Is the Seca II a good beginner bike?

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Is the Seca II a good beginner bike?

Looking at the specifications sheet, the Seca II appears to be the ideal beginner bike. It has reasonable horsepower, its light, has a low seat height and you can find them cheap; most under the $2k mark. The Seca II features an upright riding position, a linear and manageable power delivery and predictable behavior with brakes and suspension.

Riding a Seca II confirms what you've read on paper. From a stop, the bike's clutch engages through a relatively wide friction zone, the transmission shifts into gear with a confirming "thunk" and the engine revs predictably. The bike carries its weight low in its frame and the bike does not feel top heavy. Once rolling, the bike’s transmission feels notchy with the same "thunk" felt as you slide into each of its six gears. Run the bike to redline between shifts and transmission engagement becomes smooth and efficient.

The engine's power band is predictable and generally liner with a positive surge felt as the bike exceeds 6k rpm. The engine produces good, useable power all the way to its 9,500 RPM redline. Acceleration is adequately predictable for new riders but spirited enough to keep more experienced riders happy. The Seca II is quicker from 0-60 than most vehicles you'll encounter on your ride. In 1992, Cycle World magazine managed to get a 0-60 time of 4.4 seconds with a 13.19 second quarter mile (at 113 mph) from their stock Seca II.

Around town, the bike’s softly sprung suspension works well, absorbing bumps and providing a compliant ride. Low-RPM power is sufficient and the bike doesn't need to be revved high into the power band to use the engine's horsepower. The single-caliper front and rear brakes provide sufficient stopping power to keep you out of trouble though the soft front suspension does tend to dive under hard braking.

Accelerate to highway speeds and you'll notice a vibration at 4k rpm that disappears by 5k rpm. At that 4k rpm mark, the front fairing vibrates to resonance and buzzes quite noticeably. Above 5k rpms, though, things settle in and the bike cruises along, smoothly and quietly. Engine power is sufficient to cruise along comfortably at all legal highway speeds with enough power in reserve to quickly pass slower vehicles. The front fairing offers reasonable wind protection that turbulence from the small windscreen can be a problem for those above 6' tall.

Riding the Seca II through your favorite canyon or twisty road provides a rewarding experience. The bike turns-in well thanks to wide handlebars and arcs through tight s-turns with agility. The front suspension can become unsettled, however, if quickly and repeatedly loaded with excessive front braking.

The upright seating position is comfortable for long rides, the handlebars are roomy and well angled and the controls are easily reached. The brake lever offers some adjustability but the clutch lever is fixed. Both levers require more reach than one would expect; clutch pull is smooth and light and brake lever travel provides good feel.

The main concern with the Seca II is its age: The first Seca II's were produced for the 1992 model year and Yamaha pulled them out of the US Market in 1998. That means the oldest Seca II's are 23 years old (at the time this article was written) and the youngest Seca II's are 16 years old. Most Seca II's were used as beginner bikes and spent a great deal of time sitting in garages without sufficient maintenance.

While the Seca II is a great beginner bike and a great all-around bike, buying one and having it ride reliably will likely require some level of maintenance work. Most used Seca II’s require a good carburetor cleaning, fluid changes, valve adjustment, chain and sprocket replacement and new tires. If you lack a mechanical inclination, shop costs can get expensive fast and finding shops that will work on the carburetors can be tough.

If you are the type of person who understands how to maintain and repair a motorcycle or if you're the type who is willing to learn, the Seca II can be very rewarding to own and maintain and will pay dividends in enjoyment. If, however, you are not such a person, they can get expensive, quickly.

I have seen many new riders come and go on XJRider.com. Those who love to work on mechanical things do well with the Seca II and report a great love for the bike. Those who do not have the desire to work on their Seca II or who do not have the means or know-how, quickly become discouraged.