The History of Yamaha Motorcycles

In 1953, Yamaha produced its first prototype motorcycle engine. Two years later, the YA1, Yamaha’s first-ever motorcycle, was completed. It featured a 2-stroke air-cooled 125 cc engine and an stand-out two-tone color scheme (most motorcyles at the time were black). It was based on the RT125, which was made by the German company DKW and was famously copied more than any other motorcycle. To promote the Yamaha name in the motorcycle world, the company began entering the YA1 into competitive motorcycle races in Japan. By the early 1960s, Yamaha bikes were being ridden in international motorcycle races, introducing the brand to the larger world. In the late 1960s, the company debuted its first trail bike, the Yamaha Trail 250DT1, which became popular for camping and motocross in the United States. The Passol, a bike designed especially for women, was unveiled in the late 1970s. The best-selling, sporty RZ line soon followed. The company’s OW bikes won several high-profile motorcycle races in the 1980s, and in the 2000s, new models aimed at commuters were introduced. Today, Yamaha motorcycles are popular all over the world and the company continues to offer a range of models for competitive racing, everyday use, and off-roading.