Yamaha XT 600: technical specifications, maximum speed, operation and maintenance features, repair tips and owner reviews

Technical characteristics of Yamaha XT 600

The engine design was developed in 1957 and has not undergone any changes since then, which indicates ease of maintenance and reliability. The engine, created specifically for the Paris-Dakar trophy raid, was brought to perfection by the early nineties of the last century.

Clear and long-lasting engine operation is ensured by a unique power system with two carburetors responsible for different intake valves. This design is an advantage of the Yamaha XT 600, but it also has its drawback - the air filter quickly becomes dirty, which leads to its breakdown and shortens its service life.

The motorcycle is equipped with an engine with a capacity of 42 horsepower and a volume of 596 cubic centimeters. Maximum torque is achieved at 6250 rpm. The engine power is sufficient for dynamic driving both on the highway and off-road.

Yamaha XT 600 – review of a unique motorcycle, photos and videos

For many years, one of the most popular models of the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer YAMAHA has been the XT600 model, developed back in the distant eighties of the last century. Over time, the motorcycle has evolved from a fairly highly specialized enduro into an almost absolutely universal device for traveling on and off the road. This was appreciated by both critics and fans of motorcycles by increasing the number of purchased units.

Performance characteristics of the Yamaha XT 600

Regarding the motor, it is worth noting that its original design was created back in 1975, and since then has not undergone any major changes, which, of course, has a positive effect on the reliability and ease of maintenance of the motorcycle.
Although it is precisely this parameter that surprises many, because so many years have passed, new technologies and methods of their implementation have appeared, and the engine is still reliable and simple. The “heart” of the motorcycle is the power unit, developed for the famous Paris-Dakar trophy raid, in the nineties century was brought to almost ideal characteristics. Perhaps this is precisely the key to the genius of the developers, whose brainchild is still being used with great success.

A unique power system with two carburetors operating on different principles and responsible for different intake valves provides the engine with all the necessary mixtures for smooth and long-lasting operation in any conditions. This is a very significant plus when choosing a motorcycle in principle.

An absolute drawback of the power system is the design of the air filter, which is too susceptible to dirt and dust, which significantly reduces the service life of this important element.

The engine capacity is a very sufficient 596 cubic centimeters , which allows it to achieve a power of 42 horsepower at 6250 rpm. The engine power is more than enough to overcome both asphalt roads and very serious off-road conditions.

Chassis

Years of improvements and changes have almost completely erased serious off-road qualities from the motorcycle’s chassis. A soft suspension with small travel cannot support aggressive off-road driving that includes jumps and other motocross elements. At the same time, the motorcycle easily and at high speed overcomes difficult sections of public roads. The relative softness and low energy consumption of the suspension makes driving over long distances more comfortable. You can purchase high-quality spare parts on the pages of the online store astar.ua. The prices pleasantly surprise even experienced drivers, who know well that in our time it is quite difficult to find high-quality spare parts at an affordable price. A gas tank volume of 15 liters and an average fuel consumption of 4 - 4.5 liters per 100 kilometers provide a sufficient range for travel, while the possibility of installing tuned tanks of a larger volume brings autonomy to very respectable indicators.

In general, the age of the model has had a very positive effect on the number of various accessories that allow you to “tailor” the motorcycle for a variety of use cases.

Behavior on the road

The design of the YAMAHA XT600 quite strictly determines the environment of its use. It is very versatile, but completely unsuitable for cross-country trails. The engine's power and thrust are more than enough to overcome serious off-road conditions that do not involve jumping.

The behavior of the motorcycle on the road is extremely predictable. He forgives the pilot for mistakes that are unforgivable for others, for example, a high-speed pull to the side of the road to avoid an obstacle. At the same time, the motorcycle suspension gives the driver the opportunity not to pay attention to uneven road surfaces and the presence of stones and sand on it.

This behavior immediately puts the YAMAHA XT600 in the category of motorcycles recommended for novice pilots. Driving errors, such as the front wheel skidding during hard braking, do not lead to the expected fall.

