YAMAHA R5 Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

The new Yamaha R5-C is for street. From the ground up, this is one 350 cc twin without even a hint of wasted space or weight. The engine is incredibly smooth at all speeds, with no vibration.

After a number of minor improvements like change color, directional signals front and rear and a bigger, brighter stoplight, Yamaha launches the R5-B 350 cc. The Yamaha R5 350 was in many respects the crown jewel of Yamaha’s continuing 2-stroke program. While it put out the same 36hp as the previous year’s twin, an increase in torque and other refinements meant it easily boasted the best performance of any 2-stroke Yamaha had ever made.

The 1970 Yamaha R-5 was a pretty tought bike to top. R5-A is the best production street 350 cc in the world. By 1970, Yamaha had emerged as one of the leading Japanese motorcycle makers, behind Honda but ahead of Kawasaki and Suzuki. While Honda continued to embrace the 4-stroke ideal, Yamaha, like its other Rising Sun rivals, was still putting most of its faith in 2-stroke technology.