The E40G was Yamaha’s first model to be developed specifically for commercial use. In anticipation of use in harsh environments around the world, engine performance was important, but the main focus was on excellent durability, reliability, and serviceability.
It was that kind of toughness that the designer wanted to express with the graphics of the new design. When these models with the new color scheme and graphics were sent to the various markets where the model would be used, it was soon apparent how easy it became appreciated worldwide as a familiar part of the lives and livelihoods of the people and their industries.
Distinctly different from pleasure-use models emphasizing speed, this new design marked the birth of a new line of rugged Yamaha outboard engines—the Enduro Series. The E40G is still a long seller in the line-up today. The blue, red and black stripes on Yamaha outboard engines had long been symbols of the product and stood for the respective qualities of reliability, power, and ease of use. They had also become a familiar and immediately recognizable icon of Yamaha outboards in waterside communities everywhere.
Engine
The Yamaha’s E40G boasts an in-line 2-cylinder, 669 cc, with a 78.0 x 70.0 bore and stroke.
The XT600 Ténéré was a modified version of the production off-road model XT600. The performance of the engine and suspension was upgraded as speeds in the Paris-Dakar rally grew faster every year. The bike boasted a 600cc engine that retained the YDIS (Yamaha Dual Intake System), the first front disc brake ever on a Yamaha off-road model, a bell-crank Monocross suspension, an aluminum swingarm and more and had a very high level of reliability.
The XT600 Ténéré not only became the natural choice of numerous Paris-Dakar racers but also the choice of many general motorcyclists who admired the adventure that the Paris-Dakar symbolized. The Ténéré was the model that best embodied their dreams and would ignite a worldwide boom in machines styled after those competing in the Paris-Dakar. In the ten years following its release, 61,000 XT600 Ténéré bikes were sold in Europe and more than 20,000 were sold in France alone.
The Adventure category that began with the arrival of the XT500 truly reached a new level of popularity with the launch of the XT600 Ténéré, which would eventually come to symbolize the “spirit of adventure” of the Yamaha brand.
Engine / Frame
The XT600 Ténéré was a 600cc, 4-stroke, OHC, single-cylinder with a specially designed frame.
Yamaha built its reputation as an outboard manufacturer with 2-stroke engines, but a major factor in earning recognition as the world’s leading outboard brand was our technical expertise for creating more eco-friendly engines. The U.S. first implemented outboard emissions standards in the 1990s to reduce their environmental impact. This pivotal movement soon shifted the focus of outboard engine manufacturers toward developing more eco-friendly engines.
But Yamaha had already begun R&D for creating a 4-stroke outboard in 1975 and launched the F9.9A as its first 4-stroke outboard in 1984. The reason for the F9.9A’s white coloring was that the initial product image was that of an auxiliary engine for sailing yachts. However, sailing yacht decks tend to be set high above the waterline and with a high line of sight, so the F9.9A was given features like a flat top surface.
The design team dealt with a number of demanding requirements influencing the outboard’s form, such as modifying the shape of the upper section to accommodate the addition of an oil pan and designing a high-thrust propeller that would meet the demands of powering a sailboat.
Engine
The F9.9A is a 2-cylinder, 232 cc engine with 9.9 horsepower.
Yamaha had always based its development approach on good stability, but in Europe at the time, Germany’s Autobahn made it possible to ride and cruise at top speed. That meant that for these big bikes, straight-line stability in this very-high-speed range was the most important element in evaluations. Yamaha was hurrying to develop its new FJ1100.
In order to stress the model’s positioning as a supersport bike, it was decided to go with 16-inch wheels front and rear. It was based on the advantage of having a lower center of gravity from the standpoint of stability in the very-high-speed range. The ride was so unique and fit the preferences of German riders so well that the FJ1100 came to be positioned more of a full-on touring machine than a supersport.
