Yamaha

The company Yamaha (ヤマハ株式会社) is a Japanese company operative in many fields, among which:

the motor bike S;
the Motoneige S;
Driving S;
the Musical instruments;
the integrated circuits;
the electronic devices general public;

History

Under the name of Yamaha Organ Manufacturing, it was founded in 1889 by Torakusu Yamaha with Hamamatsu in the prefecture of Shizuoka. Torakusu Yamaha, clock and watch maker and mechanic, had gained one big hit by repairing the organ of one of the schools of the city. The company sold this year there 250 instruments. In 1897, it was renamed Japanese Gakki Co., Ltd. (Japanese Gakki Seïzo Kabushiki Kwaïsha) with an aim of launching out in the manufacture of other instruments.

In 1900, Yamaha amounts from the United States after one last year learning the trade from piano maker. The company is then put to sell its first upright piano and two years later of the grand piano. Extremely of this success, it thus continues to diversify as a manufacturer of another instruments: harmonicas, xylophones, etc Torakusu Yamaha, dies in 1916.

In 1930, Japanese Gakki creates its own laboratory of acoustics. During the second world war, the company is forced to manufacture propellers and of 1944 to 1947 it will not produce any more any instruments. After the war, the economic growth is considerable, the company board on various products enabling him to diversify (sewing machine, car, etc).

In 1955, Japanese Gakki is renamed Yamaha in the honor of its founder and launches his first motor cycle, YA-1.

Yamaha buys Korg in 1989 and Steinberg in 2004.

In 2001, the motor bikes activity and engines separates from Yamaha Corporation by the creation of Yamaha Motor Corporation. This scission is done by exchange of actions with Toyota.

The sign of the mark, which accounts for three Diapason S intersected, points out the beginnings of this company which today is one of both larger manufacturer of piano in the world, approximately 130 ' 000 units per annum.

Products

Motor bikes

The history of Yamaha motor begins with a copy of DKW 125 RT and some improvements, borrowed without their opinion from their German friend of the time. (Article LVM n°304 p28). Yamaha will be, at the beginning, a specialist in the driving 2 times, like two other Japanese (Suzuki and Kawasaki), contrary at Honda.

Its machines of series immediately were famous for their promptness and their reliability.

Yamaha arrives on the European market at the end of the Années 1960, with a range the small ones and average cubic capacities 2 times:

50 and 80 cm ³
125 CS2 twin-cylinder
350 YR3 twin-cylinder

These machines are original, with a lubrication by oil injection (system Autolube) and not by mixture.

These machines will evolve/move:

125 AS3 (1971), then RD, then RDX (Brake disc)
250 and 350 RD, then RDLC (1980), introducing the liquid cooling, and the suspension Cantilever, inspired by the Vincent HRD.
DT125MX, standard DT125 10V (first 125 to rejoin Dakar classified at the time of Paris-Dakar 1984) and DT125LC (disc brake).
RD 200
TDR 250 (1988) Super motorcyclist motorized by a twin-cylinder with liquid cooling (44 horses with 10.000 tr/min 153 kg with the full ones)

Yamaha will work much on the 2 times technology, with the admission by valves.

Yamaha is tested successfully at 4 times: besides the 650 XS leaves in 1969, it will continue its career until 1982. To counter the success of the Honda CB 750 Furnace, Yamaha leaves in 1972 the 750 TX but it is a failure, because of a fragile mechanics.

Years 1970 see also the arrival of Yamaha in the whole ground (models " Trail ") : DT 360 in 1973, DT 125, which will evolve/move in DTMX (suspension cantilever), which will be an enormous business success.

In 1975, Yamaha starts again the fashion of the " gromono" (large one-cylinder), with the Yamaha XT 500, model any ground. There will be many derivatives any ground (XT 550, XT 600, Ténéré etc) and road (SR 500).

In 1977, Yamaha leaves a XS 500, twin-cylinder 4 times with 8 valves and a XS 750, three cylinders 4 times with transmission shafting and Cardan joint, which will evolve/move in 850 cm ³. These two machines will not make an exceptional career, but the following one, the XS 1100, four cylinders with transmission shafting, will be the most beautiful machine of the time (1978).

In 1983, Yamaha leaves the 900 XJ which will evolve/move into 84 with a head of fork fixed at the framework and simplifications technique as well as an increase in the cubic capacity for the benefit of the flexibility and couple. It is about excellent road with handy, very economic Cardan joint and of an exemplary reliability. The 750 XJ resembles to him like two water drops. Will exist also as a preliminary or in parallel the 650 XJ, the 750 XJ Séca (without secondary careenage but transmissions by Cardan joints also), the 400 and 600 (secondary transmissions by chain). They will continue to produce the 900 XJ until 1994, and will then replace it by the 900 Diversion.

Yamaha will continue to innovate:

Turbo engine on the XJ 650 (without more success than its competitors)
Driving with 5 valves per cylinder on the FZ 750 in 1985
ABS on the FJ1200 in 1990
the 1000 GTS and its system of suspension will monobras before and back

Gallery

Random links: