monkeyjim

I know this has been asked before but will ask it again as someone may have done it recently. I need to replace my bars as they are bent. New Yamaha ones are £100 plus vat . So I thought about some Renthals or Rizoma bars . I don’t really want to deviate much from the style and shape of the original bars and don’t need fat bars . All Renthals are wider than original bars so I don’t want to get into messing about with fitting longer cables etc but not exactly sure what the style of there shortest bar will be ie is it similar to original. Rizoma only show one bar when you put XJ6 in search box and it is much closer to the Yamaha dimensions. What have XJ6 or even FZ6 owners fitted , anyone replaced original bars ? Thanks D

Hi , Never taken my bike on a ferry . Has anyone had recent experience of travelling from Newhaven to Dieppe with DFDS Tansmanche Ferrries and what is the procedure for tying the bike on-board . Thanks

Hello , I am carrying out a rebuild of my 2009 XJ6N and it is stripped down to bare frame . Frame is rusty on seams and I would like to get it blast cleaned and powder coated. There is a white sticker with frame number and other info up near the headstock and a vertical frame number that looks to have a clear sticker protection over it and that is on the head tube itself as I guess you all know if you have one of these or a Yamaha of a similar age. I would like to know if the clear sticker is actually protecting a number stamped into the frame or is it a clear resin type sticker with frame number within? Obviously I would rather not loose either set of numbers when it is blast cleaned of paint but if the vertical one is stamped into the frame I am not so concerned . Yamaha are of no help. Has anyone powder coated there frame ? Cheers

Hi , Had my 2009 XJ6 from new and it’s on just under 70,000 miles now. Been off the road for a couple of years as I bought a Triumph Sprint GT , not that I have used that much due to ill health shortly after purchase. Unfortunately the XJ fork seal was leaking when I parked it up and subsequently has got worse so I decided to get it from workshop fix the seal and get it back on the road for my wife to ride as she has not ridden for over 5 years and it’s better as a re-introduction than her Street Triple , particularly as the ST lives at French house and XJ is in U.K. house where we live until we move permanently to France. Anyway I had been aware that the manifold nuts were rusty , actually all fixings on it are not great but that’s what a idiot valeter (yeah mate I do bikes ……so you should see what he did to my bike the bosses R1 and the calipers on his 911 with chemicals not suitable for motorcycles) and riding all year round for 10years does . So I thought with the front end off I would replace the manifold/header nuts . Oh dear …….Obviously existing corrosion does not stop even if a bike is parked in the dry and all nuts had continued to corrode with vigour . I only managed to get one off and that came out with the stud . Some studs and nuts were no more than something that looked like nipples and no way they were coming off as I could not even grip small mole grips on. I have been in the motor trade a very long time and am aware of the ways to get things off but no joy on this one . Yes I know it’s my fault and I I should have known better however sometimes a illness stops you doing things mentally and physically so stripping a bike down that’s buried in a workshop is easily forgotten, not a important thing in life compared to life itself. There are swages on the pipes that act like collars for the retaining flanges to butt up too and on mine some swages had completely rusted away and the flanges were that bad they were only a few mm thick . Well that rendered the exhaust as scrap , genuine used ones are available with good flanges at a reasonable price especially compared to aftermarket replacements or new ones that are something like £900 from Yamaha. I cut the bloody pipes instead of trying to remove the nuts with the pipes in place which made things so much easier. That left me with three full length corroded studs with remains of thread I managed to get the nuts off ,one snapped off stud 3mm long and the rest looked like they had been in the sea for 10 years only a few mm thick and half there original length. I carefully tried heat and Wurth rost off ice (not together obviously) but the buggers were not moving . Delayed delivery Stud extractor should turn up in a few days and again I will try heating etc whilst using the extractor but I think I am looking at having to drill out the things. However there is a Induction heater at work I might be able to borrow but I am vary aware of the amount of heat those things generate and what It could do to the surround castings. So the moral of the story is that if you own one of the XJ6 series of bikes and have corroded manifold/header retaining nuts and studs then think about replacing with stainless steel ones before they get too bad but be aware you could be in for a hell of a job if they round off or snap . If you are not confident in doing it please don’t attempt the job. D

I have now had this bike 11 years from new and it has covered just over 68 thousand miles .Due to just passing my test and inexperience I fell off on leaves at about 10mph a month after buying it , put a dink in tank and scuffed some plastics so I thought I would put some crash bungs on just in case it happens again but you know what they are in unused condition, never fell off or dropped again. Still been very reliable with just the series of dodgy brake lever switches to blot the copy book , that’s not the bikes fault but I have not put one on for years since I bought a cheap one off eBay. Crazy to think the genuine ones packed up quickly despite trying to protect them and a copy part has been ok. Other let down was a broken battery lead at the terminal due to corrosion, a battery both let me down at home so it has never actually broken down. Put a shock absorber on it, blimey they are expensive and fork seals . Other than that it gets a genuine filter and Motul oil every 6000miles, chain and sprocket as required and brake pads. Still getting around 10k out of a pair of tyres , currently have a pair of Pirelli Diablo on there and they still have plenty of tread a few thousand miles on , recent new EBC brake pads. All in all a very reliable bike and still used daily for commuting although only doing 26miles a day now. It is not mint but it is a daily ride kept under a cover but it cleans up well and every winter I strip it down and go through it and put new plugs in. However I am wanting to do some touring so the XJ6N will be for sale at £1400 as I have bought a Triumph Sprint GT 1050.

