The Yamaha TT600, introduced in 1983, was one of the very first 600cc single-cylinder enduros — a lighter, more aggressive off-road variant of the XT600. Said Yamaha at the time: “Yamaha TT600 – For people […]
Tag: Yamaha
Red Ripper: Yamaha XS650 by Paul Hartman
“This thing just wants to have fun…” The Yamaha XS650 is one of our favorite motorcycles, a British-style parallel twin whose engine was highly advanced for the time, featuring unit construction, horizontally split crankcases, and […]
Modernized Vinduro: Yamaha DT360 by Joseph Rumble
“The rider…needs it all to work so he doesn’t become coyote dinner in the middle of the night.” The Yamaha DT series is our favorite line of two-stroke enduro motorcycles ever made, launched in 1968 […]
The Wasp: Yamaha RD350 Scrambler by Danners Automotive
An RD350 dirt bike built for the Malle Mile… The Yamaha RD350, built from 1973 to 1975, is one of our favorite machines from the heyday of the two-stroke street bike — a 39-hp parallel […]
Retro Motard: Yamaha XT600 by M.A.M.
A retro-inspired, short wheelbase, 264-lb motard… The Yamaha XT600 was the successor to one of our favorite enduros of all-time, the legendary XT500. Introduced for the 1983 model year, the XT600E offered a 44-hp four-valve […]
Muscle Scrambler: Yamaha XJR1300
Teleportation awaits… In the early ’90s, Yamaha needed a big-bore muscle bike to compete with the likes of the Honda CB1000 and Suzuki Bandit. Thus the mighty XJR series was born — a ’70s-inspired, big-block […]
Handbuilt in Texas: Jackson 5AM V2.0
“We don’t build custom Yamahas, Hondas, etc. We build Jacksons.” The XV750 Virago, launched in 1981, was Yamaha’s first entry into the V-twin cruiser arena. It was a slightly funky machine, with an air-cooled 75° […]
Yamaha “SR534” Cafe Racer by Yuya Ueda
“Mechanical vibes like an old piston engine fighter…” Few motorcycles have garnered the cult following of the air-cooled, single-cylinder Yamaha SR series. Part of the appeal must be the straightforward, no-frills nature of the SR’s […]
“Dusty Classic” Yamaha SR500 by Le Motographe
The Yamaha 500 singles are some of our favorite air-cooled thumpers ever built. The street-oriented SR500, introduced in 1978, was available in the US until 1981 and Europe until 1983, though it remained available in […]
“Fat Boy” Yamaha TW125 Scrambler by Candy MC
The Yamaha TW (Trailway) series, with their fat tires and four-stroke engines, have been called “two-wheel quads” or “beach bikes.” In 1987, famed Japanese motorcyclist Shinji Kazama rode a TW200 to the North Pole, and […]
