Yamaha Introduction
Introduction To Yamaha Company
The Japanese company was well known for its musical instruments, but in 1955 it began producing motorcycles. It began with simple and inexpensive machines but has grown to its position as a power sports powerhouse, offering some of the best sport bikes, cruisers and off-road bikes on the market. It ranks second only to Honda as the leader among Japanese manufacturers. At 1851 Torakusu Yamaha is born. He will train as a watchmaker and make his first reed organ in his mid-thirties. In 1890 He incorporates Nippon Gakki Company Limited, for the purpose of making pianos and organs. The company’s origins as a musical instrument maker are still reflected in its logo, which depicts three interlocking tuning forks. It becomes the world’s largest musical instrument maker. In 1916 the founder passes away. In 1955 in the years after WWII, the company’s president Genichi Kawakami realizes that if Japan is to rebuild, the country needs affordable transportation (more than pianos!) The first Yamaha motorized product is the YA-1 Motorcycle. It’s a 125cc, 2-stroke, single-cylinder street bike patterned after the DKW RT125 (as were both the BSA Bantam and the Harley-Davidson Hummer.) The YA-1, aka “Red Dragonfly,” is so successful that Yamaha incorporates a subsidiary, Yamaha Motor Coppin 1957. The 250cc twin-cylinder YD-1 is an improved version of another German bike, the Adler. In 1958 the first Yamaha motorcycles are sold in the USA by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models are the YD-1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin-cylinder street bike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single-cylinder step-through street bike). In 1959 The YDS-1 mounts a tuned-up version of the YD-1 motor in a double-cradle frame (the earlier version was built on a pressed-steel spine). The YDS-1 establishes the pattern for the next 20 years of sporty Yamaha two-stroke Twins. In 1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA. In 1964 Phil Read gives
The Japanese company was well known for its musical instruments, but in 1955 it began producing motorcycles. It began with simple and inexpensive machines but has grown to its position as a power sports powerhouse, offering some of the best sport bikes, cruisers and off-road bikes on the market. It ranks second only to Honda as the leader among Japanese manufacturers. At 1851 Torakusu Yamaha is born. He will train as a watchmaker and make his first reed organ in his mid-thirties. In 1890 He incorporates Nippon Gakki Company Limited, for the purpose of making pianos and organs. The company’s origins as a musical instrument maker are still reflected in its logo, which depicts three interlocking tuning forks. It becomes the world’s largest musical instrument maker. In 1916 the founder passes away. In 1955 in the years after WWII, the company’s president Genichi Kawakami realizes that if Japan is to rebuild, the country needs affordable transportation (more than pianos!) The first Yamaha motorized product is the YA-1 Motorcycle. It’s a 125cc, 2-stroke, single-cylinder street bike patterned after the DKW RT125 (as were both the BSA Bantam and the Harley-Davidson Hummer.) The YA-1, aka “Red Dragonfly,” is so successful that Yamaha incorporates a subsidiary, Yamaha Motor Coppin 1957. The 250cc twin-cylinder YD-1 is an improved version of another German bike, the Adler. In 1958 the first Yamaha motorcycles are sold in the USA by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models are the YD-1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin-cylinder street bike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single-cylinder step-through street bike). In 1959 The YDS-1 mounts a tuned-up version of the YD-1 motor in a double-cradle frame (the earlier version was built on a pressed-steel spine). The YDS-1 establishes the pattern for the next 20 years of sporty Yamaha two-stroke Twins. In 1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA. In 1964 Phil Read gives