Just picked up one as a winter commuter, 1 owner, 6k and full service history 2009. It’s a great little bike, very easy to ride and quite fun when you want to enjoy some B roads. Can’t really go wrong with these. I did my test on this many years ago and always remembered what a fun little bike it was..

I was looking for a 600cc bike as a first bike and I tested the Kawa z650, SV 650 but the moment I tested an XJ6n I fell in love right away. Called the owner that night itself to buy it. Very happy with my purchase

I love the XJ6. I learned to ride on it and now i am saving up for one.

Great video. Just passed Mod 2 today. Looking at to get a 2012 xj6 tomorrow. Thank you again for inspiring me to learn after having driven a car for years.

Just bought mine, hopefully it'll be ready for this Saturday..... can't wait!

Have just bought one of these thanks to your review,well impressed, keep up the good work..

i love your bike reviews you can tell you have had many many years of riding and your very honest about the bikes

Hi, I used to have a honda 250 cbr many years ago. Gave up riding for about 15 years. Seeing yr review and specially hearing the music of that bike persuade me to get me this same Yamaha model, which I just did and very happy with the decision. Thanks for this great review. Cheers from Chile

Love this review, nice and simple. Absolutely love the bike as well, resuming my lessons next week on this bike. I've driven it for 4 hours or so, and I fell in love with it after one hour, looks ferocious and difficult to drive, but when you get on it, it's just so simple and smooth and lovely! I'm gonna start saving money already!

Just had my first lesson on one of these. I loved it. Ive actually bought a MT03 but wouldnt hesitate to buy this and it really looks nice in the the flesh. It scared the life out of me a couple of times today but im a complete novice. Mod 1 tomorrow.

wow thankyou so much, as iv always wanted one of these, and your comments have made my day, iv got to test very soon and this will be my firest upgrade bike from my 125.

LOVE that exhaust - Love that bike !

Thanks for this. I'm looking to get one on Monday and this was a great review and video!

I'm doing my full A licence soon, I will be either on one of these or the MT-07, can't wait

Just passed for my exam today, will be picking up my XJ6 by the end of the week! cannot wait!!

I will be learning on this bike next year when im eligible to enroll for the full license. I just obtained my mid tier license recently. If I close my eyes & listen to the sound, I could swear that you were driving a sports car!

Thanks For this cracking review russ as I've been out on my direct access day one on this today. From a ybr 125 it's an orgasm on wheels! The new everyman bike to replace the ageing suzy bandit I wonder? Anyway keep up the Good work, it's now a toss up between this and an sv650s upon graduation!

I am buying one of these and this review really helped. Thanks dude

Passed Mod 2 last week after no lessons, and brushed up by watching your videos, so cheers Russ! Got a brand new XJ6 coming on Sat!! Wish I'd factored in the jump to Group 12 insurance though... DOH!

Did my test on one of these. They are great bikes with an excellent power delivery.

Really great review there Russ, you're spot on with your comments about the torque & fuel injection as well, really smooth and enough poke in top gear to not bother too much changing down a gear.Of course I'm biased ;-) but looks like a great bike for beginners and experienced riders alike.

I've been training for my A2 on one of these. Lovely engine, nice ride. Apparently quite cheap to insure as well.

Thanks for review, really well done

What a sound,it's like the best music in the world.Thank you for the review:)

great review, I like that you mention vibrations when you review bikes.

Thank you for this video. Loved it! Been looking for a starter bike e it seems to be the one.

another good review :) well done mate

Just arrived to my country week a go. Can't wait to bring one home next month.

I test road one of these along with the Honda NC700X. The Yam is a great little bike (my current bike is an old XJ900 DIvvy) but I went for the Honda as it's an all new bike with phenomenal fuel economy and 8000 mile service intervals. I'd like to add that I've been a avid follower of your vids since I learned to ride last year. I passed my test a year ago and have done 18,000 miles since then, mostly commuting, and I still look forward to your hints and tips on improving my riding. Cheers!

Just bought a used Diversion model. My only regret is I waited too long to buy a new one - with Yamaha stopping production. You gave good advice about keeping it in a high gear.

Good little review. Did my das on one of these back in 2010 and really liked it. Just bought myself a 2012 street triple R.. Would be verrrry interested in seeing/hearing your thoughts on those if you ever get your hands on one at the shop. Great videos. Think I've watched them all now, and as a relatively new rider, I've picked up a lot of good advice, so thanks.

Lovely, I just wanted to ask the same question :) I've also been riding a 125 for a few years now, and it's time for something bigger. I was thinking about the XJ6, and your review just made me want it even more :p

Thanks for the great video review Russ! I'm quite partial to the XJ6 range myself too... In fact, IF I pass my Mod 2 test tomorrow (which btw, I'd like to thank you doubly so, as some of your other videos have been great to watch and learn from re: riding safely to test standards), I'm hoping to trade up to the fully faired variant of this bike, the XJ6 Diversion F :-) So your compliments to this bike are pleasing to hear. Wish me luck!

