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The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

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Motorcycles VIN Decoder

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GP500 motorcycle windshields

The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

gp500.org/FBI_stolen_motorcycles.html

Motorcycles VIN Decoder

gp500.org/VIN_Decoder.html

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GP500 motorcycle windshields

GP500.Org Part # 22600 Yamaha motorcycle windshields

The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

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Motorcycles VIN Decoder

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Free download under CC Attribution (CC BY 2.0). Please credit the artist and rawpixel.com

Hu Zhengyan (c. 1584-1674) was a Chinese traditional painter, calligrapher, seal carver and publisher during the transition of the Ming and Qing dynasties. He produced China’s first printed publication in color, and was famous for his incredible techniques achieving gradation and modulation of shades in woodblock prints.

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No Doshi tour of Ahmedabad is complete without a visit to the Husain-Doshi Gufa, a sort of studio/gallery/headquarters/shrine for legendary (and controversial) Indian painter M. F. Husain. This is located a few feet from the CEPT campus and a block away from the Indology building. This one, it should be admitted up front, is a bit of a one-off; while I'll argue that it has some resonance with other works, it would be a mistake to think that post-1990, the architect's work has been dominated by kooky-columned caverns capped by stalk-eyed blobbo-domes in mosaic tile.

Not that that would necessarily be a bad thing - but the trend has been towards further development of the things I was rambling about at Gandhi Labor (45-degree site plan, sequences of courtyards, humbler materials) at various scales. (More recently there have been some decidedly funky geometries showing up, but this may be due to the increasing influence of younger project heads.)

Anyway though, the Gufa - more like Goofy, amirite?? - is a nice little thing, vaguely programmed on the inside but supporting a small cafe, whose main amenity is the view of the tile-mound playground. You go to the cafe, drink a coffee shake while watching the kids clamber around the roof, then take a stab at it yourself (it's quite slippery!) before heading downstairs. There you take photos of your friends jumping around on the little column-stumps (a la Mill Owner's Building), marvel at the ersatz cave paintings on the walls, and then come back out. I guess there might be events or shows here from time to time, but this is how it was when I visited.

The first and most obvious reference point here is Gaudí's crypt for the Santa Coloma Chapel, and given the previous discussion of mosaic tile it's not so surprising that Gaudí would re-enter the picture at this point. In fact, it's really hard to get past this: we're in cover-band territory, and the swap of exquisite Catalan brickwork for concrete is basically like doing the iconic guitar solo on harmonica instead. That's okay, though; I've always felt like architects should be encouraged to do "cover versions" - if it was a good building once, why not do it again? Or do only people in Catalonia deserve easy access to Gaudí?

Anyway, there are a couple of other things going on here. The tubular stalk-eyes, for one: where do those come from? They remind me of nothing so much as Peter Cook's Kunsthaus in Graz, and by extension, the groovy 60s scene that produced Cook as well as Yellow Submarine and Ant Farm's House of the Century. I don't know what that adds up to, but it's a funky move for an architect educated in the 50s to make in the late 80s. Some might ascribe that to the "old-timer trying to stay hip with the kids" phenomenon, but the date of the Gufa actually seems a little early for someone to jump on the blobular bandwagon - even Gehry's built work had yet to acquire this kind of organic geometry.

Of course, the influence of Husain could be the answer to everything, but I'd also suggest that the "cave" had already been present in Doshi's work, just in a more traditionally architecturalized condition. Sangath is the clearest example - the studio bar is slipped most of the way underground, with the vault popping up to admit light. "Underground space with curved ceiling" ... let that idea bounce around long enough, and you're going to end up back at Santa Coloma; I suspect this is what happened with Doshi.

The other curious development here is meta-architectural and resides entirely in Doshi's own written description of the project. Here, for the first time (at least as far as Steele's publication would suggest), Doshi indulges in a long, pseudo-mythical origin story for the building. It's kind of interesting, but a bit heavy-handed in a "Field of Dreams" way. Passing over the first eight paragraphs, we find Doshi picking up a strange, vibrating stick...

[…] …I was quiet and getting dark. I was sitting down on this lonely spot with the branch in my hands. Then after about a minute, I felt a powerful pull from deep within the earth, a sensation I had never ever experienced before. Taking this as a sign of something very unusual about to happen, I closed my eyes. Immediately, there appeared a body of a large tortoise-like form. Unlike the normal tortoise, this was long and had two large mouths facing each other at the opposite ends. They were interconnected with many shells of different shapes and sizes.

[Several paragraphs and eight years pass. Doshi gets the commission for the Gufa and selects the site. Then, one night, he dreams and again sees the turtle – the Kurma, avatar of Lord Vishnu. This time Kurma is conversational, quizzing Doshi about Corbusier and the definition of architecture “in its deepest sense.” Kurma specifically brings up Ronchamp, and Doshi has a revelation.]

I immediately realized that in true architecture one must experience joys and celebrations. It must affect our inner self. It cannot be distinguished separately either as modulation of light or surfaces or supporting system. On the contrary, a good design merges floors, walls, ceilings into one contiguous whole and creates an organic space almost like a living being….

Over the next few pages, Kurma provides a holographic slideshow of precedents and formal partí...until Doshi’s wife wakes him up. But was it just a dream? The building gets built, the snakey stripe gets rendered, and just as it is completed, the workers declare that prana (the breath of life) has entered the building – and “precisely at that moment it rained, even though out of season.”

So, wow. This development is not a one-off - the Delhi NIFT and the Mumbai Diamond Bourse both get these elaborate narratives, and they grow less revealing and more mythic each time. The Mumbai text is so detail-ridden it approaches false advertising - supposedly, while digging the foundations of an early, vaguely unsatisfying version of the building, they discovered the ruins of an ancient diamond bazaar ("The foreman woke me in the middle of the night, at first so excited I couldn't understand him...") whose complex, courtyarded configuration ended up inspiring the final building, etc. etc.

What is the deal? I love overblown narrative in service of architecture, but this seems a bit much even for me. Consider the times, though. In the wake of Rossi (and Krier, and others that I'm shortchanging out of ignorance), there was a renewed fascination with pseudo-mythical ur-buildings that undergirded the physical reality. These typologies were kind of like Platonic ideals, which could be called forth and recombined while still tapping into the eternal and unchanging - the city, collectively, could tap into The City. This is a bit of a gloss of Rossi - I should reread this stuff soon - but there are a few ways to take this. One is the path Rossi himself took in his built work: lots of cubes and pediments and punch windows, stripped of all specificity (and thus the transience of "style") in order to tap into the Real Essence of the types.

Another approach is to ditch the formal typologies, but retain the quasi-mystical idea that new buildings tap into a ghost-world of real or imaginary past buildings, gaining Authenticity and Realness in the process. Hence the revival of imaginary histories for buildings - some two centuries after John Soane invented the genre to explain the extravagances of his own house. It is, in one sense, a self-contradictory strategy: to emphasize how much this building Really Belongs where it is, spin an obviously fictitious yarn. I'm charmed by the approach, but I think a given architect can really only get away with it once or twice, and that only if they have enough chutzpah and storytelling talent. If you're doing it on every project, it's cloying and schticky.

That's an unfortunate note upon which to leave Doshi; let me say again that I really admire his work overall, and from what I've seen would put him in the top tier of his generation, internationally. Part of the fun of really exploring any artist's work is discovering the funny side projects and creative cul-de-sacs that don't make it into the canonical list of masterworks. So just as I've come to love Paul McCartney's forays into new-wavey sprechstimme and songs about Marvel Comics supervillains framing their opponents as bank robbers, I kind of accept Doshi's recent penchant for hokey fables to explain his buildings. The career as a whole is just too good to dismiss over a little bit of cheese.

(I will take brief looks at a couple more Doshi buildings in Ahmedabad, but after that we won't return to him until I get to the Delhi negatives, which is going to be quite a while from now.)

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GP500 motorcycle windshields

The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

gp500.org/FBI_stolen_motorcycles.html

Motorcycles VIN Decoder

gp500.org/VIN_Decoder.html

GP500.Org Part # 24000 Yamaha motorcycle windshields

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GP500 motorcycle windshields

The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

gp500.org/FBI_stolen_motorcycles.html

Motorcycles VIN Decoder

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GP500.Org Part # 23900 Yamaha motorcycle windshields

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GP500 motorcycle windshields

The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

gp500.org/FBI_stolen_motorcycles.html

Motorcycles VIN Decoder

gp500.org/VIN_Decoder.html

GP500.Org Part # 25000 Yamaha motorcycle windshields

gp500.org

GP500 motorcycle windshields

The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

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Motorcycles VIN Decoder

gp500.org/VIN_Decoder.html

Free download under CC Attribution (CC BY 2.0). Please credit the artist and rawpixel.com

Hu Zhengyan (c. 1584-1674) was a Chinese traditional painter, calligrapher, seal carver and publisher during the transition of the Ming and Qing dynasties. He produced China’s first printed publication in color, and was famous for his incredible techniques achieving gradation and modulation of shades in woodblock prints.

Higher resolutions with no attribution required can be downloaded: rawpixel

Free download under CC Attribution (CC BY 2.0). Please credit the artist and rawpixel.com

Hu Zhengyan (c. 1584-1674) was a Chinese traditional painter, calligrapher, seal carver and publisher during the transition of the Ming and Qing dynasties. He produced China’s first printed publication in color, and was famous for his incredible techniques achieving gradation and modulation of shades in woodblock prints.

