YAMAHA YD Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

This machine was a luxury version of the YD2, with a nice large fuel tank (with for the first time the tuning fork logo), larger hubs and an engine which developed 1 hp more. But the mid-1960s suddenly turned Japanese motorcycle cottage industries into international powerhouses with names that would turn "Japanese" from a slur, synonymous with cheap dinnerware, into a virtue. The biggest, of course, was Honda. But following closely on its heels was Yamaha.

Further developing on the sporty performance of the YD-1, this new model mounted a 20 hp (15 Kw) engine on a steel-pipe cradle frame to achieve unprecedented running performance. Features like the first domestic-made 5-speed transmission and combination type instrument panel with engine tachometer caught the imagination of sports riders, who quickly nicknamed it Japan’s first sports model.

YD-2, the first Yamaha motorcycle which had an electric start, had a 250cc, twin cylinder, 2-stroke engine and a monocoque frame.

This is a model born out of a pursuit of design originality. Taking a 250cc for the Japanese as its key words, it was given a compact and easy to ride body size that fit the Japanese physique. It also embodied a dynamic design that gave the impression of powerful dynamism in any situation.