What happened to the Yamaha XJ 600 Diversion

[@RRRRefuelRideRace]

I have to say that making a Series about the XJ is a great idea. Will watch it. Take care and never give up. :)

[@FreeMilesMC]

Never giving up, that’s the spirit ☺️

[@RRRRefuelRideRace]

@@FreeMilesMC Yeah, exactly. If you find any free time, just check my Trip to Romania Series. I filmed the trailer also. :) Thanks a lot man.

[@FreeMilesMC]

@RRRRefuelRideRace I will ☺️

[@RRRRefuelRideRace]

@@FreeMilesMC Thanks a lot bro. I have to go through your Iceland videos. :) One by one. :)

[@gjerdeanders]

You should also inspect the rubber boots for the carbs. They have a tendency to crumble

[@FreeMilesMC]

Actually plan on inspecting them tomorrow, will make a video about that ☺️

[@sharkfood]

I had running issues and turned out to be a combination of a 3 things that took a few months to figure out. (1) Water in the fuel. (2) The carburetors needed cleaning and the idle screw adjusted. (3) The spark plug wires were old and would stop the bike from running in the rain. Now that all 3 are resolved it runs beautifully.

[@FreeMilesMC]

I will start checking the rubbers in the carbs soon☺️

[@jarituomi5649]

Did you replace the ignition coils with plug wires or were you able to replace just the cables? I have a 21-year-old bike and at that age the cables start to punch through the light arc. They still worked, but I'm starting to anticipate a replacement.

[@makam2089]

In my experience, 80% of problems with old bikes are carbs (or issues generally related to fuel/air mixture). The rest is just stuff getting old like bearings, brake lines, ignition wires etc.

[@FreeMilesMC]

I hope you are right and I will try my best to find and fix these issues

[@RRRRefuelRideRace]

This is so true. Especially if bikes are for some longer periods on the spot, for example during the winter.

[@RidingWithGerdas]

In 50k km never had an issue with my carbs. I clean them, I balance them, I read book to them.

[@RRRRefuelRideRace]

@@RidingWithGerdas This is just great to hear. The more you do yourself less you have to pay to others they say. :) Drop by mate, you may like my Trip to Romania Series. :)

[@RidingWithGerdas]

@@RRRRefuelRideRace funny you said that. I did Romania trip last season. There's a video on my channel ;)

[@ato6703]

I love your Chanel, it’s not about the newest motorcycle it’s just about having good adventure, you inspired me to pick up an xj600 a year ago and the trip have been so good!!

[@FreeMilesMC]

Thank you, for this appreciation ☺️. I hope that the channel grows at some point to where it becomes soustainable☺️

[@tristansayers6494]

You have got the right idea! Accessibility and relatability is the perfect approach. I haven't found Bike fixing project series as well as long touring vlog series on the same channel yet, that would be perfect

[@FreeMilesMC]

Haha thanks it’s mostly because i cant tour all the time and to tour again i Need to fix the bike 😂

[@nith_mp]

I have an xj900 and thought of getting a new bike but now after watching this I just want to fix its only issue that is a leaky fork seal and keep running it. I bought it last year and did around 4000km south of Germany and Austria. before which it sat in the garage for 5 years. Just cleaned carbs and did fork seals and it was back on the street like brand new! For a 29 years old it runs like a gun. These Yamahas are unbreakable if maintained well!

[@FreeMilesMC]

Thanks for leaving this comment, this gave me new motivation to get this done ☺️

[@azimuth2142]

Doing the fork seals is an easy job

[@Zanith50]

alot of the times you can just clean the seals with a funky shaped piece of plastic but always good to rebuild them once in a while aswell

[@Wajang1]

Cool, i don't know how to repair my bike, so i learn some things from you.

[@FreeMilesMC]

I hope so, it will not really be tutorials tho more how to even start doing this, as I myself don’t have mutch of a clue either

[@hausverbot1707]

@@FreeMilesMC An KZbin Channel named 2vintage helped me alot with repairing Motorcylces, no advertisment just a tip

[@FreeMilesMC]

@hausverbot1707 thanks I will check it out ☺️

[@Stu_wolf]

The reason I found this channel was because I was looking to buy an xj600, your review was great, I found a bike and bought it last August for £900, I was a bit gutted when yours broke down after Iceland but loved the interceptor trip as that's a wishlist bike for me. Really looking forward to watching and following the xj600 as you work through everything to get it back on the road.

