72 years ago, Yamaha completed its first motorcycle… even before Yamaha was born!
- Published on 31/08/2026 11:56
On August 31, 1954, Yamaha completed the first prototype of the YA-1, its very first motorcycle. A small 125 cc that would give rise, a few months later, to Yamaha Motor and one of the largest motorcycle manufacturers in the world.
Today, the name Yamaha is inseparable from motorcycles. However, when the very first Yamaha was completed on August 31, 1954, Yamaha Motor didn’t even exist yet. The project originated from Nippon Gakki, the current Yamaha Corporation, then mostly known for its musical instruments.
After World War II, the company sought new outlets for its industrial expertise. Several avenues were considered: sewing machines, three-wheel vehicles, scooters… Genichi Kawakami, president of Nippon Gakki, ultimately chose the motorcycle.
The Beginning of the Story
To launch quickly, the Japanese engineers used the German DKW RT125 as a reference. The result was named Yamaha YA-1, a 125 cc equipped with a single-cylinder two-stroke engine. The engine of the prototype was assembled starting from August 28, 1954, and started for the first time on the 30th. However, issues, particularly with the clutch, forced the team to continue working almost non-stop.
On August 31, 1954, at 10 PM, the first Yamaha motorcycle was finally completed. Testing began the next day and would eventually lead to a 10,000 km endurance program around Lake Hamana.
The YA-1 is also notable for its four-speed gearbox and its system that allows it to start in gear. With its red and cream paint, it would soon earn the nickname Aka-tombo, the “Red Dragonfly.”
Production began in 1955, and the story accelerated. On July 1, 1955, Nippon Gakki’s motorcycle activity became an independent company: Yamaha Motor was officially created.
A global motorcycle giant had just been born. But its history had truly begun ten months earlier, at 10 PM, around a modest 125 cc.
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This page is translated from the original post "Il y a 72 ans, Yamaha achevait sa première moto… avant même la naissance de Yamaha !" in French.
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