greens. Ooioiiieeeh Doing it baba ..

Even the nature says.. go run away.. do not disturb us !! Yes, they said it out loud but what can I do if they show me so many mini wonders .. SHALL I RUN … no ways

After all this conversation, do u think I am going to quit – no I m going to go for more

Abstracts of nature are the best, one can enjoy when in nature. One of my close friends introduced me to his many miracles, one being his Macro lens, which I miss so much but do hell, till I don’t buy mine – Addie, I will keep haunting you with the macro shots from non Macro lens.. beware, this one goes out to you 🙂 my dear buddy

Enough is once more enough, let me get back – its going to be all uphill and it will make me all classic about it – in unsaturated mode !!

For now, this is going to be it .. I m getting tired – the ride is killing me – too much adrenalin drained out so soon – is also not a good thing .. ting ting..

Well, I must say bye now to all the avid friends who saw the warmest day of the year at 29C 🙂 today. The final shot of the day and till the next time I get to see the sun again.