[@FreeMilesMC]

I Hope i can get it done ☺️

[@pastorius]

great idea. similarly, i do all i can for my 93 Transalp, incl. learning a lot. these 90s japanese bikes are just the best of both worlds, old and new. good luck with yours

[@FreeMilesMC]

I hope I can pull it off too ☺️

[@nomadicmechanic3765]

Keep at it The xj is a very simple bike , great to learn on If I lived closer I would happily teach you a few tricks and techniques

[@FreeMilesMC]

Already good to have you watching. So you can give me some tips on how to do this ☺️

[@nomadicmechanic3765]

@@FreeMilesMC I've just started uploading some repair videos Let me know if you want me to upload anything

[@FreeMilesMC]

@nomadicmechanic3765 oh, nice I have a look ☺️

[@rek954]

Great to see Granny back 😉🤙

[@FreeMilesMC]

Yes I hope we can get her running again ☺️

[@bardoviskioenzo5491]

Looking forward to the project!!

[@FreeMilesMC]

Me too☺️

[@Davidbirdy-si9vm]

The previous bike was lost to engine failure. That explains alot. I have kept one of these xj's running at 72hp 11.5k rpm on a daily basis for 4 years and still going strong with chases almost every time I go out. 140mph top speed. You really did a great job at downplaying this motorcycle. I'm getting tired of goofs on the Internet. In the right hands these bikes are weapons, obvi this one isn't in the right hands.

[@GorillazMach1]

I had the same bike some years ago. As a supercheap project bike. First thing i bought was the rubber boots. Check the compression and full carb teardown and cleaning. Up one size on the pilot jet. Dont remember if i did the same on main. Anyway mine also had tps. Throttle posision sensor that needed a bit adjusting. But note is also important to balance the carbs. Haynsmanual here is super important to have. Learn so much from it. Mine ran like a dream after. Edit also new plugs and plugcaps! And new wires to coil.

[@FreeMilesMC]

Thanks for all the great tips ☺️

[@j.m.6456]

Great to see the xj coming alive again. I have one too and so far I've synced the carbs, did the fork seals, gave her a new chain and sprockets ( with a laser lining up ), and the next project will be the valve clearance ( I have a lot of respect of the Shimm things, that will be a serious job 😞) but mine never refused to start and always brought me home :-) For sure I'll be watching all your upcoming vids.

[@FreeMilesMC]

Thank you, it’s so great to here that other people already managed to get this done☺️

[@Rugsadventures]

Im so glad to see a video on this bike again ive been following you waiting for this, plz dont give up on the ole girl i have one myself amazing bikes i sold it and actually brought it back 2years later

[@FreeMilesMC]

I am doing my best to get it back on the road ☺️

[@Rugsadventures]

@FreeMilesMC very inspiring watching you learn to do the repairs yourself

[@ihavearacoontan]

I’ll definitely tune in for this. Should be super interesting.

[@makam2089]

4:10 for time of repair/troubleshooting remove the air filter and prepare a temporary fuel tank (can be a simple plastic bottle with some fuel hose attached). This will save you a lot of time if you need to remove the carbs again. Only put them on once the bike runs fine.

[@FreeMilesMC]

Thanks a lot I will use this tip thanks ☺️

[@relinquishv]

So happy to hear about your fixing videos! My xj600 is happy too! ✌️

[@FreeMilesMC]

I am glad that people appreciate the idea ☺️

[@frankmercer7009]

I hope you get the xj600 running good again. I'd love to see it go around the world. Working on a motorcycle take patience, don't give up. Ride safe.

[@FreeMilesMC]

I will do my best ☺️

[@azimuth2142]

With it being so old just like my 2 Xj600's, I changed the fuel tap and fuel pump. Age alone can play a part in failure. Check your fuel line also. I am just wondering if the coil packs are good?

[@FreeMilesMC]

Thank you, for the good advice what is a coil pack?

[@azimuth2142]

@@FreeMilesMC They sit under the fuel tank up front, they make voltages for spark plugs. They could be failing. There are videos on here showing you how to test them.

[@diobertbombita2158]

also have this problem on my divy, mine is more in electrical problem. found out that i have weak ignition coil. after changing coil, rectifiers & battery it's now works fine.

[@StickPeopleAndPuff]

This the exact reason I traded my GL for an Interceptor this past Tuesday. I was tired of working on it and I wanted a reliable classic looking bike.

