Yamaha XJ600SH Seca II reviews

This is a great scooter. It is light and has power. I go through mud, and with water over the floorboards I still make it through. Show less

I bought a used 1999 Zuma a month ago, with less than 200 miles on it. It had been kept in a garage, driven infrequently, and was in excellent shape. My wife is driving it on her work commute, about 10 miles each way. It's a great little scooter, easy to ride, great pickup, easy handling and fun to drive. It will be a money maker as gas prices continue to climb. Show less

Bought my 1996 Seca II in May, 2004 with 9300 miles on it for $2300. I bought it after a 20+ year break from riding. I couldn't have found a better bike to re-learn on. Plenty enough power to keep up with my large cc cruiser friends and also to get into trouble with. Power delivery was very predictable and smooth. Brakes provided good stopping power without fear of locking up the front (locked the rear on occasion but that was due to rider error every time.) Mileage was decent... Low-35, High-55, Avg-43. As mentioned in other reviews, she's a cold-hearted beast and needed a proper warm up to work well. For me, that meant starting her up on full choke, letting her idle while I donned my helmet & gloves (usually 2-3 minutes), set her to half-choke, pull out and keep her in 1st for 1-2 miles and then turning choke off. Not really a pain for me. In all fairness though, this was in 50 degree or higher temps. I'm sure that in a colder climate, she'd be little more difficult to make happy. I did several 200+ mile rides on her without any complaint. Even took her down a few gravel/dirt roads without any problems (not a dual sport by any stretch, but she didn't complain.) I always felt planted and steady on her. Flicking her about in the twisties was always a joy. didn't take a lot to get her to lean over. Maintenance wise, I replaced the air filter, chain & sprockets (at 18,000 miles), dash light bulbs and tires in my 9000+ miles. All repairs were very easy to accomplish. Overall, I couldn't have been happier. My ONLY regret is trading her in for a new bike. Show less

I bought this bike thinking it would be good for my wife to learn on. It is the smallest street bike I've ever owned. I turns out that she is too short to feel comfortable on the 30.5" seat height, so I got her a Buell Blast. I've been riding and upgrading this bike for the last year now. I bought it with 9300 miles on it, for $1,800.00 in perfect condition and now have 17500 on it. It has not had any problems at all. It was completely stock. I've put on a new chain, windscreen, turn signals, Skidmarx hugger, Yoshimura exhaust, K & N jet kit, gel grips, Corbin seat with backrest, and Metzler tires. Most I found on ebay dirt cheap, and there are a lot of parts still available for this bike. The jet and exhaust upgrade felt like a 20% increase in power. I have no problem keeping up with the guys I ride with, even then two up. If you are looking for a fun, low cost, low insurance ($75.00 a year), low maintenance, easy to handle, good looking, comfortable, fun in the twisties, good for around town, upright seating position tour capable starter bike, this is it! Show less

Overall I am pleased with my Zuma II. Simple to ride and quite practical in an urban area. I routinely commute about 15 miles each way to work with no problems, rain or shine. Not to mention never having to worry about parking downtown! Small enough to fit on half a sidewalk and lock to a signpost. The engine seems to run well. Quick pickup off the line makes it easy to get out of the way at an intersection; a little lag around 15-20 mph, then a stronger band of power up to 30 mph, and I get about 40 mph top speed on a level surface (32-35 uphill, maybe 43 downhill). Stay off highways, of course, but it is fine on back roads, and even on many numbered local highways in my area. Very stable handling; I have hit sizable potholes and patches of sand and kept control. A friend of mine with the same model has even ridden it (slowly!) on a snowy road and been OK - would certainly not recommend this to anyone, but he has dropped a motorcycle under similar conditions and says the scooter was much easier to stabilize; lightweight and low to the ground. Tire traction is quite good, even on bumpy roads. 45 degree lean around corners is no problem, and you can swerve around obstacles very quickly. Can carry a passenger reasonably comfortably - acceleration is a bit slower in that case, and you have to be more careful about potholes or it will bottom out the suspension (uncomfortable). Also it may be difficult to see behind you as the mirrors do not stick out far to the side and the passenger may block your view. Has an electric quick-start although I often need to use the quickstart to get it going if the engine is cold, especially in colder weather. Has been quite reliable in general and it is a joy to get minor repairs or tune-ups for less than $100! If you know how to do repairs yourself, it is quite straightforward mechanically. Burns a little oil with the gas and lubricates itself, so no need to do oil changes. Had it in a New England barn for over three years while I was away, not professionally prepared for storage at all (rushed departure), and got it running when I got back just by clearing a bit of goop out of the carburetor and replacing the battery. Expect some brown smoke if you haven't ridden it for months; it clears up after a bit. The front brake is not as strong as I would like - possibly just needs adjustment, not sure. Rear brake is strong enough to lock the wheel. OK suspension, though not much travel, so you need to cut speed on poorly paved roads. Have ridden it briefly on dirt roads and it was fine. Good dual headlights, very visible. Fuel tank doesn't hold much; don't plan on going too far from a gas station. I get maybe 60 mpg: the two-stroke engine is not so efficient. If you ride close to the top speed, it will run low on gas more quickly than if you stay in the 30mph range, since you need to keep the throttle wide open for the last few mph. My model doesn't seem to have any under-seat storage, which is unfortunate. There is a rear rack you can tie things to, and a helmet lock and a U-loop for a cable lock (necessary in urban areas for such a lightweight vehicle - two people can get it into a pickup truck without much effort). Rear-view mirrors are a pain to adjust; you need to do some magic with two wrenches to get them to be tightened in the correct position if they come loose. All in all, I would recommend this scooter if you are looking for a used one. (Was inexpensive new, too.) The current models sound like they may be faster and have better storage. Show less

