Yamaha XJ900 Diversion?

[Shortie]

Hi all

I have been offered an XJ900 diversion as I was planning some touring with my wife next summer. I have been running around on a Scorpio 225 for the past 2 years and will finally do my full license test later this month (I've had my learners for 18 years and restricted for the last 8 years).

I am short and can put both feet on the ground just, but not flat down, and man is thing heavy! In your experience will I get used to the weight and height, or should I be looking at something like the Suzuki m50 with the lower seat height?

[george formby]

My old man had a Divi for awhile. Same boat as you, he is a little challenged in the inside leg department. Most bikes he has owned have had him with no more than the balls of his feet or his toes down.
Coming from something like the Scorpio, everything will feel heavy & huge but in my experience you get used to it & learn to take a little more care where you stop & how you maneuver the bike around.
As a mile muncher he really rated the Divi, it's what got him into touring Europe. Comfortable, capable & reliable with good tank range & lots of farkles available.
Ultimately get the bike you feel most confident on but try & do a decent few k's to find out. A short round the block ride may not tell the whole story.

[Madness]

I can't get both feet down flat when I'm atop my ZX12, they're incredibly tall for a "sports bike" and I'm a smidge under 6'. Is it a problem? No.

Unless you're buying a bike to use as a motorcycle courier in Aucklands CBD I'd suggest that you'd be fine with the Diversion. As George said though, don't limit your test ride and don't limit your options either.

Most important though; make sure the Missus is happy with it, otherwise no matter how good it is it'll always have an annoying whining noise with her on the back.

[Shortie]

Thanks for that. I rode it from Palmy to Levin the other day and found it comfortable and very powerful, corners like it was on rails compared to the Scorpio. I'm sure when she sits at the back and the three givi boxes are full I should get an extra inch or two for my feet.

Boy you really feel the weight at stand still and when flicking it into corners at low speed, but surprisingly agile at 100ks.

Are the metzler lasertec tyres good for touring?

[Shortie]

My old man had a Divi for awhile. Same boat as you, he is a little challenged in the inside leg department. Most bikes he has owned have had him with no more than the balls of his feet or his toes down.
Coming from something like the Scorpio, everything will feel heavy & huge but in my experience you get used to it & learn to take a little more care where you stop & how you maneuver the bike around.
As a mile muncher he really rated the Divi, it's what got him into touring Europe. Comfortable, capable & reliable with good tank range & lots of farkles available.
Ultimately get the bike you feel most confident on but try & do a decent few k's to find out. A short round the block ride may not tell the whole story.

Hey George, what's a farkle

[Shadowjack]

Hey George, what's a farkle

I think here's what you are after. I have a handful on the TDM.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=farkle
The word is generally accepted to mean a combination of "function" and "sparkle", hence, farkle.

Motorcycle enthusiasts may install accessories, called farkles (also spelled farkel), to customize their machine.
One source attributes the term to Pete Wells, the organizer of a 1997 Honda ST1100 rally
www.nabble.com/Re:-Farkel,

The term is well known in the sport touring community.

An enthusiast may be in the process of "farkling". The completed motorcycle would be all "farkled up". Radar detectors, Global Positioning System receivers, heated grips, and satellite radios are some of those farkles. Other accessories could be aftermarket seats, side and/or top cases or bar risers, which make the motorcycle more suitable for long miles.

F.A.R.K.L.E. -- Fancy Accessory Really Kool Likely Expensive

[Shortie]

Well, farkle me, you learn something new every day. Thanks for that.

[george formby]

cheers D. couldn't have put it better myself.

Never had an issue with any Metzlers, if they are sport touring tires that is exactly what they will do. Tire technology is moving ahead fast, stuff you read about the latest 030powerattackIIbattleax whatever, is always the new best thing. I never had a problem with tires 20 years ago so it must be impossible for me to fall off with the latest ones.
Getting used to a bigger bike at low speeds is all about your control. For years I have been really tentative on big bikes at low speed regardless of how much foot I can get down. I can't hold up 250+kg.
This last year I have gone out & practiced my basics, u-turns, braking, braking in turns, slaloms etc. I never take a foot off the peg now unless I'm coming to a stop, bloody amazing. It's not the weight of the bike but the ability of the rider.
IIR the Divi has nice wide bars & a nice comfortable upright seating position. It may be possible to put lowering links on the rear suspension & drop the yokes on the forks a few mm to drop the seat height a bit. They are one of those bikes that just get on with the job, keep up your basic maintenance & ride. Bit like a TDM.. I do like my Yamahas.
Oh, as stated, get the missus on the back..

[Pedrostt500]

You will get used to the weight, it will just take a few thousand Ks or so, then another few more tousand to get to know it.

[FJRider]

Boy you really feel the weight at stand still and when flicking it into corners at low speed, but surprisingly agile at 100ks.

Are the metzler lasertec tyres good for touring?

The secret to not getting the feet properly down ... is don't stop.

But an upholsterer can reduce the seat height a little, and thicker soles on your boots will help.

You get used to the weight. You notice it more under 20 km/hr.