[@FreeMilesMC]

I get it. It’s just way easyer Like This. And i would anyone advise to do the Same☺️

[@ericweber1969]

I hear you regarding poor service, this nearly made me give up motorcycles altogether. I am looking for time to tear into the carburetors on my own ‘97 xj600, hopefully it’ll go well. It’s my understanding that the idle circuit is a real issue for clogging. Hopefully you’ll have success with your bike.

[@FullSpeedMoto]

I lived in Germany for 2 years, the local mechanic would charge almost 90 euros per hour and that's labour alone 😅

[@FreeMilesMC]

Most where I live do 140. And basically every second hour is spend with smoking. I had an office job at one of those garages and it really motivated me to get working on my own bikes

[@lancerbiker5263]

Looking forward to it. 👍

[@benetnasch2096]

You bought a second one to learn how to work on it? You're one step closer to becoming a full blown classic bike restorer. You remind me of my grand father who bought 6 old cars from the 1950s so that he had parts to put them all together into one really nice one haha. It's not a bad idea though, use good parts from one bike on another. If you can pick them up for as little as 500 euro, why not? Hopefully you'll get the XJ up and running again.

[@FreeMilesMC]

I picked one up for 350 Buks and had a Place to work on it and it’s almost done only needs breaks done. And then i have a Winter bike ☺️

[@tomtrentelman]

Cant wait for the repair vids!

[@FreeMilesMC]

That is amazing to hear the first video will come soon

[@veegoesvroom6685]

That Divvy has so much emotional value now, i would fix it no matter what!

[@FreeMilesMC]

I think so too. I Hope i can pull it off ☺️

[@PovilasPanavas]

Germany sounds crazy: need to put tyre type on registration? Suspension changes requires involvement of authorities? Crazy stuff :(

[@mrcintheuk4641]

If you do ever undertake a world trip, the last thing you want is a modern bike loaded with modern electronics. Knowing a bike inside out, such a the bike you're currently working on, would be preferable.

[@FreeMilesMC]

I hope I ménage to learn all the stuff 😂. World trip is the dream. Let’s see how close we can get to that ☺️

[@baikal4784]

My 96 xj600 wouldn't start... I just changed the sparks plug then it fired up straight away. These bikes need a long time to warm up before you ride.

[@georgk8025]

Hello, wonderful idea to repair your xj 600 and also to be able to do alone most of the maintenance and repairing stuff the motorcycle needs during a long trip , I would also like to put some all-terrain tires on my xj 600 , what are the specifications and brand of your tires and did you need some modifications? Good luck and looking forward to see your next videos.

[@FreeMilesMC]

Those tires are tkc 80 tiers they work well. But they are a pain in the ass to get registered

[@georgk8025]

OK thank you , I think for the moment in France, there’s no technical control.

[@Zanith50]

I have the issue of it not starting without starter spray if you leave it a few days and dont start it , its aprantly the vacum fuel pump some people mod the newer 1996 model electric fuel pump to them i just keep starter spray around :D now though i have a odd hissing noise though so i need to check the carbs aswell :P and if the carbs are off i might aswell take the rocker cover off and check the valve clearance :P and i may aswell balance the carbs :P the project bike pit :D

[@tez803]

I am 70 years old and still learning so theirs hope for you yet 😂

[@zweispurmopped]

Sorry for being pessimistic, but here it comes: To make a trip around the world, your bike has to be good for another 100000 Km at least. Kinga from the channel OnHerBike had bought a brand new BMW F800GS when she started her trip. It now has 150000Km on the odo. With the XJ, that probably means the engine has to be in a condition like 0Km clocked. This will require a _complete_ overhaul including re-boring the cylinders te get rid of the usual wear pattern, fresh pistons in oversize (may be difficult to get by now), re-doing all crankshaft and camshaft bearings etc. And then the gearbox: Check for wear, check and most likely replace the shaft bearings etc… The wear of a machine´s life can be compensated. That's not too much of an issue. It just comes with a price tag attached. The question is if you are willing pay for it or benefit more from getting a bike that will reliably get you through the 100000Km trip. While that without a doubt would be a lovely project and a cool thing to do, you probably get a complete bike in reasonable condition for the same price and save a year of learning and working. That being said, I would never want to discourage you from getting deep into the technology and do the complete overhaul. On the other hand: With the current global situation and looming wars giving things a bit of time to get back to normal or convince you it doesn't have to be all around the world, Terra Del Fuego to Alaska will do, may be a good option, too. Maybe start watching ZAMs Channel to get into the technology of it. Me, I never had money for having my cars repaired by "professionals", I had to fix them myself or would not have a car. Over time, I got the knowledge and tools (Start buying Oldtimer Praxis and Oldtimer Markt magazines, they are incredibly good sources for that kind of knowledge here in merry old Krautland). I can only confirm that way too many mechanics do their work inadequately and mainly produce more problems as they go than they fix. I got my uncle's car over its technical exam after a "Meister" said the carburettor could not be adjusted any more and the brake system was f*cked. No complaints by the examining engineer whatsoever. With my current car, mechanics had destroyed a couple of parts when its pre-owner had it maintained at a big garage chain.

