1998 Yamaha Diversion 900. Is it suitable??

[chris125]

Hi everyone
I hope this post isn't in the wrong section.
I am planning to to to Europe this summer for 3 weeks. I'm anticipating a total of 4000 miles or so. I don't go off-road and my riding style is not that of a lunatic. Is this bike suitable for such a trip? My main interests are comfort and economy really. Power is not high on my list of priorities but the odd time I do give it a handful I'd like to know I have a bit of oomph at least. Not looking for a fireblade response to acceleration but a little bit of a smile would be nice. I can buy this bike at reasonable money and just thought I'd ask you all if it would be a good buy. I have done Europe a few times on my trophy 1200 but I sold it last year and am itching to go again.

I'm not expecting this bike to be as powerful as the triumph by the way.
The rest of the year I wouldn't cover more than another 1000 miles or so and I am definitely a fair weather biker so I don't need this bike to be an all year round commuter or anything like that.

Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated.

Chris

[Pigford]

If its cheap - do it. As you say not exactly a bike that raises a lot (or any!) interest usually, but I'm sure it'll cope with your requirements admirably.

[MarkShelley]

The Divi 900`s have a big following due to their reliability and cheapness. They were popular as courier bikes for these reasons. Shaft drive is an obvious bonus. It should be perfect for your trip and unlikely to attract unwanted attention due to it not being fashionable.

[jim lovell]

Go for it Chris, im sure you wont be disapointed. The Divvy 6 and 9 are both fantastically reliable, ive got a 6 and its great ive done Wales on it and im a big guy also got a chair on it for the lad and its great for the missus to ride so it gets well used and never had a problem with it. Although the 9 is a better bike all round.

[Tenere Tom]

Originally Posted by MarkShelley

It should be perfect for your trip and unlikely to attract unwanted attention due to it not being fashionable.

OUCH!!!

If anyone said that about a bike of mine I'd be having words!!!

[the pheasant]

Bit of a thread resurrection, but FWIW; I bought a 2002 900 Diversion with OE panniers (by Krauser) in 2010 for a 2-up tour around France, Switzerland and Italy. The bike did 4005 miles in 14 days, used no oil, needed a new rear light bulb at 3950 miles and returned around 54mpg on the ride with a best of almost 60mpg. It will also cruise at a ton and is smoother over 90 than under. I sold it last year and recently bought it back 'cos I missed it. It's a big old bus but a bike I'll happily just get out of the garage for a Sunday ride.

[Walkabout]

Originally Posted by Tenere Tom

OUCH!!!

If anyone said that about a bike of mine I'd be having words!!!

I like that, but because I agree with it - it never bothered me when I owned an unfashionable 900 Divy (I quite like the 900 TDM as well, but I haven't owned one of them - still in production though, so never say never eh!).

Originally Posted by the pheasant

Bit of a thread resurrection, but FWIW; I bought a 2002 900 Diversion with OE panniers (by Krauser) in 2010 for a 2-up tour around France, Switzerland and Italy. The bike did 4005 miles in 14 days, used no oil, needed a new rear light bulb at 3950 miles and returned around 54mpg on the ride with a best of almost 60mpg. It will also cruise at a ton and is smoother over 90 than under. I sold it last year and recently bought it back 'cos I missed it. It's a big old bus but a bike I'll happily just get out of the garage for a Sunday ride.

I did a similar tour, two up, for a month on a nearly new 2001 Diversion - yea, that long ago.
This thread has brought back fond memories of how good that bike is at two up touring - maybe, in my case, at around 80-90 MPH on the autostradas.
The standard screen is excellent with the wind blast and it has good aerodynamics around all of the upper fairing which is great in the bad weather. Lower fairings can be found for the bike, but I never had those.
The forks are a bit soft and tend to dive a lot when fully loaded with pillion and luggage so progressive springs would have been a good investment on mine; unfortunately, I moved on to own other bikes.
The shaft drive is bullet proof and from what I see of the current Yamaha FJR it hasn't changed in the manufacturing i.e. the Divy 900 final drive looks exactly the same as the shaft drive fitted on the current FJR.