Higher resolutions with no attribution required can be downloaded: rawpixel

Sample image taken with a Fujinon XF 56mm f1.2 R mounted on a Fujifilm XT1 body; each of these images is an out-of-camera JPEG with Lens Modulation Optimisation enabled. These samples and comparisons are part of my Fujinon XF 56mm f1.2 R review at:

cameralabs.com/reviews/Fujifilm_Fujinon_XF_56mm_f1-2_R/

Feel free to download the original image for evaluation on your own computer or printer, but please don't use it on another website or publication without permission from www.cameralabs.com/

Sample image taken with a Fujinon XF 56mm f1.2 R mounted on a Fujifilm XT1 body; each of these images is an out-of-camera JPEG with Lens Modulation Optimisation enabled. These samples and comparisons are part of my Fujinon XF 56mm f1.2 R review at:

cameralabs.com/reviews/Fujifilm_Fujinon_XF_56mm_f1-2_R/

Feel free to download the original image for evaluation on your own computer or printer, but please don't use it on another website or publication without permission from www.cameralabs.com/

gp500.org

GP500 motorcycle windshields

The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

gp500.org/FBI_stolen_motorcycles.html

Motorcycles VIN Decoder

gp500.org/VIN_Decoder.html

gp500.org

GP500 motorcycle windshields

The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

gp500.org/FBI_stolen_motorcycles.html

Motorcycles VIN Decoder

gp500.org/VIN_Decoder.html

gp500.org

GP500 motorcycle windshields

The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

gp500.org/FBI_stolen_motorcycles.html

Motorcycles VIN Decoder

gp500.org/VIN_Decoder.html

gp500.org

GP500 motorcycle windshields

The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

gp500.org/FBI_stolen_motorcycles.html

Motorcycles VIN Decoder

gp500.org/VIN_Decoder.html

gp500.org

GP500 motorcycle windshields

The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

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Motorcycles VIN Decoder

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GP500 motorcycle windshields

GP500.Org Part # 22600 Yamaha motorcycle windshields

The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

gp500.org/FBI_stolen_motorcycles.html

Motorcycles VIN Decoder

gp500.org/VIN_Decoder.html

GP500.Org Part # 22900 Yamaha motorcycle windshields

gp500.org

GP500 motorcycle windshields

The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

gp500.org/FBI_stolen_motorcycles.html

Motorcycles VIN Decoder

gp500.org/VIN_Decoder.html

GP500.Org Part # 22100 Yamaha motorcycle windshields

gp500.org

GP500 motorcycle windshields

The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

gp500.org/FBI_stolen_motorcycles.html

Motorcycles VIN Decoder

gp500.org/VIN_Decoder.html

GP500.Org Part # 22000 Yamaha motorcycle windshields

gp500.org

GP500 motorcycle windshields

The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

gp500.org/FBI_stolen_motorcycles.html

Motorcycles VIN Decoder

gp500.org/VIN_Decoder.html

GP500.Org Part # 22510 Yamaha motorcycle windshields

gp500.org

GP500 motorcycle windshields

The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

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Motorcycles VIN Decoder

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gp500.org

GP500 motorcycle windshields

GP500.Org Part # 23701 Yamaha R1 motorcycle windshields

The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

gp500.org/FBI_stolen_motorcycles.html

Motorcycles VIN Decoder

gp500.org/VIN_Decoder.html

Sample image taken with a Fujinon XF 56mm f1.2 R mounted on a Fujifilm XT1 body; each of these images is an out-of-camera JPEG with Lens Modulation Optimisation enabled. These samples and comparisons are part of my Fujinon XF 56mm f1.2 R review at:

cameralabs.com/reviews/Fujifilm_Fujinon_XF_56mm_f1-2_R/

Feel free to download the original image for evaluation on your own computer or printer, but please don't use it on another website or publication without permission from www.cameralabs.com/

In memory of

Janet Patricia

Dearly loved daughter of

H Temple and Edna L White

Born 17th March 1920

Died 30th November 1921

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 131, 30 November 1921, Page 1

WHITE.—On the 30th November, 1921, at Christchurch, Janet Patricia, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Temple White; aged 1 year and 8 months.[1]

Block 29 Plot 86SEC

Address: 17 Jefferson St, Wellington

Born: Wellington[2]

Janet’s mother:

Edna Lucie nee CRABB

•On the 11th September 1916 at the residence of E. H. CRABB. Esq., Palmerston North married to Harold[9]

•A lovely portrait here and also on page photo of Harold and Edna with young son and Edna holding a child that looks to be a girl. Quite possibly Janet?

kiwicrabb.blogspot.co.nz/2010/06/edna-lucie-crabb-and-har...

Janet’s father:

Harold Temple White

Conductor; music teacher; composer

Harold Temple White was born in Laceby, Lincolnshire, England, on 24 December 1881, the son of Emma Jane Wales and her husband, John Hobson White, a grocer. The family were ardent Methodists (John White was to become a minister at Kimbolton) and Harold's religious upbringing strongly influenced his later activities and personal life.

The family arrived in New Zealand on the Rimutaka in 1893 as part of an emigration scheme organised by John White. They settled in New Plymouth and Harold won a scholarship to New Plymouth High School. He then trained as a schoolteacher and taught at Rahotu, Omata and Eltham Road schools before establishing himself as a professional music teacher. He had received his first piano lessons from his mother but was otherwise self-taught.

He married Marguerite Amy Tichbon on 31 March 1904 at Stratford. There were three sons of the marriage, two of whom survived to adulthood. In August 1904 the couple moved to Feilding where Temple White, as he was always known, conducted the Feilding Choral Society and was organist and choirmaster at the Methodist church. His choir had considerable success in provincial competitions, and as conductor he 'set a new standard in this form of singing – in delicacy, precision, phrasing, and modulation'.

His reputation grew and in 1913 he secured an appointment as organist and choirmaster to the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Taranaki Street, Wellington. He was to hold this position for 46 years. His wife was in continuous poor health and soon after the shift to Wellington took her own life. On 11 September 1916 at Palmerston North Harold Temple White married Edna Lucie Crabb. Three sons and two daughters were born to them, one daughter dying in infancy.

Temple White soon became a central figure in Wellington's musical life. Under his direction the Wesleyan Methodist Church choir achieved high standards and he was soon involved in other choral activities. In 1914 he established the Wellington Harmonic Society and was its conductor until 1957. In 1918 he became conductor of the Wellington Commercial Travellers' Male Voice Choir, a position he held until 1930, and in 1919 was appointed conductor of the Royal Wellington Choral Union.

In spite of his innate gentleness, there was underneath a firm fibre of determination, and when roused he could support his strongly held beliefs in fearless exchange. His eight-year association with the choral union, which was then Wellington's major choir, came to an abrupt end in 1927 when he resigned on a matter of principle. One source of disagreement was his salary, but he was also unhappy about lack of consultation over the selection of soloists and repertoire. On this occasion his views did not prevail with the choir committee, but such was his popularity with ordinary choir members that they presented him with a grandfather clock.

When the radio station 2YA began broadcasting in Wellington in 1927, Temple White was appointed music adviser and the scope of his musical activities broadened. He played the organ for regular community singing in the town hall during the 1930s, gave organ recitals and conducted carol services at Christmas. In 1939 his old friend Aunt Daisy (Maud Basham) enlisted his help in establishing Easter dawn services.

In the 1930s Temple White formed new choirs: the Wellington Apollo Singers, the Wellington Boys' Choir, and the Wellington Girls' junior and senior choirs, all of which he led until 1947. He also conducted the Tudor Singers from 1936 until 1941. The highlight of these years was his association with the composer Percy Grainger, who visited New Zealand in 1935. Temple White had the challenging task of welding together two separate choirs, the Harmonic Society and the Apollo Singers, to perform Grainger's programme in the Wellington Town Hall. Grainger later wrote, 'I don't know that I can recall any choral programme of my works, in any city of the world, in which every item was rendered with the unvarying perfection attained on November 23'.

Besides giving private music lessons in piano, organ and singing, Temple White taught singing at Rongotai College from 1940 until 1945. During school holidays he was in demand throughout New Zealand as a judge for regional music competitions, and he adjudicated at the City of Sydney Eisteddfod in 1936. He also composed works, mainly choral, that reflected his intense religious and patriotic feelings. During the 1953–54 royal visit he conducted a choir of 13,000 children in a performance of his own work, 'Aotearoa'. The singing was accompanied by six strategically placed brass bands. That year he was made an OBE for services to music.

Temple White served on the Music Teachers' Registration Board of New Zealand, the Music Teachers' Association of New Zealand, the Department of Internal Affairs Music Bursary Selection Committee, the New Zealand Church Music Society and the Wellington Organists' Association. He was appointed honorary city organist in 1961. When he resigned in 1966 the council conferred on him the title honorary city organist emeritus. A bust of Temple White was placed outside the Ilott Concert Chamber in the Wellington Town Hall.

Instantly recognisable by his neatly clipped beard and erect elegant figure, Harold Temple White walked from his Brooklyn home to the city every day, even when he was past 80. He was an avid reader and loved reading aloud; chess was another interest. He was unfailingly courteous and won many friends. After his wife's death in 1950 he and his daughter stayed on in the family home until frailty necessitated his care in Woburn Presbyterian Home and Hospital, Lower Hutt. He died there on 8 September 1972 in his 91st year. [3]

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 27, 31 July 1918, Page 8

WAR ANNIVERSARY

MEETING AT TOWN HALL.

