I am 74 years old and have ridden motorcycled since the age of 16. I am what you might call hardcore about always having motorcycles in my life, and I do mean always. Bottom line: best bikes I have ever owned were Yamaha. I've owned everything under the sun, including Honda, Suzuki, Harley, and Triumph. But the best has always been Yamaha. I realize this may sound crazy, but I think the fact that Yamaha began as a musical instrument company (and still is) instilled a drive for perfection in the bikes. Anyhow, never hesitate to buy a Yamaha ... they're still magnificent with a huge dedication to perfection. Yours truly, an ardent life-time Yamaha rider and lover of same.
go buy a Yamaha OEM 2014 front fender for a 2-stroke YZ250,---and see how great the quality is. 2 twisted do badly, I had to go aftermarket, and they stiffed the dealership because they were not in the original packaging. To see that garbage to who? The fact is, companies who had some of the best quality in the world (Honda always up there), are slipping because of crappy communist manufacturing competition. Quality costs money. Manufacturing and Quality engineer here.
@@unionrdr Go buy a Yamaha OEM 2014 front fender for a 2-stroke YZ250,---and see how great the quality is. 2 twisted so badly, I had to go aftermarket, and they stiffed the dealership because they were not in the original packaging. To sell that garbage to who? The fact is, companies who had some of the best quality in the world (Honda always up there), are slipping because of crappy communist manufacturing competition. Quality costs money. Manufacturing and Quality engineer here. Doug in Michigan
I love bikes Honda is renowned for top quality their off road bikes still hold value which is unusual for off road bikes. As many biker's do read bike mags and it's always said about Honda build quality. But now days you buy the bike you like best.
@@EarthSurferUSA Well, there's nothing wrong with any part of mine, and it has like 5,101.x miles on it so far. I've bought factory service parts for it from the main bike supply sites. no bad parts so far.
Yamaha is an awesome company, be it engines, bikes, audio and musical instruments. As a bass player I own and cherish my 12 Yamaha basses and still think back fondly to my first Yamaha bike that could not let be, always polishing and maintaining with much love. I am a diehard Yamaha client.
My main bike is a Super Tenere 1200. It's the perfect balance between globe-trotting power and features and simple maintenance. As a recovering BMW owner having and adventure tourer that is both reliable and easy to care for us refreshing.
I’m a luthier by trade and Yamaha makes fine guitars, violins, violas, cellos, bass and grand pianos. They also make great motorcycles. I’m a fan of vintage Yamaha dirt bikes. I also love Yamaha snowmobiles especially those from the early 70’s to the mid 90’s. I still want an xs 650 which was the finest street bike Yamaha ever made
My first Street Bike was an XS 650 (late 70's) Great sound/looks, handled good, super reliable, did lots of smokey burnouts. Then I had an XS750 triple tht I didn't care for much I blew 2nd gear, fixed it for $200.00 then I had a 79' XS 11 tht I loved, it went really fast. Back in the day XS650's went for $1,000 to $1,200. I hope you get one someday. Hi from the n.w corner of Orygun
The main problem with the XS100 was that had chain primary drive, which lasted about a fortnight. And, it was in the middle of the crankshaft, which meant dismantling the entire engine to install a new one. Not fun. They learned their lesson though, all subsequent yamaha engines had gear primary drive
You never mentioned the Yamaha RD and RZ models. I lothe to have a 1984 Kenny Roberts limited edition 350cc water cooled 2-stroke. If Yamaha built a fuel injected 2-stroke with emissions compliant engine I would buy one TODAY!
Allan, I have one and if you come thru Maryland sometime, you're welcome to come ride it. Has a Toomey kit and likes to wheelie in 1st and 2nd. Sadly, could never be emissions legal today.
@@marylandflyerI love people like you. You really would let a total stranger take your bike for a ride. You just want others to be happy. If you are ever in Northern Utah, look me up. I'll set you up with something fun to do. (Ebikes, waverunners, or we will find something.)
My history with Yamaha products: -trombone in elementary school band -learned to ski behind a 150hp outboard -pro-audio mixers, amps, & speakers -my first cruiser vStar 1300 Tourer bike -FJR1300 Sport Touring bike -XT1200 Super Tenere All of these are fine products.
You should also mention how Yamaha designs intakes, exhausts, and entire engines as a subcontractor to major auto manufacturers like BMW and Toyota. Yamahs designed much of the engine for the famous Taurus SHO, the Lexus LFA, and the new BMW Z4 and its Toyota Supra cousin.
Yes, in my opinion the engine in the Lexus LFA is the pinnacle of engineering art. Magical. So physically small, light and powerful. Just needs forced induction to get more power.
Worth mentioning the 125 and 250 racing bikes of the late 1960s which, with an extremely sophisticated 4-cylinder two-stroke design produced 44bhp and 73bhp respectively. This gave Yamaha complete dominance, and with riders of the calibre of Phil Read and Bill Ivy onboard they took all the world titles. In 1968, on the extremely long Isle of Man mountain circuit, using the 9-speed gearbox to keep his engine buzzing at 18,000rpm Bill Ivy shattered the previous record with a truly incredible 100mph lap (i.e. average speed over the 37-mile course.) And that was on the little 125 version…
i saw steve baker ride the 700-4? road racer at Westwood. Nothing could touch it and from what I heard at the time, the expansion chambers were flatened to improve corner clearance as they had more than enough horsepower. Great times. he was shifted into 4 when everone else was just coming out of second. The front rotors were deep blue from heat when he went around the second time. Awesome to see.
The Vmax was mentioned along the 90s era bikes. Believe they came out in 84 and it was a straight up rocket. My dad had an 86 that I feared for my life over riding on the back when the Vboost kicked in. Wish I had one now!