Chassis

The main off-road characteristics of the Yamaha XT 600 were almost completely erased during numerous modifications. The small travel and soft suspension are not suitable for aggressive driving on rough terrain, but make it easy to overcome difficult sections of ordinary roads at high speed. Traveling over long distances is possible thanks to the energy-intensive suspension.

With an average fuel consumption of 4 liters, the fuel tank capacity of 15 liters is sufficient for long journeys. The manufacturer provides the possibility of installing larger tanks, making the motorcycle more autonomous.

The years that have passed since the release of the first Yamaha XT 600 model have had a positive impact on the number of additional accessories and spare parts that can dramatically change the appearance of the motorcycle and improve its technical characteristics.

Behavior on the highway

The Yamaha XT 600 is a versatile motorcycle not intended for motocross trails, but the traction and engine power are more than enough to overcome off-road conditions.

The car's handling on the road is ideal: mistakes made by the driver are not felt, the suspension softens all road irregularities, regardless of the type of surface. This behavior makes the motorcycle ideal for beginner motorcyclists: mistakes do not lead to falls.

Peculiarities

The versatility of the Yamaha XT 600 causes non-critical shortcomings - for example, it is not particularly convenient to move around the city limits due to the insufficient efficiency of the braking system, which significantly limits maneuverability. The motorcycle begins to wobble noticeably at speeds above 120 km/h, which is, in fact, a payment for the frame and soft suspension, which ensures comfortable movement.

Tuning, which is available to every owner of a Yamaha XT 600 and involves replacing the intake system and piston group, can increase engine power, but has a negative impact on its reliability. For this reason, it is advisable to immediately install a more powerful power unit.

Unpretentiousness in maintenance and operation and unsurpassed reliability are the undeniable advantages of the motorcycle. All technical work related to the engine, after installing a reusable air filter, is reduced only to the timely replacement of engine oil.

The motorcycle's head optics, which are not powerful enough, cause a lot of criticism. All owners of the Yamaha XT 600 in their reviews note this problem, which cannot be eliminated even by installing popular xenon headlights. Of course, one can hope that the manufacturer will solve this shortcoming, but for so many years of the motorcycle’s existence, nothing has been done about it.

Garage

Given: a spirited young Yamaha XT600 EA. Task: prepare a motorcycle for the road to Magadan. The process is under the cut. A little background. Since we are advanced tourists and had previously traveled for a long time together, we wanted to go to Magadan on one motorcycle, for example, a Triumph Tiger 800. But everything did not work out in the most successful way, this plan failed. At that time, I already had my Cloud - a Yamaha TTR 250, so we decided to ride on two different motorcycles, choosing something lighter and cheaper for Sasha. The choice fell on XT as the optimal balance of endurance, price and, most importantly, beauty. As soon as a suitable offer appeared in Khmelnitsky, we rushed there. The motorcycle turned out to be in very good condition, with 30 thousand mileage. It was serviced as planned in the spring, so I won’t describe standard work such as replacing pads and tires. There was a small problem with the feathers (the corrugation was chewed), so they also serviced the fork, that’s all.

In November, we had already definitely decided on the trip plan; in December, I finished the route, and we slowly began to collect what we needed.

First came the Hepco & Becker luggage system: frames and trunk. Nothing special, black factory design, fit on the motorcycle without any problems.

There's an interesting story about the bags. At first, we really wanted Magadan Panniers with ADVrider, which cost a lot of money, but are so reinforced that you can fly into space with them. Sasha even ordered them from his salary, but then our friend Denis came and said that we had gone crazy. The order was cancelled. We somehow didn’t have a good relationship with Wolfman, and in January we met with our friend, who had just started developing and producing his own bags. We measured the frames, estimated the first prototype and agreed to make 2 pairs. Additionally, we take black Louis trunks with us.

The Spitfire's large windshield had to be cut off on the sides by hand: it rested on the turn signals.

We installed underbody protection.

We ordered handle protection (originally the motorcycle had open guards). At the same time, we lowered the clutch and brake levers a little down to make it more convenient to control the motorcycle when riding standing.

