Yamaha Radian

[dmp221]

My buddy is learning to ride.  I've had him on my GS a few times.  He's been searching for his first bike and last weekend bought an 88 Yamaha Radian.  I've since ridden it.  Yammie made these 600cc I4's from 86-90.
Nekked, about the same size, height, weight as the GS...Cool bike, gotta say.
Anyone ever hear about or ride one??

[Jared]

I understand they ran pretty strong --had so -so handling (but they weren't sport bikes) and the brakes were probably in the same category. I knew someone that rode one as a daily driver...he seemed to like it.

Pretty much a parts bin bike like most of the 80's standards/cruisers were.

Capable bikes.

[manofthefield]

That's got the ugly square headlight right?  Otherwise those are good looking bikes

[GVH]

Lots of power and easy handling.  Get him to join the yahoogroups radian group. It's as good for advice and help as this forum.

[Rema1000]

The Radian was kind-of like a naked version of the Seca II.  I think I heard that the engine was the same; if so, then you can probably get parts for the engine, at least.  If he got a good exhaust, he should be sure to take care of it (sand and paint every year; he shouldn't start the engine over winter unless he lets the exhaust get up to temp), and maybe add an exhaust guard in case of a crash.

[GRU]

a guy i know has that bike and today i fixed it for him and took it for a spin.....it's ugly and handles like a harley.....my gs is wayyy better than a radian

[puzzleboy]

Ummh, a Radian has an inline 4 600cc engine.  Right out of the FZ600.  Not really in the same league....  Good bike!

[Blueknyt]

naked version of the Seca II.

No, the seca II is an updated design of a semi sport tour of the seca. everything differnt on the II. also in same engine family as the maxims(chain drive models)  the

Right out of the FZ600

Cant say i remember when the FZ came out, but the radian is a de tuned FZ engine, kinda like the FJ600 which i know was out in 84/85.


i think shortly after the FZR models came out with 5 valve heads and more of a laid down positioning of the cyls.  the Fazer also shared this engine.

[scratch]

FZ came out in '86, same as the Radian. All the motors from the FJ, FZ and Radian came from the '81 XJ550 Maxim and Secas. The Radian was faster than any of them in the quarter mile. Same with the 700 Fazer being faster than the FZ700/750. Thought that said something about  fairings slowing down a bike.

The Seca II is a completely new and different engine design from the XJ family, it has a 45 degree forward slant of the cylinders, ala the Genesis design.