My 'big-bike' is a tastefully-modded 1982 Yamaha XV1000 , Roadster (chain-drive, TR1 in Europe ) It's still capable of a 12.4 quarter-mile and sounds amazing on full-throttle heading-past 160....I have an XS-2 Cafe'-bike as well . These bikes are bullet-proof once they are 'set-up' right . I've had XT's , TT's, TX's, SR's and more , 40-+ bikes over more than 50-yrs of riding . Riding any-bike keeps you young . Dave nz
Very interesting posting. Yamaha still is a pioneer in manufacturing musical instruments. I purchased in 2020 the recently launched the new generation Yamaha Silent Bass SLB 300. For decades I wanted an electric acoustic portable Upright Bass. Many niche manufacturers tried but it was Yamaha that accomplished the incredibly difficult task to recreate an Upright Bass into this magnificent instrument. Off all the motorcycle models the one that touches my heart is the Tenere line.
My 1978 Yamaha DT250 Enduro (equally street & dirt oriented) was the finest performing motorcycle, overall, all aspects considered I've ever owned ! Just fabulous execution it all felt greater than the sum of its parts. I rode it for my Sophomore & Junior year in High School all over San Diego - about 20,000 miles worth. One ride & it's brilliant combination of utterly solid handling, braking & seamless seemingly limitless powerband won you over. Though only 250cc single air cooled 2 stroke it would ramp up to 75 mph in a blink - and back then we STILL had the 55 mph Freeway speed limit so you didnt dare do it for long lol - ! I used to say it felt more nimble & useful on the street than any street bike I had ridden & yet had better off road manners & feel than many pure dirt bikes. I later had the much larger Yamaha XS750 Special 3 cylinder shaft drive street bike - a heavy beast that though powerful didn't feel anywhere near as well developed as its DT250 cousin. Truly Yamaha had genuine expertise at making small displacement 2 stroke trail dirt & dual sport bikes, and this proved it. Great memories Yamaha !
@@RandomParrot I bet that DT400 was a beast with full throttle ! I was a skinny 160 # high schooler probably woulda killed myself. I had an RM250 Suzuki race bike it was just too high strung - the DT250 was more manageable / less deadly. Lol Now Im just happy with my Suzuki V-Strom 650 ADV Touring it's just right.
In 1967 I had a YL1 100 twin jet later I had a 125 which was a better ride. But the 100 twin captured my heart and 50 years later I still own one and its a beautiful little bike. 😊
I love almost all of the yamaha models. Not only because I used to work on Yamaha service, but also because most of the Yamahas are absolutely just great machines to drive!! I love them. You know, all japanese bikes are great! But there is only one, that you really can love. And for me, it is just the Yamaha! There is a lot of great bikes from yamaha. And of course there is a lot of a great bikes from other japanise manufactures. Right now I ride a Honda. But in my hearth, there is only one, and that is The Yamaha! No hard feelings, all japanese bikes are great!! But Yamaha is The Yamaha for me. And thanks for the video! It was very interesting! Ps. I love all Japanese bikes, no matter what age, what kind of bike. It is enaugh, that it is japanese. I know it is great guality, if it is Japanese, and thats enaugh.😍👌💪
Interesting video, but I was very disappointed that the v max only got half a second of coverage. I owned a first generation for many years and recently upgraded to a 2020 second generation v max. They are amazing bikes and were absolutely groundbreaking, and deserve more than just a passing mention.
I loved my 1981 Enduro 100 that got me around in Malawi Africa., and I still have a 2003 Kodiak 400 atv. This narrator makes it sound like Yamaha switched to making motorcycles, but they still make the musical instruments, and a whole gamut of recreational vehicles, that are very competitive with Honda for reliability.
Interesting I've heard Yamaha designed the engine in my 2003 ford Taurus. While i have never owned a Yamaha during my riding day that have just ended (due to age) it sure built a nice motor for Ford
Ok the DT 250 was the first MX bike for me. I’ve had many of yam. So have my kids. I’m hitting 70 and have a Grizzly that I take my pups on runs. Great stuff.. Thanks
Yamaha was my first bike.. an ENduro 100... and its probably will be my last one, with a modified Serow fitted with a XT200 engine. Looking forward to that. thanks for the excellent history on yamaha.. worth it.
I'm 68 & love my 2018 V Star 250 Lowrider Custom Cruiser. Built in June '17, in Raven Black metallic. Some call it a sport cruiser, with its torquiness and nimble handling. I can lean it into turns with knee out smoothly and easily. The thick leather seats are very comfortable as well. Like sitting in a comfortable chair! They are also dead-on reliable and easy to maintain.
Hello, I purchased a 2007 Virago 250 in 2010, I have put over 40,000 miles on it since I bought it. I have owned several other bikes during that time but I still love riding the little 250. It has never let me down, Been to the Tail of the Dragon 3 times on it! Just a blast to ride and it gets 80 miles to the gallon!!
@@aawd2003a When practicing in lower gears, it still gets great mileage. Used maybe 1 inch of gas in tbe tank so far. Including when I have a TT Moment ..
Having a 1982 XJ1100-MAXIM, I'm grateful to get this machine back on the road. It hasn't been ridden since 1992, but I got it started 3 months ago. Brake replacement and upgrades, Tires and front fork rebuild! After it's all assembled and ridden with success to make sure there are no other issues, I will put the complete Vetter Package back on it!
@@Zakk-n6w I rode a friend's V Max....open country road... & She just ate up the miles, without any issues....i was surprised at the balance & the smooth delivery of power...for a person of 5'8", 130+ lbs, i was actually very very comfortable with the weight, turning radius....it sure was an amazing ride.