Sunday will be the fourth anniversary of the declaration of war between Great Britain and Germany, and the occasion will be marked by patriotic meetings to he held all over New Zealand on Monday night next. The Wellington meeting in the Town Hall promises to be a memorable gathering. The motion reaffirming New Zealand's “inflexable [sic] determination to continue to the victorious end of, a reighteous [sic] war" will be moved by the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke, C.M.G., M.P.) and supported by several prominent speakers, whose names will be announced later. The Trentham Band will be in attendance, and the City Organist (Mr. Bernard Page) will play suitable selections on the grand organ. Mr. Temple White has, agreed to arrange a .programme of musical items, which in itself should be a big attraction. [5]

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, 23 December 1913, Page 5

Harold Temple WHITE’S first wife, missing for 10 days and found suicided by drowning. She had been depressed for some time.[10]

She was 33 years old.[12]

Janet’s siblings:

Brother: Douglas Hallam WHITE married Florence Marianne LAWTON 2 March 1928[8]

Other family connections:

Janet’s uncle

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3287, 9 July 1917, Page 2

Mr Sydney Wales WHITE brother of Mr Temple White has one of his paintings (a portrait of Flight-Lieut. Williams, of the Royal Naval Service) hung in the exhibition of the Royal Academy this year.[4]

Sydney married 1906 at Fulletby, Lincolnshire to Miss Alice Mary TARTTELIN and received gifts from amongst others – Prince and Princess Alexis Dolgorouki; The Marchioness of Tullibardine; Sir James Tamsay Bart. Of Banff; the Hon. Mrs. Claud Hamilton. [13]

Janet’s grandmother

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 1880, 21 September 1912, Page 2

DEATH OF MRS J. H. WHITE.

News came through this morning of the death of Mrs White, wife of the Rev. J. H. White, at one time of Kimbolton, and mother of Mr H. Temple White, of Feilding. She passed away peacefully at Patea last evening. Throughout Feilding and district deep sympathy will be felt with the members of the bereaved family, especially with the Rev. J. H. White, in. whose constant companionship in his work in the Kimbolton Methodist Circuit Mrs White made many friends. [11]

Janet’s grandfather

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 31, 5 August 1918, Page 8

The sudden death of Mr Joseph Temple White brother of the Rev. J H White of Brooklyn and uncle of Mr. H Temple White the Wellington organist, occurred at Stanley Building, Auckland, last Thursday. Deceased, who arrive din New Zealand in the 80’s, lived in Taranaki before going to Auckland. He was prominent in temperance circles.[6]

Two of his sons served long periods at the war and one was recently decorated. He has a brother, a Methodist minister, at Kelbur, Wellington and is survived by a widow and a grown up family.[7]

SOURCES:

[1]

paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=EP...

[2]

librarydata.christchurch.org.nz/Cemeteries/interment.asp?...

[3]

Judith White. 'White, Harold Temple - White, Harold Temple', from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 30-Oct-2012

URL: www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/biographies/3w11/white-harold-temple

[4]

paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=s...

[5]

paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=s...

[6]

paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=s...

[7]

paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=s...

[8]

paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=s...

[9]

paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=s...

[10]

paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=s...

[11]

paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=s...

[12]

paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=s...

[13]

paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=WC...

gp500.org

GP500 motorcycle windshields

The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

gp500.org/FBI_stolen_motorcycles.html

Motorcycles VIN Decoder

gp500.org/VIN_Decoder.html

gp500.org

GP500 motorcycle windshields

GP500.Org Part # 23701 Yamaha R1 motorcycle windshields

The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

gp500.org/FBI_stolen_motorcycles.html

Motorcycles VIN Decoder

gp500.org/VIN_Decoder.html

Presented to Prof. Dr. C. K. Atal for discovery and validation of world's first bioenhancer Piperine, thereby leading to scientific validation of bioenhancers concept and consequently resulting in development of world's first bioenhanced antitubercular formulation Risorine officially released on world TB day may 2011 by Govt. of India and which was also presented to Philanthropist Mr Bill gates by the Indian Government.

CONTRIBUTIONS IN MEDICINE

REFERENCES-

www.jaim.in/text.asp?2010/1/2/96/65073 www.linknaturalproducts.com/downloads/lnp-digest-v6-2010-.... webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:L5kfQKgjkMw... www.herbalnet.org/events.htm www.dailyexcelsior.com/dr-atal-conferred-edpa-award-appre...

www.flickr.com/photos/13059662@N06/13401939445/

HEALTH, MEDICINE, DRUGS, TOXICOLOGY

PHARMACOGNOSY, DRUG RESEARCH, DRUG DISCOVERY, DRUG DEVELOPMENT, NEW CONCEPTS, NEW MECHANISMS OF ACTION OF DRUGS, MEDICINAL PLANTS, AYURVEDA ETC

“It takes more than 10-15 years and approximately 500-600 million dollars to put a new drug into the market. Dr. Atal has provided a basket of drugs, molecules, medical concepts and novel mechanisms of action of drugs for the benefit of patients, researchers and medical community.

1.MEDICAL FRATERNITY AWARDS & HONOURS- drug research and development, medicinal plants research,–details in award section.

A.IMA AWARD- Indian Medical Association Award (IMA- EDB) Chikitsa Seva rattan (ratna) award for bioenhancers.

B.EDPA AWARD of appreciation, 2014.

C.Guest of honor at seminar on Bioenhancers jointly organized by Indian Medical Association (EDB) and East Delhi Physicians association at Delhi.

D.Inaugurated the annual conference, Hematology and blood transfusion at Govt. Medical College, Jammu.

2.OTHER AWARDS(drug development , medicinal plants)

A.Dr. I. C. Chopra Science and Technology award to Dr. Atal for several pioneering drug discoveries and drug development.

B.Professor P. N. Mehra Memorial botany award for plant sciences including work on medicinal plants.

3.AWARD WINNING RURAL HEALTH, NUTRITION, RURAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT DONE AT RRL

A.FICCI AWARD presented to RRL for rural development projects including work on rural health

B.UN GRANT for rural aquaculture development given to RRL (rural nutrition).

4.MEDICINAL CONSULTANCIES

A.World Health Organization projects in Bangladesh and USA (see toxicology).

B.UNDP projects on medicinal plants in Vietnam.

5.LITERATURE (Serial no 184-211,details in author section) -

A.World reference book on medicinal plants used globally in research institutes/universities

B.Numerous research papers in reputed national & international journals.

6.TOXICOLOGY- INTERNATIONAL AUTHORITY on Crotalaria and its Toxicity in Human Food Chain (Crotalaria Adulteration and Toxicity) and WHO / USA Consultancy

A.Solving the mysterious disease in Sarguja district, Madhya Pradesh, India as crotalaria toxicity.

B.Appointed as consultant by WHO to USA (WHO, PAHO and USFDA) as world authority on Crotalaria and toxicity in human food chain.

C.Published several serial research articles on Crotalaria.

7.PUBLIC & RURAL HEALTH- projects include successful control of external parasites (ectoparasites) like louse control using bio-antiparasitic agents , example-(1975-76) by use of Acorus calamus oil and mustard oil, Guinea worm infection (1976-77) by anti zooplankton measures like introduction of pond fishes in villages which thrive on zooplanktons. Aquaculture (rural supplementation of income and nutrition won the UN grant).

8.WORLD’S FIRST GEOTHERMAL ENERGY BORAX EXTRACTION PLANT (Puga-Ladakh-1976)- world’s highest-factory of its time, first in India and perhaps first and only example in the world to extract borax by innovative use of geothermal energy having medicinal use.

9.INDIA’S FIRST IN DRUGS AND MEDICINE

A.Breakthrough technology in mint - technology for manufacture of bolder crystals of menthol//marc into boards which is used in medical formulations.

B.Xanthotoxin manufacture from two plant sources-(ammi majus & heracleum candicans).

C.Risorine-only Indian drug from India released on world TB day, and presented by Indian government to world dignitary Mr. Bill Gates.

D.Sallaki- the second Indian “single plant based scientifically researched modern drug based on traditional Indian system”.

E.First to introduce / popularize superior imported eucalyptus macrorhynea seeds, a source of Rutin used in medicine.

F.Founder/signatory-CCRAS system of medicine.

10.DISCOVERY OF NEW MECHANISMS OF ACTION IN DRUGS

A.Bioenhancers- they increase blood levels of drug (bioavailability) and drug efficacy (bioefficacy) by inhibiting first pass metabolism and increased absorption of drug. Several more mechanisms have been studied / postulated for this effect.

B.Plant Immunomodulators from Rasayanas - first reporting in science.

11.DISCOVERY OF NOVEL OR BETTER MECHANISMS OF ACTION OF DRUGS- (Drug discovery, mechanisms of action of those drugs and first reporting in science in drugs are overlapping topics) see details in next topic and (Serial no 105-112,first reporting in science)

A.Potassium Embelate (centrally acting non narcotic orally effective analgesic acting on new undiscovered receptors in the brain).

B.Sallaki-Non steroidal anti inflammatory gastro protective plant analgesic (active ingredient Boswellic acid) working through inflammatory pathways (all other existing NSAID drugs are ulcerogenic).

C.Vasicine- bronchodilatory, oxytocic and platelet dysfunction/platelet number corrector actions.

