If you were born in the 1970s or 1980s there’s a good chance you either owned or saw a Yamaha RX100 RD350 or RX135 zipping over Indian roads. Motorcycle riders are discouraged from visiting a garage and getting their hands filthy with a wrench because of the increase in traffic that has occurred since then. The times have evolved. Owning stylish riding attire and Instagramming their rides are important to today’s bikers. Remembering why we are all here and how some of the best motorcycles Yamaha has ever made brought us riders together is important. Here is a ranking of the Top 15 most vicious Yamaha motorbikes ever made. Please send us a note with your experiences if you have ridden or owned any of these beauties.
Yamaha YD2
The first two-stroke twin-cylinder motorbike made by Yamaha was the YD1. It was largely influenced by the Adler MB and was superseded by the YD2 in 1959. It’s a 250, as the letter “D” suggests. The first motorbike that Yamaha shipped to the West was this one. Deep valanced mudguards, an electric starting unit and dynamo coupled, and an enclosed chain were all features of the YD2.
- Model: Yamaha YD2
- Year Introduced: 1959
- Capacity: 247cc
- Power Output: 14.5 bhp
- Weight: 140 kg
- Top Speed: 113 km/h
- Country Of Origin: Japan
Yamaha YDS3C Big Bear
The YDS3C Big Bear was released by Yamaha in 1965, quickly eschewing the hefty, massive appearance. Yamaha created this trial bike, its first street scrambler, by modifying road bikes to include high-level exhaust pipes. The YDS3, the first Yamaha two-stroke motorbike with an automated oiling system, served as the model for this particular bike. The 1964 Road Racing World Championship was also won by Yamaha with the aid of the YDS3.
- Model: Yamaha YDS3C Big Bear
- Year Introduced: 1965
- Capacity: 246cc
- Power Output: 21 bhp
- Weight: 159 kg
- Top Speed: 142 km/h
- Country Of Origin: Japan
Yamaha TR3
In the late 1960s there was a discernible decrease in the number of Japanese industrial teams competing in international competitions. This also helped to explain the domination of the Yamaha two stroke twins in the races. Being the smallest capacity motorbike to win the Daytona 200 is a title that the TR3 has achieved. Don Emde rode the motorbike in races against fully loaded 750-cc motorcycles.
- Model: Yamaha TR3
- Year Introduced: 1972
- Capacity: 347cc
- Power Output: 58 bhp
- Weight: 107 kg
- Top Speed: NA
- Country Of Origin: Japan
Yamaha YZ250
All of Yamaha’s race and road bikes including the YZ250, were built with mono shock suspension technology after the company won the 1973 Motocross World Championship. The YZ250 went on to become one of the best production motocross motorcycles of that era because of its appeal among amateur riders.
- Model: Yamaha YZ250
- Year Introduced: 1974
- Capacity: 246cc
- Power Output: 21 bhp
- Weight: 159 kg
- Top Speed: 141 km/h
- Country Of Origin: Japan
Yamaha RD350B
This portion would merit an early “centerfold” for this remarkable narrative, as we were aware from the beginning. Yamaha improved its 124cc to 347cc two-stroke twins in 1973 and prefixed them with “RD.” Reed Valves were also introduced by Yamaha over its whole range. As a result, there was no longer any chance of blowbacks while the engines ran at increased crankcase pressure. As a result, the motorbike performed better and was able to outperform bikes with larger displacements.
Since it was the first pure performance motorbike to be introduced in India, the 1983 model was an immediate success and has a devoted fan base to this day. However, the RD350 was adjusted to achieve improved fuel efficiency and was introduced as a Low Torque (27 bhp) and High Torque (30.5 bhp) in India. After being imported for a few years, the parts were assembled locally after that. When it was sold here, it had a suggested retail price of INR 18,000 until manufacture ceased in 1990.
- Model: Yamaha RD350B
- Year Introduced: 1973
- Capacity: 347cc
- Power Output: 39 bhp
- Weight: 154 kg
- Top Speed: 169 km/h
- Country Of Origin: Japan
Yamaha TZ250
The air-cooled TD races were replaced by the water-cooled TZ racers in 1973. For private racers hoping to succeed in the sport, these bikes were indispensable. With a 108-degree crankshaft, these parallel twin cylinders operated. Yamaha maintained making improvements to the TZ in order to stay ahead of the competition. Race cars saw significant modifications, such as the one that Dieter Braun rode to win the 1973 250 World Championship.
- Model: Yamaha TZ250
- Year Introduced: 1973
- Capacity: 247cc
- Power Output: 53 bhp
- Weight: 108 kg
- Top Speed: 225 km/h
- Country Of Origin: Japan
Yamaha OW48
This is the same motorcycle that with the support of renowned riders like Giacomo Agostini and Kenny Roberts helped Yamaha win several world championships. This in line two stroke four-cylinder motorcycle had a six-speed transmission dual Mikuni carburetors and a maximum speed of 290 km/h.
