TL;DR Who Founded Yamaha Motor and When Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was incorporated on July 1, 1955, in Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan. The company was founded by Genichi Kawakami, who also served as its first president. It did not start from scratch — it was spun off from an existing industrial giant. The parent company was…
TL;DR Why “Years to Avoid” Is a Different Question for Yamaha Yamaha has one of the stronger long-term reliability records in the US motorcycle market. Most of its popular models — the MT-07, V-Star 650, R6 from 2008 onward — don’t have dramatic model-year disasters. The real “years to avoid” list for Yamaha is short,…
TL;DR The 10 Fastest Yamahas at a Glance These rankings are by verified or widely reported top speed, not horsepower alone. Where Yamaha publishes no official figure, the independent source is noted. Rank Model Top Speed Engine HP (Claimed) Source 1 YZF-R1M 186 mph (limited) 998cc CP4 inline-4 ~197 hp Gentlemen’s agreement limiter 2 YZF-R1…
TL;DR 2025 Yamaha Bolt R-Spec Full Spec Sheet Spec Detail Engine 942cc air-cooled SOHC 60° V-twin Valves 4 per cylinder (8 total) Bore x Stroke 85.0 mm x 83.0 mm Compression Ratio 9.0:1 Fuel System Twin-bore fuel injection Claimed Horsepower ~53 hp (manufacturer figure varies by source) Claimed Torque 59.3 lb-ft at ~3,000 rpm Transmission…
TL;DR Yamaha MT-03 Specs at a Glance Spec Detail Engine 321cc liquid-cooled DOHC inline twin Bore x Stroke 68.0mm x 44.1mm Compression Ratio 11.2:1 Peak Power 41.5 hp @ 10,750 rpm (manufacturer claim) Peak Torque 21 lb-ft @ 9,000 rpm Dyno-measured Power 37 hp @ 10,590 rpm (Cycle World dyno) Transmission 6-speed with slip-and-assist clutch…
TL;DR Yamaha MT-09 Full Specs (2026) The 2026 MT-09 carries over the same 890cc CP3 platform introduced in 2021. Yamaha publishes no official top speed or 0–60 figure; the performance numbers below come from independent instrumented testing. Spec Detail Engine 890cc liquid-cooled DOHC inline-three (CP3) Bore x Stroke 78.0 mm × 62.1 mm Compression Ratio…
TL;DR Yamaha R3 Top Speed: What the GPS Numbers Actually Show The Yamaha R3 top speed is 112 mph in standard conditions, confirmed by GPS-instrumented testing. That figure comes from MotoStatz (2024), who ran a 2024 YZF-R3 on a closed course with data logging. With a favorable tailwind or a slight decline in elevation, the…
TL;DR Yamaha XSR900 Specs at a Glance Specification 2026 Yamaha XSR900 Engine 890cc liquid-cooled DOHC inline 3-cylinder Bore x Stroke 78.0 mm x 62.1 mm Compression Ratio 11.5:1 Claimed Power 115 hp @ 10,000 rpm Peak Torque 68.6 ft-lb (manufacturer claim) Transmission 6-speed with assist & slipper clutch Final Drive Chain Front Suspension 41 mm…
TL;DR 2026 Yamaha YZF-R1 Specs at a Glance Specification 2026 Yamaha YZF-R1 Engine 998cc liquid-cooled inline-4, DOHC, 4 valves/cyl Bore x Stroke 79.0 mm x 50.9 mm Compression Ratio 13.0:1 Peak Power 200 hp @ 13,500 rpm (manufacturer claim) Peak Torque 83 lb-ft @ 11,500 rpm Transmission 6-speed, wet multiplate assist/slipper clutch Front Suspension 43mm…
TL;DR Yamaha Zuma 125 Specs at a Glance Spec 2026 Yamaha Zuma 125 Engine 125cc liquid-cooled, 4-stroke SOHC single, 4 valves Bore x Stroke 52.0mm x 58.7mm Compression Ratio 11.2:1 Fuel Delivery Fuel injection (FI) Transmission V-belt automatic (CVT) Top Speed ~61 mph (GPS-verified, third-party testing) Fuel Economy 101 mpg (Yamaha estimate); 75-85 mpg real-world…
TL;DR Yamaha Ténéré 700 Top Speed: What the Data Shows The Ténéré 700 reaches approximately 110–116 mph (177–186 km/h) in real-world GPS-measured runs. That figure is consistent across independent speed tests and owner reports from highway stretches where legal limits permit sustained speeds (Corner Speed Blog, 2026; owner reports via T7 forum community). Yamaha doesn’t…
TL;DR Where the Tracer 9 Sits in the Yamaha Lineup The Tracer 9 is Yamaha’s mid-displacement sport-tourer, built around the same 890cc CP3 triple-cylinder engine found in the MT-09, XSR900, and YZF-R9. It sits above the Ténéré 700 in the touring category and well below the FJR1300ES in terms of long-haul comfort and price. For…
TL;DR Yamaha YZF-R9 Specifications Spec Detail Engine 890cc liquid-cooled DOHC inline 3-cylinder Bore x Stroke 78.0 mm × 62.1 mm Compression Ratio 11.5:1 Claimed Peak Power 117 hp @ 10,000 rpm Claimed Peak Torque 69 lb-ft @ 7,000 rpm Transmission 6-speed, wet multiplate clutch with Assist & Slipper Final Drive Chain (16/45 sprocket ratio) Frame…
TL;DR Yamaha MT-10 Full Specs (2026) Specs pulled directly from Yamaha Motorsports USA (2026). Specification MT-10 (2026) Engine 998cc, liquid-cooled DOHC inline-4 (CP4), 16 valves Bore x Stroke 79.0mm x 50.9mm Compression Ratio 12.0:1 Fuel Delivery Fuel injection with YCC-T Peak Power 141 hp @ 11,500 rpm (wheel; dyno-tested) Transmission 6-speed, wet multiplate clutch with…
TL;DR Yamaha launched the MT-07 in 2014 as the entry-level member of its “Master of Torque” naked lineup, sitting beneath the MT-09 and MT-10. It’s been Yamaha’s top-selling street motorcycle in North America every year since, and for good reason: the bike delivers a disproportionate amount of riding satisfaction for the money. For 2025, Yamaha…