D.Anti urolithiatic drug Debelysin (internationally marketed)-See details below.

E.RLX- Anti inflammatory cum bronchodilator drug. All other asthma drugs are either bronchodilators or else anti-inflammatory drugs.

12.WORLD’S FIRST IN BIOENHANCERS

A.Discovery of world’s first bioenhancer Piperine which is also the world’s first plant based bioenhancer. Research includes first deriving the mechanism of action.

B.First coining of the term Bioavailability enhancers (Bioenhancers).

C.This discovery was proven on world’s first experimentally bioenhanced drugs Sparteine and Vasicine.

D.Published the first scientific evidence based reference on Bioenahncers (IDMA bulletin).

E.This discovery scientifically established a new chapter in medical science.

F.Starting the first bioehnanced antitubercular project which led to development of world’s first bioenhanced antitubercular drug Risorine developed by IIIM Jammu, released by Govt. of India on world TB day 2011 and presented to Mr. Bill Gates of Microsoft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

DISCOVERY OF NEW CONCEPTS /FIRST REPORTINGS IN MEDICAL SCIENCE

13.DISCOVERY OF WORLD’S FIRST BIOENHANCER PIPERINE (COMMERCIALISED):

A.PIPERINE is the world’s first proven bioenhancer which was discovered and established by Dr. Atal. Spartine and Vasicine were the first experimental bioenhanced drugs, which established the world’s first bioenhancer concept (See next topic) and which ultimately led to development of world’s first bioenhanced antitubercular formulation Risorine.

B.SIGNIFICANCE OF DISCOVERY OF PIPERINE - It was the first time that a molecule was discovered which could increase the potency of several classes of existing drugs even after being administered at reduced dosed. This made the formulation more effective (bioefficacy) while dose reduction meant reduced cost of drug and reduced side effects of the drug. Prior to this the existing methods were confined to Physical methods only, like micronisation, timed release, site release formulations etc.

C.HISTORY-Bioenhancers were first scientifically documented in 1979 at RRL, Jammu. The reason for arriving at the Bioenhancer hypothesis by Dr. Atal was based on a clue on Trikatu obtained after scrutiny of Ayurvedic handbook compiled by another research institute of CSIR. He observed that a large number (about 75%) of herbal formulations used for a large variety of diseases incorporated Trikatu, or one of the ingredients of Trikatu, namely Piper longum. He posed two questions. What was piper doing in so many formulations? Is it effective against all the illnesses? Since piper cannot be a panacea, so other reasons were thought of and one likely postulation was that it probably increased the potency/ bioavailability of formulations. Further research established the bioenhancer concept. Radiolabelled Vasicine and Spartine which were already being used in other experiments at RRL, were used for bioenhancing experiments, and became the first experimental drugs in the world to be scientifically bioenhanced by Piperine in 1979 at RRL, which established the concept. Subsequently several other classes of drugs were also bioenhanced successfully, research papers were published by RRL , Piperine was patented internationally, research scholars were granted doctorate degrees on bioenhancer research and drug development project on anti tubercular formulation was initiated at RRL. With further research by others, bioavailability enhancers were renamed bioenhancers in short, because research has indicated that Piperine may increase efficacy of drugs due to mechanisms other than increased bioavailability (bioefficacy enhancer + bioavailability enhancer = bioenhancers). About 50 years earlier, Bose in his Pharmacopoea Indica while describing the antiasthmatic activity of Vasaka leaves had made an observation that addition of long pepper to Vasaka increased its efficacy. However, no explanation for this observation was put forth by anyone in science, and it remained an observation overlooked and uninvestigated for about 50 years till the discovery of bioenhancers at RRL, Jammu in 1979 based on a clue from Ayurveda.

14.ESTABLISHING NEW CHAPTER OF BIOENHANCERS IN MEDICINE-

A.NEW CHAPTER IN SCIENCE- With the discovery of Bioenhancer Piperine a new chapter in Medicine was established. The term “Bioavailability enhancers” (later renamed bioenhancers or drug boosters) was first /coined at RRL Jammu. The breakthrough was first published by Dr. Atal in 1979 in IDMA bulletin (Atal. C.K., I.D.M.A. Bull, 1979, 10, 36- “A breakthrough in Drug Bioavailability” – A clue from age old wisdom of Ayurveda”. This term did not exist anywhere in medical treatment, drug industry; textbook or scientific literature till bioavailability enhancer Piperine was discovered and authenticated.

B.SIGNIFICANCE OF DISCOVERY BIOENHANCER CONCEPT -This revolutionary award winning globally recognized breakthrough is a basic discovery which has opened new concept/chapters of Bioenhancers in science in the field of drug bioavailability. As a result, it has opened endless new molecules, drugs, classes of drugs waiting to be bioenhanced and newer bioenhancers waiting to be discovered. Several bioenhancers have been discovered after this discovery, but Piperine still remains the most potent bioenhancer till date. This is also an example of traditional drug influencing multiple classes of modern drugs, nutrients and Xenobiotics. Details are provided at the last page.

C.BENEFITS OF BIOENHANCERS- Bioenhancers act like a catalyst and make the formulations more potent even at lesser dose. Reduced dose also makes the formulation safer, cheaper, and better tolerated by patient, with lesser chance of drug resistance (due to better acceptance, better compliance and increased bioefficacy). Moreover added ecological benefits are due to reduced requirement of raw material needed for plant based drugs, particularly for “less bioavailable” plant based drugs or for rare and scarce plants, example being anti cancer drug Taxol. www.jaim.in/text.asp?2010/1/2/96/65073(J-AIM-journal). docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:BULgW-7SSm8J:www.n... ( CSIR newsletter).

15.DRUG DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ON WORLD’ FIRST BIOENHANCED ANTITUBERCULAR DRUG - (Risorine/Kit based on Piperine officially released on World TB day, 2011)- Work was started by Dr. Atal on developing Piperine based antitubercular formulation (reference given below) keeping in mind the dire need of the society . Thereafter the world’s first Piperine bioenhanced anti tubercular formulation Risorine/Risorine kit was developed by CSIR (public private partnership) as a novel safer cheaper TB drug with fewer side effects. It was released on world Tuberculosis day 24th March 2011 in presence of current and former ministers for science and technology, India, Director General CSIR and others at Delhi, India and also presented to Mr. Bill Gates. It is almost 50 long years after which something new has happened in the field of tuberculosis research and treatment. Piperine was extensively investigated, researched and took unusually long time to get the concerned permission for launching it in market as Risorine (company launching in 2009 by Cadila Pharmaceuticals and official CSIR launching on world tuberculosis day 2011).In the meantime keletra (Lopinavir/ritonavir) was discovered and officially launched as bioenhanced antiretroviral drug(US FDA approval in 2000). Thus Risorine became the second officially marketed bioenhanced drug in world after keletra even though Rifampicin was experimentally bioenhanced much earlier. However Risorine is still the world’s first bioenhanced marketed antitubercular drug. For details of the World TB day events, See two links below. Reference- Influence of piperine on rifampicin blood levels in patients of pulmonary tuberculosis, J Assoc Physicians India. 1985 Mar; 33 (3) : 223-4 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4044481http://pib.nic.in/news... csirindia.wordpress.com/2011/03/26/world-tuberculosis-day... RECOGNITION OF PIPERINE DISCOVERY - Bioenhancer discovery has led to the successful development of world’s first bioenhanced antitubercular drug Risorine in market.

A.Globally recognized and accepted discovery by scientific community, Wide media coverage, DD news coverage of Risorine release, internet reports.

B.Dr. I. C. Chopra award, 2000 given to Dr. Atal for plant based drug discoveries including Piperine.

C.Indian Medical Association’s Chikitsa Seva Rattan (ratna) award, IMA-EDB given to Dr. Atal for bioenhancers.

D.EDPA award of appreciation, 2014 given to Dr. Atal for bioenhancer research.

E.Many Medical Conferences on bioenhancers have been held like the one jointly conducted by Indian Medical association (EDB) and East Delhi Physician association at IMA hall (EDB) on 8th May, 2010.

F.CSIR/Govt. of India’s official launching of bioenhanced Risorine on world TB day, 2011 at Anusandhan Bhawan, Delhi.

G.Presentation of Risorine to visiting dignitary Mr. Bill Gates on world TB day, 2011.

H.IDMA research award 1981-82, discipline Pharmacology, at hotel Centaur, Mumbai (erstwhile Bombay) presented to Dr. Usha Zutshi / J. L. Kaul-on best original research paper on “The impact of Ayurvedic herbals on drug bioavailability” in Indian drugs 1982 Sep vol. 19, pg 476-79.

I.CSIR National Technology award 1993 presented to Dr. Usha Zutshi and Dr. K. L. Bedi, for work on piperine.

J.RRL Jammu alone published more than 25 research papers on Piperine based on 10 PhDs dissertations and doctorate degrees awarded on bioenhancers.

K.Worldwide recognition, research and publication of Piperine and bioenhancers.

