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Yamaha Motorcycles

About Yamaha

Yamaha Motor Company Limited is a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company. Yamaha Motor is part of Yamaha Corporation.

Yamaha CEO Genichi Kawakami took Yamaha into the field of motorized vehicles on July 1, 1955. The company's intensive research into metal alloys for use in acoustic pianos had given Yamaha wide knowledge of the making of lightweight, yet sturdy and reliable metal constructions. This knowledge was easily applied to the making of metal frames and motor parts for motorcycles. Yamaha Motor produces motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, boats, marine engines including outboards, automobile engines, personal watercraft and snowmobiles.

The Yamaha corporate logo is composed of three tuning forks placed on top of each other in a triangular pattern. These were piano maker instruments.

Yamaha's first motorcycle was the 1 YA-1, which had a 125 cc, single-cylinder two-stroke engine. It was launched in February 1955 and the bike won its first race, the Mount Fuji Ascent Race, in July 1955. Yamaha continued producing two-stroke engines until it launched the XS-1 in 1969, with a 650 cc two-cylinder four-stroke engine, using expertise that it gained doing engine development work for Toyota. In 1998 Yamaha marketed a revolutionary 1000cc four cylinder road bike called the YZF 'R1', this model introduced a new style of gearbox design which shortened the overall length of the motor/gearbox case, thereby allowing a more compact unit. This, in turn allowed the motor to be placed in the frame far enough forward to compliment good handling in a short wheel-based frame, a revolutionary step forward in motorcycle design In 1979, the XT500 won the first Paris-Dakar Rally.

In 1995, Yamaha announced the creation of Star Motorcycles, a new brand name for its cruiser series of motorcycles in the American market. In other markets, Star motorcycles are sold under the Yamaha brand.

Today, Yamaha produces scooters from 50 to 500 cc, and a range of motorcycles from 50 to 1,900 cc, including cruiser, sport touring, sport, dual-sport, and off-road.

In motorcycle racing Yamaha has won 36 world championships, including 3 in MotoGP and 9 in the preceding 500 cc two-stroke class, and 1 in World Superbike. Yamaha riders include Giacomo Agostini, Bob Hannah, Heikki Mikkola, Kenny Roberts, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Jeremy McGrath, Stefan Merriman, Phil Read, Chad Reed, Ben Spies, James Stewart and currently Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi.

The Yamaha YZ450F won the AMA Supercross Championship two years in a row, in 2008 with Chad Reed, and 2009 James Stewart. Yamaha was the first to build a production monoshock motocross bike (1975 for 250 and 400, 1976 for 125) and one of the first to have a water-cooled motocross production bike (1977 in works bikes, 1981 in off-the-shelf bikes).

Since 1962, Yamaha made production road racing Grand Prix motorcycles that any licensed road racer could purchase. In 1970, non-factory privateer teams dominated the 250 cc World Championship with Great Britain's Rodney Gould winning the title on a Yamaha TD2.

Yamaha also sponsors several professional ATV riders in several areas of racing, such as cross country racing and motocross. Yamaha has had success in cross country with their YFZ450, ridden by Bill Ballance, winning 9 straight titles since 2000. Yamaha's other major rider, Traci Cecco, has ridden the YFZ450 to 7 titles, with the first in 2000. In ATV motocross, Yamaha has had success with Dustin Nelson and Pat Brown, both who race the YFZ450. Pat Brown's best season was a 3rd place title in 2007, while Nelson has had two 1st place titles in the Yamaha/ITP Quadcross, one in 2006 and the other in 2008.

Yamaha produced Formula One engines from 1989 to 1997, initially for the Zakspeed team, in 1991 for the Brabham BT60Y, in 1992 for the Jordan 192, from 1993 to 1996 for Tyrrell, and in 1997 for the Arrows A18. These never won a race, but drivers including Damon Hill, Ukyo Katayama, Mark Blundell and Andrea de Cesaris scored some acceptable results with them.

Moto blog

Arrow Exhausts Introduces 2014 Yamaha FZ-07 Fitments

Wed, 23 Jul 2014

New fitments from Arrow exhaust are now available from SpeedMob, Inc. for the 2014 Yamaha FZ-07. The new exhaust applications include Arrow Street Thunder and X-Kone silencers, both of which are designed to work in conjunction with a full stainless steel racing collector (headers), much the same as Arrow’s 2014 FZ-09 fitments.