No word on their wonderful Snowmachines, Outboard Motors, ATVs etc etc. Generators, too. I really appreciate quality stuff that does not let you down out in the woods of Alaska!
The yamaha's I love the most are the ones I've had in the past. I had a 1976 Factory Cafe Racer rd350 I had a 1968 Factory Road racer td1c I currently have to 1975 Yamaha rd350 that are being built. But honestly I love all Yamaha motorcycles
I bought my first new Yamaha in 1968 Trailmaster 80 as a 12-year-old boy that delivered newspapers to get the money to buy it. I’m now 68 Years old & I still ride a Yamaha. A Raider 1900. I’ve had many great Yamahas for most of my life and I am extremely loyal to the brand. ‘70’s Enduros, ‘81 Seca 550, ‘83 Seca 650 TURBO, ‘87FJ 1200 then the 2009 Star Raider XV 19 in Silver…..👍🏼👍🏼
I started with a 1973 Yamaha RT3 360cc single cylinder two-stroke enduro. My second bike was a 1980 Yamaha XS Eleven Special. My 3rd was a Yamaha XT-500. My 4th a 1978 Kawasaki KZ1000 and now my 5th is a 1979 Yamaha XS Eleven Special. My two XS Eleven Specials are my favorites to date.
I loved the 360 enduro and I was riding a Honda SL175 after a Honda CL 350 didn't satisfy. My riding buddy had a whol herd of dirt bikes and he let me use his. I got on it and nailed a sideways donut 100 feet around at full boogie. It was the most rideable dirt bike I've ridden.
Well In 1982 i was going to Motorcycle mechanic school in LA California, was half way thru and i got to know the instructor Mr Goodspeed who later that semester ask me if I would like to open a Yamaha dealer with him, i accepted and began working on them for the next 7 yr]s worked on most of the models mentioned , definitely brought me back in time and all the familiar bikes I used to work on, fun time, learned a lot, didn't make much , today I have an 1973 TX650 that i restored and rode, needs some tender care now but its all there, anyway nostalgic, definitely felt the history there, still a great company, great story to, Mike.
I’ve owned 13 Yamahas over the years. at 61 yo I own 2 street bikes now. Have owned street, dirt, and Atv’s. Rode for pleasure and raced Always been a fan of Yamaha.
At 9.41 you talk about the 1968 Yamaha RI but show a picture of a British motorcycle, the BSA A65 rocket, a 650cc parallel twin fourstroke motorcycle made in Birmingham, England.
1977 RD-400. The year of the silver one and the last version that came without any performance killing smog equipment. The addition of a tail fairing (and IIRC, cast aluminum wheels too) were some of the changes from '76. A set of clip-on's, a pair of chambered exhaust pipes, and some Astrolite wheels made it scary quick and fun to ride up in the foothills. It was sort of soft off the line, right up until you hit about 6K RPM, then the motor would literally explode with horsepower and ramp up to 9K RPM in about 1.5 seconds,. The front end would pop up and if you weren't careful, it did its' best to turn into a nail gun and make me the nail. The front end had to be leaned into a bit to keep the front wheel on the pavement. But I absolutely loved my little rice burning pocket rocket! Getting married and having kids put an end to that fun ride. Today I just putt around on my old Fatboy on warm sunny days.
I’ve had so many Yamaha bikes I’ve lost count. Loved my 900 SECA although it was only an 853cc engine, it was quicker than the 903 ninja and any other bike of the era including the XS 11 and GSXR 1100 bikes. My xt 250 goes anywhere so it is my favorite now. Not fast but as reliable as the sun.
Factoid: If you tap the spokes in an anti-clockwise direction on ANY Yamaha, you get the Japanese National anthem in perfect harmony. Some even reveal Beethoven's 9th when you blow down the exhaust pipe (I am not at liberty to to say which bikes do this because idiots are getting their lips burned)!
Enough dirt bike stuff. What about the amazing 1984 V-4 Venture Royale 1,100 cc touring bike, engine based on the v-max. Or the inline 4 touring masterpiece the FJ-1200 bikes?
Never forget Al Holley from reseda california teaching yamaha about yz moto-x engines during lates 70s thru the 80s..he showed them intake port transfer ports and their benefit...his son was the 1st duing triple jumps because of Al 's master YZ 2 stroke motor building capabilities...
Did not see the famous and uncomparable TDM 900, not mentioning the powerhorse XT 600, Diversion, MT Series etc. Not much of research, sorry, but there is much more to present.
Yamaha guitars are still super good. I bought a steel string flat top and a classical guitar from Yamaha new in the last 2 years. Both guitars are Artist quality , sound great and look beautiful. I also had 4 Yamaha 250's, one was actually a 350 , the 1985. Super terrific bikes , Yamaha was known to put the race technology into their street bikes.
16:38. What Yamaha did was make narrow engines by mounting the Alternator behind the cylinder block. Until Honda made V4 they had the most narrow width across the frame. One of the common complaints against the IJN
Had aused 1982 XS650 Maxim...interesting tidbit...from the factory it had a 750cc engine, but was sold/titled as a 650cc. Durable bike. It is still probably in use today with the never touched factory engine.
Yamaha's, tw200, which is best described as a hybrid between a all-terrain vehicle and a motorcycle. They've been building them for decades now, and if you want to buy one ,used you're going to pay top dollar
I believe they got the WR wrong. They mentioned a 450 came out in 2000. No. I had a 2002 426 and a 2003 450. The 426 was kick start only UGH! Added the electric start in 2003 so I bought it immediately! 😅
Should have mentioned that the DT Enduro series was revolutionary, and set the standard for off road riding. It brought more people to become motorcycle enthusiasts.