16.DISCOVERY OF PLANT BASED IMMUNOMODULATORS (discovered from Rasayanas in Ayurveda and available as formulations in market)-First reported case of plant based immunomodulators from plant sources, discovered from Ayurvedic list of Rasayanas class of drugs, a new concept and a major contribution to science. (Serial no 17,award section-Dr. I. C. Chopra award ).Out of 16 plant drugs, 6 were studied in more detail and thus classified on the type of immune modulation produced, as immunosupressants, immunostimulants and immunocorrecting agents (immunoequiliberating). Example includes Picrorhiza kurroa that went into clinical trials has become a part of numerous modern herbal formulations. Some References - Immunomodulating agents of plant origin. I: Preliminary screening, J Ethnopharmacol. 1986 Nov; 18(2): 133 - 41. C. K. Atal, M. L. Sharma, A. Kaul, A. Khajuria, (See links below and events, CSIR, IIIM , first Dr. I. C. Chopra award)

A.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3560991

B.http://www.herbalnet.org/events.htm

17.DEBELYSIN (COMMERCIALISED, INTERNATIONALLY MARKETED) patented renal antilithiatic (lithio-lytic or renal calculi dissolving drugs), based on Dolichos biflora Seeds. Not much is available in allopathic system for renal calculi, although methods exist like surgery, cystoscopic removal, lithotripsy, some uncommon methods to dissolve renal calculi, besides some herbal formulations available in market. Debelysin is a patented, safe, scientifically established drug for renal calculi with an international marketed in Poland, Byelorussia and Ukraine. Reference article -Clinical evaluation of a new antilithiatic drug," Debelysin". T Krzeski, A Borowka, W Gustowski, C.K. Atal, A. Pol J Pharmacol Pharm, 1983 - 35(1):1-6. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6889184

18.ANTIARTHRITIC DRUG SALLAKI – BOSWELLIC ACID AS ACTIVE INGREDIENT- (COMMERCIALISED, INTERNATIONALLY MARKETED)- SECOND HERBAL DRUG IN INDIA- Apart from Rauwolfia discovered by Col. Sir R. N. Chopra in late forties, Sallaki, launched in March 1982, became the second other important scientifically proven major herbal drug based on Indian system of medicine (Ayurvedic and Unani) to formally enter Indian market in five decades post independence ( RRL newsletter April 1982). Belladonna was one more such launch elsewhere but it was not a drug in the true sense because it was launched as tincture for its non specific effects/activity on salivation and pain or else as belladonna plaster for boils which are not “activity” specific. Later Atropine extracted from Belladonna became a pure modern drug. After Rauwolfia, Sallaki was “second” in India for the following reasons. It was the second formally launched “single plant” based drug like Rauwolfia, its alcoholic extract was validated for activity in animals, activity was also established to be equivalent to crude drug, and lastly, its scientific validation in animals was reproducible (reference-Dr.K.L.Bedi). The Dr. I. C. Chopra award, 2000 was given to Dr. C. K. Atal for plant based drug discoveries particularly Sallaki, (See award section and internet link). Sallaki is also successfully marketed internationally, particularly Europe, as a safe, effective antiarthritic drug and the only non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug devoid of gastrointestinal side effects (ulceration) and instead it has gastroprotective action. www.phytomedicinejournal.com/article/S0944-7113%2808%2900... The effects on lipids were also investigated for the first time which was also done by CDRI, Lucknow, which progressed further into anti lipidaemic drug development. Mechanism of cholesterol lowering effect of Salai guggal ex. boswellia serrata roxb - U Zutshi, PG Rao, S Kaur, GB Singh, S Surjeet, CK Atal Indian Journal of Pharmacology – 1986, vol. 18,issue 3,pg 182-183.Sallaki is also reportedly being manufactured by Gufic Company in Uzbekistan and has a reported market in Russia and Europe, especially Germany. Boswellic acid is marketed by other companies like Himalaya (as Shallaki) and Amway. www.ijp-online.com/article.asp?issn=0253-7613;year=1986;v...

19.VASICINE, VASICINONE, AND ITS ANALOGUES (MARKETED AS AYURVEDIC FORMULATIONS) -OFFER OF US DOLLARS 80,000/- FOR INDO-US COLLABORATION ON THIS DRUG-exhibiting bronchodilatory, oxytocic and platelet dysfunction/platelet number corrector actions. Vasicine from Adhatoda vasica was discovered to control capillary bleeding through action on Bone Marrow. Dr. Atal while on a visit to USA in 1981 was offered Indo US collaborative research on vasicine. A provisional agreement was signed in USA with Farmacon dated 29th Oct, 1981, and agreed that the data be provided to Farmacon research Corporation, 39, South Lasalle street , Chicago Illinois, USA for a sum of US dollars eighty thousand(US $ 80,000/-) plus additional negotiable royalty , subject to CSIR Head office approval and retaining justified rights by CSIR. This was meant to be researched further in USA for possible marketing in USA (& Pakistan) as per agreement with Alan J, Schroeder, Vice President of the company. Since approval was delayed so the advance cheque was returned back to the company in USAL. This was the highest ever recorded amount of that time offered to any of the CSIR laboratories from international companies and original signed documents of agreement are still preserved. www.flickr.com/photos/13059662@N06/6506562555/in/photostream

20.RLX-a significant work on bronchodilatory effects of Deoxy vasicinone (RLX). This molecule is a wonderful anti inflammatory bronchodilator with minimal side effects as compared to conventional existing drugs and having a novel mechanism of action entirely different from others. The existing anti asthmatic drugs possesses either anti-inflammatory or else bronchodilatory effect, whereas RLX has both the properties.

21.POTASSIUM EMBELLATE-THE ONLY DRUG OF ITS KIND- a centrally acting, non narcotic orally effective analgesic, the only molecule of its kind known to exist. This is new molecule acting on so far unknown and undiscovered receptors in the brain (as peripherally it is devoid of anti-inflammatory action and centrally its effect is not reversed by opioid antagonists suggesting some different site of action/receptors in brain). Reference-

A.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2561116

B.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6541278

22.HEPATOPROTECTIVE FORMULATIONS (COMMERCIALISED): - significant work on plant based hepatoprotective formulations based on many plants. It was launched in the market as Livzone, a hepatoprotective formulation (Hind Chemicals, Kanpur). www.herbalnet.org/events.htm (CSIR- IIIM , Serial no 17 ,first Dr. I. C. Chopra award)

23.TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FOR ABOVE DRUGS- Sallaki (Gufic Company, Bombay, renamed Mumbai), Hepatoprotective Livzone (Hind Chemicals, Kanpur under Dr. Rohtagi), Piperine Bioenhanced Anti tubercular formulation Risorine/risorine kit (Cadila Pharmaceuticals, Ahemedabad). Immunomodulator Picrorrhiza is being used in many herbal formulations and so is Vasicine. Antiurolithiatic drug Debelysin has been internationally developed by Herbapol from Poland.

A.DRUGS RESEARCHED IN INDIA- Sallaki, Risorine, Hepatoprotectives (Livzone), RLX, Vasicine, Potassium Embellate

B.DRUGS RESEARCHED INTERNATIONALLY- Debelysin

C.DRUGS COMMERCIALISED IN INDIA- Livzone, Risorine, Sallaki

D.INDIAN DRUG COMMERCIALISED INTERNATIONALLY- Sallaki

E.DRUGS DEVELOPED & COMMERCIALISED INTERNATIONALLY-Debelysin

24.PROCESS DEVELOPED FOR INDIA FOR SEVERAL KNOWN AND EXISTING DRUGS – Phytochemicals (Seventeen) ,Drug Intermediates (Three) ,Fermentation Technology (Four) (for detailed list Serial no 152-159,processes developed for India.Broad categories are Processes for medicinal Essential Oils Isolates(like mint), Phytochemicals, Drugs, Intermediates, Pharmaceuticals, Mineral Products(plaster of Paris), Fermentation Technology Products(citric acid),mint etc used by the Medical profession.

25.CONTRIBUTIONS IN AYURVEDA- All drugs mentioned above in drug discoveries are based on medicinal plants and Ayurvedic/herbal plants (Serial no 201-204, professional standing and peer reviews).

A.Discovery of New Drugs, Concepts and Mechanisms of Action of Drugs from Ayurveda- (Serial no 92-112, drug discovery for details).

B.Significance of Work Done, Visionary Concepts, Recognition in Ayurveda- Details in Professional Standing.

26.RENOWNED INTERNATIONAL AUTHORITY AND CONSULTANT ON MEDICINAL PLANTS (PHARMACOGNOSY)

A.United Nations Consultant-UNDP, UNIDO. USFDA,FAO,WHO Etc

B.Consultant - International World Bodies, Universities, Organisations Etc

27. LISTED AMONG TOPMOST INDIAN PIONEER MEDICINAL PLANTS RESEARCHERS AND THINKERS IN NATIONAL JOURNALS

A.CURRENT-SCIENCE Ayurveda-scientific research and publications, NO-97, VOL-8/25-10-2009.

B.CURRENT SCIENCE -The quest for evidence based Ayurveda: lessons learned, VOL. 102, NO. 10, 25 MAY 2012.

C.J-AIM - A Renaissance for Ayurveda, J. Ayurveda. Integr Med. 2010 Jan-Mar; 1(1): 1–2.

28.LISTED AMONG TOPMOST PIONEER INTERNATIONAL RESEARCHERS IN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL

A.CELEBRATED RESEARCHERS: SERIAL -7, Link natural products digest, vol. 6 issue 2, 2010, pg13.

29.UNITED NATIONS PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED INTERNATIONALLY

A.UNDP/UNIDO- HERBAL MEDICINES (VIETNAM).

B.WHO- BANGLADESH-MEDICINAL FORMULATIONS FOR GOVT OF BANGLADESH.

