• Yamaha designed the 1984 FJ600 as an on-road touring bike.Road image by Bhutta from Fotolia.com
  
  Established in the early 1950s, the Yamaha Motor Corporation had been manufacturing recreational and on-road motorcycles for about 30 years when it released the FJ600 in the 1984. The make was short-lived, though some enthusiasts still ride well-kept models. This sport-touring street-cycle was rated at 59.3 out of 100.0 by users on rankings website Bikez.com.
  
  

Engineering

• Featuring an in-line 4-cylinder, 4-stroke engine, the valves in the 1984 FJ600 came in a double overhead camshaft configuration. The engine also had a displacement of 598 cc (36.49 cubic inches), a bore and stroke of 2.3 by 2.2 inches and a compression ratio of 10.0 to 1.0.
  
  

Performance

• The Yamaha FJ600 had only moderate performance specs. It had 72 net horsepower at 10,000 rpm and a torque of 39.8 foot-pounds at 8,000 rpm. It had a top speed of 124.9 miles per hour, could travel from 0-62 miles per hour in 4.9 seconds and a quarter mile in 12.4 seconds. It had a maximum rpm of 10,500.
  
  

Systems, Transmission and Fuel Efficiency

• Equipped with a Mikuni BS32 carburetor, the 1984 FJ600 also featured an oil and air cooling system and a wet sump lubricator. Additionally, it came with an electric starter, a transistorized coil ignition and a 6-speed chain transmission system. The bike was capable of an average of 41.27 miles per gallon.
  
  

Chassis and Suspension

• The 1984 FJ600 featured a 64-degree fork angle and a trail of 4.2 inches. In the front, a telescopic fork suspension with 3.9 inches of travel protected bike and rider, while a monocross rising-rate suspension with five-way preload with 5.6 inches of travel came equipped in the rear.
  
  

Brakes and Tires

• In the front, the FJ600 came with dual-slotted disc brakes with 2-piston calipers and a 10.5-inch diameter. The rear featured single-slotted disc brakes with 1-piston calipers. The bike took 110/90-V18 size tires in the front and 140/19-V18 in the rear.
  
  

Measurements

• Weighing in at 458.6 lbs., the 1984 FJ600 was a relatively heavy bike. It measured 83.4 inches in length, 28.9 in width, and 48.2 in height. It had a seat height of 31.1 inches and a wheelbase of 56.1. A ground clearance of only 5.9 inches made the bike less suitable for bumpy trails than many of Yamaha's sport and off-road cycles. It also featured a gas tank capacity of 5.68 gallons and an oil tank that could hold 0.20 quarts.