monkeyjim

I know this was way back in september , can't believe I have not been on forum since then. In the end I fitted the Evotech tail tidy . Highly recommended , bit of dismantling of bike required to remove original parts but that will be required whatever tail tidy you buy . I work in the motor trade but I consider it a easy DIY job to fit the Evotech tail tidy. It was a reasonable price and good quality parts , looks good fitted .

I have just been looking at them before I logged on here . Not saying this is the place to buy them but on the folllowing website there is a limited amount of options you can actually see fitted on a xj . www.bs-motoparts.com

Just cleaned and polished mine , here are some pics . Thought I had better do it while it was still clean . I have decided to buy a tail tidy from Evotech Performance . They are reasonably priced for a "expensive for what they are" item ( R&G are over £80 ) and still use the standard indicators, thus elliminating any issues with clear LED jobbies , plus the standard ones are big and bright which I think is important on a all weather, year round commuter. Have recently started to feel the bars of the frame that run along the side of the seat , guess the seat foam is deteriorated due to the mileage . Will see how it goes for a bit longer and then think about trying to find a used seat or get the foam replaced . Brake pads are next on the agenda , see my other post about those. Have any of you guys had frustration in looking for parts on the internet . I find that whilst searching for XJ600 N 2009 etc it will bring up all the XJ's and divvies built before our model but not ours . Usually ends in sending a email to the company concerned asking for part number and price confirmation . Just had a look on the Hel brake lines site , they list them for a XJ900, typical.

Hi All Its time to look into replacing the brake pads on the bike , they have done over 25k and one of the fronts is looking low . Bike used daily for commute . Anybody used EBC HH brake pads on anything? I am last of the late brakers which is due to owning hot Minis for years and blasting them around the lanes and track days. Thought I would go for the HH rather than the normal basic pad . EBC have given me the following part numbers : Front standard pad FA199 Rear standard pad FA140 Front sintered pad FA199HH Rear sintered pad FA140HH 2 sets of front HH pads and a set of rear HH just under £64 all in with vat and delivery , not bad I thought . Its recommended not to mix and match the pad types. Also thinking about braided lines , standard XJ layout . Any views on any of the above guys ? would be appreciated . Cheers

Judging by the replies with accounts of around 10 thousand miles on BT021's there must be something right with them . This time I felt like a change and have gone for a pair of Avon Storm Ultra 2 instead of a 3rd set of BT021's. Going well so far .

Did you sort out this problem ? What make tail tidy did you buy ? Just wondering as I am thinking about getting one myself .

Thanks for your views and replies . Update on mine , now at 25,000 miles . Replaced the plugs and air filter , used NGK plugs again but did not buy the genuine air filter this time and went for a k&n instead . Worked out a bit cheaper than the standard one and will not need changing regularly like the genuine one. Get a little more induction noise but its negligible to be honest . No performance differance but I did not expect one , the object of the purchase was to obtain a long life cleanable filter . I have noticed the fuel pump whines recently , heard mainly when sitting in traffic and not noticeable on the move . I got my Street Triple out last week and took it on a run , thats done 3000 miles and the brakes are brilliant , just a standard ST but when I got back on the XJ the differance between the 2 was vast . XJ rear brake travel was a lot longer and stopping the XJ needed a lot more effort . I had a look at the front brake pads during lunch at work , caliper came off easily but the outer pads are worn low and will need replacing . Rear pads are not as bad but might as well overhaul the lot . I am expecting to find the pads stuck in the carriers and will pop out the pistons for a clean up too. Might as well change the fluid again . I was thinking of using EBC pads , any suggestions on which type is best , sintered and non sintered I believe are the options . Plus does anyone know a good brand of brake discs ( not including Brembo ) that they could recommend . Car brake brands I know about but with no experiance of bike discs I dont know the recognised brands for motorcycle brakes. The name Armstrong I have seen. Just thinking out loud about fitting new discs . Finally , can anyone recommend a supplier of stainless steel bolts to replace the original ones that hold on the plastic panels and to replace the disc bolts or anything else . The guy on ebay who does loads of stainless bolts supposedly for the xj does not do the right ones and Pro Bolt can't help unless I send them samples , not easy when you commute on the bike daily....... you see I let my guard down and let a valetting guy clean the bike , he said he would use a bike friendly wash but what ever he used has taken the top coating off many of the fixings and they are now rusting . I am a bit annoyed as the bike has gone through 3 winters ok , gets a clean and now it looks bloody awful. I have still not bought any sort of screen for mine . Cheers , David .

