Radian YX600

What's everyones thoughts on the Radian?

There's just something about those funky, parts bin Yamahas that keep drawing me back. It's the same engine as the FJ600 (XJ600 in Europe), with smaller carbs for more mid-range.



I had a chance at one last year for CHEAP, but it needed carb work. I was in the middle of other projects and passed. The seller (an older gentleman, whose family was NOT happy about him having a motorcycle) had the carb work done and traded it in on a car. Well, it just so happens my buddy owns that used car lot.
He called me to help get it running right. I cleaned the tank and repaired the petcock. It's a nice, complete bike with only 8600 miles. It's very complete, but there was some rust along the bottom of the tank (superficial and I treated it with rust converter, but the tank would need painting), the tach didn't work (not sure why) and the seat cover was seperating lightly around the lock mechanism.
I rode it and it ran well and handled nicely. This is the actual bike:


I'd probably change it up a little; lower bars, maybe a digital dash package, get rid of the grab handle, a color change and definitely a round headlight.
These are pics I nabbed from the 'net. The satin black one is a little ratty, but you get the idea.



Thoughts on these bikes? If I could get it for the right price, I may have to jump on this one, even though I don't NEED another bike right now.

 

The Radian is basically an XJ/FJ600 motor in a 550 Maxim frame with updated "cycle parts." Not a bad bike at all; a bit cramped if you're tall.

 

I read a ride report narrated by a female in her mid 20's who rode to Alaska from Virginia in memorial of her older brother who passed away on a motorcycle accident, on an '86 Radian if I recall. Before doing so she had minimal riding experience and commented more than once how surprised she could handle it throughout the trip. They do have a unique look and frankly I sorta like 'em. Not too sporty yet just a tad 'racey' style for its age.

I was highly intrigued and still follow her report mainly because its a Yamaha, but also since I'm single and find it awesome a female around my age has traveled seventeen thousand miles in one summer. plus pictures from on the road and around Alaska always strike me in an awestruck moment. advrider-virginia to alaska road trip blog

 

I read that report, too. I need to go back and catch up.
Yeah, there's just something about these bikes....and my girlfriends FJ600 will SCREAM!

 

I just can't get these bikes off my mind. I don't know why...

I have a garage FULL of '70's Japanese bikes and I'm always working on a project. But....I'm so tempted to get the one my buddy has.

I'm currently looking at two different Radians.

One is the '89 that I helped a friend get sorted last year. I posted about it in the first post. It only has 8600 miles on it and runs great. Some minor cosmetic issues that don't bother me (I can fix 'em easily) and the tach isn't working. He quoted me a price when I fixed it of $1000, but I had too many projects at the time. When I went back a week ago to get it, the price had jumped my $500-600!
He owns a used car lot and now that it's riding season, he wants to see how much he can get out of it. I reminded him of the price he quoted me and I'm working on him. I'd like to make this deal, as it doesn't really need any work as far as running/stopping.

The other bike is an '87. It's been sitting for nine months and isn't running. The owner said it has carb issues and has had a couple of shops look at it. To me, I think it's electrical, as she said it wouldn't sputter and cough when it dies, but just shut off like someone turned the key off. She said it would start back up but "you have to rev the piss out of it to get it going".
This bike has cosmetic issues...it's a little rough. Faded paint, a large but shallow dent in the tank, scratched up RH muffler, the choke cable is sticky, flat rear tire... I think the bike's been in the weather for the last few months.
She has a title and claims it was an excellent runner before the stalling issue started. She's asking $700. I'd like to get it for ~$200-300.

I am not afraid of carbs. I have mechanical experience working on bikes. The cosmetics on either don't bother me, as I have some custom work in mind anyway.
Would you keep working on the good runner? He paid me for parts and labor when I fixed it; I thought about offering the $1,000 he quoted and giving him his money back.
Is there a known issue with the Radians as far as "just cutting off"? I'm thinking kill switch or ignition related.

Lastly, both bikes seem to have very soft suspension. Especially the front forks. Is this normal?

 

Radian is a fun bike its great in the city because its short wheel base and its short seat height plus its not lacking on power and it has that fat front tire but like any bike if it dont fit you must aquit I sold the one I had I was just physically too big for it to be comfortable on it but that did not keep me from riding it a few times many grins

 

i think it looks ace and love the colour i could see myself on that dude

 

Another thin though friggin fuel tank is too small

 

Some of them boys love that radian swingarm on ebay seen it sell for 200.00 up? go figure guess they cant fabricate and weld up what they need

 

Don't assume that because this is an '89 that it's somehow immune to the issues that we commonly see on the '80 ~ '83 bikes. That six years doesn't represent any great leaps forward; everything that applies to an '82 550 still applies to these bikes, recommissioning-wise.

