Is this XJ600S Diversion a good deal?
Discussion
Hi all,
Been considering something ste to ride this winter. Something bombproof that I can just use and not give too much of a st about.
This 1998 XJ600S Diversion popped up on Facebook, just 40 miles away. He wants £650.
Supposedly 55k miles, recent lick of (boring) matte black paint and gold wheels. MOT'd until Sep 2015.
He says its recently had new chain & sprockets, carbs clean and balanced, brakes refurb all round with new pads, a new battery, fork oil and seals, engine oil & filter, tank cleaned and flushed, and coolant change (is this not air cooled??)
Seems like a good buy to me, and i'm tempted, but as i've said i've only been loosely considering a winter hack really. If this is a good deal though I might go have a look and sell it next year for the same after a winters use. This would keep my 675 a bit nicer, and only cost me a pair of mirrors and a few months tax with any luck.
Thanks.
Matt
Been considering something ste to ride this winter. Something bombproof that I can just use and not give too much of a st about.
This 1998 XJ600S Diversion popped up on Facebook, just 40 miles away. He wants £650.
Supposedly 55k miles, recent lick of (boring) matte black paint and gold wheels. MOT'd until Sep 2015.
He says its recently had new chain & sprockets, carbs clean and balanced, brakes refurb all round with new pads, a new battery, fork oil and seals, engine oil & filter, tank cleaned and flushed, and coolant change (is this not air cooled??)
Seems like a good buy to me, and i'm tempted, but as i've said i've only been loosely considering a winter hack really. If this is a good deal though I might go have a look and sell it next year for the same after a winters use. This would keep my 675 a bit nicer, and only cost me a pair of mirrors and a few months tax with any luck.
Thanks.
Matt
Edited by 13aines on Tuesday 21st October 19:58
It looks tidy enough and if you keep it clean, I don't suppose you'd struggle to get most of your money back on it, but the "coolant change" is concerning, as there is no coolant to change. I'd wonder about the carb cleaning and balancing, I think he might have been economical with the truth about how much has been done to this bike.
Sounds reasonable enough. People will probably tell you that you should have paid less but as long as you're happy then it doesn't really matter.
I had one a couple of years back. Very reliable, cheap to run, engine sounded good, suspension very soft and brakes crap. Take it for what it is and you'll enjoy it. Ideal winter hack.
I had one a couple of years back. Very reliable, cheap to run, engine sounded good, suspension very soft and brakes crap. Take it for what it is and you'll enjoy it. Ideal winter hack.
The guy said he cleaned out the oil cooler when he changed the oil. Think he's just not great with his terminology - hopefully he just has a mate that knows what he's doing, and he holds the tools!
I think its a reasonable deal if its as mechanically sound as it sounds, but I don't have £650 to spunk - let alone on something I don't really desire, but fulfills a useful purpose - so i'm really on the fence, despite the fact that the stty weather and gritting is rapidly approaching.
I think its a reasonable deal if its as mechanically sound as it sounds, but I don't have £650 to spunk - let alone on something I don't really desire, but fulfills a useful purpose - so i'm really on the fence, despite the fact that the stty weather and gritting is rapidly approaching.
Check the exhaust for corrosion or bodging and make sure it idles perfectly smoothly with no rattling at all. The buyer might say the clutch is just chattering but it may be the starter clutch and that is trickier to repair.
They are completely underwhelming bikes, the only reason to own one is as low cost, cheap to run, reliable transport, if it is not reliable then there is no point having one.
They are completely underwhelming bikes, the only reason to own one is as low cost, cheap to run, reliable transport, if it is not reliable then there is no point having one.
He did mention a 2000rpm chatter which he says is just the clutch basket - now i'm not so sure. He said the usual, its an easy fix etc. - well why haven't you done it then?
He has someone going to look at it saturday morning. If they pull out I might have a look, else I'm not free until sunday anyway.
He has someone going to look at it saturday morning. If they pull out I might have a look, else I'm not free until sunday anyway.
13aines said:
He did mention a 2000rpm chatter which he says is just the clutch basket - now i'm not so sure. He said the usual, its an easy fix etc. - well why haven't you done it then?
Quite. I wouldn't want that bike - it even looks knackered, somehow.The trouble with bikes like this at this price is that nice, well-cared for bikes cost pretty much the same as the dogs.
This one looks nicer to me, with lower mileage, better history and no silly paintwork:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-XJ600-N-/22158346...
and is probably yours for £700ish.
DrDoofenshmirtz said:
Move along.
I'm sure you can find something better than this POS?
They're very top heavy bikes...horrible on slippery surfaces giving no feedback at all. They aren't ideal for winter at all IMO of course.
Really? Ridden mine through 4 winters now not a problem at all.has always felt stable enough through the slippy stuffI'm sure you can find something better than this POS?
They're very top heavy bikes...horrible on slippery surfaces giving no feedback at all. They aren't ideal for winter at all IMO of course.
13aines said:
If you're serious please post some info... While i'm not desperate for one (who's desperate to get a divvy?!) I could do with something like it, and have the money to buy one ASAP if it's not too far to travel.
N Reg, done 2900 miles.currently sorned just next to Brands Hatch
Sold to me about four years ago, the plan was to get the wife into motorcycling, but it didn't pan out. I'm cleaning out the garage space at the mo. Sold my R1 about a month ago, and haven't gotten around to advertising this yet.
If your serious I'll wheel it out the garage and take some proper pictures for you, although I think it needs to be done off forum.
Added photo to show how frequently its been cleaned
Edited by julian64 on Thursday 23 October 17:14
julian64 said:
N Reg, done 2900 miles.
currently sorned just next to Brands Hatch
Sold to me about four years ago, the plan was to get the wife into motorcycling, but it didn't pan out. I'm cleaning out the garage space at the mo. Sold my R1 about a month ago, and haven't gotten around to advertising this yet.
