The Yamaha XJ900 was born out of the original Yamaha XJ model motorcycle, the XJ 650

Yamaha XJ650 Maxim

The Yamaha XJ650 Maxim is a mid-size motorcycle by the Yamaha Motor Company introduced in 1980 as the Maxim I and produced thru 1983. Yamaha designed the high-performance XJ650 as a brand-new four-cylinder with shaft drive, and built it specifically as a special cruiser. The XJ Maxim was the...

, which was the foundation for the whole XJ series.

In its original incarnation launched in 1983, the XJ900 had an air-cooled, double overhead camshaft, 853 cc 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, 8-valve engine.
Originally fitted with a handlebar mounted bikini fairing, its handling came in for criticism. This was quickly replaced with a frame mounted upper fairing and retrofitted to all models.
The XJ900 came with anti-dive front forks, shaft drive and triple disc brakes.

A revised version was launched in 1984 and displaced 891 cc. Aside from the engine capacity increase it was equipped with more conventional forks than its predecessor and a belly pan came as standard. The increase in engine capacity meant the carburettors went up from 35 mm to 36 mm. Aside from these changes it was nearly identical to the original and was manufactured until 1994.

The XJ900 Diversions

Yamaha Diversion

Yamaha Diversion motorcycles are a series of all-round touring motorcycles descended from Yamaha's earlier XJ series. Early Diversion models were fitted with a four-stroke air-cooled 8-valve inline-four engine...

were their replacements.

Model engine and frame codes

1983 to 1984 - 853 cc 31A

1984 to 1990 - 891 cc 58L

1990 to 1994 - 891 cc 4BB1