By Andrew Court
Today I learned that the Yamaha logo is the intersection of three tuning forks. This is a very dull logo for a very exciting brand.
Yamaha began its life in the late 19th Century when Torakusu Yamaha set up a piano shop in Hamamatsu, Japan. It wasn’t until after World War II that they got into the motor business.
The company still makes musical instruments, including my high school band saxophone, and the legacy is strong. With a straight face I can still tell Mr. Miller I use my Yamaha.
According to the company, “the Yamaha Logo represents “the cooperative relationship that links the three pillars of our business—technology, production, and sales.” Again, not much excitement but sort of what you want in a vehicle, or violin, manufacturer.
Genichi Kawakami, The president of Yamaha from 1950 to 1977, served as the link between the motorcycle and music world. While a prominent music teacher, he was inspired by the mountains around him to create a race bike. In 1955, he unleashed the YA-1, known as the “Red Dragonfly”. The YA-1 won the Mount Fuji Ascent Race, setting the company on a path to future glory in motorsports.
In the 1970s Yamaha led the rise of the dual sport motorcycle, street legal bikes that could also get muddy off road. This was exemplified by the XT500. The focus on dual sports translated into success at the Paris Dakar Rally. In 1980, the second year of the race, Cyril Neveu, riding a XT500, clinched the overall victory. This win was a big endorsement for the performance of Yamaha’s bikes in grueling conditions. Neveu’s win was followed by another victory in 1982, again on a XT500.
In the 1980s there was a growing focus on road performance. You can’t talk about this era without mentioning the Vmax. In 1985 it hit the market, designed to combine American cruiser style with the technology and performance of a Japanese sport bike. The original was powered by a 1,198cc V4 engine, groundbreaking for its time, offering 143 horsepower and a top speed of over 130 mph. It was one of the fastest production bikes of its time.
If any bike will get you to yelp a Hulk Hogan Esque “hell yeah brother!” This is it.
In the 1980s, Yamaha significantly shaped the sport bike landscape. While they introduced the RD350 in the late 70s, it was the FZ750 in 1985 that truly marked Yamaha’s entry into the category. The FZ750 was groundbreaking with its DOHC inline-four engine and its aluminum frame. This bike was followed by the FZR series, which introduced the five-valve-per-cylinder technology, pushing the boundaries of engine performance.
This led to success in Moto GP, the Formula One of motorcycles.
In 2004 they signed Valentino Rossi, who clinched the Moto GP championship during his first year with the team. Rossi kept winning and winning, with titles in 2005, 2008, and 2009. Yamaha continued the streak in 2010, 2012, and 2015. Despite facing challenges in recent years, particularly with the re-emergence of Ducati and the adaptation to new aerodynamic regulations, Yamaha remains a significant player.
A footnote to all this illustrious history: my first bike was a Yamaha. My WR250X was the hottest supermoto in all of Sarasota, ripping from 25 to 50 with alacrity. This fun but small displacement bike was a perfect intro to motorcycling. It was eventually stolen and crashed, but its spirit lives on.
We are getting to the great thing about Yamaha, they have bikes for all riders. You’ll hear love for the brand from both track day pros and total newbies. They win at MotoGP while carrying a 13-year-old just getting into motocross.
Last summer, I took a Tracer 9 GT around Japan. Over two weeks I got to know the bike, falling in love with the smooth powerband and build quality. Cruising solo along the Japanese Pacific coast, in a happy accident I saw that I was passing the Yamaha factory museum. Before this, despite having owned one, I didn’t know much about the brand. My experience at the museum gave me a much greater appreciation for the brand. Over three floors I discovered just how deep the tuning fork brand’s legacy goes.
For me, the modern Yamaha three-cylinder engine is just right, splitting the difference between an over revvy four cylinder and a jerky two cylinder. I’ve rented Harleys, BMWs, and all sorts of bikes. I will be back on a Yamaha.
