Invitation to Yamaha, a Corporate Information Booklet (circa 1990)

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Yamaha booklet from circa 1990^* so, yama-yama-yama (can't use the copyrighted version), 36 years later it's exact origin story slips my mind. Regardless, it is a Yamaha Motor Co, LTD, Japan publication that was likely intended to introduce us, as a new Yamaha motorycle dealer, to Yamaha's various interests around the world. The couple select images on this page pertain to motorcycles, the general interest of this blog, but the booklet covers many, many various products from scooters to sailboats. Note: the booklet does not include stereo equipment or musical instruments and it not known what else might be missing. The pdf can be viewed on the download link below.

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Above: FZR600 on the assembly line.

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Above: Perimeter frame of a Yamaha sportbike.

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Above: Aerodynamics of an FJ1200.

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Download this and other PDFs on the Internet Archive:
https://archive.org/details/inv-to-yam

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Thanks for looking. Gary  /  kawasaki-yama-zuki



* = On page 42 of the PDF financial figures are shown through March, 1989 hence the "Circa 1990" approximation.

1980 Kawasaki Motorcycle Dealer Photographs

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Greetings,

Before the new model year brochures are ready, Kawasaki would often send out preliminary images--sometimes they sent pre-lim versions of the brochures--sometimes just photos. Often the brochures for all-new (or highly revised) models were the last to be ready. Also, this was normally in the fall when the bikes themselves are not at the dealer yet either. Honestly, the exact reason/original purpose of these photos is lost to time--for me at least. A quick caption is under each photo. Unfortunately there are just 14 of the 35 1980 models. Photos measure 5" x 7".

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Above: 1980 KX250-A6, two-stroke, motocross, first year for Uni-Trak rear suspension.

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Above: 1980 KX420-A1, two-stroke, motocross, first of a two-year run for this displacement. Speaking of 420... some smoke sounds pretty good right now--2-stroke smoke that is--it's been too long. In 1983 the KX500 would roll out as the big MXer.

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Above: 1980 KDX250-A1, two-stroke, enduro (off-road only), only year for the "A" model, twin shock rear suspension--the following year's "B" model added Uni-Trak.

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Above: 1980 KLX250-A2, four-stroke, enduro (off-road only), the second and final year for this model until the much revised varieties of the 1990s.

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Above: 1980 KZ750-H1, four-cylinder, rated at 74hp, LTD styling, somewhat unique two-piece seat, a twin-cylinder LTD rated at 55hp was also introduced that year--the KZ750-G1 which lasted one year.

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Above: 1980 KZ750-E1, four-cylinder, rated at 74hp, classic UJMC styling, shown in Luminous Dark Red.

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Above: 1980 KZ550-C1, four-cylinder, rated at 53hp, LTD styling, shown in Luminous Dark Red.

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Above: 1980 KZ440-B1, twin-cylinder, rated at 40hp, "Inexpensive standard" model, spoke 18" wheels, front and rear drum brakes, shown in Firecracker Red. The "B" was offered for one more year before being replaced by the somewhat upgraded KZ440-G1 which had improved styling, front disc brake, and cast wheels.

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Above: 1980 KZ440-A1, twin-cylinder, rated at 40hp, LTD styling, front disc brake, cast wheels--19" up front & 16" at the rear, chain drive, shown in Persimmon Red.

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Above: 1980 KZ440-D1, twin-cylinder, rated at 40hp, LTD styling, front disc brake, cast wheels--19" up front & 16" at the rear, belt drive.

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Above: 1980 KZ250-D1, single cylinder, rated at 19hp, LTD styling, spoke wheels, shown in Luminous Dark Blue. A single year / USA-only model.

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Above: 1980 KE125-A7, single cylinder, two-stroke, rated at 13.5hp, dual-purpose (on/off-road), somewhat streamlined/tucked-in exhaust from the previous year, new box-section swing-arm for 1980, shown in Firecracker Red.

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Above: 1980 KE175-D2, single cylinder, two-stroke, rated at 16hp, dual-purpose (on/off-road), new CDI ignition system, somewhat streamlined/tucked-in exhaust from the previous year, new box-section swing-arm for 1980, shown in Firecracker Red.

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Above: 1980 KL250-A3, single cylinder, four-stroke, rated at 21hp, dual-purpose (on/off-road), new CDI ignition system, somewhat streamlined/tucked-in exhaust from the previous year, new box-section swing-arm for 1980, shown in Firecracker Red.

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Ever wonder if all of those Kawasaki model prefixes had meanings? Here's a breakdown copied from the 1965~1991 model list (any added after 1991 not included).

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Please ask questions or drop a comment below.

"...And that's all I have to say about that." F.G. (unless there are questions)

Thanks for looking. Gary  /  kawasaki-yama-zuki

KZ400, The First KZ

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Greetings,

In 1974 the Kawasaki KZ400 was introduced. It was the very first motorcycle to bear the KZ designation. Most people are understandably more familiar with it's larger displacement siblings--the KZ750-B (twin cylinder), KZ900-A, and KZ900-B LTD introduced in 1976. In 1977 the KZ650s and KZ1000s followed. When the 1975 KZ400s were being built in Kawasaki's new factory in Lincoln, Nebraska the magazine Industrial Finishing took the opportunity to tour the new facility and review the KZ400's painting process.

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If one of the ladies doing the hand detail work on the second page is your sister/mother/grandmother let us know what she had to say about those days.

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It is not hard to see why the KZ400 caught people's eyes. It really is a great looking bike.

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Above: a little good clean fun on what is likely a 1977.

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Thanks for looking. Gary  /  kawasaki-yama-zuki