C.WHO- USA- CONSULTANCIES ALL OVER USA ON PLANT TOXICITY IN HUMAN FOODCHAIN.

30.BOOK RELEASED AT INDIAN PHARMACEUTICAL CONGRESS (IPC-DELHI-2008)-"HIV, Aids & Bioactive Natural Products” at event diamond jubilee celebrations).

31.MEDIA COVERAGE - Risorine release covered on DD news channel, borax plant covered on BBC news, medicinal awards in news, internet etc

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The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

gp500.org/FBI_stolen_motorcycles.html

Motorcycles VIN Decoder

gp500.org/VIN_Decoder.html

gp500.org

GP500 motorcycle windshields

GP500.Org Part # 23701 Yamaha R1 motorcycle windshields

The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

gp500.org/FBI_stolen_motorcycles.html

Motorcycles VIN Decoder

gp500.org/VIN_Decoder.html

Sample image taken with a Fujinon XF 56mm f1.2 R mounted on a Fujifilm XT1 body; each of these images is an out-of-camera JPEG with Lens Modulation Optimisation enabled. These samples and comparisons are part of my Fujinon XF 56mm f1.2 R review at:

cameralabs.com/reviews/Fujifilm_Fujinon_XF_56mm_f1-2_R/

Feel free to download the original image for evaluation on your own computer or printer, but please don't use it on another website or publication without permission from www.cameralabs.com/

Sample image taken with a Fujinon XF 56mm f1.2 R mounted on a Fujifilm XT1 body; each of these images is an out-of-camera JPEG with Lens Modulation Optimisation enabled. These samples and comparisons are part of my Fujinon XF 56mm f1.2 R review at:

cameralabs.com/reviews/Fujifilm_Fujinon_XF_56mm_f1-2_R/

Feel free to download the original image for evaluation on your own computer or printer, but please don't use it on another website or publication without permission from www.cameralabs.com/

Armor Modeling Volume 9 by Kevin Townsend features the 1/48 Austin Tilly from Tamiya.

gp500.org

GP500 motorcycle windshields

GP500.Org Part # 27000 Yamaha motorcycle windshields

The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

gp500.org/FBI_stolen_motorcycles.html

Motorcycles VIN Decoder

gp500.org/VIN_Decoder.html

GP500.Org Part # 22200 Yamaha motorcycle windshields

gp500.org

GP500 motorcycle windshields

The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

gp500.org/FBI_stolen_motorcycles.html

Motorcycles VIN Decoder

gp500.org/VIN_Decoder.html

Sample image taken with a Fujinon XF 56mm f1.2 R mounted on a Fujifilm XT1 body; each of these images is an out-of-camera JPEG with Lens Modulation Optimisation enabled. These samples and comparisons are part of my Fujinon XF 56mm f1.2 R review at:

cameralabs.com/reviews/Fujifilm_Fujinon_XF_56mm_f1-2_R/

Feel free to download the original image for evaluation on your own computer or printer, but please don't use it on another website or publication without permission from www.cameralabs.com/

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GP500 motorcycle windshields

The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

gp500.org/FBI_stolen_motorcycles.html

Motorcycles VIN Decoder

gp500.org/VIN_Decoder.html

X100S vs. X100 comparison. See www.flickr.com/photos/25805910@N05/sets/72157632958348638/ for the full set.

Click here for my regular X100S sample set: www.flickr.com/photos/25805910@N05/sets/72157632954030903...

JPEG SOOC Provia, NR -2.

Is the X100S Lens Modulation Optimizer (LMO) positively affecting IQ at small apertures?

Free download under CC Attribution (CC BY 2.0). Please credit the artist and rawpixel.com

Hu Zhengyan (c. 1584-1674) was a Chinese traditional painter, calligrapher, seal carver and publisher during the transition of the Ming and Qing dynasties. He produced China’s first printed publication in color, and was famous for his incredible techniques achieving gradation and modulation of shades in woodblock prints.

Higher resolutions with no attribution required can be downloaded: rawpixel

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GP500 motorcycle windshields

GP500.Org Part # 23701 Yamaha R1 motorcycle windshields

The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

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Motorcycles VIN Decoder

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Sample image taken with a Fujinon XF 56mm f1.2 R mounted on a Fujifilm XT1 body; each of these images is an out-of-camera JPEG with Lens Modulation Optimisation enabled. These samples and comparisons are part of my Fujinon XF 56mm f1.2 R review at:

cameralabs.com/reviews/Fujifilm_Fujinon_XF_56mm_f1-2_R/

Feel free to download the original image for evaluation on your own computer or printer, but please don't use it on another website or publication without permission from www.cameralabs.com/

Sample image taken with a Fujinon XF 56mm f1.2 R mounted on a Fujifilm XT1 body; each of these images is an out-of-camera JPEG with Lens Modulation Optimisation enabled. These samples and comparisons are part of my Fujinon XF 56mm f1.2 R review at:

cameralabs.com/reviews/Fujifilm_Fujinon_XF_56mm_f1-2_R/

Feel free to download the original image for evaluation on your own computer or printer, but please don't use it on another website or publication without permission from www.cameralabs.com/

This experiment shows what happens when you attempt to power a DCC fitted Lego train with Lego's 9V power regulator. The big surprise for me what the fact that the Lego controller has only 8 discrete output voltages (including zero)! This is not a continuously variable analog output as you would expect with a rotary type control.

The track voltage and current are monitored by multimeters as well as an oscilloscope to make sure the output was in fact DC and not some variable pulsewidth modulation control. The motor was disconnected and a meter was substituted to monitor the applied motor voltage. This is an "open-loop" motor voltage which may read higher or lower than the actual motor voltage since the decoder uses a closed-loop control circuit which depends on an actual motor load.

The conclusion is that you can get away with running a DCC fitted loco with a Lego 9V controller as long as you don't mind that you only have 3 control states: 1) stopped 2) slowish speed 3) medium speed. You could "fine tune" these speeds within a limited range using configuration variables (CVs) 63 (analog start voltage) and 64 (analog max motor voltage). I set mine to CV63=20 (2.0 V) and CV64=95 (9.5 V). I also set CV25=2 (speed table curve) to linear.

Same type of experiment with a linear DC power supply...

www.flickr.com/photos/10063611@N06/9068446954/in/photostr...

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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For other uses, see Mallard (disambiguation).

Mallard

Temporal range: Late Pleistocene–present

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Anas platyrhynchos male female quadrat.jpg

Female (left) and male (right)

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Female call

Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]

Scientific classificationedit

Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum:Chordata

Class:Aves

Order:Anseriformes

Family:Anatidae

Genus:Anas

Species:A. platyrhynchos

Binomial name

Anas platyrhynchos

Linnaeus, 1758

Subspecies

A. p. platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758

A. p. domesticus Linnaeus, 1758

A. p. conboschas C. L. Brehm, 1831 (disputed)

AnasPlatyrhynchosIUCN2019 2.png

Range of A. platyrhynchos

Breeding

Resident

Passage

Non-breeding

Vagrant (seasonality uncertain)

Possibly extinct and introduced

Extant and introduced (seasonality uncertain)

Possibly extant and introduced (seasonality uncertain)

Synonyms

Anas boschas Linnaeus, 1758

Anas adunca Linnaeus, 1758

The mallard (/ˈmælɑːrd, ˈmælərd/) or wild duck (Anas platyrhynchos) is a dabbling duck that breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, the Falkland Islands, and South Africa. This duck belongs to the subfamily Anatinae of the waterfowl family Anatidae. The male birds (drakes) have a glossy green head and are grey on their wings and belly, while the females (hens or ducks) have mainly brown-speckled plumage. Both sexes have an area of white-bordered black or iridescent blue feathers called a speculum on their wings; males especially tend to have blue speculum feathers. The mallard is 50–65 cm (20–26 in) long, of which the body makes up around two-thirds the length. The wingspan is 81–98 cm (32–39 in) and the bill is 4.4 to 6.1 cm (1.7 to 2.4 in) long. It is often slightly heavier than most other dabbling ducks, weighing 0.7–1.6 kg (1.5–3.5 lb). Mallards live in wetlands, eat water plants and small animals, and are social animals preferring to congregate in groups or flocks of varying sizes. This species is the main ancestor of most breeds of domestic ducks.

The female lays eight to 13 creamy white to greenish-buff spotless eggs, on alternate days. Incubation takes 27 to 28 days and fledging takes 50 to 60 days. The ducklings are precocial and fully capable of swimming as soon as they hatch.

The mallard is considered to be a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Unlike many waterfowl, mallards are considered an invasive species in some regions. It is a very adaptable species, being able to live and even thrive in urban areas which may have supported more localised, sensitive species of waterfowl before development. The non-migratory mallard interbreeds with indigenous wild ducks of closely related species through genetic pollution by producing fertile offspring. Complete hybridisation of various species of wild duck gene pools could result in the extinction of many indigenous waterfowl. The wild mallard is the ancestor of most domestic ducks, and its naturally evolved wild gene pool gets genetically polluted by the domestic and feral mallard populations.

