BIKES4US

For those who don’t want an R1 or even an R6, Yamaha have the do-it-all XJ6. It won’t knock your socks off in terms of styling or performance, but it’s easy to ride, low on maintenance and even provides a reasonable amount of fun as long as you remember it’s an XJ6 and not the YZR-M1. The guys at Motociclismo recently tested the bike, and here are some excerpts from what they have to say about the new XJ6:

Right away, the Yamaha’s ergonomics work for most people. It’s a small, short bike that feels light and narrow, and offers a decent amount of legroom for the rider and the pillion seat passenger. The seat is comfortable, the suspension is soft-ish and the handlebar feels just right.


The XJ6’s 600cc inline-four produces 78bhp and with its decent low-rpm torque delivery, it’s quite usable in town. Out on the highway, the Yamaha engine continues to impress – it’s low on vibration and does a mileage of about 16.4km/l, which, given the bike’s 17.3-litre fuel tank, means a range of around 285km.

The brakes work well, offering adequate stopping power even in streaming wet conditions. And things should be even better with the optional ABS installed. Even with its basic suspension – 41mm fork and monoshock (with adjustable preload) – and tubular steel chassis, the XJ6 offers good cornering stability. As you gain confidence in the bike’s abilities, you can safely increase your cornering speeds without any problem. Overall, it’s a good bike, especially for beginners. If you’re just starting off on two wheels, you definitely want to take a good look at this one!

Full riding impression on the Motociclismo website here

A video of the XJ6 on the move...