Enjoyable but where are the Liquid cooled RD&RZ twin 2strokes & the DT ( that practically started the Trail bike class). Also no mention of the TX 500&750 , XZ550 ( not so super successful in my opinion) Nor the prototype GL750 (sadly not produced).... next time.
Knowledge of frequency and flow made this tuning company a cut above the rest. The 3 tuning forks are no joke. My Rossi r1 and my neck through body bass definitely share this resonant design DNA.
I was so lucky in the early 80s I found a YZ250 red and white. I happened to meet a ex dealer who had a catch of “OW” factory race parts that are normally crushed at the end of the year. So for pennies I got some ultra rare race parts for my bike. I agree this guys reading a script. That BSA looking bike I believe was actually a Kawasaki 650 that was dam near a copy of the BSA. I never verified it but I was told you could swap parts between them. In the fifty’s and early 60s they copied a lot.
71year old lifer here, got me a 2023xsr900.. feels like endless torque and handling up to my top of 143 mph. Still got tt500 xt600.250yz from my racing days.. 50 years ago. Ggetting me another xsr900 2024 model because, that way I can go riding with my daughter, friend, brother and sons. Cant have them riding a tenre that weighs more and half the power of the 900
My first bike was a 550 Seca, gave it up after the swingarm rotted through at 88,000 miles. Rode that thing across the US 3 times and never let me down. A coil let go in Iowa, so I pulled the plugs and limped into a John Deer dealership. The shop guy found a coil that matched output from alwan tractor and tiewrapped it to a downtube. Was still there for 6 years, lol
Dude great video but I can't believe you skipped the 2009 revolutionary crossplane configuration on the R1! The sound here is proof of Yamahas origin story regarding reed keys
When I was 15 years old in 1970, Yamaha125cc was king in Northern Europe, okay Zyndapp 125 was better, but more expensive. In 1984, Yamaha came out with the FJ1100, a true sport tourer that I drove for several years with no problems, and nothing in the video.....
My favorite Yamaha model is the Star. I owned a Road Star and now a 2010 Royal Star Venture S. Unfortunately, the Royal Star Venture never did see an improvement from carburetors to FI. I don’t understand why Yamaha didn’t improve the Royal Star with fuel injection from 1999-2013. Any explanation?
In the mid 70's i had a Triumph 650 Bonneville and a 659 Yamaha. Aside from the company stampings on various casings and part, ya couldnt tell the two apart. Direct copy.
The early XS models 750, 850, & 1100. were very heavy bikes by today’s standards, having said that, big Hondas, Kawasaki, suzuki, were all quite heavy, but, not as heavy as the XS 1100. The XS was extremely reliable, bulletproof engine, as they say!
Why does every new channel with potential add overly-loud background music? We don't need music, it's not a commercial.
Yes, I agree. It's hard to hear the narration. great video, otherwise.
I agree! As much as I enjoy music, when it overpowers narrative it is distraction.
Didn't even notice - I rewatched parts I missed and couldn't concentrate on the story, lol. Thanks for pointing it out. 🔊
Hey, I have noted, we will remove music from next video. Thank you for your support.
@@themaverickroadster To clarify - I meant I didn't even notice the music until the comment, THEN I did because of the mention. It's ok
I am 74 years old and have ridden motorcycled since the age of 16. I am what you might call hardcore about always having motorcycles in my life, and I do mean always. Bottom line: best bikes I have ever owned were Yamaha. I've owned everything under the sun, including Honda, Suzuki, Harley, and Triumph. But the best has always been Yamaha. I realize this may sound crazy, but I think the fact that Yamaha began as a musical instrument company (and still is) instilled a drive for perfection in the bikes. Anyhow, never hesitate to buy a Yamaha ... they're still magnificent with a huge dedication to perfection. Yours truly, an ardent life-time Yamaha rider and lover of same.
My new-to-me XV250 made me a believer! Easy to maintain and very reliable. Handling is superb and ride is quite comfortable. Milage is great too!
go buy a Yamaha OEM 2014 front fender for a 2-stroke YZ250,---and see how great the quality is. 2 twisted do badly, I had to go aftermarket, and they stiffed the dealership because they were not in the original packaging. To see that garbage to who?
The fact is, companies who had some of the best quality in the world (Honda always up there), are slipping because of crappy communist manufacturing competition. Quality costs money. Manufacturing and Quality engineer here.
@@unionrdr Go buy a Yamaha OEM 2014 front fender for a 2-stroke YZ250,---and see how great the quality is. 2 twisted so badly, I had to go aftermarket, and they stiffed the dealership because they were not in the original packaging. To sell that garbage to who?
The fact is, companies who had some of the best quality in the world (Honda always up there), are slipping because of crappy communist manufacturing competition. Quality costs money. Manufacturing and Quality engineer here. Doug in Michigan
I love bikes Honda is renowned for top quality their off road bikes still hold value which is unusual for off road bikes. As many biker's do read bike mags and it's always said about Honda build quality. But now days you buy the bike you like best.
@@EarthSurferUSA Well, there's nothing wrong with any part of mine, and it has like 5,101.x miles on it so far. I've bought factory service parts for it from the main bike supply sites. no bad parts so far.
Yamaha is an awesome company, be it engines, bikes, audio and musical instruments. As a bass player I own and cherish my 12 Yamaha basses and still think back fondly to my first Yamaha bike that could not let be, always polishing and maintaining with much love. I am a diehard Yamaha client.
I own 3 Yamahas - a 79 XS650-2F0, an 83 XJ1100, and a 14 Bolt. LOVE them all!
My main bike is a Super Tenere 1200. It's the perfect balance between globe-trotting power and features and simple maintenance. As a recovering BMW owner having and adventure tourer that is both reliable and easy to care for us refreshing.
