'92 Seca ll 600 for newbie?

[FJReady]

I've been shopping for a Kawi EX500 as a first motorcycle for my lovely bride. I figure its a good step up from last year's Burgman. I just ran across a Yamaha Seca ll 600. It looks pretty decent, low seat height not too much power etc.

Has anyone out there had experience with this machine and would you recommend it as a good learner bike?

Any comments appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[eeksnake]

Ahhhhh, memories. Back, waaaay back in May 2004, I acquired an 1996 XJ600 Seca II. I bought it as a "reginner" bike (20+ year hiatus from motorcycles.)

Wrote a review here.

Keep in mind, I had some riding experience in my past and I had taken the Beginner Riders Course the month before. YMMV

In a nutshell, there are much worse bikes to start on.

 

[Preyj]

I had one way back in the late 90's. They are a great all around bike. You will get 50-60K miles on the engine. The only bad about this bike is:

Can be buzzy at highway speeds

Will leak oil from the cyclendar head

Takes forever to warm up

- Jeff

I've been shopping for a Kawi EX500 as a first motorcycle for my lovely bride. I figure its a good step up from last year's Burgman. I just ran across a Yamaha Seca ll 600. It looks pretty decent, low seat height not too much power etc.
Has anyone out there had experience with this machine and would you recommend it as a good learner bike?

Any comments appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Niehart]

1983 Yamaha XJ650 Seca Turbo was my favorite cycle. The one I still kick my self in the butt for selling.

Seems to me the 600 was a good bike. Think the was something about advancing the timing that made the run stronger. Should be in the $1700 to $1900 price range.

 

[krashdragon]

I've been shopping for a Kawi EX500 as a first motorcycle for my lovely bride. I figure its a good step up from last year's Burgman. I just ran across a Yamaha Seca ll 600. It looks pretty decent, low seat height not too much power etc.
Has anyone out there had experience with this machine and would you recommend it as a good learner bike?

Any comments appreciated.

Thanks.

Not sure about that specific bike, but it is 16 years old, it may not handle quite the same as something newer.

JMHO for all it's .00002 worth...<G>

Mary

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Has anyone out there had experience with this machine and would you recommend it as a good learner bike? Any comments appreciated.

My S.O. has one she bought new (non-current) in the mid-'90s and has ridden it 64K miles. I keep trying to interest her in newer bikes (w/annual model introductions) -- but, she hasn't found one yet she likes better. I asked her to write a comment here (knowing I wouldn't be fully complimentary) and she said 'maybe' as she was going out the door to spend the weekend 200 miles away.

Anyway, you can find lots of info here. Yamaha also offered (Euro only) a 900 shaft-drive Diversion that I always hoped they'd import -- but, they know better?! :angry: So, the Seca II is an actual Euro Sport-Touring bike (Diversion in Europe; or, 'Divvy'). It's a good bike and fairly modern for its time. There were 3 iterations, here (AFAIK); and the '92 would be the first -- I forget what improvements were made for the '94s and the last was '97 (I've only seen one '97). They make about 60hp, have pretty broad power (but you still need to down-shift), and appear to be very reliable. 60 mpg is often seen when touring and hers has been trouble-free.

Having said all that; I'm not sure I'd recco one. I did once and the gal ended-up trading it for a Ninja -- Seca II had Zero 'campus/street-cred'. It's pretty 'plain-jane' by today's standards. That, and I really like EX500s (500 Ninjas) -- they're smaller and faster than XJ600s (Seca IIs). IOW, there's a lot to choose from out there in the small-to-medium size used motorcycle market.

The Seca II is as good as any of them -- and (maybe?) better than some.... :huh: