Yamaha Motorcycles - History (From 1955)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 พ.ค. 2024
- The motorcycle division of Yamaha was founded in 1955, and was headed by Genichi Kawakami. Yamaha's initial product was a 125cc two-cycle, single cylinder motorcycle, the YA-1, which was a copy of the German DKW RT125. The YA-1 was a competitive success at racing from the beginning, winning not only the 125cc class in the Mt. Fuji Ascent, but also sweeping the podium with first, second and third place in the All Japan Autobike Endurance Road Race that same year.[6] Early success in racing set the tone for Yamaha, as competition in many varieties of motorcycle racing has been a key endeavor of the company throughout its history, often fueled by a strong rivalry with Honda and other Japanese manufacturers.
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My Yamaha Pacifica guitar is just as awesome as my 2014 Yamaha Raider!!! What an incredible place Yamaha is!!! Thank You Yamaha for your outstanding excellence in all that you do, helping me be the best version of myself while enjoying the best instruments and motorcycles on the planet!!!
I got a job at a Yamaha dealer in 1972 as a 14 year old kid for 1$ an hour , parents were divorced and I was on my own , that was a great time in America , we made stuff and the economy was good and motocross races every weekend, gas was 35 cents a gallon , the European bikes handled better but didn't start as well. The mono shocks just came out and they were the best or the worst handing bikes based on tuning the suspension. my favorite road race bike was theYamaha TA 125 and the yz 125 dirt bike. The movies at the time was ON ANY SUNDAY and Little Fauss and Big Halsey. I quit went to work at a Honda dealer and had my own bay in the shop and would work on the basket case jobs that no one else wanted and I set up new bikes. I finally got my licence and went to Honda school and Suzuki rotary school. It was a time when immigration was turned off and jobs were everywhere , I bought a Honda Elsinore 125 and turned expert on it and bought a 1969 Ranchero for 500 bucks and later my dad was a contractor and he came into my shop and picked up my tool box and said your working for me now without even asking me. My hero was Kenny Roberts on that 750 2 stroke and Mert Lawwill , it was a great time in America before the communists ruined it.
In about 74, got a job at a Yamaha dealer, $14.00 per hr, assembling Yamahas out of the crate. Plus, I owned a 71 RD 350 . I was in heaven.
My first bike was a yz80b. My second bike was an Elsinore cr125m? That thing was peaky. I did my first ever wheelies on that thing. I'm 56 now and ride a classic 96 xjr1200r imported from Japan with Kenny Roberts signature on it. It's a bike I think I'll own forever. ❤
Not one word about the VMax, Venture, Virago and so many others. What kind of Yamaha history is that? You boys completely dropped the ball!
It's a crotch 🚀 documentary.
You picked a dumb bike is what happened
I completely agree where are the yz80s 125s etc the great dirt bikes this was hardly a history lesson it is a sloppily put to-gather clips at an attentempt to gain views this video sucks!
I was fine it odd that the vmax gets left out of the conversatio. I understand it wasn't the be all and end all but it's cult following is unlike any other
Probably because they are Shit… they’re a low point in bike design! Something produced just for the P&L reports
Thank you people of japan 🇯🇵🙏🏻❗️❗️ passion and love for the motorcycle and culture 🇺🇸❗️❗️
Certified Yamaha Fanboi here. Started with my 1975 YZ-80, several motorcycles thereafter, a trumpet, home theater equipment and Lexus cars with Yamaha parts. Without doubt, Yamaha is one of the best design, engineering and manufacturing conglomerates the world has ever seen and they take care of their customers. One of my favorites was what came in the mail shortly after I got my 2004 R1- they sent a book on the R1 and an ornament of their tuning fork logo.
I have their drum sets, keys boards, and motorcycles, agreed
Hands down the best motorcycle/piano company in the world.
Honda? Yes
Honda definitely
@@AntilleanConfederation honda for what?😅
Kawasaki.... remember your 250/350's ?
Well the Green meanie manufacturer brought out their KR1 250/350's and wiped the floor with everyone 😊
Don't forget their audio equipment. That's the reason I got me a Tenere 😂
I am a life long Yamaha patron, "3-fold". YZ 2 strokes ('78 YZ125, '83 YZ490) , Vintage home audio gear (CR-820, CR-1040 receivers) and Musical instruments and gear (Too many to list). In all 3 categories I have never been disappointed with any of my Yamaha products. Not a single one. Respect given.
My first street bike was an RD350 then I stepped up to the RD400. After one summer I sold the RD400 an went back to the RD350 as I preferred its power curve.
A set of spec II expansion chambers and the carbs rejetted made it a very quick bike that I wheelie at will.
I regret never getting my hands on an RZ350 which was an improved RD350.
The crackdown on emissions took the RZ350 of the street. Yamaha was now sitting on a pile of RZ350 motors that could not be on the street.
These motors were used in the Banshee 4 wheeler.
A beast of a 4 wheeler.
It was the other way around. The banshee was the 350 at its best
Loved ALL my Yamaha products from 1978-2005.My, DT's, YZ's, XT's,FZR's,YZF's. 20 in all.
My RZ 350 in Kenny Roberts yellow and black was my favorite bike and my 81 650 special was my most dependable hood memories on those bikes !
Love Yamaha so much I've got the logo tattooed. And yes I've tried almost every brand.
I started with a Yamaha 50 in 1961, I had rode several different motorcycles over the years. In 2014 I bought a Yamaha Majesty 400 for my senior years. I am 76 now in 2022 and continue to enjoy my maxi scooter. Thank you for the history.
Yes my father at 83 is looking at Yamaha scooters after a lifetime of sport Yamahas.
The RD, TZ, both missing but both iconic Yamaha machines.
The Documentary was mostly about racetracks and the R1 and R6, which were late 90’s bikes, practically a whole decade was missed out!
I guess Kenny Roberts has been written off at this point.......
I agree, I had RXS100 first bike, RD400 air cooled, 250lc, 350 ypvs, DT175mx, TZR125 unrestricted with power valve kit and an FZR600 Loved them all.
1978, Bought my first 1976 DT250..then bought the DT400...had them both at the same time, played around with different "Sprockets", Roamed around Ft Carson hills and Colorado Mountains. Great times...lots of Fun. Great when they talked about the model.
Love my yamahas got my first bike at around 10 yrs old yz 80 and have never owned or wanted to own any other brand my dream is to build custom yamahas now that I'm retired great video
In 75 or so, rode my 71 RD 350, from Asheville, to D.C. , Delaware, and back to Asheville, with my girlfriend in the back. We were sore, but, it made it.
Was raised from 6 years old riding a Yamaha! Was hoping to see material about all the dirt bikes 👍
My first motorcycle was a Yamaha Mini Enduro 60, a step up from the Foremost mini bike I had. My next was a 75' YZ 80. Those 70's Yamaha trail and dirt bikes were amazing.
I still have my 1978 Yamaha XS 650 standard green with 5,000 miles & 1983 Yamaha 650 Seca Turbo silver with 4,000 miles both Great bikes 👍😊
I love my yamaha r6 its the first yamaha bike I ever owned and the bike I spent the most money on with modifications and trick bits too
How interesting that Kawasaki build ships and plane components and Yamaha does pianos,synthesizers and drum kits.
For sure R1 made to be one of most unique motorcycles.My mate had Yamaha rd350 and it loved it.
Still have my 71 Rd 350, and a lawnmower, with Kawasaki engine.
Not only their motorcycles but their WaveRunners are amazing! Go team Yamaha!!
Best motorcycles in the world, we love YAMAHA
My 72 XS2 was a thing of beauty! Red and White 650cc 360 degree twin. The mirrors were useless and your eyeballs would shake for two days after an afternoon ride 😂 I miss it so bad!
I’m a Kawasaki man from my first KX125 at 13 to my Z1000 now but the fiat bike I ever rode was a 1978 IT175 and the first street bike I ever bought was a Yamaha Virago 650 at age 16. I’ve always respected Yamaha as they always seemed to push the boundaries of new technology more than any other bike maker. 5 valve heads, cross plane cranks, etc. back when I had my ZX6R a buddy let me ride his new at the time 2005 R1. To say it was eye opening would be a huge understatement. I think my bike made 105 RWHP, to go from that to 160 or so was amazing. It redefined fast for me
My first bike was a '72 Yamaha 650, I think in 1986. Red and white. Awesome bike. Wish I had it now. It often got mistaken for a Triumph, and got thumbs ups from Harley riders.
It's midnight. I'm in my shed. Listing to this while polishing my Yamaha rs200 1982 twin two stroke 😂
I now understand why my Super Tenere has the aerodynamics of a grand piano. Thanks!
I bought my 650 XS1 (2nd or 3rd in CT) in Nov 70 rode it home in the snow. In June 71 shipped it to England. Me an a buddy rode Europe 11K miles, 12 countries, 4 months, him on a Triumph 650. Had some good & bad times. Still have the bike today. Pretty good scooter but a little squirrelly at 118 +/- mph on Autobahn.... 77 y/o.
The V-max is a piece of motorcycle art as well as being ridiculously fast.
I have owned Yamaha bikes spanning from a 75 rd350B to my beloved 04 fz1, 19 bikes total. I'm absolutely convinced that Yamaha buids the best machines in the world today. Trple Forks Forever!!
false. stripped allen bolts halts all maintenance....
Got a 71 Rd 350, in 73, still have it, and ,have a 92 Vmax, 06 R1, and 2013 Raider.
Just FYI. At 1:46 the piano technician is voicing the stiff felt in the hammers to adjust the felt density so it produces a more pleasant tone or voice. This is done with the pictured tool that has 4 stiff needles about thee quarter inch long. By poking the felt it loosens the fibers creating a softer hammer. Cool!! Requires lots of patience and a good ear.
Never realized it was possible to have a company that makes pianos and motorcycles, but I'm down with it.
I have 6 Yamaha's. 1982 XJ750, 1985 xj750 Maxim X, 2010 R6, 6600 Generator and Tyros 2.
Hard to beat Japanese tuning forks !
I restored a 1954 Kolher and Campbell top short blow piano, completely except for the outer wood. New glue the same hide glue as new and used in set neck guitars. The nitro cellulose laquer checked ibut beautiful!
The RD series defined a generation of teenage riders during the 70s & 80s.
I had a 250 RD DX air cooled. The first alloy wheeled RD. It made a big impression on me so how did it not get mentioned. Its like talking about suzuki and not mentioning kettles. Or Norton and ignoring the commando. I.M.O.
In 73, bought my first ride, a 71 Rd 350. At 16, I was on top of the world. Still have that bike.( rusting away in the back yard, shoot me now) Now, I ride an 06 R1. At 65, can't shake it.
@@treeguyable Mine was a 74 RD( 2 stroker).
@@jimbo1959 nice!
@@treeguyable I had a RD250A in the 70's - loved it!
Get it restored don't leave it rusting away definitely a diamond in the rough. & they actually showed the Yamaha rd350lc but it was the American version RZ @@treeguyabledefinitely cool bikes ypvs ) yeis
YAMAHA INSTRUMENTS ARE VERY GOOD QUALITY FOR THEIR PRICE ... LOVE THE YAMAHA REVSTAR GUITARS ... BEAUTIFUL AND MANLY.
I rode on the Willow Springs race track as a young boy back in the 60's. Nice to see a video showing that track.
My era with Yamaha came inbetween the YD1 and the DT1, Wonderful little two strokes. My friend has the two cylinder 100. Once we discovered that the exhaust ports tended to carbon up and cleaned them from time to time it was a jewel. Then they were the first with 4 transfer port designs. And the first with reed valves. Bikes were really more exciting. I can remember a sports 50. It was one of those bikes that you could race on real roads without hitting ridiculous speeds. Yet which required proper riding to bring out the best.
I bought a 1978 XS1100 and it had everyone trying to catch up to it in power, speed, and torque. I outran everything, including the police, on that bad boy. You could ride it all day and go kick some ass at the dragstrip that night. It wasn't great on country roads but the shaft drive made it easy to put the power to the road. How a video on it?
The 5 minutes of history was interesting. How about a video talking about Yamaha innovations? Such as the mono shock, the 5 valve head, mass centralization, stacked gearboxes, dual headlights, the RD and RZ bikes and so on ??
Yeah, the TT/XT/SR500s and their Trans-acoustic/Pacifica guitars are pretty good too.
Not sure who this was produced for...
@tatersncorn Were they the first with liquid cooling on a dirt bike?
@@mackeymichael First production liquid cooled bike was the 1981 YZ125, IIRC. I had one, back in the day.
@@pabs8345 my brother had an SR500. he got it as a bargain leftover back in the 70's. Wish we still had it.
Thank you Mr Yamaha,the world sounds much better because of you.
Skipped all of the 1960's racing and the great motorcycles. Love my 1969 305 scrambler!
I have a 66 yds3c big bear !!😄😄😄😎😎😎😎🍺🍺🍺
Yeah my first bike was a predecessor of your scrambler I had a 66 ym1305 which was basically a clone of the Honda 305 dream aesthetically at least yeah that is the bike I cut my teeth on it was 11 years old when I bought it in 1977 and the I was what the 17 years old 16 years old put a lot of miles on that bike and the I sold it because I just wanted something a little bigger I had that bike for quite a while as a second bike I kind of turned the 305 into a rat bike but the the second bike was a GTA Suzuki gt550 a triple two stroke and my third bike again was a my first four-stroke bike which was a 71 excess 650 which got me all over the place God knows how many miles I put on that anyway I haven't been able to ride for over 30 years I started to go blind slowly I miss it dearly it was a huge part of my life luckily I did have quite a few years with the ability to ride and went all over the country on a motorcycle and when I lived in California it was my main motor transportation anyway just thought I'd come and say reply to your comment sincerely Bob the blind bedroom guitars
The sport bikes are fine, but Yamaha also makes a line of fine street bikes, the XV, or "V Star" series. They handle beautifully, not too quick, not too slow, very predictable. They are comfortable, powerful for their displacement, and very reliable transportation. I have owned a 2009 XV-250 for 8 years. I bought it used from a Yamaha dealer in 2010 with 1200 miles on it. I now have 16,000 miles on it. It is my main means of transportation. I change the oil and filter more often than required, and keep up with the maintenance. I have replaced the tires twice and the drive chain twice. It is completely reliable and has never failed me. It may only be a 250, but it is plenty powerful enough to haul me at 60 MPH on the highway. I wish this video spent some more time showing this other side of the Yamaha motorcycle line. Not everybody is a racer, and this other side appeals to a whole different set of riders.
They jumped right over my MAXIM 650 shaft drive. Phooey.
I'd like to see a modern version of their first cycle, the YA-1, with the very same lines, because it was a beautiful little cycle.
They only showed us a bit of their beginning, then on to their rocket bikes. They left a whole lot out, including my beloved MAXIM 650.
Back in the 70's, I had an MX-360 dirt bike. That bike was magnificent, completely thrilling and exhilarating!
I'm glad I had the chance to feel that excitement when I was young, my thanks to the folks at Yamaha for making two-wheeled fun!
I had a 360 to...It started Backwards Twice...Put it in Gear and it would go Backwards....It didn't have a Compression Release and Ripped the kick starting gears out Twice to...They put a Compression Release in the next year.....It did HAUL ASS
One of my my brothers first bikes was a 1987 YZ250, coming from 85’s and 125’s a 250 seemed like another world
That bike was the one of the two kings of hill climbing in my youth the other was a Kawasaki 350 big horn!!!
Yes...!!! and the DT Models were monsters...250, 360, 400.
Skipped right over the RD series which made Yamaha - 350 cc Yamaha's competing head to head with 750s and winning ... that's Performance
Yes I had a 1974 RD 350 with cafe bars and JNR powerpipes and bigger Mikuni carbs man I get on the freeway and grab 5 th gear on the rear wheel and just fly!
Zero motocross bikes except the DT 1 for a few seconds.
RD rapid death.
My GF's Dads would not believe my YPVS 350 would piss all over a 500cc bike at the time
saying it's only a 350, well until i took them on the back and showed them the powerband
no doubt
This documentary should be six hours long.........they missed so many of the best Yamaha bikes made.........RD's come to mind.........and the bike and engine Kenny Roberts rode to glory ............the engine the AMA banned because it had too much horsepower , and was kicking the other manufacturers into the ditch...........so much that was never mentioned..
Agree, they skipped over the legendary
YDS3 as well as RDs. Flimsy doco really...
Left out so many other great model's
Honda and Yamaha my favorite bikes.
more of a history of the r1 . as a motorcycle mechanic for over 40years now and learnt my trade on yamaha's would have loved to see more old yams in it the real history
my first bike my dad got me was a Yammy yb100 these videos are inclined to show more the track and race view--- i just watched the suzuki one- and have a gs500
I read comments about how the RD series was missed. Up there with impact the same as the R1.
The Red Dragon Fly is certainly a great looking bike
So I'm not watching if you missed the RD. Even though I'm impressed with their design history but to miss the RD is unforgivable. The greatest 70s Japanese bike.
Agreed. I'm about halfway through, and they're going on and on about the R1, and the TOTALLY skipped over the RD series. Unforgivable.
They mentioned the American RZ250. That was the RD250LC in the UK. This video is about invoking history to sell R1 and R6 bikes. Don't confuse it with a history lesson.
@@gpz550a2 oh, sorry, l was going on the title, silly me.
@@Chapps1941 lol that was my mistake too!
@@gpz550a2 the best part for me was their design ethos and how they transferred that from music equipment to motorcycles. Yamahas, of all the Japanese brands, always felt complete. They did 'design & execution' well l reckon.
Are you in England?
Yamaha RD 350 was a first superbike to be introduced in India , now it is absolutely rare bike to own
I had one and that little bike was a blast to ride!
Rd350 is a awesome bike. I've had two. Known as the rz350 in most countries. Worth a good bit of money now
I was 13 years old my first build was a 78 yz 80..first year for the monoshock..I had it bored .50 over wiseco piston .boyseen reeds..re jetted the carb .fmf pro pipe and silencer ..This thing was a monster!!
And of course I had to get two jetskis ..A waveraider 700 and a waveblaster 2 760..These things are very fast and tough .
Yamahas are among some of the best bikes ever built
The 4 Japanese bike makers are the top 4 in the world lol. Better than American and European
Yamaha >
Great company, always quality.
Since my birth I have been a Yamaha boy ever since I was born
Just bought my first Yamaha (2018 MT 07) and am very impressed with the quality and performance. Now I want to learn more about Yamaha. Thank you for posting this.
James Herrington oh you got the economy model have you not never rode a R1M R1, R6? If not you really should try the real deal. I owned a 09 R6 and man it was a scalpel it could carve up a mountain road like nothing such good feel of the road and it inspires confidence like I would catch myself pushing the bike so hard n corners the bike would wobble at 90-110mph through curves freaked me out when it happened but it never went know where it was just letting me know “ok that’s all the traction you got at this speed and angle” and I listened I always eased up after I broke it free a little. And the R1 is just a teleportEr you twist the throttle and boom your at the curve. With it you just wanted to turn quick and get right back on the gas point and shoot really but the R6 you kept it wound up through the corners and pushed them faster through the turns.
This is nowhere near informational
... extremely biased and just outright missed SO MANY important things along the line. Sorry bud, go somewhere else. This video is complete trash
@@tammyforbes2101 thanx for not dissing this video man and definitely not Yamaha bro because I have just been a Yamaha fan since I found out about them
I just actually really appreciate it how some people don't like dissing things because I am actually running into people who don't want to diss this video because I just actually have been a fan of Yamaha ever since I found out about them in my life because I am actually a 90s kid who grew up with the liter bike wars started because I just actually will definitely never forget that decade man because Yamaha practically lead the way in my book
I love Yamahas, I have 6 at the moment 85 FZ750, 87 FZR1000, 95 TZR250 SPR, 97 TRX850, 01 R1, and my daily ride, a 06 MT-01.
The XS 650 was the best! I still turn my head hearing one
The Yamaha 1980 yz 465 xt 500 tt 600 xt 550 all great bikes that the days😮
Disappointed that there was no mention of the RDs(350 and 400) arguably the best bikes Yamaha ever made. I owned two and loved them both.
You get no argument here.
'76, '78, and the Daytona Special, 79.
Later, I found a wrecked RZ, and put
the engine (and a bunch of other goodies)
in the Daytona.
Bike moved like a Raped Ape! Below 50
MPH, NOTHING could pass me up.
steve
and rd250 was popular with learners in the UK pre 125 maximum laws coming in to force very fast bike even probably today at that size! could beat 500cc bikes from other makers (and some even bigger engines too)
the r-1 is the modern equivalent.
@Terry Melvin yea that is my fav bike,, you can sit up, it is civilized, it is polite in the city, and when you wind it up on a country road that r-1 engine will make you smile real fast. great bike! the triple looks great also now.
Ride a kawasaki and you'll forget Yamaha
My two favorite bikes
Harley Davidson and Yamaha.I own a yamaha and its superb.i love it more than anything.
Also have a 2003 Yamaha 1700 Road Star Warrior grey with 10,000 miles Great looking bike 😊
Old Dt bikes was so fun even born in 1971 the dt400 360cc was old for me but plain good simple fun reliable....
Cant believe they didn't mention Valentino Rossi, man who brought Yamaha back from dead after 11 years of losing, in his hands miserable M1 started to be serious weapon, and he won 4 moto gp titles on it.
I was gonna' say it probably predates Rossi's Yamaha career but the datestamp is MMIX (2009) so that's very much his heyday.
(It still LOOKS quite old though. I can't tell one R1/R6 from another but it would be interesting if someone could tell us what year bikes they were showcasing there).
@@clemdoherty5993 08-09 probably look the r1 and r6 they are from that time. I used to watch this show on discivery turbo in 2010.
Hey guys it’s an American history, no Kiwi Crozby or Even the Fabulous Italian Champion Giacomo Agostini no mention of any competition from the likes of Honda and Kawasaki or even Suzuki … who all developed around the same time …
And the crossplane too
@@chrisbraid2907 also very little about the mx side of things and nothing at all about enduro and trail bikes...this is NOT a histroy of yamaha..its a documentry on how the current R6 and R1 came about.
They had the fastest motorcycle on the planet when they brought out the 1100 four cylinder Midnight Special. I had the 650 Midnight Special.
I got to drive my friends 1100, what a beast.
0p boy bringing back memories that's a real blast from the past man I forgot about that bike so many bikes that weren't mentioned here I was hoping my first bike was a ym-1305 Yamaha 1966 I bought it in 76 77 I want to say it was basically a Honda dream clone but it was cool bike and it's where I cut my teeth on motorcycles and I was hoping that that would be that they would go through the progression from you know 55 to current but you know like they left out the yard these they left out the kz's they left out the amazing beast of emax I remember seeing that coming in a motorcycle magazine and my mouth was open the back tire was just something else as was the special so thanks for the memories man I haven't been able to ride in 30 years because I started to go blind but I did on to Yamaha as I own that one and I owned a 71 excess 650 it was my third by my second bike was the pretty cool Suzuki gt550 triple two stroke I should have bought the water buffalo at the time but I was going from this tiny ym1 Yamaha and the the water buffalo just seems like a huge leap little intimidated the bigger the better thanks again for the memories man would I give to ride again who knows maybe if it's in the future in my future and God sees it that there's some way they can restore my site as long as I can hold a bike up when it stops hope I'd be riding anyway sincerely Bob the blind bedroom guitars happy happy motoring my friend
@Bob the blind bedroom guitarist guitarist
I rode mid 80s yz80, 03 r6 and 06 r1.
They didn't impress me with their sound.
Suzuki imo makes the best sounding Japanese motorcycles.
Yamaha however did touch my heart.
I'm 40 now and had my luck of thrills with motorcycles.
Now I enjoy ripping my 22 wrx around town.
I started ride as a kid on dt80 and have own a few Yamaha's ,but this is more like a commercial than a documentary.to me there biggest advancement was the first Mono shock dirt bikes.
They should call this the history of the r1, the vmax is certainly iconic.
@Dan Greving
Yes it is!
Always wanted a Max from when I first saw one in 86, finally got a good one in 99, still have it today, would never get rid of it 😊
you are right on there mate...... most of the other models are far more interesting take the Yamaha Jog scooter 70km across the dirt with 10 inch knoblies on and the front plastics removed....... many a Mrs has pulled a wheelie on one straight into the driveway hedge and many a man could be heard chuckling will sleeping on the couch the same night
@@axerat1255 so true! Lol . I have a memory of my sister riding my first dirt bike, a wheelie across the yard feet dragging behind the bike finally crashing into a bush. Thanks for the laugh!
Got a 92 vmax, and an 06 R1. Still alive.
My first bike was a 1965 yamaha maybe 90cc,very reliable, later I had a kenny Robert's RZ-350 AND NOW at almost 70 I still ride my modified 1998 Beautiful R-1 THRU deals gap,tail of the dragon just for fun with my buddies trying to keep up.........
Kawasaki, suzuki, Yamaha, Honda, I've ridden all of them, they make dependable bikes, if you take care of them they'll last for life basically, I'm a Kawasaki guy mostly because the only brand new vehicle I ever bought was in 1986 the ninja 1000, for that year it was the best bike, I had a blast and it was solid, I miss that bike more than my exes.
Good video, you respect your Yamaha that much more after watching the supreme engineering efforts it took to make your machine and the detail to perfecting the balance of beauty and performance in every machine! Well done Yamaha, I love my 2016 FJR ES 1300, simply a greatest machine ever made!
Yamaha japan legend durability number1 yamaha lover
Hooray Yamaha! My XS-11 was the premier sidecar hauler, and the SRX-6 the dream handling single. A Super Teneré is next.
My first motorcycle was a 1980 Yammy RX 125....... Years later I was lucky enough to buy another the exact same colour etc and Ive restored it amazingly i could still buy a lot of OEM stuff Off my local Yamaha dealer
Hands down best part, Wayne Reiny story and THE 500s!! The SUITS always retire the BADDEST OF THE BAD and the BEST OF THE BEST! Perfect example the 500s and Group B Rally. Just realized that was the beginning of today's SNOWFLAKE PC MILLEFTINNALS that are SLOWLY DESTROYING AMERICA as we speak. We looked up these guys. They wore the crowns of ULTIMATE BADASS! Like you have the biggest balls racing 4cyl, 2-STROKE,500! AND AT CHAMPIONSHIP LEVEL! Do you know how just, PISSED OFF those freaking machines are?! Then Wayne just kills it for 3 championships on one. Just crazy!
I’ve owned and ridden every Motorcycle available in America that I could get my grimy hands on in my almost 61 years and Yamaha has been THE most reliable of them all. From BMW to Ducati to Harley, Suzuki, Honda, Hodaka, CZ, Husky, you name it and Yamaha has for me, been as reliable as an anvil. Riding a ‘21 T7 now and expect it will outlive me by who knows how long.
No mention was made of the 31 year continuous production of the V-Max motorcycle from 1985-2016 I still have ('94) or my first Yamaha the1967 YM-1 305cc
Years ago I one time got to ride against a pro-level road racer. The ride took place at what was then Riverside Raceway in Riverside, CA. The facility has been gone for decades now. in the early 80's an instructional school called Riverside home. Many aspiring canyon racers who longed to become real racers often went there to gain extra skills. I was among them. I was pretty fair rider at the time. I'd been riding motorcycles since I had turned 8 years old. I started in turn and stayed there until I came to learn bouncing off dirt was getting harder and harder as the years passed. I eventually gave up on any form of aggressive dirt riding and made the transition to blacktop. I found that crashing came a lot less often, although conceded crashes on the street were also consequential. I was willing to accept the trade off.
When I enrolled in the school I had be competing in what amounted to amateur box-stock racing where very few modifications were allowed otherwise stock motorcycles. I had been riding in the 1 liter class for several years and thought I was at least pretty good. So when I found out the course provided bike was Kaw GPZ550 I thought "piece o' cake. I can ride one those as fast as it can go.' Wrong. On the first day students was allowed to hit the track and do a few hot laps - no heads up racing allowed. Other than that? Go for it. Leading the students around that day was some guy, I forget his name, who was some level of a factory rider for Kawasaki. After we started I quickly fell in behind him. I kept remained just off his rear wheel through laps 1 and 2. I thought this guy is good, but he ain't that good. Wrong, again. Beginning the third lap I believe he had grown tired of my presence. In three turns he simply disappeared. I was stunned. The lines he took, his braking points, his precision of movement, throttle, his everything was unimaginable in my mere mortal mind. I had ridden Riverside many times and thought I knew the track. Chasing him as he quickly vanished did get me the quickest lap time I would ever get at Riverside, but I also knew I was not professional rider. A very humbling moment.
In retrospect I believe this was more a positive than anything else. I still ride today and I have the skills to go pretty damn fast for an old duffer. However, that day of humbling also solidified in my belief system a lot of wisdom. I know where my limits are and I don't exceed them. Sure, I still get the urge to push it, but I've got the wisdom to know when just a little bit more is about to become too fucking much. One of my life's goals is to have lived most of my life or at least in number of years, riding and surviving a potentially lethal love affair with motorcycles, speed, and the rushes of adrenaline or the flooding of dopamine I derive from riding. Keeping the rubber side down is rule number one with me. Others may be faster, quicker, or balliier. That's fine. I've been doing this for more than 60 years now. That has got to add up to something noteworthy. One might even say in my case I ride to live. This does not mean I wan to die on a bike or because of a bike. I'm pretty sure that would take a lot of the fun out of the relationship. Might hurt, too.
back in the old days i was lucky enough to own a DT an RZ a Vmax and later a R1 /R6 and a Roadstar ....classics
Still have my 71 RD 350, a 92 vmax, 96 R1, 13 Raider . Gotta ride.
What? They didn't even mention the Virago? That was a huge ground breaking bike
I've had the 125cc the 1100cc and currently own the 535cc virago
@@bb-ballistics1706 my buddy still my old virago 700 still runs and drives, but needs tires, he is asking $900 if you know anyone
@@renanton1069 I'm in the UK. Also selling my virago. Too cramped for me. Getting an royal Enfield
Thank you for posting this. I watched it all and I enjoyed it all, but I am wondering why the Seventies went by in the blink of an eye. Nothing about Yamaha's motocross success with Bob Hannan and their monoshock bikes and why not? And King Kenny on the dirt, too.
RD
RZ
TZ
FZR
MT01
VMAX
XJ
these bikes should have their name on the list, not just R1 R1 R1 R6 oh
YZ, TY, YVPS, TI, Minis, etc etc etc,,, History as bait.
Interesting video. I wouldn't call it the full history of Yamaha motorcycling. A little history, a lot of marketing, some history of racers and racing. Heavy emphasis on supersport bikes and road track racing.
