Some might know that I have been looking for a cheaper commute bike so after checking my pennies and working out that anything over £1500 would have been way over my limit since the new hosue and all sucked me dry I got a 98’ Yamaha XJ 600 N. Old grandad bike but apparently it only had 2700 miles on the clock, paid £900 for it and got it fully checked out by a mechanic, plugs changed and balance check on carbs. Insurance wise £140 fully comp as a commute bike doing 10k miles a year.
So far I only had some minor problems starting it when colder outside, usually I just bumb start it. Heavy bastard but quite nimble, I can zig zag properly when filtering all around the cars, something I could never do on the sport bike. I also love how sport riders tend to race off at the lights then get stuck filtering:)
I think I do need some upgrades, exhaust seem very good but they are gone right underneath where the pipes go into the system, was told that can happen if the bike was used for short rides or just started up every now and then. Lost a bar end so need new ones or a replacement. Need to change the front light as I have teh old crappy round one, not very good either. Indicators need changing as these ones are crap, might need a belly pan to protect the pipes, heated grips and maybe an alarm and teh exhaust changed.
Don’t bother with a bellypan - it’ll just make the pipes harder to clean
They exhausts always go where you said - couple of baked bean cans, some galvanised wire and a spot of gun gum sorts it
If you want to change the exhaust, steer clear of the Motad nexxus - quality can be patchy and they sound shite
The brakes are pretty crap as std, strip the calipers and fit HH pads with braided hoses and they are much better
Check there’s no oil leaking from the oil cooler - they’re expensive to replace
They’re not particularly quick, but perfect for commuting on - I had one exactly like that one a few years back and it was ace for what I wanted from it
Clean out the crank breather hoses regularly or you’ll get manky pools of oil from the overflow under the bike
Aye, but these things go big time, and if you use a tin can, it usually works
I’ve also found that the big exhaust clamps from Renault Kangoos work a treat
