The 13 Best Yamaha Motorcycles Ever Made

Many long-established companies produce fine pianos, guitars, stereos, or motorcycles. However, there is probably only one that makes them all, Yamaha. Not only does Yamaha produce all these products and more, but it also does it well, garnering a reputation for building some of the finest precision-made products in the world. Companies occasionally seek out consultations from Yamaha to make special high-performance engines, such as those in the Toyota 2000GT and Ford's Taurus SHO.

While guitars and home stereo components can be fun to enjoy some good tunes, nothing compares to the exhilarating thrill of riding on two wheels propelled by a continuous succession of controlled gasoline explosions, whether it be on dirt or concrete. Yamaha's motorcycle division has been making excellent bikes of for decades now, with many cutting-edge developments and innovative patents originating from the company's research and development offices. Perhaps the best part about all this innovation and quality manufacturing is that Yamaha continues to offer its motorcycles at affordable prices and with high marks for reliability. Yamaha has produced dozens of motorcycles over the years, and here are 13 of the best.

When Yamaha first released the V-Max (later called the Star VMAX), it was a sensation and really did set the world on fire. Its uniqueness lies in its execution as a motorcycle that holds a great deal of power wrapped up in cruiser packaging. As Cycle World noted at the time, its heart is a water-cooled V4 engine producing 143 horsepower, a figure usually found in sport bikes like the Ninja and GSXR of the time. Looking at the V-Max gives an immediate feeling that this bike is a serious machine, with its dual air inlet horns extending forward to take in giant gulps of air to be mixed with gasoline before combustion.

A peculiar trait inherent in the V-Max not typical of most bikes is that it possesses a huge power output, but its torque is equally as healthy. It can get itself to incredible speed on the highway, while its low-end pull is nearly equivalent to a 6-cylinder Gold Wing. The V-Max wears many hats and wears them well. It has great top-end speed with fast off-the-line acceleration. It looks like a cruiser but handles like a sport bike, despite being a bit of a porker at more than 600 pounds (via Motorcycle News). The V-Max may not dominate in any one category, but it doesn't have to. It is an overachieving and versatile bike that Yamaha managed to keep around for more than two decades with few major changes.

The micro-sized Chappy LB50 seems like more of a joke than a motorcycle, but it is actually quite fun. Built as a trail bike that also works well in congested city centers, Chappy sits low on tiny wheels and zips through and around anything with ease. Equipped with a tiny 50cc two-stroke engine and optional automatic transmission, Yamaha notes, Chappy does not generate a lot of power but is adept at creating smiles.

Although Chappy is great for light trail rides or as a simple pit bike, Yamaha says it was originally developed for women in Japanese cities. It was meant to be small and easy to manage, with 8-inch wheels to keep its ride height low and a 2-speed automatic transmission for simple operation. A traditional 4-speed and centrifugal clutch 3-speed model became options later. Small motorcycles like this are not practical for a wide range of use, but they are a blast to ride, being carefree and able to safely push to their limits. Classic Motorcycle says the Chappy remained in production for 25 years, finally ending in the '90s, proving a great bike need not be the fastest, most technical, or most capable.

Two-stroke street bikes are mostly long gone from the American market. Even weed trimmers have gone with the Otto cycle for the most part. But in the late '70s, a sizable group of larger street bikes used oil-mixed gasoline and created crazy power. Among them is Yamaha's RD400, an air-cooled twin that features the first motorcycle to come from the factory with cast alloy wheels (as opposed to wire spoke rims), according to Timeless 2 Wheels.

Two-stroke engines produce a lot more power per liter than equivalently-sized four-stroke engines. The biggest trade-off is having less low-end torque. But this does mean that these bikes can quickly produce a burst of power that causes the bike to go shooting down the road with no warning. This can make for a scary ride for inexperienced riders, but, to the seasoned rider, the RD400 is a blast of speed and fun.

The brief popularity of two-stroke street bikes made way for several exciting motorcycles, of which at least a few came from Yamaha. This includes the RD500LC of the '80s. This bike holds a two-stroke water-cooled V4 in its frame that used its 88 horsepower to propel the bike up to a top speed of 148 mph, extremely fast for a half-liter bike. The genesis of this model arose from GP racing and, in 1984, Richard Scott and Michael Dawson rode an RZ500 to victory in the Castrol Six Hour Race, according to Old Bike Mag. The RD500LC was the European consumer model, which wore slightly different colors, and none were exported to the U.S. due to emissions regulations.

Part of this motorcycle's success was its unique engineering. It used the Yamaha Power Valve System (YPVS), which utilized an electric servo to adjust the height of the exhaust port to vary the exhaust timing, allowing the engine to gain torque at lower speeds, resulting in a smooth and more linear power curve, according to Yamaha. With the RD500LC, consumers could purchase what was essentially a road racer for street-legal use. However, two-stroke street machines fell out of favor shortly thereafter and production was discontinued. Today, these are valued collectible classics as one sold recently on Bring A Trailer for $26,000.

[Featured image by Richard Saunders via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY 2.0]

No modern motorcycle maker outside of North America can expect respect without having at least one model built purely for speed. The YZF-R1 is the current speed king in Yamaha's lineup, full of cutting-edge technology that translates into pure unadulterated speed with precision handling to match.

This kind of sport bike is known for being very fast with the kind of power that can easily get away from inexperienced riders. With something like this R1, that still rings true, but it is packed with enough electronics to make the riding experience much more manageable and tailored to each rider. Web Bike World reports that the horsepower output is 198 horsepower, which makes this 448-pound machine more powerful than most compact cars with four times the weight. It is blazingly fast, as one should expect from a good sport bike. Although, with multiple drive modes, the R1 can be tamed down for new riders or to manage wet weather, as well as for taking it to the track.

Getting this much speed costs money. The starting price, according to Yamaha, is $17,999, with a MotoGP anniversary edition available in special livery for about $1,000 more. But, for those who want to have the ultimate experience, Yamaha offers the R1M edition, which comes with an upgraded fully adjustable suspension, but the price rises to a steep $26,999.

Most motorcycle brands today offer some kind of naked sport bike. This is a ride that sits somewhere between a supersport bike and a cruiser. They aren't built just for speed but aren't slow, either. These aren't built for the open road but remain at least moderately comfortable. They are somewhat of a throwback or homage to the classic Japanese bikes of the '70s, with an unpretentious styling that says nothing more than this is a motorcycle that will take you anywhere you want to go.

Yamaha's current entry to the naked sport bike is its MT-09 model. It is stylish and relatively affordable, coming in well under $10,000 new. It has a smooth running and torque-laden 900cc inline triple with stainless steel exhaust wrapping below the frame and terminating at the exhaust. Otherwise, it is mostly an exposed affair, with minimal body panels to surround the projector headlight and cover unsightly bits such as the battery and wiring. Cycle World offers good marks for this machine, noting its light curb weight of 417 pounds and upgraded engine management for the latest model as highlights.

For anyone looking for a new Yamaha who does not care to be crouched down managing an extreme amount of power every time they hit the street nor the heft and chrome associated with large cruisers, the MT-09 is a great choice.