Yamaha Champions Riding School To Debut One-Day “Day Camps” This August

Tue, 22 Jul 2014

On August 13, the Yamaha Champions Riding School, at New Jersey Motorsports Park, will debut its new one-day clinic. In addition, YCRS will head an N2 Track Days SED or “Skills Enhancement Day” on August 12. After eight successful two-day programs in the past four months, the YCRS Day Camp is being put into play and being paired with the proven success of the N2 (formerly NESBA) SED.

Dunlop’s Newest DOT Race Tire: the Sportmax GP-A Pro

Mon, 21 Jul 2014

Dunlop has released its newest DOT-legal racing tire, the Sportmax GP-A Pro. Being the spec tire manufacturer for the AMA Pro Roadracing series gives Dunlop plenty of top-level R&D test riders to develop the next line of tires. Couple that with the company’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Buffalo, New York, and the days of grabbing a set of UK tires over their American counterparts is over.

Four Classic Clubs Showcase Variety At AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days

Tue, 08 Jul 2014

From custom café racers to beautifully restored Bridgestone motorcycles, a full range of motorcycling interests will be represented at BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, featuring Indian Motorcycle, July 11-13 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Classic Clubs that will be located on Championship Row include the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club, Louisville Vintage Motorworks, Café Racer magazine and Bridgestone Motorcycle Club. The Club Corral, across from Championship Row, will include the Indian 4 Cylinder Club, the Kawasaki ZL Owners Association and the Cincinnati Classic British Motorcycle Owners.

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Motorcycle Suspensions + Video

Mon, 07 Jul 2014

More than just “those bouncy things” that keep our motorcycles on the road, suspension plays a vital role in virtually every aspect of a motorcycle’s handling. But how well do you know what goes on inside a set of forks, or inside a shock? In this video, courtesy of the Yamaha Champions Riding School, Mark Rozema, proprietor of Markbilt Racing, explains exactly how suspensions work and why there are so many different variations.

Rossi Signs Extension with Yamaha Through 2016 MotoGP Season

Wed, 02 Jul 2014

Yamaha announced the signing of Valentino Rossi to a two-year contract extension that will see the nine-time World Champion with the factory MotoGP team through the 2016 season. “It’s great because this was my target; I wanted to continue, I am feeling good and I’m motivated to keep giving my best,” says Rossi. “I am very happy that I can keep riding my YZR-M1, that has been my love for so many years and will still be my love this year and the following two seasons.

More Leaning Multi-Wheel Vehicles to Follow Yamaha Tricity + Video

Wed, 02 Jul 2014

Yamaha re-iterated plans it will produce more Leaning-Multi-Wheel vehicles during the official Japanese launch event for the three-wheeled Tricity scooter. Yamaha had previously announced the Tricity would be just the first in a new series of vehicles during the scooter’s launch in Thailand, but the company has now revealed how they will differ from each other. Get the Flash Player to see this player.

How To Rebuild a Yamaha R6 In Under A Minute + Video

Mon, 30 Jun 2014

If you’re new to the road racing scene, you might have heard the terms “Factory” and “Privateer.” For the casual observer, you’ll notice the difference between the two ultimately comes down to money and support, as one is likely working out of the back of their van while the other is supported by an 18-wheeler. This video, shot by the Y.E.S./Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha team makes the line between the two sides clear as day. Watch as the Yamaha crew rebuilds Garrett Gerloff’s R6 from the frame up after a nasty crash with enough time to make the race.

2014 AMA Superbike – Barber Results

Mon, 23 Jun 2014

Josh Hayes captured his third and fourth wins of the 2014 AMA Superbike season to take the double at Barber Motorsports Park. The two wins moved Hayes to the top of the championship standings from third as the three-time champion put himself in good position to win a fourth. Race One The Monster Energy Graves Yamaha rider had a relatively easy Race One as several top rivals crashed on the hot Alabama track.

Get A Discount On The Yamaha Champions Riding School

Mon, 23 Jun 2014

On the fence about trying the Yamaha Champions Riding School? Don’t be. As one of the premier riding schools in the country, the lessons learned at this school will help anyone — regardless of skill level — whether you ride on the street or track.