First off I bought this bike for one grand at which point I had the carbs cleaned (cause it had been sitting for 2 years) and i changed the spark plugs which ran me about another $500 so total i only spent 1500 bucks. i own the 92 model in red and it only has 6K miles, I love riding it its really comfy and its fast enough for me for right now seeing how it is my first bike and all. Great bike!! Show less

My 93 has been trouble free for the most part. At 22k, it is on the third set of plugs, oil changes every three thou or so, and two sets of tires. Will probably replace rear for only the third tire back there at 25k. Cheap to own is my point. It is ready for an air filter and I think new fork oil. Noticably a little squishier the past two thousand miles up front when braking. Replaced a slightly leaky clutch gasket for seven dollars and two hours of my time. Valves have never needed adjustment. Suspect chain and sprocket are coming to the end of a lifespan. Original front brake and one new set out back. Mileage has been consistantly 50-53 mpg whether riding 1 or 2 people on city or highway. Corners nice and switches direction very easily. Only weighs a hair above 400lbs and under 450 with full tank. Seat is comfy for 2.5 hour stretches. Very good for passengers. A great recreational motorcycle. It is fun to ride, extremely low maintenance and a good looking scoot. Show less

I have a black 1999 zuma and it hauls. this bike is awesome. if you dont have one get one they are alot of fun and can go about 50mph Show less

I just purchased a 2003 Zuma and it's a great little bike. It is the first bike that I have owned. I get a lot of compliments on it. A guy riding a kawasaki ninja thought that it was a 250cc bike and I told him that it was only 50cc. I do get some smart alec remarks but i think that they're just jealous because they don't have one. The heck with them. They didn't help me pay for it. I'm having a lot of fun with it. There were a couple of harley owners that wanted me to go riding with them. I told them I'd think about. don't believe I'd be able to keep up. but hey if a harley rider wants me to hang out with them, it can't be all bad. Show less

This is going to be a long review, just be warned. I hope it is helpful! I have just recently purchased my 2003 Yamaha Zuma (from Excel Motor Sports, they were so helpful!) and I love it! Where ever I go I always get compliments on it. The bike is so fun that most of the time I will usually take the longest possible way to get to where I want to go just because it is such a joy to ride. I have only had this bike for about two months and it already has 500 miles on it. The only thing that really erks me about the bike is that when Yamaha advertises it in its brochures, it says dual headlights. Well, in reality only one stays on at a time. One headlamp for high beam, and one for daytime running lights. If you are a college student, or just want something fun to drive around town, I strongly recomend this bike. The Zuma performs great even with a passenger. Although, I must admitt I have taken it out with the weight exceeding the limit and it has done great (even hitting over 40MPH). I do not condone this although. I am thinking about maybe buying another Yamaha in the coming years. I want my little "Zum-Zum" to go faster. Although, every one of my friends wants to buy one now. If you think riding a Scoot is dorky think again (except if you are wearing one of those alien helmets like me)! Show less