YAMAHA

YA-1

Yamaha YA-1

Manufacturer: YAMAHA
Model: YA-1
Year: 1955
Type: Standard
Origin: Japan

01 — Overview

Yamaha Motor's first motorcycle, introduced in 1955. Its simple form and chestnut-red finish, unusual in an era of all-black machines, earned it the nickname "Red Dragonfly" (Aka-tombo). Powered by an air-cooled 123 cm³ two-stroke single, it won the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race in July 1955 and took the top three places in the ultra-light class of the 1st Asama Highlands Race later that year.

MAKER: YAMAHA
PRODUCTION: 1955
ERA: 1950s
CATEGORY: Vintage Classic Standard

02 — Historical Context

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

According to Yamaha, the 138,000-yen price put it beyond the reach of most buyers at a time when a graduate starting salary was around 10,000 yen, yet 11,000 units were sold in three years.

1950s — Small-displacement machines carried people and goods through the post-war years, as a new industry found its feet.

03 — Design

DESIGN

Form, read through detail.

04 — Engine

ENGINE

Single

One cylinder: light, simple and characterful. Found everywhere from commuters to off-road machines and classics. A power stroke every revolution: light, simple and explosive — and, as emissions rules tightened, gradually retired from road machines.General description of the layout

Engine layout	Single[1]
Cycle	Two-stroke[1]
Displacement	123 cc[1]
Cooling	Air-cooled[1]
Max. power	4.1 kW / 5,000 rpm[1]
Max. power	5.6 PS / 5,000 rpm[1]
Max. torque	9.4 N·m / 3,300 rpm[1]
Max. torque	0.96 kgf·m / 3,300 rpm[1]

05 — Specifications

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Every figure is sourced. Unverified values are not published.

Production	1955[1]
Engine layout	Single[1]
Cycle	Two-stroke[1]
Displacement	123 cc[1]
Cooling	Air-cooled[1]
Max. power	4.1 kW / 5,000 rpm[1]
Max. power	5.6 PS / 5,000 rpm[1]
Max. torque	9.4 N·m / 3,300 rpm[1]
Max. torque	0.96 kgf·m / 3,300 rpm[1]

06 — Generations

GENERATION HISTORY

19501970

YA-11955–

Generations, model years and market variants (Model → Generation → Variant) are added as they are verified.

07 — Cultural Context

CULTURAL CONTEXT

08 — On Film

ON FILM

Quoted from official channels

Source: Yamaha Motor Communication Plaza — “歴史車両走行会特別編 ”YA 1””

HeritageYAMAHA2024

YA-1 on the test course

Special edition of the historic-machine demo run held at Yamaha Motor's Fukuroi test course in November 2023 to mark the Communication Plaza's 25th anniversary. Featured: the YA-1, Yamaha's first motorcycle.

→ YA-1

09 — Gallery

GALLERY

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11 — Sources

SOURCES

[1]1955 YA-1 - Communication Plaza CollectionYamaha Motor Co., Ltd. · museum · accessed 2026-09-26
[2]Yamaha Motor History - Product History (Motorcycles / Commuter Vehicles)Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. · manufacturer · accessed 2026-09-26

12 — Image Credits

PHOTO CREDITS

Creator
NearEMPTiness
License
CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
NearEMPTiness, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Creator
PekePON
License
CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
PekePON, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Creator
Derek A.
License
CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Derek A., CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons