Yamaha XT 600 explained

The Yamaha XT600 is an Enduro motorcycle manufactured by Japanese motorcycle manufacturer Yamaha. It was built from 1984 to 2003, in various different versions.

Model history

The XT600 is considered to be an all-purpose Enduro, which is suitable for use on the road as well as off-road driving. Its disc brakes, four-valve engine, mono-shock absorber (Monocross) and contemporary 12-volt electrics represented significant improvements over the 1975 Yamaha XT500 model.

The first XT600 was introduced in June 1983: the XT600ZL Ténéré (type 34L), with the Yamaha XT550 engine, kick start only, with a 30-litre tank. In 1984 the basic XT600 was introduced to "replace" the XT550. In addition to the changes in design, the main difference was an 11.5-litre tank instead of the 30-litre long-range 600ZL Ténéré's tank; the road-model Yamaha SRX was released later. In 1991, the somewhat obsolete XT600Z Ténéré was replaced by the water-cooled, five-valve Yamaha XTZ660, which failed to carry on the legendary reputation of its air-cooled predecessors.

Over the years, the XT was built in 600 different variants, most of which only differ from one another in appearance. The most important change in the XT600, which had only had a kick start, was in 1990: the XT600E was presented as a new model with a more contemporary design, chrome-plated steel wheel instead of aluminum wheels, now without a tachometer, with the exhaust as a supporting frame member, a 13.9-litre tank, and an electric starter. In addition, the oil tank, which was previously located under the left side cover, was moved forward behind the steering head between the frame and girder bridge. Due to high demand, the XT600K, which featured a kick-starter, but was otherwise structurally identical to the XT600E model, was introduced to the market; the series ran until 1995. Due to more stringent emissions requirements, the power of the XT600E, which had become the only available model, was reduced by 4 kW to 29kW, and a tachometer was reintegrated in the cockpit. The clutch actuation on the engine body was moved from the left to the right side, and the muffler was no longer part of the rear frame. The reliability of the XT unit was not reduces, mileages of over 100,000 km without an engine rebuild being not uncommon.

The bike was eventually succeeded by several newer versions, including the XT660R (road-trail), XT660X (motard), and XT660Z Ténéré (adventure). Additionally, it inspired larger models, notably the adventure-styled XTZ750 Super Ténéré and XT1200Z Super Ténéré.

Points of interest:

The 600ZL was known as such because it was a 600Z 34L. However this trend did not continue in the following 55W model of 1984/5, otherwise this could have been known as 600ZW. The easiest way to distinguish a type 34L from the near-identical (but in many small ways superior) 55W, is that the latter has sloping speed blocks on the tank.

Technical data

Models

YearSerial numberDesignationPerformance
MY 83–8434LXT 600 ZL20to(-)
MY 8555WXT 600 Z20to(-)
MY 84, 85 47N (Switzerland)XT 600 Z
MY 86–871VJXT 600 Z20to(-)
MY 88–903AJXT 600 Z20, 25 & 34 kW (27, 34 & 46 hp)
MY 88–903DS (Switzerland)XT 600 Z28–32hp
YearSerial numberDesignationPerformance
MY 84–8643FXT 60020to(-)
MY 87–892KFXT 60033kW
MY 87–892NFXT 600limited to 20kW
MY 90–943TBXT 600 E & K33kW
MY 90–943UWXT 600 E & Klimited to 20kW
MY 95–973TBXT 600 E25to(-)
MY 97–99VJ01XT 600 E25to(-)
MY 99–03DJ02XT 600 E25to(-)
DesignationYearSerial numberIntended Market
XT 600 ZL1983, 8439EAUS, EUR
XT 6001984, 85, 8643FUSA, CAN, EUR
XT 6001984, 85, 8647NEUR (Switzerland)
XT 600 S, T1984, 85, 86, 8749LUSA, AUS
XT 600 N, S, T1984, 85, 86, 8749MUSA
XT 600 L, N, S, T1984, 85, 86, 8749NUSA
XT 600 NC, LC1984, 8549RUSA
XT 600 SC198649RUSA
XT 600 TC198749RUSA
XT 60019872KFUSA, CAN
XT 600 N19872NFUSA, EUR (Germany)
XT 6001988, 892WJEUR (Switzerland)
XT 600 U19882WKUSA, CAN
XT 600 U, UC, W, WC1989, 903EWUSA
XT 60019892KFUSA, CAN, EUR
XT 60019892NFUSA, CAN, EUR
XT 600 E1990, 91, 92, 93, 943TBUSA, CAN, EUR, OCE, JPN, OTH
XT 600 EN1990, 91, 92, 933UWEUR (Germany)
XT 600 E1990, 91, 92, 93, 943UXUSA, CAN, EUR
XT 600 AC19903UYUSA
XT 600 EA19903UYUSA
XT 600 E1990, 91, 92, 93, 94, 953UYUSA
XT 600 BC19913UYUSA
XT 600 D,DC19923UYUSA
XT 600 EE,EC19933UYUSA
XT 600 EA19903WRUSA, CAN
XT 600 EB19913WRUSA, CAN
XT 600 E19923WRUSA, CAN
XT 600 EE19933WRUSA, CAN
XT 600 E1994, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 2000, 01, 023WROCE, AUS
XT 600 (kickstarter)1991, 923TBEUR (Spain, France)
XT 600 N (kickstarter)1991, 923UWEUR (Germany)
XT 600 E1995, 96, 97, 983TBEUR
XT 600 KH19933TBUSA, CAN, EUR (France)
XT 600 KN19923UWEUR (Germany)
XT 600 E19943UWEUR
XT 600 E1995, 96, 97, 99, 2000, 023UXEUR (Switzerland)
XT 600 E19964MWBrazil
XT 60019943TBEUR
XT 600 E1999, 2000, 01, 02DJ021EUR

Literature

External links