Yamaha Racing Bikes Of Past ..

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YDS-1 Asama -1959

This was a club man's racer that used a production set of kit parts to modify the YDS-1. The already high sports performance of the YDS-1 was further heightened with the tune-up made possible by this kit. It could run on even footing with machines of considerably larger displacement. A motocross specification kit was also marketed for this model and it dominated the Japanese race scene of the day regardless of the kind of course.
 
TD-1B -1965

Competing in grand prix racing in the USA and Europe, this was a production racer that could hold its own against the factory machines. A further tuned-up version of its base, the YDS-3, this model adopted "worm ports" on the cylinder wall that were the original form of the 5-port system that would appear on later production models and the piston was a high-flow type. With the suspension also adopting new materials and new processing methods experimented with, this model won a reputation for its light weight and outstanding handling. This model further evolved to become the TD1-C, characterized by its white fuel tank and generally called the fastest in the 250 cc class.
 
RD56 -1965

This model was a further evolution of the RD48 that debuted in 1962. The engine was fitted with a pump-operated forced lubrication mechanism that was the predecessor to Yamaha's Autolube system. The chassis was also redesigned with a feather-bed type frame and new strengthened suspensions front and rear. With these improvements it was such a frequent winner in domestic and international races that the RD56 came to be called the "world's fastest 250cc racer". A dominant force in the 250cc class of the World GP, Phil Read rode it to successive rider and manufacturer World Championship titles in 1964 and '65, spreading the Yamaha name worldwide
 
RA97 -1966

This is the RA97 machine that Bill Ivy rode in his close battle for the 1966 world title in the 125cc class of the Road Race World Championships. Its liquid-cooled 2-stroke engine produced 32 horsepower, enabling it to hold its own against the 4-cylinder machines of the competitors. It mounted an 8-speed transmission. Yamaha first entered a 125cc factory racer in 1964 with an air-cooled 2-cylinder engine. The next year, 1965, that was changed to liquid-cooled machine that Phil Read rode to victory in the Isle of Mann TT Race.
 
RA31A -1968

This model was a scaled-down version of the 250cc RD05A. Inheriting features like the forced lubrication system and a double cradle frame, it became another legendary Yamaha racer in the tradition of the RD56. In 1967 and '68, this machine won back-to-back manufacturer and rider world titles in the 125cc class ridden by Bill Ivy and Phil Read respectively.
 
RD05A -1968

Compared to the RD56's maximum power output of 60 ps, the model that was developed to deliver over 70 ps was the RD05. Mounting a liquid-cooled rotary disk valve V-4 engine, it turned out speed particularly on the straights that left the competition behind. The model that was further developed from this for improved handling performance was the RD05A. With its combination of unbeatable power and good handling, the RD05A was ridden by Phil Read to the 250cc road race World GP rider and manufacturers titles in 1968. However, due to FIM regulation changes aimed at stemming the trend toward multiple-cylinder engines, the 250cc class was limited to 2-cylinder engines from the following year.
 
RF302 -1969

In 1968, the FIM introduced new regulations that put the brakes on the trend toward increasingly complex race machines with more cylinders. To comply with this Yamaha developed the RF302 with a single 50cc cylinder. However, in 1969 Yamaha didn't enter any factory machines in GP racing, so it was never to compete. To this day the RF302 holds a place as a phantom racer that never saw the race track.
 
YZR500 OW20 -1974

From the late 1960s into the early '70s, the 500cc class of the road race World GP was completely dominated by MV Agusta. The machine that finally challenged this domination was the YZR500. Mounting a 7-port torque injection, in-line 4-cylinder engine and the Monocross suspension that had proved its unquestionable superiority in motocross, this model achieved extremely high performance in both its engine and chassis. With its debut in the 1973 France GP, the YZR500 completely overturned the existing balance of power in the world of road racing for the first time since Jarno Saarinen's victory. The following year, 1974, Giacomo Agostini rode it to the manufacturers title in the World GP.
 
YZM250 OW25 -1975

The sensational Monocross suspension that in effect created a single-unit rear suspension was first adopted on the 1973 model YZM250. In appearance as well, it was such a unique innovation that confused factory riders of the day said, "There is no way we can compete on a machine without a suspension." With its dramatic increase in torsional strength and the advantage of greater wheel travel, the Monocross suspension became the leader in the motocross world. With YZM machines mounting the Monocross suspension winning the 1973 World 250cc title and the Japanese 250cc and 125cc titles, it proved itself the dominant technology in world competition.
 
YZR500 OW35 -1978

This was the first machine to adopt the revolutionary Yamaha Power Valve System (YPVS) that brought a dramatic boost in 2-stroke engine performance. Achieving both solid torque in the low to middle speed range and stronger top-end power development, this system would soon be fed back to Yamaha production models. With its incomparable performance, Kenny Roberts rode the YZR500 to three successive rider world championship titles from 1978 to '80, winning himself the nickname "King Kenny." Roberts was the first rider to use the "hang on" riding technique that is now the standard form among GP riders.
 
YZR500 -1988

The YZR500 that had won the manufacturers championship of the World Championships GP500 class two consecutive years in 1986 and '87, was introduced for '88 with the further matured power unit mounted on a newly developed Deltabox aluminum frame. That year Yamaha won the manufacturers title again, dominating the season ranking with five YZR500 riders finishing in the top six. Eddie Lawson rode his YZR500 to his third World GP title.
 
YZF750 -1990

In 1990 the " Dream Team" of world champ Eddie Lawson and top Japanese star Tadahiko Taira (Shisedo Tech 21 team), took on the challenge of the Suzuka 8-hour Endurance Race and came through to bring Yamaha it's 3rd victory in this big event. The endurance-spec YZF750 they rode completed what was at the time a race record of 205 laps.
 
YZE750T -1991

This is the machine that won an impressive sweep of the top three positions in the 13th Paris-Dakar Rally, proving its outstanding durability and reliability in the toughest rally competition of all. The winner of the rally this year, Stephan Peterhansel, went on to win every Paris-Dakar until 1998 with the exception of one in '94 when Yamaha didn't enter. In this desert rally competition where not only the superiority of the machine but also the quality of the support organization play key roles, Yamaha established an amazing record of victories.
 
YZR500 -1992

Wayne Rainey (Team Marlboro Yamaha) would ride to three consecutive championships in the World GP500 class beginning in 1990, and this was the YZR500 machine he rode in 1992. he highly matured 2-stroke V-4 engine pumped out over 160 ps of power. In order to stimulate competition in the World GP, Yamaha began selling the YZR engine to private constructors beginning that year.
 
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