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Difference between revisions of "Yamaha YA-1"
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[[Image:1955 Yamaha YA-1.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The start of the Yamaha line was this YA1, built in 1955 and known as the Red Dragonfly]] | [[Image:1955 Yamaha YA-1.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The start of the Yamaha line was this YA1, built in 1955 and known as the Red Dragonfly]] | ||
First [[Yamaha]] [[Motorcycle]] model ever produced. Sold in Japan in its first year of production (1955). The 125cc, single cylinder, [[2-stroke]], [[streetbike]] had unique features including a cantilever seat, a [[plunger rear suspension system]] and a glove compartment in the fuel tank area. In Japan it was called the '''Red Dragonfly'''. Lacking motorcycle experience and seeking to build a small-capacity, high-quality product, Yamaha had chosen to copy the [[DKW RT125]], just as [[BSA]], [[Harley-Davidson]] and [[Voskhod]] had done before them, and this proved to be a wise decision. They added a fourth speed in the gearbox of the 125cc two-stroke engine and adopted gear primary drive. It was coded '''YA1''' but was to be known as the Red Dragonfly because of its | First [[Yamaha]] [[Motorcycle]] model ever produced. Sold in Japan in its first year of production (1955). The 125cc, single cylinder, [[2-stroke]], [[streetbike]] had unique features including a cantilever seat, a [[plunger rear suspension system]] and a glove compartment in the fuel tank area. In Japan it was called the '''Red Dragonfly'''. Lacking motorcycle experience and seeking to build a small-capacity, high-quality product, Yamaha had chosen to copy the [[DKW RT125]], just as [[BSA]], [[Harley-Davidson]] and [[Voskhod]] had done before them, and this proved to be a wise decision. They added a fourth speed in the gearbox of the 125cc two-stroke engine and adopted gear primary drive. It was coded '''YA1''' but was to be known as the Red Dragonfly because of its paint job. | ||
The machine was an immense success, partly due to race wins at the Mount Fuji and Asama events of 1955. It was quickly joined by the 175cc [[Yamaha YC1|YC1]] and, in 1957, the 247cc [[Yamaha YD1|YD1]] twin. This too was based on a German machine, the [[Adler]], but the design team were now allowed more freedom to incorporate their own ideas. The result was a further success and Yamaha expanded as a motorcycle firm, took over others, and began to look outside their homeland to new markets. | The machine was an immense success, partly due to race wins at the Mount Fuji and Asama events of 1955. It was quickly joined by the 175cc [[Yamaha YC1|YC1]] and, in 1957, the 247cc [[Yamaha YD1|YD1]] twin. This too was based on a German machine, the [[Adler]], but the design team were now allowed more freedom to incorporate their own ideas. The result was a further success and Yamaha expanded as a motorcycle firm, took over others, and began to look outside their homeland to new markets. | ||