I’m a luthier by trade and Yamaha makes fine guitars, violins, violas, cellos, bass and grand pianos. They also make great motorcycles. I’m a fan of vintage Yamaha dirt bikes. I also love Yamaha snowmobiles especially those from the early 70’s to the mid 90’s. I still want an xs 650 which was the finest street bike Yamaha ever made
My first Street Bike was an XS 650 (late 70's) Great sound/looks, handled good, super reliable, did lots of smokey burnouts. Then I had an XS750 triple tht I didn't care for much I blew 2nd gear, fixed it for $200.00 then I had a 79' XS 11 tht I loved, it went really fast. Back in the day XS650's went for $1,000 to $1,200. I hope you get one someday. Hi from the n.w corner of Orygun
The main problem with the XS100 was that had chain primary drive, which lasted about a fortnight. And, it was in the middle of the crankshaft, which meant dismantling the entire engine to install a new one. Not fun. They learned their lesson though, all subsequent yamaha engines had gear primary drive
You never mentioned the Yamaha RD and RZ models. I lothe to have a 1984 Kenny Roberts limited edition 350cc water cooled 2-stroke. If Yamaha built a fuel injected 2-stroke with emissions compliant engine I would buy one TODAY!
Allan, I have one and if you come thru Maryland sometime, you're welcome to come ride it. Has a Toomey kit and likes to wheelie in 1st and 2nd. Sadly, could never be emissions legal today.
@@marylandflyerI love people like you. You really would let a total stranger take your bike for a ride. You just want others to be happy. If you are ever in Northern Utah, look me up. I'll set you up with something fun to do. (Ebikes, waverunners, or we will find something.)
Has 77 RD Yamaha fast mofo
My history with Yamaha products:
-trombone in elementary school band
-learned to ski behind a 150hp outboard
-pro-audio mixers, amps, & speakers
-my first cruiser vStar 1300 Tourer bike
-FJR1300 Sport Touring bike
-XT1200 Super Tenere
All of these are fine products.
Always great to hear how great companies got started!
They are the best tuners of naturally-aspirated car and motorcycle engines. 👏👏👏🔥🔥🔥
I’ve owned and ridden the enduro and YZ models from the early ‘70’s . Some of the best memories from my childhood !
You should also mention how Yamaha designs intakes, exhausts, and entire engines as a subcontractor to major auto manufacturers like BMW and Toyota.
Yamahs designed much of the engine for the famous Taurus SHO, the Lexus LFA, and the new BMW Z4 and its Toyota Supra cousin.
On the data plate in the engine compartment of the 1960's era Toyota 2000 GT sports car it prominately states "Powered by Yamaha".
Yes, in my opinion the engine in the Lexus LFA is the pinnacle of engineering art. Magical. So physically small, light and powerful. Just needs forced induction to get more power.
Worth mentioning the 125 and 250 racing bikes of the late 1960s which, with an extremely sophisticated 4-cylinder two-stroke design produced 44bhp and 73bhp respectively.
This gave Yamaha complete dominance, and with riders of the calibre of Phil Read and Bill Ivy onboard they took all the world titles.
In 1968, on the extremely long Isle of Man mountain circuit, using the 9-speed gearbox to keep his engine buzzing at 18,000rpm Bill Ivy shattered the previous record with a truly incredible 100mph lap (i.e. average speed over the 37-mile course.)
And that was on the little 125 version…
i saw steve baker ride the 700-4? road racer at Westwood. Nothing could touch it and from what I heard at the time, the expansion chambers were flatened to improve corner clearance as they had more than enough horsepower. Great times. he was shifted into 4 when everone else was just coming out of second. The front rotors were deep blue from heat when he went around the second time. Awesome to see.
The Vmax was mentioned along the 90s era bikes. Believe they came out in 84 and it was a straight up rocket. My dad had an 86 that I feared for my life over riding on the back when the Vboost kicked in. Wish I had one now!
I owned a Bolt and is now the proud owner of a FJR1300 :) Best machine i ever had.
You totally missed the very popular RD 350 LC series
Because it's all AI made.
They briefly mentioned the RD models at about 10:20 seconds.
My 'big-bike' is a tastefully-modded 1982 Yamaha XV1000 , Roadster (chain-drive, TR1 in Europe ) It's still capable of a 12.4 quarter-mile and sounds amazing on full-throttle heading-past 160....I have an XS-2 Cafe'-bike as well . These bikes are bullet-proof once they are 'set-up' right . I've had XT's , TT's, TX's, SR's and more , 40-+ bikes over more than 50-yrs of riding . Riding any-bike keeps you young . Dave nz
Yamaha are an excellent company. I’ve given them money many times, bikes and music
Very interesting posting. Yamaha still is a pioneer in manufacturing musical instruments. I purchased in 2020 the recently launched the new generation Yamaha Silent Bass SLB 300. For decades I wanted an electric acoustic portable Upright Bass. Many niche manufacturers tried but it was Yamaha that accomplished the incredibly difficult task to recreate an Upright Bass into this magnificent instrument. Off all the motorcycle models the one that touches my heart is the Tenere line.
My 1978 Yamaha DT250 Enduro (equally street & dirt oriented) was the finest performing motorcycle, overall, all aspects considered I've ever owned !
Just fabulous execution it all felt greater than the sum of its parts.
I rode it for my Sophomore & Junior year in High School all over San Diego - about 20,000 miles worth.
One ride & it's brilliant combination of utterly solid handling, braking & seamless seemingly limitless powerband won you over.
Though only 250cc single air cooled 2 stroke it would ramp up to 75 mph in a blink - and back then we STILL had the 55 mph Freeway speed limit so you didnt dare do it for long lol - !