Thanks For Sharing Mate!

i also just bought one and i'm very happy with it. i'm doing the driver license with it.

Got the faired version, great bike. Man I need to get that exhaust can, it sounds amazing!

Splendid review and a great bike. Was on my short list. Plumped for the SV instead. Happy with it (for now lol). +1 sub.

That bike sounds AMAZING!

great video. lovely bike. looking to get one

Nice sound on the bike!!! Looking at test riding one of those once I pass my test.

Oh man the inline-4 sounds amazing.

Great bike, i moved onto this and would definitely recommend to anyone....Nice review by the way, i haven't seen many for this bike around...

Nice video im getting one this week just sold my gixxer now getting a 2010 xj6n ;)

Very informative matey. It's a lovely bike indeedy. If I was in the market, as they say this would be one I would look at but it's a bit to similar to what I ride, although much newer ;) Great review!

I ride the XJ600N. And I must say, everything you have said about the newer brother, applies to the older one too. They are cracking bikes.

This was my learner bike! :) Fond memories of riding it. Currently own a GPX 600 r with a set of custom streetfighter handlebars. Nice riding position but still nice and sporty. Sold the diversion xj600 since I pretty much hated it after riding the GPX so I made a trade. But still have a soft spot for the modern xj6.

im getting one of those soon 2013 model , cant deal with one 125 xmax grrr sounds is absolutely heaven , it does 200 km/h easily

Thanks, it's an excellent bike. All the best for tomorrow. Russ

Ideal, you'll love it

You're gonna love it! Ride safe. :-)

that's a really sick exhaust

I passed!! :-D Zero faults too! I really do think your videos helped me, so again thank you very much for your altruistic KZfaq contributions. ;-)

i'm glad you would recommend this as a first time bike. I'm in love. much better than the nc700s by the looks of it.

Thank you. A couple of people have mentioned this now and I agree, just because it's a second a lap slower, doesn't mean it's rubbish.

Just bought one today, traded in the Range Rover ;) Enjoyed the review. Nice one.

Nice review :)

So would I if the reviewer hadn't asked...but the reviewer DID ask and the buyer was very excited to see it on KZfaq and loved the review...and clutchless shifting doesn't harm the gearbox if done correctly.

Love the sound of the engine. I ride a slightly earlier XJ650. I have ride a 1982 Yamaha XJ650 Maxim. Its an inline 4 that used to be Yamaha's flagship bike back in the early 80s. A very fast bike for its time and the forerunner of the inline 4s that Yamaha is famous for today. I had a 1978 XS650 before the XJ and you are right about the vertical twin being having a lot of torque and being very jumpy with it at low rpms. Still the seat in the pant feel of that torque was a great feeling.

I just got one!

Excellent, well done you!!!!!! :-D Zero faults is incredible, nice one.

Nice review that mate. There are just so many 600/650's out there I don't know what I want when I pass my test

A nice raspy buzz, was that! Good review!

Russ, get your hands on a GSX650F. I thought the XJ6 was smooth till I rode the Suzuki! So smooth even in first with no clutch through traffic! Wasn't ready to be that impressed with a cheap old Bandit with a fairing! Oh and thanks for all the vids, found lots of them very helpful, especially the one on smooth gear changes! Keep up the good work!!

i have a 2009 model she is lovely, the engine underwent more than a de-tune it has different cam profiles and throttle bodies for a smoother and wider power band 80bhp but slightly more useable than the more peaky fazer/R6 engine couple that with engine being used as a stressed member ... its a lovely balanced bike

The 4 cylinder engine is so much smoother and crisper than the twin engine of the ER6. Linz used to have an ER6 and we agreed the lumpyness below 3k rpm wasn't very nice. After having ridden both, the XJ would easily be my choice. (just my opinion though)

sounds great!!!!

That sound....mother of god

Sounds fantastic =)

Sounds nice mate,and its a good looker too,not in the market for some yet though lol

That does sound fantastic, I took my test on the old XJ600 Diversion........safe to say it was noting like this!

