A Quick Look at Yamaha® Powersports Vehicles

When you buy a Yamaha® powersport vehicle, you know that you can always count on a product that will exceed all of your expectations! The Yamaha Corporation was originally started in 1887 as a musical instrument maker, and began building motor vehicles in the 1950s. Every Yamaha vehicle that rolls off the line comes with a ton of great features and offers best-in-class performance at really attractive price points. Here are just a few great reasons why every Yamaha powersport vehicle offers such exceptional value to buyers who insist on quality. To learn more and to take a test ride, visit Advantage PowerSports in Kansas City, Missouri. We’re your Yamaha Powersports headquarters in both Columbia and St. Joseph, Missouri.

Early Company History

Yamaha Corporation was originally started in 1887 when company founder Torakusu Yamaha opened for business as a piano and reed organ manufacturer. Yamaha quickly became well-known for building premium quality products, and continues to be the world’s leading manufacturer of musical instruments. In the 1950s, fourth-generation Yamaha president Genichi Kawakami was interested in expanding the company’s product offerings. Motorcycles had become more popular than ever, and the company set out to create a world-class bike that met the Yamaha manufacturing standards. He gave his company a challenge in 1953 and told them “If you are going to make it, make it the very best there is.” His team responded in a big way.

The 1955 YA-1 Release

Yamaha released its first motorcycle in 1955 under their newly formed Yamaha Motor Company division. The YA-1 was the first Japanese motorcycle to feature a primary starting mechanism. It was a first-of-its-kind innovation that enabled riders to simply disengage the clutch by pulling the clutch lever mounted on the handlebars and kick-start the engine whether the transmission is in neutral or in gear. This mechanism made the process of starting a motorcycle easier than ever, and it’s now the standard starting system for motorcycles throughout the world. The YA-1 entered the Mt. Fuji Ascent Race and the Asama Highlands Race that year, and took top honors in the 125cc  division in both events.  

An Exciting Future

Yamaha President and CEO Yoshihiro Hidaka continues to challenge the team to develop amazing products and services to enrich our everyday lives. Yamaha has long distinguished itself as the leading innovator in the field, and we continue to push the boundaries and pursue new markets for our products!  

For more information and to see our current inventory of new and pre-owned Yamaha® Powersports Vehicles for sale, visit Advantage PowerSports in Kansas City, Missouri. We serve off-roaders in Columbia and St. Joseph, Missouri.