| Yamaha motorcycles industries dates back to 1887. | | | | popularity. |
| However, it was not until the late 50's that they | | | | At first they could not be compared to Honda and |
| made their first motorcycle. It was exactly 19955 | | | | Suzuki as their first model only sold 16000 times. |
| first of July when the Yamaha Motor Corporation | | | | However they made a fast increase with sales when |
| was formed as a part of the Yamaha group. Today | | | | the first sports model arrived. In the early 60's they |
| they are the second largest distributor of | | | | were able to boost their sales by 600%. It was also |
| motorcycles which is quite an achievement for a | | | | the time when they could set ground selling |
| business that arrived late on the market of | | | | motorcycles in the US. In 1970 they had already a |
| motorcycles. | | | | catalog of 20 models and production reached almost |
| The first Yamaha was the 125cc YA1. It had a single | | | | 600 000 units a year. |
| cylinder and was actually a copy of a German | | | | Probably the most successful project was the |
| motorcycle. although this first design was nothing | | | | Yamaha Virago. It was the first true cruiser that |
| more than a copy, the model that came after this | | | | came out of Japan and until today still is a very |
| one was the Bantam. With that motorcycle they | | | | popular motorcycle. Although they have a short |
| made a reputation in the motorcycle business and | | | | history when it comes to motorcycles, they have |
| they contributed to the increase of motorcycle | | | | build up reputation and admiration and still do. |