Taxonomy and evolutionary history

An American black duck (top left) and a male mallard (bottom right) in eclipse plumage

The mallard was one of the many bird species originally described in the 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae by Carl Linnaeus.[2] He gave it two binomial names: Anas platyrhynchos and Anas boschas.[3] The latter was generally preferred until 1906 when Einar Lönnberg established that A. platyrhynchos had priority, as it appeared on an earlier page in the text.[4] The scientific name comes from Latin Anas, "duck" and Ancient Greek πλατυρυγχος, platyrhynchus, "broad-billed" (from πλατύς, platys, "broad" and ρυγχός, rhunkhos, "bill").[5] The genome of Anas platyrhynchos was sequenced in 2013.[6]

The name mallard originally referred to any wild drake, and it is sometimes still used this way.[7] It was derived from the Old French malart or mallart for "wild drake" although its true derivation is unclear.[8] It may be related to, or at least influenced by, an Old High German masculine proper name Madelhart, clues lying in the alternative English forms "maudelard" and "mawdelard".[9] Masle (male) has also been proposed as an influence.[10]

Mallards frequently interbreed with their closest relatives in the genus Anas, such as the American black duck, and also with species more distantly related, such as the northern pintail, leading to various hybrids that may be fully fertile.[11] This is quite unusual among such different species, and is apparently because the mallard evolved very rapidly and recently, during the Late Pleistocene.[12] The distinct lineages of this radiation are usually kept separate due to non-overlapping ranges and behavioural cues, but have not yet reached the point where they are fully genetically incompatible.[12] Mallards and their domestic conspecifics are also fully interfertile.[13]

Genetic analysis has shown that certain mallards appear to be closer to their Indo-Pacific relatives, while others are related to their American relatives.[14] Mitochondrial DNA data for the D-loop sequence suggest that mallards may have evolved in the general area of Siberia. Mallard bones rather abruptly appear in food remains of ancient humans and other deposits of fossil bones in Europe, without a good candidate for a local predecessor species.[15] The large Ice Age palaeosubspecies that made up at least the European and West Asian populations during the Pleistocene has been named Anas platyrhynchos palaeoboschas.[16]

Mallards are differentiated in their mitochondrial DNA between North American and Eurasian populations,[17] but the nuclear genome displays a notable lack of genetic structure.[18] Haplotypes typical of American mallard relatives and eastern spot-billed ducks can be found in mallards around the Bering Sea.[19] The Aleutian Islands hold a population of mallards that appear to be evolving towards becoming a subspecies, as gene flow with other populations is very limited.[15]

Also, the paucity of morphological differences between the Old World mallards and the New World mallard demonstrates the extent to which the genome is shared among them such that birds like the Chinese spot-billed duck are highly similar to the Old World mallard, and birds such as the Hawaiian duck are highly similar to the New World mallard.[20]

The size of the mallard varies clinally; for example, birds from Greenland, though larger, have smaller bills, paler plumage, and stockier bodies than birds further south and are sometimes classified as a separate subspecies, the Greenland mallard (A. p. conboschas).[21]

Description

Juvenile male and female

Iridescent speculum feathers of the male

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A group of mallards quacking

Duckling

The mallard is a medium-sized waterfowl species that is often slightly heavier than most other dabbling ducks. It is 50–65 cm (20–26 in) long – of which the body makes up around two-thirds – has a wingspan of 81–98 cm (32–39 in),[22]: 505  and weighs 0.7–1.6 kg (1.5–3.5 lb).[23] Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 25.7 to 30.6 cm (10.1 to 12.0 in), the bill is 4.4 to 6.1 cm (1.7 to 2.4 in), and the tarsus is 4.1 to 4.8 cm (1.6 to 1.9 in).[24]

The breeding male mallard is unmistakable, with a glossy bottle-green head and a white collar that demarcates the head from the purple-tinged brown breast, grey-brown wings, and a pale grey belly.[25] The rear of the male is black, with white-bordered dark tail feathers.[22]: 506  The bill of the male is a yellowish-orange tipped with black, with that of the female generally darker and ranging from black to mottled orange and brown.[26] The female mallard is predominantly mottled, with each individual feather showing sharp contrast from buff to very dark brown, a coloration shared by most female dabbling ducks, and has buff cheeks, eyebrow, throat, and neck, with a darker crown and eye-stripe.[22]: 506 

Both male and female mallards have distinct iridescent purple-blue speculum feathers edged with white, which are prominent in flight or at rest but temporarily shed during the annual summer moult.[27] Upon hatching, the plumage of the duckling is yellow on the underside and face (with streaks by the eyes) and black on the back (with some yellow spots) all the way to the top and back of the head.[28] Its legs and bill are also black.[28] As it nears a month in age, the duckling's plumage starts becoming drab, looking more like the female, though more streaked, and its legs lose their dark grey colouring.[22]: 506  Two months after hatching, the fledgling period has ended, and the duckling is now a juvenile.[29] Between three and four months of age, the juvenile can finally begin flying, as its wings are fully developed for flight (which can be confirmed by the sight of purple speculum feathers). Its bill soon loses its dark grey colouring, and its sex can finally be distinguished visually by three factors: 1) the bill is yellow in males, but black and orange in females;[30][self-published source] 2) the breast feathers are reddish-brown in males, but brown in females;[30] and 3) in males, the centre tail feather (drake feather) is curled, but in females, the centre tail feather is straight.[30] During the final period of maturity leading up to adulthood (6–10 months of age), the plumage of female juveniles remains the same while the plumage of male juveniles gradually changes to its characteristic colours.[31] This change in plumage also applies to adult mallard males when they transition in and out of their non-breeding eclipse plumage at the beginning and the end of the summer moulting period.[31] The adulthood age for mallards is fourteen months, and the average life expectancy is three years, but they can live to twenty.[32]

Several species of duck have brown-plumaged females that can be confused with the female mallard.[33] The female gadwall (Mareca strepera) has an orange-lined bill, white belly, black and white speculum that is seen as a white square on the wings in flight, and is a smaller bird.[22]: 506  More similar to the female mallard in North America are the American black duck (A. rubripes), which is notably darker-hued in both sexes than the mallard,[34] and the mottled duck (A. fulvigula), which is somewhat darker than the female mallard, and with slightly different bare-part colouration and no white edge on the speculum.[34]

In captivity, domestic ducks come in wild-type plumages, white, and other colours.[35] Most of these colour variants are also known in domestic mallards not bred as livestock, but kept as pets, aviary birds, etc., where they are rare but increasing in availability.[35]

Owing to their highly 'malleable' genetic code, mallards can display a large amount of variation,[36] as seen here with this female, who displays faded or 'apricot' plumage.

A noisy species, the female has the deep quack stereotypically associated with ducks.[22]: 507  Male mallards make a sound phonetically similar to that of the female, a typical quack, but it is deeper and quieter compared to that of the female. When incubating a nest, or when offspring are present, females vocalise differently, making a call that sounds like a truncated version of the usual quack. This maternal vocalisation is highly attractive to their young. The repetition and frequency modulation of these quacks form the auditory basis for species identification in offspring, a process known as acoustic conspecific identification.[37] In addition, females hiss if the nest or offspring are threatened or interfered with. When taking off, the wings of a mallard produce a characteristic faint whistling noise.[38]

The mallard is a rare example of both Allen's Rule and Bergmann's Rule in birds.[39] Bergmann's Rule, which states that polar forms tend to be larger than related ones from warmer climates, has numerous examples in birds,[40] as in case of the Greenland mallard which is larger than the mallards further south.[21] Allen's Rule says that appendages like ears tend to be smaller in polar forms to minimise heat loss, and larger in tropical and desert equivalents to facilitate heat diffusion, and that the polar taxa are stockier overall.[41] Examples of this rule in birds are rare as they lack external ears, but the bill of ducks is supplied with a few blood vessels to prevent heat loss,[42] and, as in the Greenland mallard, the bill is smaller than that of birds farther south, illustrating the rule.[21]

Due to the variability of the mallard's genetic code, which gives it its vast interbreeding capability, mutations in the genes that decide plumage colour are very common and have resulted in a wide variety of hybrids, such as Brewer's duck (mallard × gadwall, Mareca strepera).[43]

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GP500 motorcycle windshields

The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

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The history of Yamaha Motorcycles

"I want to carry out trial manufacture of motorcycle engines." It was from these words spoken by Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953, that today's Yamaha Motor Company was born.

"If you're going to do something, be the best."

Genichi Kawakami

Genichi Kawakami was the first son of Kaichi Kawakami, the third-generation president of Nippon Gakki (musical instruments and electronics; presently Yamaha Corporation). Genichi studied and graduated from Takachiho Higher Commercial School in March of 1934. In July of 1937, he was the second Kawakami to join the Nippon Gakki Company.

He quickly rose to positions of manager of the company's Tenryu Factory Company (musical instruments) and then Senior General Manager, before assuming the position of fourth-generation President in 1950 at the young age of 38.

In 1953, Genichi was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used to make aircraft propellers. Looking back on the founding of Yamaha Motor Company, Genichi had this to say. "While the company was performing well and had some financial leeway, I felt the need to look for our next area of business. So, I did some research." He explored producing many products, including sewing machines, auto parts, scooters, three-wheeled utility vehicles, and…motorcycles. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. Genichi actually visited the United States many times during this period.

When asked about this decision, he said, "I had my research division chief and other managers visit leading motorcycle factories around the country. They came back and told me there was still plenty of opportunity, even if we were entering the market late. I didn't want to be completely unprepared in this unfamiliar business so we toured to German factories before setting out to build our first 125cc bike. I joined in this tour around Europe during which my chief engineers learned how to build motorbikes. We did as much research as possible to insure that we could build a bike as good as any out there. Once we had that confidence, we started going."

