Yamaha XJ6 600 Diversion 2012 — Specifications

How do you revive a legend without betraying it? That was the challenge Yamaha set for itself in 2009 by resurrecting the XJ name with this Diversion. The brand with the three tuning forks had left a gaping hole in its catalog since the disappearance of the antique XJ600, a machine that had shaped generations of motorcyclists. Faced with the aggressive competition of the Kawasaki ER-6f and the Suzuki Bandit 650, a modern response was needed, but without losing that accessible roadster soul. The result is this XJ6 Diversion, a risky bet between tradition and necessity.

Beneath its fairing with restrained lines beats a well-known heart for initiates: the inline four-cylinder derived from the FZ6, itself from the R6 engine block. But here, the frenzy of the sport engine is over. Yamaha reworked everything – cylinder head, camshafts, intake – to prioritize torque and flexibility. The 78 horsepower at 10,000 rpm won't make a GSX-R blush, but the 58.8 Nm available earlier in the rev range makes all the difference in real life. It's a civilized, clean engine that runs smoothly from the traffic light to the highway. A mechanical system that forgives gear errors and makes the city almost pleasant, far from the dry character of some competitors.

The "less is more" philosophy also applies to the chassis. Forget the Deltabox aluminum frame, here's a good old steel tube diamond frame, efficient and economical. The fork is a conventional 41 mm, the brakes are classic two-piston calipers, and ABS remains an option. Some will cry technical indigence, but that's precisely where its genius lies. This austerity allows for a contained price, around 7000 euros at the time, and intuitive handling. With its 211 kg fully fueled and a seat at 78.5 cm, it inspires confidence immediately. It is a motorcycle that disappears beneath you, neutral, stable, predictable. It doesn't offer track sensations, but a remarkable road capability to swallow up the kilometers without fatigue.

So, who is this Yamaha XJ6 600 Diversion for? Exactly the same target as before: the young license holder looking for a reassuring first large displacement motorcycle, the urban motorcyclist who needs a versatile machine, or the occasional touring rider who wants reliable mechanics without breaking the bank. It excels in its role as an unassuming everyday motorcycle. Faced with a Honda CBF 600, it offers a little more sonic character, and faced with a Kawasaki ER-6f twin-cylinder, it offers the smoothness and connection of a four-cylinder. Its flaws? A somewhat too consensual look, sometimes frugal finish, and a top speed that flirts with 200 km/h without more. But that's not the essence of travel.

When searching for reviews of the Yamaha XJ6 600 Diversion, you will often find the same words: balanced, reliable, easy. It's not a motorcycle that makes you dream in brochures, but it is a road companion of formidable honesty. It proves that you can revive a name without succumbing to unnecessary complexity, by remaining faithful to a simple idea: the motorcycle must above all be an accessible pleasure. A successful bet, without fanfare.