I have managed to do it now. Thanks

Hello . I have owned a 2009 Xj6n from new. I replaced both fork seal kits about 30000 + miles ago and I remember then that the locking ring above the seal was a real pain to remove. We are now well over 60,000 and another leaking seal. I cannot get the locking ring out this time. It is not rusted in , I just cannot get on it. Would have been useful if it was a wider ring or a circlip. Any advise? Thank you. David

Thank you for reply. I have had a look and there is 2 part numbers for the lamp on the website and one states for GBR next to it so I would assume that is a uk RHD lamp. I think best thing to do is make further contact armed with the part numbers for clarification of lhd or rhd fitting. Interesting to see the lamp is the same one used on the FZ8n . regards David

Hi all , I have a 2009 XJ6n that I will register in France and would like to know if the headlamp unit is switchable from rhd beam pattern to lhd like on some cars. I cannot find my owners manual although I would think a lhd headlamp is required. Beam deflectors will not be adequate. Regards , David

Ok , thank you.

Hi , Has anyone used the above mentioned supplier or can recommend someone else who can, get a genuine part. They list genuine part numbers . The bearing in the rear sprocket carrier on my XJ6N back wheel has failed , need a new bearing and seal asap. Dealer out of stock. cheers , David.

Thanks for the input guys . However, are there any XJ6/Diversion owners out there who could give additional input for this bike . I want to know peoples experience of tyre brands on this bike other than ones I have already used . David

Hi , I have got to 45,000 miles on my 09 XJ6 and in need of another set of tyres . I commute and my aim is to beat the jams to work and not get there as quick as possible so I am not hard on tyres and can get 10,000 miles out of a set , however the Michelins on at the moment have done 5,000 and although they are not worn out do not have much left and rear has a slow puncture . I have had 2 sets of Bridgestone BT021 and got 10,000 but the bike is not great on those and the front tyre wears badly on one side and was illegal before the rear on both sets . I have also had Avon Storms and again got 10k out of them and I did quite like them but felt like trying another brand hence the current Michelins. I realise some people may only get a few thousand miles out of a tyre and may well have only done that on the brands I have already mentioned but we all ride differently and would like to know if people have used a Pirelli ,Dunlop or Conti and what there views are on them on this bike . Thanks , Dave

Hi all , Cannot believe I started this post up two and a half years ago and that I have not posted since March . Well , bike has now clocked 42,000 miles . Still being used for work and reliable . Never broken down- well virtually, will explain later . I replaced both fork seals early summer and took the opportunity to respray the front forks silver again . Unipart wheel silver and some lacquer if prepared properly give a great finish . The 2 rubbish cross head screws that retain the front mudguard and rust really well were both drilled out and replaced with a stainless steel washer cap head bolt. Tried a couple of companies on-line for fork seals but reckon a lot of them still are unsure of the difference between the old 90s XJ600 and the modern batch of XJ600N , Diversion etc , do not think there parts look up make it clear . So in the end I just got them trade from my local dealer for about £7 each I think , plus some oil and was quite pleased I got a trade discount this time . Seal retaining clips were well and truly stuck in but it was not such as bad a job as I first thought , I am still novice motorcycle mechanic despite 25 years in the motor trade . Anybody tried ProBolt for fixings ? Ok if you have a fairing but once you have exchanged a couple of emails explaining that a 2009 XJ6N is different to a 90's model - sound familiar ? You end up being told my bike is a Diversion . Another email explains the variants to them of the modern XJ6 range as they obviously did not know themselves and in the end no parts are available for the N model . Sure some bits are similar but I want bolts for plastics as that car cleaner mentioned in a previous post ruined mine , my only option is to take out the bolts and measure them or send one in to Pro-bolt to match up. Not had the time for that yet . Tyres are doing ok , 6000 miles in and they are starting to flat off but have plenty of life - will they make 10'000 miles like the other brands ? Pads are still great , work well and have plenty of life . Will need to look back at the post talking about fitting the EBC pads and check the mileage but I am quite sure they have exceeded the mileage I got from the bikes original from new pad set . The discs are showing signs of wear and may well need replacing when the current pads wear out , that will not be cheap. Refering to virtually never breaking down at top of todays post I did have a loss of gears as I pulled up to a junction . A quick look found the gear lever top fixing cap head bolt had dropped out but was luckily saved from being lost by the rubber gaitor that covers it . My fault , I had the lever off end of 13/early 14 to respray it and obviously did not nip the bolt tight enough . I keep a set of allen keys under the seat so I was going again in a couple of minutes . Couple of weeks ago I gave it a oil change and a set of plugs . Chain is in need of replacing , I was hoping to get it through the winter but it is not looking likely , I try to keep up with lubricating it but seem to have a link that is a bit tight . One thing I have noticed in the last month is the fuel consumption , seem to be putting more in . It is running ok and in fact the colour and condition of the spark plugs confirms it . Not sure on that . Well that is the latest on mine . Would love a new bike as it is I think feeling tired but I am looking at buying a house in France early next year and seeing that the French do not like outstanding debts such as vehicle finance when applying for a mortgage I think it best keep my debt free sheet clean until after I have a house . Anyone live or ride in the Creuse district of the Limousin ? David

I have covered just over a thousand miles on the Michelin Pilot Road tyres and am certain that they are the best tyres I have fitted to the bike .