If your serious I'll wheel it out the garage and take some proper pictures for you, although I think it needs to be done off forum.
Added photo to show how frequently its been cleaned
Thats a bargain, you could run it for many years over winter and come out ahead, get it bought.currently sorned just next to Brands Hatch
Sold to me about four years ago, the plan was to get the wife into motorcycling, but it didn't pan out. I'm cleaning out the garage space at the mo. Sold my R1 about a month ago, and haven't gotten around to advertising this yet.
If your serious I'll wheel it out the garage and take some proper pictures for you, although I think it needs to be done off forum.
Added photo to show how frequently its been cleaned
13aines where are you.
just heard you crashed again, breaking your neck
http://675.cc/675/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=25050
just heard you crashed again, breaking your neck
http://675.cc/675/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=25050
Yeah, it was an unlucky end to 2015... I had been thinking about posting about it and my concerns about getting back on the horse.
November 17th some pillock round the corner from my house pulled out straight into my path. I came off trying to (and successfully) avoid him.
Somehow I broke my C2 vertebra, seven ribs, shoulderblade and cheekbone! I've been very lucky, and after 4 days in intensive care, and 3 in other wards, I was home with just a neck brace for 6 weeks. I'm now in a foam collar for another 6 weeks.
I'm gutted - the poor little immaculate Diversion I purchased from Julian64 now has a bit of damage - mostly cosmetic - but I think it must have been the finest example around so it's a bit of a bugger!
I lined up all the bits (bar the front fairing, silencer and tail fairing) from a guy breaking one for just £75, but he let me down and didn't show up when we were supposed to meet. Heard nothing since.
I'm now back at university 50 miles from my workshop, and my stepdad is sick of having no space with my Austin Mini and Daytona 675 tucked up in there, and now the Divvy.
November 17th some pillock round the corner from my house pulled out straight into my path. I came off trying to (and successfully) avoid him.
Somehow I broke my C2 vertebra, seven ribs, shoulderblade and cheekbone! I've been very lucky, and after 4 days in intensive care, and 3 in other wards, I was home with just a neck brace for 6 weeks. I'm now in a foam collar for another 6 weeks.
I'm gutted - the poor little immaculate Diversion I purchased from Julian64 now has a bit of damage - mostly cosmetic - but I think it must have been the finest example around so it's a bit of a bugger!
I lined up all the bits (bar the front fairing, silencer and tail fairing) from a guy breaking one for just £75, but he let me down and didn't show up when we were supposed to meet. Heard nothing since.
I'm now back at university 50 miles from my workshop, and my stepdad is sick of having no space with my Austin Mini and Daytona 675 tucked up in there, and now the Divvy.
Edited by 13aines on Saturday 31st January 10:41
I need to get rid of it if anyone is interested? Just need some space and cash. I plan now to just ride my Daytona 675 in the summer so this is surplus to requirements.
I did 300 miles on it, so it now has 3,050 miles on it. I'm only the third owner. Second was Julian64s wife, and the first was her brother.
It's an old bike with some accident damage, but if you want a winter hack, it doesn't need much to get it back into usable condition, and other than the accident damage of course, it is in like new condition and the engine and running gear has just 3,050 miles on it - so good for dozens of winters to come.
Needs:
Front fairing repair
Front axle (only ~£5 ebay),
RHS engine cover ( only ~£15 ebay)
Rear brake pedal straightening
Could do with:
Front brake lever mount (mirror mount sheared clean off)
+ RHS mirror
Rear undertray (indicator broken clean off attached to lump of undertray)
+ Rear indicator
Cosmetically damaged:
Front indicator lens scuffed
Bar end scuffed
RHS silencer scuffed and lightly dented
Front brake lever scuffed
Screen scuffed
Rear right fairing scuffed
RHS pillion grab handle scuffed
If I were to continue to use it as a winter hack i'd repair the front fairing, straighten rear brake pedal, and replace the front axle, engine (electrics) cover, undertray (+rear indicator) - these parts are inexpensive on ebay and the undertray could probably be repaired where the indicator mounts.
I'd do these bits myself but I just don't have time to source the bits again, and do the work now back at uni and not near the garage.
Includes Givi E50 top box that is nearly new, and the rack which is just a little scuffed after the accident.
I did 300 miles on it, so it now has 3,050 miles on it. I'm only the third owner. Second was Julian64s wife, and the first was her brother.
It's an old bike with some accident damage, but if you want a winter hack, it doesn't need much to get it back into usable condition, and other than the accident damage of course, it is in like new condition and the engine and running gear has just 3,050 miles on it - so good for dozens of winters to come.
Needs:
Front fairing repair
Front axle (only ~£5 ebay),
RHS engine cover ( only ~£15 ebay)
Rear brake pedal straightening
Could do with:
Front brake lever mount (mirror mount sheared clean off)
+ RHS mirror
Rear undertray (indicator broken clean off attached to lump of undertray)
+ Rear indicator
Cosmetically damaged:
Front indicator lens scuffed
Bar end scuffed
RHS silencer scuffed and lightly dented
Front brake lever scuffed
Screen scuffed
Rear right fairing scuffed
RHS pillion grab handle scuffed
If I were to continue to use it as a winter hack i'd repair the front fairing, straighten rear brake pedal, and replace the front axle, engine (electrics) cover, undertray (+rear indicator) - these parts are inexpensive on ebay and the undertray could probably be repaired where the indicator mounts.
I'd do these bits myself but I just don't have time to source the bits again, and do the work now back at uni and not near the garage.
Includes Givi E50 top box that is nearly new, and the rack which is just a little scuffed after the accident.
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