#RoadTest: Yamaha XJ6NL

"Is your helmet sweaty?" he asked.

Well now, this is an odd and quite private question for this early in the morning.

Let me backtrack a bit here. I'm in our central Auckland photoshoot location with Driven's photographer shooting the newly learner legal Yamaha XJ6NL that I've been testing for the past week.

Full size, leaner legal and more than enough power for any restricted class licence holder, the XJ6NL is quite a surprising package.

The 2014 XJ6NL from Yamaha is a serious piece of kit, that you can't help but think only just manages to sneak it's way into the Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (or LAMS) by virtue of having a restricted throttle movement compared to its full power siblings.

The throttle moves just 1cm from fully closed to fully open - being restricted at the throttle body for LAMS specification.

The bike itself is identical to the fully faired FZ6R too, just minus the fairing and thus a little bit cheaper in the outset.

So when my photographer asks "Is your helmet sweaty" I'm a little thrown by what the motive behind such a question is.

The fact of the matter is, he is in fact an ex London motorcycle courier who, after not riding for 13 years has got the itch to jump on a bike again - and the XJ6NL we're currently shooting is aimed directly at potential returning riders just like him.

With a 600cc engine derived from the infamous YZF-R6 supersport there is more than enough power available to get from A to B with good pace. Yes there is nowhere near as much available as seen in the R6 thanks to some heavy revision on Yamaha's part as well as that restricted throttle but with approximately 48hp (going by what our Aussie mates get - ours might differ slightly) the XJ6NL will still lift the front wheel easily if asked.

Being a 600cc also has the benefit of cheaper registration costs versus other LAMS bikes with the same amount of punch. With the XJ you'll be paying the same annual registration cost as a 250cc bike. Now that's a selling point if I ever heard one.

It handles very well thanks it a relatively light weight of 205kg wet mixed with well set up suspension. The front forks aren't adjustable - probably to keep the price down but they do a great job of keeping the XJ6 stable, especially mid corner. The rear monoshock is adjustable for preload only but again, on an entry level bike you don't need full adjustablity and I think Yamaha have made the right choices in their priorities here.

Handling stopping duties are twin 298mm rotors with twin piston calipers on each up front and a 245mm disk up the rear. The braking feel is nice and progressive which will be a help for newer riders not used to the intricacies of braking with hands and not feet.

The bike still carries over the same mass centralization focus of the original which also aids the bikes handling. The under-slung exhaust which resulted from this focus not only looks great but sounds very good as well considering all the emissions control equipment stuffed inside it so that the bike can meet Euro requirements.

When it comes to the body, the bike is unchanged from the 2013 model year when Yamaha gave the XJ6 its first full facelift. For 2014 we have a new graphics package with the bike coming in either Race Blu which has some fantastic looking blue wheels and a grey over paint scheme, or in the Special Edition White colours which comes with black wheels with a red stripe. Very cool either way.

The XJ is equipped with a nice easy to read digital/analog clock combo. The only thing I would like to have seen added to it would be a gear position indicator to let you know which of the six gears you're in, but not having one isn't the end of the world.

When the photographer finally returned from his quick jaunt down the hill the grin on his face told it all.

He didn't need to say that the XJ makes a perfect bike for returning riders and learners alike.

He did however think that you'd get bored of the power after a while with the available power, but that is true with all learner legal bikes and once you get your full licence you have options.

You either trade it in on something with more grunt, or if you grow attached to the XJ and everything it offers you just jump on google and find out how to de-restrict it, something Yamaha aren't to keen to publish but rumour has it is less than a half hour job with basic hand tools.

I know which route I'd probably take.

FAST FACTS

ENGINE:  600cc inline four

POWER: Approx 48hp

FUEL CAPACITY:  17 Litres

SEAT HEIGHT:  785 MM

PRICE: From $11,999 (Race Blu)

Check it out on Yamaha NZ's site.