Engine / Frame
The FJ1100 was the result of Yamaha’s taking on the challenge of establishing its position in the over-1-liter category. The engine had a bore of 74 mm and 63.8 mm of stroke for 1,097cc of displacement. In addition, the frame had a unique layout called the “lateral frame”. It was an extremely-high-rigidity spec frame in which the main pipes from the rear extended past the steering head, wrapping around both sides of it all the way to the front, so it embraced the head from all sides.
Born in 1985 as a new American market model, the VMAX 1200 model won shortly after its debut a popular following for its unique styling and its distinctive, powerful performance, making it a long-seller for more than 20 years.
The VMAX was designed for outstanding performance in straight-line acceleration. It enjoyed a “V-Boost” system, which consists of the opening of butterfly valves in the intake manifold between the 1st and 2nd and between the 3rd and 4th cylinders starting from 5,750 rpm.
The valves are opened gradually to match the rising engine speed with a signal provided by the ignition system. The valves are at the fully open position at 8,000 rpm. The V-Boost system adds 10 percent to the top power rating of the base engine.
Soon after the debut of the original VMAX, it won a passionate following among big bike enthusiasts and went on to become an epoch-making model that transcended categories with its unique aura over the next twenty years. Its influence on the market was enormous, and by the end of 2007 the total production reached approximately 100,000 units.
Engine / Frame
This machine had a 4-stroke, DOHC, 4-valve, V4 engine and a cast aluminium frame.
The BW’s 50 was originally developed in Japan by a creative team that envisioned a scooter to be able to go on the beach, in the fun spirit of a dune buggy. For that purpose, it had remarkable ‘Big Wheels’ and hence its name BW’s! It debuted on the Tokyo Motor show in autumn 1988. The late Mr. Jean-Claude Olivier, President of Yamaha Motor France at that time, was instantly convinced of its market potential and insisted to get it on sale in Europe. The brave decision was made to transfer the production line to the MBK factory in France, where production started in 1990.
The response from the youngster target group was overwhelming, especially in Latin countries like Italy and France. BW’s fun and sporty spirit were completely different from the serious, commuting-oriented competitors. Young teenagers loved the compact dimensions and lightweight in combination with the peppy engine: this scooter delivered a high level of riding fun. On top of that, its simple, authentic and robust design with the fat tyres looked strong and masculine.
Sales grew quickly and remained strong all through the ‘90s, in some years reaching over 100.000 units annually. The original model remained in production with only small technical changes until a more substantial model change came about in 2004, so 15 years later!
Frame / Engine
BW’s 49cc air-cooled 2-stroke reed-valve engine delivers a punchy performance. In combination with the underbone steel frame and the clever and ‘minimalist’ overall construction, the scooter features a lightweight of only 69 kg, despite the fat tyres and robust build quality.
Adventure touring was one of the fastest-growing areas in motorcycling in the 1980s. The XTZ750 Super Ténéré was one of the vanguard bikes in this genre, and the boom in off-road touring owes much to the power and performance of this wonderful twin. However, riders wanted not only the capability to go off-road but the ability to cruise highways while carrying touring equipment and camping gear. This means that even more power and smoothness were needed.
The XTZ750 Super Ténéré meets these demands. Powered by an extremely compact parallel-twin engine with a 5-valve head and liquid cooling this bike combines on-road smoothness and power with off-road torque and response. The engine is not only very smooth, but it is also very quiet. Since engine noise contributes significantly to fatigue during long rides, this is another very nice characteristic. Fitted to a lightweight chassis with an advanced suspension system, it offers a balance of on-road and off-road performance new to motorcycling. Lighter and more compact than existing off-road twins, it is also much more powerful and more comfortable at high speed than off-road singles.
Engine / Frame
The XTZ750 Super Ténéré owned 4-stroke, 750cc, DOHC, parallel-twin engine with 5-valve head, liquid cooling and slant-block design. Its frame is of the double-cradle design and is made of high tensile steel; light and strong, it minimizes flexing and ensure handling performance on- and off-road.
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