I used to say it felt more nimble & useful on the street than any street bike I had ridden & yet had better off road manners & feel than many pure dirt bikes.
I later had the much larger Yamaha XS750 Special 3 cylinder shaft drive street bike - a heavy beast that though powerful didn't feel anywhere near as well developed as its DT250 cousin.
Truly Yamaha had genuine expertise at making small displacement 2 stroke trail dirt & dual sport bikes, and this proved it.
Great memories Yamaha !
Did you ever race Motocross with it? :)
I had the red and black, 78 DT 100.
Moved up to DT400, then YZ125.
Sounds like back tracking
@@RandomParrot
I bet that DT400 was a beast with full throttle !
I was a skinny 160 # high schooler probably woulda killed myself.
I had an RM250 Suzuki race bike it was just too high strung - the DT250 was more manageable / less deadly.
Lol
Now Im just happy with my Suzuki V-Strom 650 ADV Touring it's just right.
In 1967 I had a YL1 100 twin jet later I had a 125 which was a better ride. But the 100 twin captured my heart and 50 years later I still own one and its a beautiful little bike. 😊
My favt is the classic SR400 that i enjoy in california. Great ride in the canyon twisties and along the ocean on PCH
One of the best bikes i ever rode was the xs 250 . It good power and comfortable and wasn t too thirsty on fuel
Thanks!
You are welcome!
I love almost all of the yamaha models. Not only because I used to work on Yamaha service, but also because most of the Yamahas are absolutely just great machines to drive!! I love them. You know, all japanese bikes are great! But there is only one, that you really can love. And for me, it is just the Yamaha! There is a lot of great bikes from yamaha. And of course there is a lot of a great bikes from other japanise manufactures. Right now I ride a Honda. But in my hearth, there is only one, and that is The Yamaha! No hard feelings, all japanese bikes are great!! But Yamaha is The Yamaha for me. And thanks for the video! It was very interesting! Ps. I love all Japanese bikes, no matter what age, what kind of bike. It is enaugh, that it is japanese. I know it is great guality, if it is Japanese, and thats enaugh.😍👌💪
Interesting video, but I was very disappointed that the v max only got half a second of coverage. I owned a first generation for many years and recently upgraded to a 2020 second generation v max. They are amazing bikes and were absolutely groundbreaking, and deserve more than just a passing mention.
I loved my 1981 Enduro 100 that got me around in Malawi Africa., and I still have a 2003 Kodiak 400 atv. This narrator makes it sound like Yamaha switched to making motorcycles, but they still make the musical instruments, and a whole gamut of recreational vehicles, that are very competitive with Honda for reliability.
WR250R and WR250X, most reliable dual purpose bike, and yamaha first supermoto bike. A reliable motor that serve in 2 format
I love my Yamaha Roadstar and Venture. Wish they would bring back the Star line of cruiser bikes again!
Interesting I've heard Yamaha designed the engine in my 2003 ford Taurus. While i have never owned a Yamaha during my riding day that have just ended (due to age) it sure built a nice motor for Ford
Ok the DT 250 was the first MX bike for me. I’ve had many of yam. So have my kids. I’m hitting 70 and have a Grizzly that I take my pups on runs. Great stuff.. Thanks
Im 62 years old & still maintain & ride my RD350, still unbeatable ,still sweet & still touches 0-60kmph in 3.8 secs.
Yamaha was my first bike.. an ENduro 100... and its probably will be my last one, with a modified Serow fitted with a XT200 engine. Looking forward to that. thanks for the excellent history on yamaha.. worth it.
I'm 68 & love my 2018 V Star 250 Lowrider Custom Cruiser. Built in June '17, in Raven Black metallic. Some call it a sport cruiser, with its torquiness and nimble handling. I can lean it into turns with knee out smoothly and easily. The thick leather seats are very comfortable as well. Like sitting in a comfortable chair! They are also dead-on reliable and easy to maintain.
Hello, I purchased a 2007 Virago 250 in 2010, I have put over 40,000 miles on it since I bought it. I have owned several other bikes during that time but I still love riding the little 250. It has never let me down, Been to the Tail of the Dragon 3 times on it! Just a blast to ride and it gets 80 miles to the gallon!!
@@aawd2003a When practicing in lower gears, it still gets great mileage. Used maybe 1 inch of gas in tbe tank so far. Including when I have a TT Moment ..
I drive MT 07 with exellent and legendary CP2 engine and I love it!
Having a 1982 XJ1100-MAXIM, I'm grateful to get this machine back on the road. It hasn't been ridden since 1992, but I got it started 3 months ago. Brake replacement and upgrades, Tires and front fork rebuild! After it's all assembled and ridden with success to make sure there are no other issues, I will put the complete Vetter Package back on it!
I own the greatest motorcycle in the world. 2015 Yamaha Vmax! A legend….. enough said.
I have always wanted a VMAX
Road ruler.
Oh, she was a monster, a sweet angel, but you got to respect her at all times...she was an absolute beauty...they didnt really mention it
No! I own the greatest motorcycle ever - 2023 Yamaha Tenere 700
@@Zakk-n6w I rode a friend's V Max....open country road... & She just ate up the miles, without any issues....i was surprised at the balance & the smooth delivery of power...for a person of 5'8", 130+ lbs, i was actually very very comfortable with the weight, turning radius....it sure was an amazing ride.
Very very good video. Well done sir. It's great that the Yamaha logo is three tuning forks too.
No word on their wonderful Snowmachines, Outboard Motors, ATVs etc etc. Generators, too. I really appreciate quality stuff that does not let you down out in the woods of Alaska!