 

I've worked on the '89. The carbs and boots are fine.

The other bike: The owner told me the side stand switch has already been replaced in an attempt to stop the cutting-off. She also has brand new Yamaha manifolds and airbox rubbers.

Forks upgrades are easy.

 

Check the date codes on the brake hoses.

Pull the rear wheels and check the brake shoes for delamination.

The sidestand switch is not the only possibility, just the first suspect in a long list.

Be sure to keep on top of drive chain lubrication; and if a chain "bleeds red" when you lube it, replace it. Internally rusted chains will quickly fail if the bearing surfaces of the pins and rollers have been compromised; lube won't save it. It's not worth taking a chance on the carnage that can occur if you break a chain on one of these motors.

 

I just noticed something. No YICS. Hmmm.

 

Huh yeah, looks like the provision is there for it, the passage is undrilled though :?

 

Yeah, the GF's FJ600 doesn't have the YICS either.

No matter which bike I get, I planned on upgrading to braided steel hoses and EBC pads/shoes. I do that on all my bikes. Makes a HUGE difference

 

What's the going price for a nice Radian these days?

The "good' one, the runner, is priced at $1795, but I think that's about top dollar for one that doesn't need anything. This one needs tach repair and there's rust on the underside of the tank. I treated the rust when I cleaned the tank for him and the tank itself is solid, but I'd want to repaint the bodywork anyway.



Is $200-300 TOO much of a lowball offer for the non-runner? There's nothing there that I can't fix. The tank dent is shallow and can be popped back out. The rear tire has good tread but may have a flat spot from sitting with low air. I know the choke cable is stiff, so even if she had the carbs cleaned, I'd want to pull them and give 'em a quick cleaning anyway. And then there's still the mysterious "cutting off problem" that would need to be solved.

 

I'd like to get the runner for the $1,000 he quoted me last winter, not the $15-1600 he's telling me now.
He paid me $25 for petcock parts and $50 for my time (I made three trips to his shop and cleaned and treated the tank for him, as well as rebuilding the petcock). I think I'm gonna tell him I'll give him his "parts and labor" money back, make it an even $100, and offer him $1100.

I think I'd probably be money ahead if I could get a bike that's mechanically sound and turn key and just make the cosmetic changes I want.

 

You lot don't know how good you got it over there as far as bike prices!

If a 600cc non-runner in that state came up for £150 (roughly $300?) it'd get snapped up first hour!!! I paid £510 ($1020?) for my bike as a non-runner & it was a bargain at that compared to anything else on offer!

 

Well, she's asking for $700. It's titled and was running until about 9 months ago. She parked it because of the cutting off issue and now the batteries dead, tire's flat, etc.

Because of the condition and the unknown problems, I'd have to offer her $2-300. She hasn't had much interest in it and is out of town until Thursday. I have a feeling she'd take my offer.

 

What'd it go for?

The speedo works. The tach could be a loose wire for all I know. It's electronic, after all.

The tach is a little busted up on the non-runner. She has the chrome cup but says it keeps coming off. That bike would be a prime candidate for a Danmoto gauge package.

 

Here's the non-runner. The tank dent is large, but shallow. I think it could be popped out. It's no a crease type dent.

 

Ahh, that'd make about £375/425 all day every day over here ($800ish) and you're about to offer the equivalent of £100/150 and that's a fair offer 8O

Wish I lived over there sometimes :?

 

Well, my buddy sold the runner yesterday. He got $1600 for it, which is probably fair, but more than I was willing to pay.
The girl with the non-runner has agreed to take $250, but we can't meet until Sunday, so we'll see if it happens....

 

The engine is the direct offshoot of the XJ550, and the direct predecessor to the Seca II. YICS was basically found not to work (one review said 'they had more power without YICS, though at worse gas mileage'), so they dropped it.

I've toyed with the idea of an FJ600 for a second bike, but then I think about the FZ600, then the FZR600, and then I think about the XJ550 again.

The radian almost reminds me of old Harley flat trackers. Not bad looking, not especially my style. Better looking than the Maxim, for sure, though.

 

Cool, sounds like you may have a cheap bike (by my standards it'd be cheap if it was seized too!).

Best of luck with picking it up