The first Yamaha motorcycle... the YA-1.

"If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is." With these words as their motto, the development team poured all their energies into building the first prototype, and ten months later in August of 1954 the first model was complete. It was the Yamaha YA-1. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 2-stroke, single cylinder 125cc engine. Once finished, it was put through an unprecedented 10,000 km endurance test to ensure that its quality was top-class. This was destined to be the first crystallization of what has now become a long tradition of Yamaha creativity and an inexhaustible spirit of challenge.

Then, in January of 1955 the Hamakita Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 enthusiastic employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.

That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1 in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the 1st Asama Highlands Race. In these debut races Yamaha won the 125cc class. And, the following year the YA-1 won again in both the Light and Ultra-light classes of the Asama Highlands Race.

By 1956, a second model was ready for production. This was the YC1, a 175cc single cylinder two-stroke. In 1957 Yamaha began production of its first 250cc, two-stroke twin, the YD1.

The first Yamaha to compete in America (1957).

Based on Genichi's firm belief that a product isn't a product until it can hold it's own around the world, in 1958 Yamaha became the first Japanese maker to venture into the international race arena. The result was an impressive 6th place in the Catalina Grand Prix race in the USA. News of this achievement won immediate recognition for the high level of Yamaha technology not only in Japan but among American race fans, as well. This was only the start, however.

Yamaha took quick action using the momentum gained in the USA and began marketing their motorcycles through an independent distributor in California. In 1958, Cooper Motors began selling the YD-1 250 and the MF-1 (50cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, step through street bike). Then in 1960, Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA through dealers.

With the overseas experiences under his belt, in 1960, Genichi then turned his attention to the Marine industry and the production of the first Yamaha boats and outboard motors. This was the beginning of an aggressive expansion into new fields utilizing the new engines and FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) technologies. The first watercraft model was the CAT-21, followed by the RUN-13 and the P-7 123cc outboard motor.

In 1963, Yamaha demonstrated its focus on cutting-edge, technological innovations by developing the Autolube System. This landmark solution was a separate oil injection system for two-stroke models, eliminating the inconvenience of pre-mixing fuel and oil.

Yamaha was building a strong reputation as a superior manufacturer which was reflected in its first project carried out in the new Iwata, Japan Plant, built in 1966. (The YMC headquarters was moved to Iwata in 1972.) Toyota and Yamaha teamed up to produce the highly regarded Toyota 2000 GT sports car. This very limited edition vehicle, still admired for its performance and craftsmanship, created a sensation among enthusiast in Japan and abroad.

Genichi said, "I believe that the most important thing when building a product is to always keep in mind the standpoint of the people who will use it." An example of the commitment to "walking in the customers' shoes" was the move in 1966 by Yamaha to continue its expansion. Overseas motorcycle manufacturing was established in Thailand and Mexico. In 1968, the globalization continued with Brazil and the Netherlands. With manufacturing bases, distributors and R&D operations in a market, Yamaha could be involved in grassroots efforts to build products that truly met the needs of each market by respecting and valuing the distinct national sensibilities and customs of each country. Yamaha continues that tradition, today.

By the late 1960s, Yamaha had quality products that had proven themselves in the global marketplace based on superior performance and innovation. Distribution and product diversity were on the right track. But Genichi knew that beyond quality, success would demand more. He had this view on the power of original ideas. "In the future, a company's future will hinge on ideas over and above quality. Products that have no character, nothing unique about them, will not sell no matter how well made or affordable…and that would spell doom for any company."

He also knew that forward vision, walking hand in hand with original ideas, would create an opportunity for the company and its customers that could mean years of happiness and memorable experiences. Genichi said, "In the business world today, so many people are obsessed with figures. They become fixated on the numbers of the minute and without them are too afraid to do any real work. But in fact, every situation is in flux from moment to moment, developing with a natural flow. Unless one reads that flow, it is impossible to start out in a new field of business."

A real-world illustration of this belief is the Yamaha DT-1. The world's first true off-road motorcycle debuted in 1968 to create an entirely new genre we know today as trail bikes. The DT-1 made a huge impact on motorcycling in the USA because it was truly dirt worthy. Yamaha definitely "read the flow" when it produced

"Make every challenge an opportunity."

Genichi Kawakami

the 250cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, Enduro that put Yamaha On/Off-Road motorcycles on the map in the USA. The DT-1 exemplified the power of original ideas, forward vision, and quick action coupled with keeping in mind the customers' desires.

In years to come Yamaha continued to grow (and continues to this day). Diversity increased with the addition of products including snowmobiles, race kart engines, generators, scooters, ATVs, personal watercraft and more.

Genichi Kawakami set the stage for Yamaha Motor Company's success with his vision and philosophies. Total honesty towards the customer and making products that hold their own enables the company that serves people in thirty-three countries, to provide an improved lifestyle through exceptional quality, high performance products.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA Cypress, California

Genichi Kawakami's history with Yamaha was long and rich. He saw the new corporate headquarters in Cypress, California and the 25th Anniversary of Yamaha become a reality in 1980. He also watched bike #20 million roll off the assembly line in 1982. Genichi passed away on May 25, 2002 yet his vision lives on through the people and products of Yamaha, throughout the world.

History Timeline of Yamaha (USA)

Year Yamaha Motor Origin

1955

The first Yamaha motorized product was the YA-1 Motorcycle (125cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike). It was produced and sold in Japan.

Year USA History

1958 The first Yamaha Motorcycles sold in the USA were by Cooper Motors, an independent distributor. The models were the YD1 (250cc, 2-stroke, twin cylinder, streetbike) and MF-1 (50cc, 2-stroke, single cylinder, streetbike, step-through).

1960 Yamaha International Corporation began selling motorcycles in the USA.

1968

The DT-1 Enduro was introduced. The world's first dual purpose motorcycle which had on & off-road capability. Its impact on Motorcycling in the USA was enormous.

Yamaha's first Snowmobile, the SL350 (2-stroke, twin cylinder) was introduced. This was the first Snowmobile with slide valve carburetors.

1970

Yamaha’s first 4-stroke motorcycle model, the XS-1 (650cc vertical twin) was introduced.

1971

The SR433 high performance Snowmobile was introduced.

1973 Yamaha continued expansion into new markets by introducing Generators (ET1200).

1975

Yamaha pioneered the very first single-shock, production motocross bikes. This was the beginning of the YZ Monocross machines that changed motocross forever.

1976 The legendary SRX440 snowmobile hits the market and quickly catapults Yamaha to the forefront of the snowmobile racing scene.

1977

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, was founded in order to better appeal to the American market and establish a separate identity (from music & electronics) for Yamaha motorized products.

1978

The XS1100 motorcycle (four cylinder, shaft drive) was introduced.

XS650 Special was introduced. This was the first production Cruiser built by a Japanese manufacturer.

Golf Cars were introduced in the USA with the G1 gas model.

1979

YICS (Yamaha Induction Control System), a fuel-saving engine system, was developed for 4-stroke engines.

1980

The new Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, corporate office was opened in Cypress, California.

The first 3-wheel ATV was sold in USA… the Tri-Moto (YT125).

The G1-E electric powered Golf Car model was introduced.

1981

The first air-cooled, V-twin cruiser, the Virago 750, was introduced.

1984

The first production 5-valve per cylinder engine was introduced on the FZ750 motorcycle.

Yamaha’s first 4-wheel ATV, the YFM200, was introduced in the USA.

The Phazer snowmobile was introduced. Known for its light weight and agile handling.

Yamaha begins marketing Outboard Motors in the USA.

1985

The V-Max 1200 musclebike hits the streets.

1986

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America was founded in Newnan, Georgia.

1987

A new exhaust system for 4-stroke engines, “EXUP,” was developed to provide higher horsepower output throughout an engine's powerband.

Yamaha introduces personal watercraft...the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company begins Golf Car and Water Vehicle production for USA and overseas markets.

1992

The Vmax-4 Snowmobile (2-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced.

1994

Yamaha expands its product offerings by acquiring the Cobia boat company.

1995

The Century and Skeeter boat companies are acquired by Yamaha.

1996

Yamaha introduces its first Star model with the 1300cc, V4 Royal Star.

Tennessee Watercraft produces Sport Boats and later, the SUV WaveRunner.

1997

Yamaha acquires the G3 boat company.

At the Newnan, Georgia, manufacturing facility, the first ATV (the BearTracker) rolls off the assembly line.

Yamaha opens southeastern offices in Kennesaw, Georgia.

1998

The YZ400F four-stroke motocross bike was introduced. This was the first mass produced 4-stroke motocrosser.

The YZF-R1 sport bike was introduced. It set the standard for open class sport bikes for several years.

The Grizzly 600 4x4 ATV with Ultramatic transmission was introduced.

The EF2800i generator with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) was introduced. PMW allows use with equipment that requires stable frequency and voltage.

2000

The Buckmaster® Edition Big Bear 400 4x4 was introduced. This was the first ATV with camouflage bodywork.

2002

The F225 Outboard was introduced. It was the largest 4-stroke Outboard at the time.

The FX140 WaveRunner (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke personal watercraft.

2003

The RX-1 Snowmbile (1000cc, 4-stroke, four cylinder) was introduced. The world's first high performance 4-stroke Snowmobile.

2004 Rhino Side x Side model introduced. Combined performance, terrainability, utility capabilities, and take-along-a-friend convenience to lead the way in a new category of off-road recreation.

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