1986 - 1990 Yamaha YX600S Radian
(Page 3 of 4)
July/August 2009
By Motorcycle Classics staff
But those niggling complaints didn’t get in the way of the Radian being declared Cycle Guide’s Bike of the Year for 1986, and a Best Buy by just about every other publication.
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Given the Radian’s parts bin makeup, its no surprise Yamaha changed very little on the bike from 1986 until it was pulled from the lineup after the 1990 model year. In fact, about the only change of note came in 1989, when Yamaha inexplicably relocated the Radian’s alternator from behind the cylinder bank to the left end of the crankshaft, leaving it vulnerable to damage in the event of a left side touchdown.
While some might question the “classic” merit of the Radian, there’s no denying its role in Yamaha’s success. Good looking, well mannered, more than fast enough and remarkably cheap, the Radian is still one of the best buys from the 1980s. MC
Four-cylinder rivals to Yamaha’s Radian
1986 Kawasaki ZL600 Eliminator
- 73hp @ 10,500rpm (claimed)/ 107mph
- Liquid-cooled, 592cc DOHC 16-valve inline four
- 6-speed
- Disc front, drum rear
- 468lb (wet)
- 40-45mpg
Introduced the same year as the Radian, the ZL600 was Kawasaki’s new standard. Not a cruiser, although it leaned heavily that direction, and certainly not a sport bike, it was, however, a better performer than either its looks or lineage would suggest.
Styling came straight from its big brother, the ZL900 Eliminator introduced in 1985. Like the ZL900, the ZL600 had a drag strip/bad boy look, with a heavily stepped seat, slash-cut shorty mufflers, black engine cases with chromed side covers, and wide, tall handlebars with a lazy pullback for cruising with some ’tude.
Powering the ZL600 was the liquid-cooled, 592cc inline four introduced on the Z600 Ninja the year before, although with shaft final drive instead of the Ninja’s chain. But importantly, while the ZL lost 5hp to the Ninja overall, it was actually faster 0-60mph (3.36 seconds versus 3.52) and produced more horsepower at mid-range roll-on, the zone where most people really use power. Like the Radian, the answer was in smaller carbs (30mm versus the Ninja’s 32mm), which greatly improved the engine’s low- and mid-range response. The Ninja could best the ZL in final top speed, but at anything less the ZL would actually leave the Ninja in the dust.