David Roy ii
I AGREE, NOT THE FULL HISTORY FOR SURE, SKIPPED RIGHT OVER THE 1979 TRIPLE CROWN MX TITLES
What do you think sells???? Racing is part of the sales, any vehicle you go look at 99% of people do research, when a company puts r&d I to racing it also goes into factory vehicles. Duh
I like Yamaha, but they didn't even touch on their cruisers. They had a lot of good ones. Then again they had the Virago, you know, the boat anchor. Of all the bikes I've owned over the years, the Virago had to be the worst. Probably the only bike I'd tell folks to run away from.
My first street bike was a 350RD,2 Stroke.Lots of pep!!
Love these documentaries, nicely put together! Only surprise was towards the end where theguy was talking about making a nice exhaust that resulted in less power they would challenge the engineers to find ways to get back those lost hp...I guess they didnt challenge the designers when it came time to work on their indicators...Cant believe how long yamaha kept putting those parts bin from the 80s on their bikes including the R1...
It's a beautiful documentary. Probably rx and rd series need to be includ.
Personally I'm a fan of YAMAHA.
Tune of exhilaration ❤️
Yamaha were always such bikes motocross in the 70s they were such a good 👍 bike fast dependable I could never see whey most people bought Hondas instead .
I will never forget negotiating with my father in the late 60s about an at1 .
Sure , as long as long you pay for it and take care of it while I’m on vacation in Vietnam and watch the house .
The first thing I did was to get a job delivering newspapers before school and mowing lawn’s on the weekends so I could afford to put a ct cylinder and webco head with the compression realese and most importantly was an oversized mikuni with a down pipe that I got from riverside cycle salvage and hacked up in “welding class “ .
What I liked about my Yamaha jazz we're street n trial xt 250,,77 and a 83 xt 500 4 stroke torque for days and could ride fast n loose , without washing front end,lose leaves or dirt both feet on pegs💪💪🔥🔥🔥
Needs more offroad stuff.
..."More cow bell !"
yes cause I raced yz80 c d model and then onto 125
Or just get an r1 and understand what all the rage is about
Agree!!!
Interesting about the piano starting it all. My cousins have had a Yamaha baby grand for as long as I can remember and It IS the most beautiful music instrument I have ever seen. As a young child, I recall hitting each key un muted, just to listen to how long the note would sustain. And like the depth of the black lacquer, it seemed to go on forever.
Yamaha motorcycle should have chosen black to be their dirt bike color.
i have had meany bikes and combos from UK Japan and russia .But the beast bike i have owned was a XJ 650.Now at 70+ i am happy with a Jawa 350 combo and Floss dog loves it.
the xj was the only bike i ever did the TON,on
I have a 83 model XJ 650 also its a great bike overall love it as well as my Xsr 900
As soon as they started talking about LAGUNA SECA and how difficult it is as a track, my Gran Turismo playing days as a kid kicked in... and found myself nodding my head in agreement about how crazy of a turn ''the corkscrew'' is...
Then laughed to/at myself n thought, ''dude you ain't even never been to Cali let alone the hollowed ground of LAGUNA SECA'' lol
Am I alone, or is there any other grand turismo players in here lol
The v max ls not only fast but a work of art love it’s looks looking for 1200 version now 😀
Aloha, there is so much History! Good job. Great Ride. Inna House Saito San Out.
Great video just watched this for the second time i remember when this first came out I believe on discovery Channel. I'm a huge Yamaha fan boy the are the in refinement! I've owned 03, 06,17 YZFR6, ,02,04,09,12,13,14,15&20 YZFR1, MT10, YZFR3(wives motorcycle). Love tuning forks! 🙏
Music moves the Soul ....Two Wheels move the Body !!!
Totally agree with flyinbiker... how did they skip over the amazing RD series??? This felt a lot more like a promo video for the R1 and R6... it was good, but should have been so much more... They jumped from 1958 to 1968... what about all the great 60's Yamahas? Paused for a moment to talk about the XS-650 in 1970 , then skipped over all the 70's - huh???The Yamaha 2-stroke twins put Yamaha in front and center in the racing world. What happened to all the 70's? The MX bikes that became the YZ's? The Yamaha R5 that morphed into the amazing RD 350's, that in turn morphed into the RD400's and RZ-350s?? Thanks just the same...
Agreed.. No mention of the XT 500 either....Yamahas first 4 stroke trail bike
The best just keep getting better!!
In 1969 I owned a DT-1. In 1976 I owned a 1972 XS650. Both were bought second-hand. Neither bike ever let me down or broke down on me. I raced the DT-1 on weekends. I traveled up and down the East Coast many thousands of miles that XS650.