I have a September 2009 XJ6 N in Cloudy White. I bought it new and it is my first big bike . Used daily for work and it has now clocked up 23,000 miles . Brilliant bike for newbies and commuting , extremely reliable . I am wondering what sort of mileage and thoughts , problems other XJ6 owners have or had ? Brief history of mine as follows : 1x service at main dealer ?( first service) the rest by me ( qualified technician) using genuine parts. 2x sets or the original equipment Battlax BT021 tyres , each set covered just over 10,000 miles before replacement . Found one side of the front tyre wore a lot faster than the other , common BT021 problem. 1x set of Avons now fitted . I think they are better. 2x brake lever switches fitted by dealer under warranty . 1x brake lever switch supplied under warranty , I am going to pick it up today and fit myself . Also buying a spare . Replaced chain and sprocket at approximately 19,000 miles . Brake fluid change . Still on the original brake pads . Extras : Acerbis hand guards in white , help keep the wet off your gloves but do bugger all to reduce the cold air on hands in winter. They do suit the XJ6 . Rear hugger . Stainless steel caliper carrier bolts and caliper bleed nipples from Probolt. I used ACF50 to coat the bike initially , it does work but gets expensive . I just use spray white grease now , much cheaper and readily available in the motor trade. Gave it is big end of winter clean up during the week and all is looking good . Faults : Other than the crappy brake switches nothing has failed . Niggles : Occasionally I cannot turn the ignition key . Gearchange can be notchy and it can sometimes go into 1st with quite a jolt . Road testers noted notchy change at launch . When started from hot the starter can sometimes hang on for a extra second, making a noise . It has done this from new . With 23,000 on it I am not at all worried , if it was going to pack up sure it would have by now . Used originals are cheap on ebay . Wanted : I would like a genuine fly screen at a sensible cost . If it is cheap enough to factor in cost of painting white a screen any colour will do. Would be interested to hear from other owners about the XJ6 ....... David.

I bought a white XJ6N new in September 09 . It was my first bike and I have now covered just over 20 thousand miles on it . Just about at the end of only its second set of its standard fitment Bridgestones , getting 10 thousand miles a set . Other than having had 2 brake lever/light switches under warranty it has been reliable . I put a new chain on it at about 18000 miles and have serviced it myself. Everything the other guys say about these bikes is true , really good entry level bike and more . Highly recommend it .

Its interesting to compare tyre wear from others using identical tyres on the same bike. The other guys at work with bikes are also surprised at the mileage . I was reading the MCN write up on the Maxxis Diamonds , they were favoured by the journalist but not other guys posting on the form . During that Maxxis thread on the forum someone mentioned BT021's and another guy posted they were shite . They seem to work for me ok . I commute on A roads and am not mad about getting myself killed going to work for someone so I am not at full chat everywhere , that and the fact I passed my test only in August 09 just before I bought the XJ may also account for increased tyre life . Looks like it could be another set of bt021's .

Hi My september 09 XJ has just turned 20thousand miles and is in need of another set of tyres . The bt021's the bike came with lastest 10 thousand as has my current set of bt021's . Bike is used for commuting . Anyone else got a high mileage XJ and can you recommend a tyre . Was thinking of trying another brand . Must be something that will cover good mileage . Cheers .

I believe there is a full Arrow system for sale on ebay , or it was at the weekend when I looked. I believed it was only used for development purposes .. Whether or not it can be used with a stand I do not know . It may still be on there . At the time I thought it was a reasonable price too .

Your dead right , they are easy to fit and do not look to bad either . I bought the white ones in the end to match the bike . They look better than they sound Not actually used the bike with them on yet . This is the second week I have not used bike due to the weather , its just not worth risking it in the ice and the Sussex temperatures are nothing like as low as in other parts of the country. Took the bike to bits , cleaned it all up and carried out a full service while I am unable to use it . I also fitted a Skidmarx hugger/chain guard . It looks really good and finishes the bike off nicely . It covers the chain more than the standard chain guard and will generally keep the bike a lot cleaner , especially during the winter . Can recommend the hugger from Skidmarx as it is good quality GRP and a perfect fit . Can also recommend Motomatrix , bought the guards from them , they are really helpfull . I have just bought a Street Triple ( keeping the XJ to commute on ) but not got ST home yet due to 2 weeks of bad weather , hope to get it this weekend

Brilliant . Thanks for the help . Sorry , no-where near Glasgow ...... East Sussex.

Looking at the Acerbis guards . Does the bar end need removing ? Do you simply unscrew the bar end and screw in the guard or do you need to take out the original Yamaha fitting inside the bar the bar end retaining screw tightens into ?. Does it render the original bar end internal fitting useless because it ruins it taking it out or would it be re-usable . (read that on another bike forum ) I realise I can remove the main section of the guard , I dont really want these things on all year round tho just the couple of months either side of Christmas really . Apologies for my lack of motorcycle componant knowledge . Still new to bikes.

Certainly is cold , top of my hands get it worst of all . No real problem with cold palms , just the icey blast . Isnt freezing fog on outside of visor fun ...... Anyway , I will look up the handguards . Thanks

Hi , I love the YBR . I bought one as my first bike in 2008 (after 20years in cars) and went on to do over 8000 miles before I part exchanged it for my XJ6 when I past my test a year latter .

Hi all , My first time on . I have a cloudy white XJ6 bought new September 09 . I have currently covered just over 12 thousand miles, the majority of the mileage is commuting . . Passed my big bike test Aug 09 so this is my first big bike following my excellent YBR125 . I am really happy with it , only 2 problems : the brake lever switch has started mucking about so that will be replaced under warranty at the weekend and the starter is noisier when the bike is hot , other than that, no probs . I have fitted R&G bar ends ( scuffed the originals) , Protech rear paddock stand Bobbins , crash bungs and engine protector . I have my eye on a Genuine Yamaha flyscreen and a Skidmarx rear hugger as the rear of the bike gets really dirty very easily on the Sussex country roads . Shame the flyscreen is so expensive . I replaced the tyres at just over 10 thousand miles to the surprise of my biker mates , purhaps this mileage is down to being a new rider? whatever it is I decided to put another set of Battlax BT021's on . Is anyone using any form of hand guard or handle bar muff on a XJ6 during the winter , any recommendations ? I am not sure about the muffs and am considering Barkbuster hand guards instead . Cheers , David