Yamaha, from start to Star.

1955 marked the introduction of the Yamaha Motors to the world with their first motorcycle the YA-1, a 125cc 2 stroke, single cylinder street bike. 

YA-1

 In 1958 Yamaha sold its first bikes in the USA, they was sold by Cooper Motors and were the YD-1 250cc street bike and the MF-1 50cc step through.

YD-1

MF-1

 In 1960 Yamaha began selling their own bikes in the U.S. as Yamaha International Corporation.

In 1968 Yamaha made a major impact on the scene with it's introduction of the DT-1 Enduro, the world's first duel purpose motorcycle with on and off road capabilities.

DT-1

In 1970 Yamaha cranked out its first 4 stroke powered motorcycle, the XS-1. The XS-1 had a 650cc vertical twin powerplant.

In 1975 Yamaha again impacted the motorcycle industry with the single shock moto-cross YZ seires, this design would change Motorcross.

YZ360

In 1978 Yamaha rolled out the XS650, Japans first production cruiser and the XS1100.

XS650

XS1100

In 1981 Yamaha rolled out the Virago a V-twin to compete for the American V Twin market.

VIRAGO

Yamaha introduced the first production 5 valve per cylinder engine in 1984 when it rolled out the FZ750 motorcycle.

In 1985 Yamaha brought out a Muscle Bike, the 1985 V-Max 1200.

Vmax 1200

In 1987 Yamaha introduced a new exhaust system for 4 stroke engines, designated the EXUP it was developed to produce higher horsepower,

In 1996 Yamaha introduced it's first of many, the First of the Star Motorcycle line, the 1300 V4 Royal Star.

Royal Star

The Star line would go on to include the Vstar 950, 1100 Vstar, 1300 Vstar, 1700 Roadstar, along with Stratoliners, Roadliners, Warriors, the Bolt, the Raider, and the Stryker.