The yamaha's I love the most are the ones I've had in the past. I had a 1976 Factory Cafe Racer rd350 I had a 1968 Factory Road racer td1c I currently have to 1975 Yamaha rd350 that are being built. But honestly I love all Yamaha motorcycles
Thank you! Very Nice vídeo!
I love the BSA pretending to be a Twin-R1 9:40 😂
I bought my first new Yamaha in 1968 Trailmaster 80 as a 12-year-old boy that delivered newspapers to get the money to buy it. I’m now 68 Years old & I still ride a Yamaha. A Raider 1900. I’ve had many great Yamahas for most of my life and I am extremely loyal to the brand. ‘70’s Enduros, ‘81 Seca 550, ‘83 Seca 650 TURBO, ‘87FJ 1200 then the 2009 Star Raider XV 19 in Silver…..👍🏼👍🏼
That seca turbo was unbelievable when it was new
I started with a 1973 Yamaha RT3 360cc single cylinder two-stroke enduro. My second bike was a 1980 Yamaha XS Eleven Special. My 3rd was a Yamaha XT-500. My 4th a 1978 Kawasaki KZ1000 and now my 5th is a 1979 Yamaha XS Eleven Special. My two XS Eleven Specials are my favorites to date.
I loved the 360 enduro and I was riding a Honda SL175 after a Honda CL 350 didn't satisfy. My riding buddy had a whol herd of dirt bikes and he let me use his. I got on it and nailed a sideways donut 100 feet around at full boogie. It was the most rideable dirt bike I've ridden.
The groundbreaking DT-1 should have gotten more coverage. Despite all the mistakes this was a interesting documentary.
Well In 1982 i was going to Motorcycle mechanic school in LA California, was half way thru and i got to know the instructor Mr Goodspeed who later that semester ask me if I would like to open a Yamaha dealer with him, i accepted and began working on them for the next 7 yr]s worked on most of the models mentioned , definitely brought me back in time and all the familiar bikes I used to work on, fun time, learned a lot, didn't make much , today I have an 1973 TX650 that i restored and rode, needs some tender care now but its all there, anyway nostalgic, definitely felt the history there, still a great company, great story to, Mike.
I drive a Yamaha vstar chopper..... this gives me a whole new insight....I like Yamaha....their bass guitars are pretty damn good too😊
Got my first bike a twin jet 100 Yamaha in May 1966 from the local Ford dealer. Great little bike.
The 100cc Twin Jet was my first bike, too! Loved that bike. Rode it everywhere. Then moved on to Triumphs, then Harleys and finally the GoldWings.
Me too! These days I'm on a 1980 XS1100
I’ve owned 13 Yamahas over the years. at 61 yo I own 2 street bikes now. Have owned street, dirt, and Atv’s. Rode for pleasure and raced
Always been a fan of Yamaha.
And BTW…. Their guitars are very solid, especially for the money. BIG bang for the buck.
When yamaha made the xv virago line up. That was the shot across the bow for harley and it shows even today
At 9.41 you talk about the 1968 Yamaha RI but show a picture of a British motorcycle, the BSA A65 rocket, a 650cc parallel twin fourstroke motorcycle made in Birmingham, England.
1977 RD-400. The year of the silver one and the last version that came without any performance killing smog equipment. The addition of a tail fairing (and IIRC, cast aluminum wheels too) were some of the changes from '76. A set of clip-on's, a pair of chambered exhaust pipes, and some Astrolite wheels made it scary quick and fun to ride up in the foothills. It was sort of soft off the line, right up until you hit about 6K RPM, then the motor would literally explode with horsepower and ramp up to 9K RPM in about 1.5 seconds,. The front end would pop up and if you weren't careful, it did its' best to turn into a nail gun and make me the nail. The front end had to be leaned into a bit to keep the front wheel on the pavement. But I absolutely loved my little rice burning pocket rocket! Getting married and having kids put an end to that fun ride. Today I just putt around on my old Fatboy on warm sunny days.
I’ve had so many Yamaha bikes I’ve lost count. Loved my 900 SECA although it was only an 853cc engine, it was quicker than the 903 ninja and any other bike of the era including the XS 11 and GSXR 1100 bikes. My xt 250 goes anywhere so it is my favorite now. Not fast but as reliable as the sun.
Factoid: If you tap the spokes in an anti-clockwise direction on ANY Yamaha, you get the Japanese National anthem in perfect harmony. Some even reveal Beethoven's 9th when you blow down the exhaust pipe (I am not at liberty to to say which bikes do this because idiots are getting their lips burned)!
Enough dirt bike stuff. What about the amazing 1984 V-4 Venture Royale 1,100 cc touring bike, engine based on the v-max. Or the inline 4 touring masterpiece the FJ-1200 bikes?
Never forget Al Holley from reseda california teaching yamaha about yz moto-x engines during lates 70s thru the 80s..he showed them intake port transfer ports and their benefit...his son was the 1st duing triple jumps because of Al 's master YZ 2 stroke motor building capabilities...
Did not see the famous and uncomparable TDM 900, not mentioning the powerhorse XT 600, Diversion, MT Series etc. Not much of research, sorry, but there is much more to present.
I had a pair of '84 XVz12 Ventures and an XJ650 that were all well made and great fun.
Yamaha guitars are still super good.
I bought a steel string flat top and a classical guitar from Yamaha new in the last 2 years.
Both guitars are Artist quality , sound great and look beautiful.
I also had 4 Yamaha 250's, one was actually a 350 , the 1985.
Super terrific bikes , Yamaha was known to put the race technology into their street bikes.
You’re talking about the 20s while showing b reel of a guy with a pc on his desk
I have owned 8 Yamaha's the first yz 80 RD 250LC RZ 250 RZ500 YZF 750 TZ250 A1990 model R1 1000 DT 200 Yz 250 top quality motorcycles
16:38. What Yamaha did was make narrow engines by mounting the Alternator behind the cylinder block. Until Honda made V4 they had the most narrow width across the frame. One of the common complaints against the IJN
Enduros weren’t even mentioned. YZ’s wouldn’t even be around if it wasn’t for the Enduros which were very popular
Specifically the dt1
RZ350 from the mid 80's is still my favorite! Wheelies on request, not demand.
Nice info and vid. Thanks.
Wonderful trip down memory lane for me. It reminded me of what an idiot I was getting rid of my 1978 SR 500 single. LOL
I have a XV 400 Virago, love it!
I owned a 1981 Yamaha YZ250 it was a rocket ship❤
My introduction to motorcycles was one of those 125 Yamahas 55 years ago.
Interesting the 3 tuning forks on the Yamaha logo.
Too many mistakes to count.
"Too many mistakes to count."
Name 10 please.
@@DavidBostock-ti2fv IS THAT AS FAR AS YOUR COUNTING ABILITY EXTENDS ?? TEN ?? SHEESH
There are definitely a few glaring mistakes
Had aused 1982 XS650 Maxim...interesting tidbit...from the factory it had a 750cc engine, but was sold/titled as a 650cc. Durable bike. It is still probably in use today with the never touched factory engine.
I still have one of those in my garage right now.
I’m still riding my 1996 Virago 750 and it’s been nothing but reliable
Yamaha's, tw200, which is best described as a hybrid between a all-terrain vehicle and a motorcycle. They've been building them for decades now, and if you want to buy one ,used you're going to pay top dollar
I believe they got the WR wrong. They mentioned a 450 came out in 2000. No. I had a 2002 426 and a 2003 450. The 426 was kick start only UGH! Added the electric start in 2003 so I bought it immediately! 😅
Should have mentioned that the DT Enduro series was revolutionary, and set the standard for off road riding. It brought more people to become motorcycle enthusiasts.
Enjoyable but where are the Liquid cooled RD&RZ twin 2strokes & the DT ( that practically started the Trail bike class). Also no mention of the TX 500&750 , XZ550 ( not so super successful in my opinion) Nor the prototype GL750 (sadly not produced).... next time.
Knowledge of frequency and flow made this tuning company a cut above the rest. The 3 tuning forks are no joke. My Rossi r1 and my neck through body bass definitely share this resonant design DNA.
Thank you verry much !
My Roadstar was probably my favorite bike.
Yamaha is a world leader in the design and construction of internal combustion engines .their skills casting aluminium are unrivaled
I was so lucky in the early 80s I found a YZ250 red and white. I happened to meet a ex dealer who had a catch of “OW” factory race parts that are normally crushed at the end of the year. So for pennies I got some ultra rare race parts for my bike.
I agree this guys reading a script. That BSA looking bike I believe was actually a Kawasaki 650 that was dam near a copy of the BSA. I never verified it but I was told you could swap parts between them. In the fifty’s and early 60s they copied a lot.
I have several very fine Yamaha trumpets, coincidentally designed by Renold Schilke in Chicago
My first bike xj650 then an xs400 currently ride an xs1100. All 4 Japanese bike brands are excellent but Yamaha is the creme de la creme.
I can't belive you didn't mention the XT500, a Dakar winning machine and big seller.
71year old lifer here, got me a 2023xsr900.. feels like endless torque and handling up to my top of 143 mph. Still got tt500 xt600.250yz from my racing days.. 50 years ago. Ggetting me another xsr900 2024 model because, that way I can go riding with my daughter, friend, brother and sons. Cant have them riding a tenre that weighs more and half the power of the 900
My first bike was a 550 Seca, gave it up after the swingarm rotted through at 88,000 miles. Rode that thing across the US 3 times and never let me down. A coil let go in Iowa, so I pulled the plugs and limped into a John Deer dealership. The shop guy found a coil that matched output from alwan tractor and tiewrapped it to a downtube. Was still there for 6 years, lol
My dream Yamaha is the R6.
any bike under 750cc is a girls' bike........................
The YA-1 is a beauty.
Dude great video but I can't believe you skipped the 2009 revolutionary crossplane configuration on the R1! The sound here is proof of Yamahas origin story regarding reed keys
When I was 15 years old in 1970, Yamaha125cc was king in Northern Europe, okay Zyndapp 125 was better, but more expensive.
In 1984, Yamaha came out with the FJ1100, a true sport tourer that I drove for several years with no problems, and nothing in the video.....
My favorite Yamaha model is the Star. I owned a Road Star and now a 2010 Royal Star Venture S. Unfortunately, the Royal Star Venture never did see an improvement from carburetors to FI. I don’t understand why Yamaha didn’t improve the Royal Star with fuel injection from 1999-2013. Any explanation?
In the mid 70's i had a Triumph 650 Bonneville and a 659 Yamaha. Aside from the company stampings on various casings and part, ya couldnt tell the two apart. Direct copy.
The early XS models 750, 850, & 1100. were very heavy bikes by today’s standards, having said that, big Hondas, Kawasaki, suzuki, were all quite heavy, but, not as heavy as the XS 1100. The XS was extremely reliable, bulletproof engine, as they say!
I had a H1 500 triple during the 70s. Pitty we couldn’t see more Yamaha 70s bikes on the video, like the RD400 and the famous Daytona Special.
I’ve got a Yamaha Niken GT which is fun to ride and easy to own.
In my garage sits Tenere 700, FZ1, YZ250X & WR450F.
They still make what are arguably the best pianos.
I love Yamaha DT 125/175🔥🔥💯