- Model: Yamaha OW48
- Capacity: 498cc
- Power Output: 130 bhp
- Weight: 145 kg
- Top Speed: 290 km/h
- Country Of Origin: Japan
Yamaha RD250 LC
The RD250LC was designed to convert the liquid cooled engine and monoshock suspension of the TZ series racing motorcycles for road use. The LC was a teenage dream bike in the 1980s and a lot of Grand Prix racers started out on them.
- Model: Yamaha RD250 LC
- Year Introduced: 1980
- Capacity: 247cc
- Power Output: 35 bhp
- Weight: 139 kg
- Top Speed: 171 km/h
- Country Of Origin: Japan
Yamaha RZ500
The Yamaha RZ500 was the ultimate race motorbike intended for use on public roads. This two stroke liquid-cooled V4 engine was created by Yamaha based on their initial race motorcycles. Global sales of the RZ500 were available in a range of combinations. In Britain, Japan and North America it was sold under the names RD500, RZV500 and RZ500 respectively. The motorbike has two exhausts hidden beneath the seat and one on either side of the back wheel.
- Model: Yamaha RZ500
- Year Introduced: 1984
- Capacity: 499cc
- Power Output: 87 bhp
- Weight: 180 kg
- Top Speed: 216 km/h
- Country Of Origin: Japan
Yamaha V-Max
Atsushi Ichijo worked with Akira Araki to create the Yamaha V-Max, with contributions from Ed Burke and John Reed. It was well known that this motorbike had extremely bad handling yet rapid acceleration. In certain places like the UK there was a big V4 liquid cooled engine with a forced down power output of 95 horsepower. Very little changes had been made to the V-Max since its introduction between the 1985 and 2007 model years.
- Model: Yamaha V-Max
- Year Introduced: 1985
- Capacity: 1198cc
- Power Output: 145 bhp
- Weight: 270 kg
- Top Speed: 230 km/h
- Country Of Origin: Japan
Yamaha FZR1000
The Yamaha FZR1000 was the company’s biggest capacity supersports motorbike when it made its debut. Yamaha’s 1989 FZR1000 Exup (Exhaust Ultimate Power Valve) boasted a wider power dispersion and greater usable power. The car’s liquid cooled inline four cylinder engine produced power that was transferred through a six speed gearbox.
- Model: Yamaha FZR1000
- Year Introduced: 1987
- Capacity: 1002cc
- Power Output: 125 bhp
- Weight: 240 kg
- Top Speed: 269 km/h
- Country Of Origin: Japan
Yamaha GTS1000
The 1993 Yamaha GTS1000 was the first mass-produced Japanese motorcycle with hub centered steering instead of traditional forks. Although the motorbike rode quite steadily as a result, the steering became heavy. Additionally, it included the “Omega Chassis,” which had a front swingarm with only one side. The motorcycle is equipped with a water cooled inline four cylinder engine that has a catalytic converter, ABS and fuel injection.
- Model: Yamaha GTS1000
- Year Introduced: 1993
- Capacity: 1002cc
- Power Output: 100 bhp
- Weight: 251 kg
- Top Speed: 213 km/h
- Country Of Origin: Japan
Yamaha YZF600 R6
In the 1990s when 600cc bikes were starting to gain popularity Yamaha unveiled the R6. A 600cc four cylinder motorcycle with remarkable handling and performance was the result of its “No Compromise” design method. The motorcycle has changed over time and modern models with the same engine capacity now have over 122 horsepower thanks to tuning.
- Model: Yamaha YZF600 R6
- Year Introduced: 1998
- Capacity: 599cc
- Power Output: 98.7 bhp
- Weight: 169 kg
- Top Speed: 250 km/h
- Country Of Origin: Japan
Yamaha YZF1000 R1
Yamaha debuted the R1 the ultimate sportbike in 1998, according to the No Compromise design philosophy. By making everything lighter, faster and more powerful than the Honda Fireblade, Yamaha was able to overcome its competitor. There have been significant design changes made to the 200 horsepower R1 that is currently available for purchase.
- Model: Yamaha YZF1000 R1
- Year Introduced: 1998
- Capacity: 998cc
- Power Output: 150 bhp
- Weight: 190 kg
- Top Speed: 266 km/h
- Country Of Origin: Japan
Yamaha RX100
The RX100 which debuted in 1985 and was produced up until 1996 was the first motorcycle in India’s performance motorbike industry. The first choice for every racer was the reliable and lively two-stroke single cylinder engine. It was retailed for INR sixteen thousand. There was a lot of engine tuning possible. Every child born between the years of the 1990s and the beginning of the 2000s has either rode or owned one. In the 1990s the RX100 was involved in a number of catastrophic two wheeler accidents as a result of its poor performance and weak brakes. This hasn’t stopped its devoted fan following though since they still think the RX100 is a really special motorcycle.
- Model: Yamaha RX100
- Year Introduced: 1985
- Capacity: 98cc
- Power Output: 11 bhp
- Weight: 95 kg
- Top Speed: 113 km/h
- Country Of Origin: Japan
