In 1851, Torakusu Yamaha was born in his native Japan. In 1890, Torakusu Yamaha incorporated the Nippon Gakki Company Limited, for the purpose of making pianos and organs. Yamaha had its origins as a musical instrument maker. This is still reflected in the Yamaha logo, which depicts 3 interlocking tuning forks. In 1916, the founder, Torakusu Yamaha passed away. In the years after World War II, the company’s president Genichi Kawakami realized Japan needed affordable transportation to rebuild after the war. In 1955, Yamaha introduced it's first motorized product, the YA-1 Motorcycle. It was a 125cc, 2-stroke, single-cylinder motorcycle. It was patterned after the DKW RT 125. It was dubbed the “Red Dragonfly,” and was so successful that Yamaha decided to incorporate the Yamaha Motor Corporation. In 1957 Yamaha introduced the YD-1, which was an improved version of the German Adler bike. In 1958, Cooper Motors started selling Yamaha motorcycles as an independent importer in the United States. In 1959, the YDS-1 was released by Yahama. This was a tuned-up version of the YD-1 motor in a double-cradle frame. This bike established the pattern of sporty Yamaha two-stroke Twins for 20 years. In 1960, Yahama Internation started selling motorcycles in the USA. In the 250cc class, Phil Read won Yamaha's first ever World Championship in 1964. The DT-1 Enduro was introduced in 1968 by Yamaha, possibly the first dual-purpose motorcycle ever made. In 1975 Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock production motocross bike. Giacomo Agostini gave Yamaha its first 500cc Motorcycle World Championship in the same year. The legendary Yamaha XT 500 was born in 1976. In its 4th year of production, the Yamaha XT 500 won its first running of the Paris-Dakar rally. In 1979 developed the Yamaha Induction Control System (YICS), a fuel-saving engine system for 4-stroke engines. The first air-cooled V-Twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced in 1981. In 1984, the first production 5-valve-per-cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750. Eddie Lawson also won the 500cc World Championship for Yamaha in 1984. He went on to do it again in 1986 & 1988. In 1987 Yamaha introduced the EXUP, a new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines that included a power valve to control back-pressure for optimizing the width of an engine's powerband. 1990 Wayne Rainey won the 500cc World Championship. He goes on to win it again in 1991 and 1992. Thomas Stevens became the only person ever to win the AMA Superbike Championship on a Yamaha in 1991. Yamaha introduced its first Star model with the 1300cc V-4 Royal Star in 1996. In 1998 the Yamaha YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike is introduced, it becomes the first mass produced 4-stroke motocross bike. The YZF-R1 sport bike was also introduced to wild acclaim in the same year. In 1999, the YZF-R6 was introduced.
In 2002, the Yamaha R1 gets fuel injection, a first for a Yamaha sportbike. Valentino Rossi won the 2004 & 2005 Moto GP World Championship on a Yamaha bike. In 2006 the Yamaha R6 was introduced with a Yamaha Chip-Controlled Throttle or YCCT. This partial fly-by-wire system was a first in the motorcycle industry first. In 2007 the Yamaha R1 was introduced with a Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake or YCCI. This system varies the length of the inlet tract depending on throttle position and engine speed. The Yamaha R1 was also introduced with a slipper clutch. Yamaha won the Manufacturer’s Championship in the same year. After an incredible run of more than 20 years, the Yamaha Vmax was finally put out to pasture in favor of a new version powered by a monstrous 1700cc V-4 engine pumping out a claimed 200 hp earlier this year. Yamaha will continue to make motorcycles for many years to come. This truly is one of the best motorcycle manufacturers in the world. It truly is no surprise to find adverts for Yamaha in the classifieds, since it's one the most popular brands. Related Link:
Yamaha - Official Website
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