I've been doing a lot of research in to which 6n I should get after passing my DAS and the ER6n and this are the two I've settled on. I'll obviously have to try them first but they're both on an even par at the moment. I'm 6'4 so the ER6n seems like the logical choice, and it is beautiful, but there's something about Yamaha that pushes the right buttons. Although, I can't quite put my finger on what it is. Cheers for the video. :)

Yes, good review, this is much more like the bandit or old Yam Fazer 600 in character - liquid cooling so more power can be extracted without the engine or the mudguard melting. I have the old XJ600N a Y2K model, just finished correcting the carbs from the over-lean setup imposed in vain effort to pass emissions before fuel injection took over. Shocking that so many reviewers and riders are feeling the need to watch out for dodgy low-down or transitional fuelling problems/power delivery on injection systems. Now, in 2015, a decade at least has passed since just about everything became fuel injection, and still the issue hangs over the engines, that afflicted early adopters like BMW on their early boxer twin fuel-injected bikes. In proper tune, my old XJ600N Divvie-like machine, is acceptable on motorways, top-notch on A-roads and over 60mpg usually, replaced exhausts with 4-into-2 stainless, 500gbp but unavoidable as originals rotted. Lastly, yes, after just 5 minutes, that exhaust drone is a bore! I like my quiet exhausts, conventionally-powered motorcycles are noisy enough in practice, you can't deafen everyone all the time, in hope of avoiding one incident at some random time.

Nice paint !!!!

sweet sound from this bike..

@cashstore1 I agree. Will recommend putting the Baffle back in (It'll still sound great)

Can't get over that noise

Great bikes these, I've got the Diversion which is exactly the same bike with some extra plastics, good halfway house between the N and the full blown F. Despite, being the same bike, the difference the fairing makes to how the bike seems is surprising.

@xrs1600 Glad you enjoyed it, let me know when you do the walk round. Russ

Oh, I see, well done then! I know it's not harmful if done right, but for whatever reason I have always had this feeling that it's not something you are supposed to do. I have done it a couple of times on my bike, and it worked out just fine, but I felt really guilty afterwards. Again, nice little review though. Seems like a good bike for getting started on bigger bikes and going on longer trips with

@gpzDave Thanks Dave. It does sound great doesn't it? Made me smile.

I am getting the xj6n on Saturday. I haven't rode bikes for 25 years. So excited about coming back. Question is the bike is very clean UK bike. I am living in Ireland so we are kilometers not miles. Can the speedometer be changed from miles to kilometers by pressing buttons or do I have to get it done professionally? Great view..... Roll on Saturday 😁

What exhaust is this by the way? Awesome review also!

I love it just as I love my Yamaha. I wouldn't trade that gurgling backfiring sound for anything.

This sort of review is of far more use than the egomaniac, barrel chested ones that certain (weekly) bike magazines publish, usually denigrating anything less than an R1 for being lacking power. You're also quite right about the exhaust note, it's not quite in keeping. Ride safe!

This is the bike I'm doing my test on. Very sweet easy to ride my only problem is that after an hour or so it give me chronic back ache.

Yeah I need to get out on ours, love the look of it...and technically you DID have an instructor....me! lol ;-)

Ahh, I see. Makes sense :) Nice bike by the way! One day...

Hey Russ. I got to ride a demo US faired version of this bike FZ6R on the weekend. It was so smooth as you said (shifting, power, brakes, suspension), I was more comfortable on it in the one 30 minute ride than my own bike. I feel a little bit cheated by all the advice out there to get a 250 as a starter (not from you, Russ!) ;)

Mate, beautiful video. I was wondering could you do test of honda hornet - cb600f, cause i am so interested in that bike and i like how you do reviews. could ya? :?

Hello, great video as ever! Do you think that the half faired version of this bike would be too heavy for somebody buying their first "big bike"? (211kg). Thank you in advance

Hi Russ, excellent review as allways. I just have a quick question for you, do you think the bike would suit a tall person, i`m 6ft 5 and wondered if it would be suitable. Many thank Mark

I've just been and purchased a 2013 matt grey XJ6N-SP, only problem is i need to pass my test, lol. Test and trainning is included in the bike deal though so roll on end of July. Felt like skipping the 2 mile journey back home.

Thanks for the feedback.People advising a 250 either own one and need to justify it or don't know how a "bigger bike" really feels(more planted, less effort and buzzy)One of my pet hates is unqualified people giving their opinions when they haven't ridden both bikes Another is they've just started biking and suddenly think they're an instructor and giving out wrong or innacurate advice or they've been riding wrong for years but because they haven't had an accident they assume it's correct.

not sure if you still answer questions on this vid, but how would this bike be after moving from a 125cc? looking into other mt-07/09 style bike options. cheers mate, enjoying the training videos.

Nice bike... ✌️

i used to own a 2004 hornet 600 but sold it last year. with spring now coming up I was looking at the xj6n as my next bike. do u happen to know what the major not so obvious differences are between the 2 bikes? like handling and braking. Also, any idea if the xj6 is seating position lower than that of the hornet? thanks a ton and keep up the excellent work

Thanks buddy. :-)

Russ, assuming the scenario is an experienced rider, how do you choose what size of bike to get? does it depend on what roads you use (apart from budget)?

I have an xj6, I need ti know what that exhaust brand is called please, thanks great video

Found it very comfy. If it was bad I'd definately have mentioned it.