[@FreeMilesMC]

Thank you for the indept comment. I am probably not going to do a world trip ride away. I am kind of banking on being able to replace parts when they break on the way. As this has been a very popular motorcycle back in the day. And there are many parts in the world for this bike. Also for a world trip to be doable the channel would have to grow significantly. That’s why I currently release more videos

[@peterkellogg2788]

And the brand new BMW engine needs way more exact tolerances, relies alot on electronics, need special tools, etc. Older and simpler bikes usually last hell of a lot longer and you find mechanics or motorcyclists along the way which can help if there is a problem. I do not think you can compare the two bikes and I do believe the Yamaha can go around the world if it is well maintained.

[@zweispurmopped]

@@peterkellogg2788 Would you go down an empty Pamir Highway on a bike that you believe may make it to the end, as well? Decades worth of wear and tear need to be fixed if they are there. When the factory grind pattern in the cylinder walls has been worn away, oil won't stick like it used to. The risk of a seizing piston rises. Even the easiest to maintain bike will be an unfixable problem for the Mongolian village's blacksmith then.

[@peterkellogg2788]

@@zweispurmopped Seizing pistons do not come out of nowhere. The Yamaha needs a good inspection by a good mechanic to start off with and then needs to be serviced on a regular basis. Then you have a baseline and know in time what comes up and can get spares in time. If properly serviced I'd trust this bike more than a modern BMW for a world tour. And my point still is that you can't compare old and modern engines. You can find a mongolian blacksmith for checking a coil and spark plugs and fix basic things. Good luck with a broken electronics module. I did work quite some time in the office of a good old fashioned mechanics garage to see what old engines can do while modern ones fail. Also check out Pedro Mota. His Transalp needed field repairs and such, but being a simple bike it was usually possible.

[@zweispurmopped]

@@peterkellogg2788 Yes, the simplicity of older tech makes it much easier to have it repaired under way. (That being said, carburettors are delicate bastards ever fewer mechanics know how to handle!) Still you can't wish away plain wear. The cylinders that were ground out over decades of use have only that much life left in them and _need_ to get re-ground at some point, bored to the first oversize, get a new oversize piston and all the bearings wear and tear and need a check. The cylinder head needs to come off and the bores need to be measured, then the wear needs to be evaluated. You have to estimate if the advance of the wear will be acceptable for the distance you have to expect to do on a long journey. With modern surface hardening after boring the cylinder, a few extra quid may get you an engine that is better than new as well. This extra step may be an overkill, though. The stuff that makes the nice fresh oil go black and dirty mostly is the material that was scratched off by the parts moving. It happens to all engines and just is a matter of how many times the engine turned over. In production and tolerances, there hasn't been much of a change in the last twenty to thirty years, I think. When they got it right they got it right and couldn't get it any righter. I am with you saying that modern electronics can do more damage than good when travelling remotely. There was a peak in usability of the vehicle designs at some point. Since the complexity grew they lost some of it. A well fixed and maintained machine from that older era will be a better daily driver than the flashiest newest high tech super-duper-computer-everything one.

[@Miesn]

Geil! Ich bin dabei!

[@FreeMilesMC]

Super ☺️

[@wibiunterwegs9698]

Moin, Wir haben für ganz wenig Geld Teile Träger gekauft. Damit halten wir meine XJ schon lange am Laufen. Wir hätten noch einige Teile. Wenn du Interesse hast, kannst du für bekommen für kostenlos

[@FreeMilesMC]

Ja da bin ich gerne dabei. Es ist auch content in Zukunft mit der xj geplant momentan hackt es daran das ich Hilfe beim Ventile einstellen brauche

[@wibiunterwegs9698]

@@FreeMilesMC beim Ventile einstellen ist der Hanson raus 😬 Du kannst einen kompletten Motor bekommen 🤗

[@wibiunterwegs9698]

Ich schreibe dir nachher eine e-mail

[@TrumpulumpumMagik]

sell second one and repair in service your bike ;p fix and forget.