Yamaha YA-1 was first produced in 1945. Motor that has a different name Akatombo or "Red Dragonfly" is the first homemade Yamaha motorcycle. 125cc-powered motor is quite successful. using 175cc engines. The next production is a twin cylinder motor YDI in 1957, capable of issuing power 20 bhp and won the event Race Mount Asama in Japan.
"I want to do a trial manufacture of motorcycle engines" says Genichi Kawakami (Yamaha Motor's first president) in 1953. For that Kawakami not kidding. Before making a motorcycle, he did some research and often visited America to learn about opportunities in this business. Research to build a motorcycle he does get to the motorcycle factory in Germany.
"If you make it, then make the best" is their motto in creating the motorcycles. All that is poured on the construction of the first prototype ten months later. Precisely August 1954 out the Yamaha YA-1. motorcycles with specifications air-cooled, 2-stroke, 125 cc with a single cylinder engine. After finishing the bike in as far as 10,000 km test that has not been done before and make sure that the quality is top class.
125cc motor is known as an alias YA1 Atakombo (also known as Red Dragonfly). The YA-1 is patterned after the German DKW RT125 (which has also been copied by the British munitions firm, Birmingham Small Arms Company, as the BSA Bantam, and by Harley-Davidson as the Hummer).
Then, in 1955 after World War II president Genichi Kawakami realize that in order to rebuild Japan, the country needs an affordable means of transportation. Finally Yamaha YA-1, aka "Red Dragonfly" began to be produced and highly successful market. With this conviction on July 1, 1955 Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was established by the number of employees as many as 274 people, and able to produce 200 units of motorcycles per month.
Come Racing World LevelIn the same year Yamaha YA-1 following the biggest motor racing event in Japan, namely Mt. Fuji Asama Highlands Festival and Festival. In his debut race managed to win the 125 cc class. In the following year returned the Yamaha YA-1 dominate the class.