The last two days before leaving for the Carpathians we installed the electrics and - ta-dam! - Dytona heated grips. We always thought that this was something for the majors, but it turned out to be a necessary improvement. The ride is very good!

We disassembled the seat, inserted the ordered gel according to the instructions from YouTube and reupholstered it in the workshop. Sasha says it has become much more convenient.

We installed a large plastic Acerbis tank with a capacity of 23 liters (the original one on the XT is only 13). It’s good for everyone, it’s very good, but the only thing is that it has “ears” on the sides, in which about a liter of gasoline accumulates, and the taps are at a higher level. How to get to this reserve reserve is unknown. The arcs were made to order according to the tank's measurements.

We installed additional headlights. But, as I already wrote, they do not have a very good design (they are too large) and the mounting location (there are strong vibrations on the arches). One is already out of order, and its repair cost exactly half the cost.

The mount for the Prolech navigator fit onto the steering wheel very easily (by the way, everything is included in the kit, no need to bother making your own unique one). I animate the navigator, I don’t like it, and I call it “Susanin” to myself.

Important - watch and thermometer on the steering wheel Again with Louis. Compared to the enduro, such a chrome-plated gadget doesn’t look very good, but this information is not on the panel, and sometimes it’s necessary.

There should also have been extended toothed footpegs, but the ones ordered turned out to be of poor quality, and they didn’t bother looking for new ones (even these will do). Well, on the road you will have ammunition, spare parts and replacement tires with you.

So it goes

Advantages

Based on numerous reviews and reviews of the Yamaha XT 600, we can compile an impressive list of advantages of the motorcycle:

• Affordable price.
• Reliability and ease of maintenance and operation.
• Long engine working life.
• Soft suspension and braking system that does not cause any particular complaints.
• High strength plastic sheathing elements.
• Convenient and comfortable seating position even for short drivers.

Advantages and disadvantages

Based on reviews from Yamaha xt 600 owners, the motorcycle has an impressive list of advantages, including:

• Reliability.
• Low cost.
• Long lasting engine.
• Durable plastic casing.
• Flawless suspension and braking system.
• Comfortable seating position (even for drivers whose height does not exceed 170 cm).

The disadvantages of the motorcycle are the following:

• A weak frame.
• Air filter not suitable for off-road driving.
• Poor engine protection.
• The appearance of dents and scratches on the gas tank due to the slightest drop or other damage.
• The gas tank is small and unsuitable for long rides.
• Lighting devices do not always cope with their responsibilities.

In addition, some motorcyclists believe that the speed (maximum and cruising) of this model is low (155 and 140, respectively), and the rear brakes are not very effective.

In conclusion, it is worth saying that this motorcycle is quite suitable as a first equipment, precisely because of its positive qualities. Sitting on it, you are unlikely to feel 600 cubic meters and 43 hp. With.

Flaws

The long-term existence of the Yamaha XT 600 motorcycle has not eliminated all its shortcomings, among which the owners include the following features:

• Frame of weak strength.
• Poor engine protection.
• Air filter subject to rapid contamination.
• Any damage to the fuel tank will result in scratches and dents.
• Despite the good volume of the fuel tank, many owners complain about the lack of fuel for long trips.
• Head optics do not always cope with their task.

Motorcyclists and experts often note that for a universal motorcycle equipped with such an engine, the maximum and cruising speed of 155 and 140 km/h are too low, and the rear braking system is not effective enough to stop quickly.

Specifications

It is worth paying attention to the quality indicators of the Yamaha xt 600 motorcycle, as well as focusing on its strengths and weaknesses:

To begin with, it is worth noting that this model is unlikely to be able to fulfill the motorcyclist’s desire to “sit down and rush off into the distance.” Firstly, it consumes too much fuel with a not very spacious gas tank. Secondly, the equipment will have to be modified by purchasing or making cases for the necessary things.

The weight of the motorcycle is quite large (at least for the enduro class), but despite this, it is quite light and easy to control. Both Yamaha suspensions can be confidently called soft and comfortable, although they are not adjustable.