Yamaha YA-1
Encyclopedia
The Yamaha YA-1 is the first motorcycle
produced by the Japanese in 1955 by the Yamaha Motor Company
.
In the early '50s, after having to replace the factories for the production of musical instruments, severely damaged during the war, Yamaha was facing the industrial conversion of factory machines, with mechanical precision, previously used for the production of propellers for aircraft of the Imperial Navy, such as the A6M Zero
and the biplane Yokosuka K5Y
.
Equally to all European countries, including Japan after World War II, the motorcycle had become a widespread means of transportation, thanks to the constructive simplicity and economy of purchase and use. Japanese motorcycle production having increased from 10,000 units in 1950 to 750,000 in 1954, with over 100 domestic manufacturers.
Due to the strong expansion of the market, Yamaha Motor Co. decided to convert to the production of motorcycles, and found in the beginning the need to grapple with high specifications, for customers with elite, rather narrow needs, especially in view of the reduced number of production potential.
It was the beginning of 1955 when they presented the YA-1, a motorcycle built with particular attention to materials and assembly, enhanced by sophisticated engineering, strongly inspired by the contemporary model DKW
RT125, and driven by a two-stroke, single cylinder, 125 cc.
In January 1955 the Hamakita
Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi Kawakami
(Yamaha Motor's first president) was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.
That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1, known to Japanese enthusiasts as Akatombo, the "Red Dragonfly", 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. This bike established a reputation as a well-built and reliable machine. The racing successes helped boost its popularity and a second machine, the 175cc YC-1 was soon in production by 1956.
Immediately used in competitions, "YA-1 won the victory in the prestigious race in ascent of Mount Fuji, held in July 1955, demonstrating that the model was free from defects in youth, except for the price it reached the stratospheric figure of 138,000 ¥, amounting to about 40,000 € in 2005.
The competition models were often painted the same orange-red military aircraft and the "YA-1" was dubbed aka-tombo (in english, red dragonfly), like the famous biplane trainer of Yokosuka.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
produced by the Japanese in 1955 by the Yamaha Motor Company
Yamaha Motor Company
, is a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company. Yamaha Motor is part of Yamaha Corporation and its headquarter is located in Iwata, Shizuoka. Along with expanding Yamaha Corporation into the world's biggest piano maker, then Yamaha CEO Genichi Kawakami took Yamaha into the field of motorized...
.
Background
A6M Zero
The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was a long-range fighter aircraft operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service from 1940 to 1945. The A6M was designated as the , and also designated as the Mitsubishi A6M Rei-sen and Mitsubishi Navy 12-shi Carrier Fighter. The A6M was usually referred to by the...
and the biplane Yokosuka K5Y
Yokosuka K5Y
-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Collier, Basil. Japanese Aircraft of World War II. London: Sidgwick & Jackson, 1979. ISBN 0-283-98399-X....
.
Equally to all European countries, including Japan after World War II, the motorcycle had become a widespread means of transportation, thanks to the constructive simplicity and economy of purchase and use. Japanese motorcycle production having increased from 10,000 units in 1950 to 750,000 in 1954, with over 100 domestic manufacturers.
Due to the strong expansion of the market, Yamaha Motor Co. decided to convert to the production of motorcycles, and found in the beginning the need to grapple with high specifications, for customers with elite, rather narrow needs, especially in view of the reduced number of production potential.
It was the beginning of 1955 when they presented the YA-1, a motorcycle built with particular attention to materials and assembly, enhanced by sophisticated engineering, strongly inspired by the contemporary model DKW
DKW
DKW is a historic German car and motorcycle marque. The name derives from Dampf-Kraft-Wagen .In 1916, the Danish engineer Jørgen Skafte Rasmussen founded a factory in Zschopau, Saxony, Germany, to produce steam fittings. In the same year, he attempted to produce a steam-driven car, called the DKW...
RT125, and driven by a two-stroke, single cylinder, 125 cc.
In January 1955 the Hamakita
Hamakita, Shizuoka
was a city located in western Shizuoka Prefecture.On July 1, 2005 Hamakita, along with the town of Haruno, from Shūchi District, the towns of Hosoe, Inasa and Mikkabi, all from Inasa District, the towns of Sakuma and Misakubo, the village of Tatsuyama, all from Iwata District, the towns of Maisaka...
Factory of Nippon Gakki was built and production began on the YA-1. With confidence in the new direction that Genichi Kawakami
Genichi Kawakami
was the president of the Yamaha Corporation from 1950 to 1977, and again from 1980 to 1983. He is often credited with the international success of Yamaha and was also widely influential as a community music educator....
(Yamaha Motor's first president) was taking, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was founded on July 1, 1955. Staffed by 274 employees, the new motorcycle manufacturer built about 200 units per month.
That same year, Yamaha entered its new YA-1, known to Japanese enthusiasts as Akatombo, the "Red Dragonfly", in the two biggest race events in Japan. They were the 3rd Mt. Fuji
Mount Fuji
is the highest mountain in Japan at . An active stratovolcano that last erupted in 1707–08, Mount Fuji lies about south-west of Tokyo, and can be seen from there on a clear day. Mount Fuji's exceptionally symmetrical cone is a well-known symbol of Japan and it is frequently depicted in art and...
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
Mount Asama
is an active complex volcano in central Honshū, the main island of Japan. The volcano is the most active on Honshū. The Japan Meteorological Agency classifies Mount Asama as rank A. It stands above sea level on the border of Gunma and Nagano prefectures...
Race. This bike established a reputation as a well-built and reliable machine. The racing successes helped boost its popularity and a second machine, the 175cc YC-1 was soon in production by 1956.
Immediately used in competitions, "YA-1 won the victory in the prestigious race in ascent of Mount Fuji, held in July 1955, demonstrating that the model was free from defects in youth, except for the price it reached the stratospheric figure of 138,000 ¥, amounting to about 40,000 € in 2005.
The competition models were often painted the same orange-red military aircraft and the "YA-1" was dubbed aka-tombo (in english, red dragonfly), like the famous biplane trainer of Yokosuka.