I think everybody who looks at the Yamaha FZR1000 should have a certain level of appreciation for what it did not only for Yamaha but for race-replicas and general sport bikes for the decade that followed its release. There would be no Thunderace and more importantly no legendary YZF R1 without the first Yamaha FZR … Read more
When the opportunity arose for me to write about the legend, the icon, the monster that is the Yamaha YZF R1 I couldn’t resist, I mean any motorcycle loving writer would be daft to turn down the chance. The Yamaha R1 has been in existence since 1998 and continues to develop, to push the limits … Read more
The 90’s for Yamaha were a big decade, one in which some of the most remarkable motorcycles in the world came out of the factory, setting trends and raising the stakes across the board. From the legendary Dragstar cruiser which turned a lot of heads from the domineering American cruisers, to the outrageous R1 and … Read more
In 1984 Yamaha released a road legal version of their factory YZR500 which at the time was leading the world championship with Kenny Roberts aboard. The Yamaha RD500LC was born and all the crazy kids formed an orderly queue. Intro There was a very short lived period of time in the 1980’s when a small … Read more
Yamaha were late to the 4 stroke party. Around the time Honda were basking in the glory of the all conquering four cylinder CB750, Yamaha were just introducing their first ever 4 stroke motorcycle, the XS-1. It was a twin cylinder 650 designed as a cheaper alternative to the Triumph Bonneville, BSA Gold Star and … Read more
As amazing as motorcycles are today, there will never be anything quite like the noise, smell and speed of the classic Yamaha 2 stroke motorcycles of time gone by. The 2 stroke motorcycles produced by the Japanese manufacturer were some of the best to ever hit the road and provided many riders over the years … Read more
The Yamaha FZR600 Genesis when introduced in 1989 was considered the best 600cc Sportsbike on the market. It’s reign wouldn’t last forever as Kawasaki and Honda each were to soon supersede the bike’s specs with their own offerings. However, it still retains a certain hold over riders today, with several generations spanning it’s 10 years … Read more
For me, the standout memories of the motorcycles of the 80s was the fascination with turbo bikes, improved (faster) two stroke machines and the Japanese manufacturers stepping on Harley Davidsons toes with their own cheaper V-twin cruiser models. Kawasaki 80s Motorcycles As it was for all the big four Japanese motorcycle companies, the 1980’s were … Read more
Let’s face it, motorcycles of a bygone era are undeniably cool, from early Indian Scouts and Harleys to the Bonneville and CB750, they laid the foundations for everything that was to come later. They are classics for a reason and that’s because they got it right! However, for todays riders there is technology and modern … Read more
I remember the first time I ever really took note of a Yamaha V-Max 1200. I was still a couple years away from driving age, probably 13 or 14, but I was plotting and scheming for my first motorcycle already. I was at a motorcycle shop browsing the used inventory, waiting on my dad to … Read more
I write quite regularly about some of the older bikes that I now fancy – Katana 1100, RD500, FZR1000 … all eighties motorcycles, all ‘old school’ that brings back memories of my youth, although for the main part, I was too young to ride them; in 1988, I would have been 17. So why wouldn’t … Read more
I was born in 1971, brought up in a motorcycling household, and as we grew older, bikes were just part of our life; Dad owned a very cool Bonnie, my eldest brother also owned a Bonnie, as did many of his friends, although fast Japanese stuff was just creeping in to the group – a … Read more