04 — 1980s
TechnologyAccelerates
Liquid cooling, aluminium frames and full fairings — racing technology flowed into road machines.
Machines placed by verified production start year
YAMAHA
Yamaha RZ250
1980
Sports
A 1980 pure sports model built around a liquid-cooled 247 cm³ two-stroke parallel twin. It combined Yamaha's Monocross rear suspension, lightweight cast wheels and styling reminiscent of the TZ250 racer.
SUZUKI
Suzuki GSX1100S Katana
1981
Sports
The first model of the Katana series, known for styling inspired by the Japanese sword. Shown at the 1980 Cologne motorcycle show, it caused what Suzuki calls the “Cologne shock”, and production began the following year as an export model with a 1,074 cc air-cooled DOHC inline four.
SUZUKI
Suzuki RG250 Gamma
1983
Racer Replica
A 250 cc liquid-cooled two-stroke parallel-twin sports machine launched in March 1983. With a half fairing, an aluminium square-tube double-cradle frame, Full-Floater rear suspension and a 16-inch front wheel, it weighed 131 kg dry and produced 45 PS. Suzuki regards it as the pioneer of the racer-replica era.
YAMAHA
Yamaha TZR250
1985
Racer Replica
A 1985 racer replica drawing directly on road-racing technology. Its liquid-cooled 249 cm³ two-stroke parallel twin used crankcase reed-valve induction adopted from the YZR500, set in a light, rigid aluminium Deltabox frame with 17-inch wheels front and rear and large floating disc brakes.
YAMAHA
Yamaha FZ750
1985
Sports
A 750 cc supersport designed under Yamaha's "Genesis" concept, which sought a synergy between engine performance and handling stability. It used a liquid-cooled 749 cm³ DOHC inline four with five valves per cylinder, inclined forward 45 degrees; according to Yamaha, this engine was a world first.

YAMAHA
Yamaha Serow 225
1985
Trail
Named after the serow, a goat-antelope, this 1985 "mountain trail" machine was developed for riding deep into mountainous terrain. A tractable air-cooled 223 cm³ four-stroke single sat in a light, slim chassis with a low seat, giving predictable handling that also suited town riding.

SUZUKI
Suzuki RG500 Gamma
1985
Racer Replica
A road model drawing on Suzuki’s RG Gamma 500 cc Grand Prix works racers. Its liquid-cooled two-stroke square-four with rotary-valve induction sat in an aluminium-alloy box-section frame that housed the air cleaner. The Japanese-market version produced 64 PS and weighed 156 kg dry.
SUZUKI
Suzuki GSX-R750 (first generation)
1985
Supersport
A 750 cc sports machine distilling Suzuki’s endurance-racing works machines, clothed in a full aerodynamic fairing and unveiled internationally at the 1984 Cologne show. Its oil-cooled DOHC 16-valve inline four (SACS) and an 8.1 kg aluminium-alloy frame brought dry weight down to 179 kg.
Jog
YAMAHA
YAMAHA
Yamaha Jog
1983
Gentsuki (50cc class)
A 1983 sports scooter designed around the nimble, active image of a sneaker. According to Yamaha, a 4.5 hp engine in a 49 kg body gave it brisk acceleration, and its styling and practicality made it a favourite among young riders.
VMAX
YAMAHA
YAMAHA
Yamaha VMAX
1985
Cruiser
The Japanese-market version, released in 1990, of the VMAX that had debuted in the U.S. in 1985. It differed from the export model in parts of the liquid-cooled 1,197 cm³ V4, with an emphasis on drivability. Specifications listed are for the 1990 Japanese-market model.