Yamaha Classic Motorcycle for Sale

Unlike other traditional motorcycle manufacturers, whose origins often date back to the production of bicycles, sewing machines or technical components, Yamaha's history began in the late 19th century with the manufacture of musical instruments. To date, Yamaha is one of the world's leading manufacturers of organs and keyboards, and by the way, one of the world's largest motorcycle groups.

Yamaha Corporate History

While during the war years the Japanese produced mainly for the arms and aeronautics industries, the then head of the company, Kawakami, began making massive investments in motorcycle construction in 1955. In the newly founded Yamaha Motor Co. the YA-1 "dragonfly net", a beautiful 125cc single cylinder with 5.6 HP - by the way, based on the model of a DKW RT 125 - was developed as its first motorcycle. Until 1961, the YA-1 was perfected optically and technically to the YA-5. With the YD series, another successful series in the 250ccm category with powerful two-cylinder engines began in 1959.

In 1964, the Japanese company presented itself for the first time in Europe at the IFMA in Cologne. Only two years later there were 23 dealers in Germany selling Yamaha motorcycles.

With the Enduro DT 1, Yamaha entered a new motorcycle category in 1968. In 1969, Yamaha introduced a four-stroke machine as a company innovation and expanded the product range - although not yet very successful - to include the XS series. The TX 750 was an attempt to push the four-cylinder class further and also to face Honda's competitor, the CB 750 Four. Unfortunately not with great success.

In 1975, Yamaha achieved great success with the famous and coveted XT 500, with which the motorcycle manufacturer shortly after celebrated a victory in the famous Paris-Dakar Rally. Water-cooled RD models were also very popular in the 1980s.

Until the mid 90s there was a wide range of enduro products, Tourers (sports) and also Shopper models such as the VX series "Virago". Since the early 1990s, sports models with two- and four-cylinder inline engines have been added, such as the FZR, YZF, TDM and XJ900. Until today Yamaha is a successful player in the construction of motorcycle vehicles.

Yamaha Classics

Classics, light and small motorcycles, scooters, touring bikes, endurance bikes, cruisers or racers - Yamaha has moved through every type of construction throughout the company's history and has managed to inspire many fans around the world.

There is no doubt that the aforementioned XT 500 is a collector's item. The single-cylinder endurance convinced in the off-road, but was also very appreciated on the road and especially as a tourist motorcycle. To this day, the XT 500 is an eye-catching motorcycle, a motorcycle to which almost everyone knows someone who knows someone who used to drive one - or still drives one.

The Yamaha VMX1200 - abbreviated "Vmax" - launched in 1984 - caused a sensation of a completely different kind. The four-cylinder "Muscle Bike" provided a total engine power of 145 hp (open). The "V-Boost-System" helped increase performance by 11 seconds in a quarter mile. From approx. 6500 rpm a servomotor opens the butterfly valves incorporated in the downstream carburetors and releases

up to 8000 rpm the entire cross section of the ducts. For a production motorcycle these acceleration values were outstanding.

Yamaha Racing

In the early 1960s, Yamaha entered the racing world and in 1964, in an exciting racing year, was able to win the first World Championship title in the 250cc category. Englishman Phil Read, with his two-stroke two-cylinder Yamaha, relegated experienced star rider Jim Redman to second place with a six-cylinder DOHC 250cc Honda.