The Yamaha R5 is a motorcycle made by Yamaha for production years 1970 (R5), 1971 (R5B) and 1972 (R5C).[ when? ] It was the first iteration of a new generation of horizontally split crankcase two strokes that also included the RD350 and culminated in the RD400. The engine platform also included the 250cc variants (DS7/RD250). Two earlier generations of sporting 250cc and larger displacement air-cooled two strokes preceded the R5 dating back to 1959.
Yamaha began producing air-cooled "sport tuned" 250cc twin cylinder roadsters in 1959. Development led to increased capacity in 1965 to 305cc (YM1) and in 1967 to 350cc YR1. These are the ancestral predecessors to the 1970 350cc R5 and represent two different generations of engine evolution and design. The 1967 YR1, 1968 YR2 and 1969 R3 (YR3) directly preceded the R5 and were Yamaha's first publicly available 350cc capacity air-cooled, two stroke twins. The R5 was superseded by the 1973-1975 RD350 and 1976-1979 RD400. Several technical changes were made to the RD platform, the most significant of which being the six-speed transmission and reed valve induction. Though different in appearance the R5 basic architecture lived on in the RZ350 (American market) and RD350LC (Euro market). The main difference being the cylinders became water-cooled. The engine cases are similar enough that, with modifications, they can be interchanged.[ citation needed ]
| Year | Model | Dominant Color | Secondary Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | R5A | Metallic Purple | White |
| 1971 | R5B | Mandarin Orange | White |
| 1972/3 | R5C | Mandarin Orange | Black |
In the early 1970s, a 350 cc (21 cu in) engine was considered large for a two-stroke engine. Two-stroke street motorcycles from Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki collectively developed a reputation as "giant-killers". [1] [2] Even though four-stroke motorcycle engines (not chassis) were being developed rapidly, during the 1970s, two-strokes were able to beat them in straight-line performance at times. Because of the lighter weight of the engine and chassis, two-strokes were typically dominant on curved roads.
During the '70s, the two stroke developments were between Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha. At this time, Soichiro Honda was alive and active in his company. He did not personally like two-strokes, so Honda stayed focused on four-strokes. As the decade went by, Suzuki added displacement, cylinders, and water cooling, culminating in the GT750, a touring bike. Kawasaki added cylinders and displacement, ending with the infamous H2 750 Mach IV. By default, Yamaha became the bantamweight, maxing out with a 400 cc (24 cu in) twin, still air-cooled.[ citation needed ]
In the early days of the Yamaha racing team, factory race bikes were not as specialized as they are now. In fact, they were hand-built versions of the production street bikes. Beginning with the basic parts of an R5, the racing TR3 model was built.
Grand Prix motorcycle racing is the highest class of motorcycle road racing events held on road circuits sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). Independent motorcycle racing events have been held since the start of the twentieth century and large national events were often given the title Grand Prix. The foundation of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme as the international governing body for motorcycle sport in 1949 provided the opportunity to coordinate rules and regulations in order that selected events could count towards official World Championships. It is the oldest established motorsport world championship.
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. is a Japanese mobility manufacturer that produces motorcycles, motorboats, outboard motors, and other motorized products. The company was established in the year 1955 upon separation from Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd. and is headquartered in Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan. The company conducts development, production and marketing operations through 109 consolidated subsidiaries as of 2012.
The Honda XR series is a range of four-stroke off-road motorcycles that were designed in Japan but assembled all over the world.
Suzuki GSX-R is a series of sports motorcycles made by Japanese automotive manufacturer Suzuki since 1984.
The term "Universal Japanese Motorcycle", or UJM, was coined in the mid-1970s by Cycle Magazine to describe a proliferation of similar Japanese standard motorcycles that became commonplace following Honda's 1969 introduction of its successful CB750. The CB750 became a rough template for subsequent designs from all three of the other major Japanese motorcycle manufacturers. In 2011, the New York Times said lightning struck for Honda "with the 1969 CB 750, whose use of an inline 4-cylinder engine came to define the Universal Japanese Motorcycle."
The Suzuki GS series was Suzuki Motor Corporation's first full range of 4-stroke powered road motorcycles, having previously almost exclusively manufactured 2-stroke machines. Suzuki had produced the 4-stroke Colleda COX 125cc and 93cc 4-stroke single-cylinder machines in 1955 however the rest of Suzuki's production from 1952 to 1976 had been increasingly sophisticated two-stroke road machines, whose ultimate expression was the 750cc 3-cylinder water-cooled GT750.
Syarikat Motosikal dan Enjin Nasional Sdn. Bhd, or known as Modenas for short is a Malaysian national motorcycle company producing various small motorcycle models below 400cc targeted for local market and export. The company's headquarters and factory are located at the small town of Gurun, Kedah, Malaysia.
A motorcycle engine is an engine that powers a motorcycle. Motorcycle engines are typically two-stroke or four-stroke internal combustion engines, but other engine types, such as Wankels and electric motors, have been used.
The Yamaha RZ350 is a two-stroke motorcycle produced by Japanese motorcycle manufacturer Yamaha between 1983 and 1996. Available in the US from 1983-1985, Canada until 1990 and Brazil until 1996. The RZ was the final evolution of the popular and well-known series of RD Yamaha motorcycles, and as such is also known as the RD350LC II or RD350 YPVS.
The Suzuki Boulevard S40 is a lightweight cruiser motorcycle manufactured by the Suzuki Motor Corporation for the Japanese domestic market, and exported to New Zealand, North America, as well as to Chile and other countries.
The 1979 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 31st F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
The Kawasaki triples were a range of 250 to 750 cc motorcycles made by Kawasaki from 1968 to 1980. The engines were air-cooled, three-cylinder, piston-controlled inlet port two-strokes with two exhaust pipes exiting on the right side of the bike, and one on the left. It was the first production street motorcycle with capacitor discharge ignition (CDI). Right from the first triple model, the 1968 Mach III H1 500 cc, it was a sales success that gained a reputation for almost unmatched acceleration as well as an air of danger for inexperienced riders trying to cope with the bike's increased power to weight ratio over any previously available stock motorcycles.
Yamaha TD2 is an air-cooled road racing motorcycle made by Yamaha produced between 1969 and 1970. The equivalent 350cc version was called TR2
The Honda RS250R was a race motorcycle manufactured by Honda to race in the 250cc class of the Grand Prix motorcycle World Championship. It was conceived as a production racer for customer teams and privateer riders, while factory-supported teams raced the works bikes RS250RW and NSR250.
The Kawasaki KR-1 and KR-1S are road-orientated 249 cc (15.2 cu in) two-stroke sports bikes introduced between 1988 and 1992 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
The Kawasaki H1 Mach III was a two-stroke 500 cc sport bike made by Kawasaki from 1969 through to 1975.
The Suzuki GSX-R1100 is a sport bike from Suzuki's GSX-R series of motorcycles produced from 1986 until 1998.
The Honda CBR250F is a CBR series 250 cc (15.3 cu in) four-cylinder sport bike made by Honda. The CBR250F was first sold in Japan in 1986. The CBR250RR MC22 was discontinued in 1996 in Japan, but sales continued in Australia until 2000