TheTwo-StrokeEra.

A 36 cc air-cooled two-stroke single designed as an auxiliary engine for bicycles. Launched in June 1952, it was built, according to Suzuki, on the premise that 36 cc was sufficient for riding. It used Suzuki's own double-sprocket wheel and a two-speed transmission, and evolved up to the E3 type of 1954.

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.

A 250-class sports machine combining a 247 cc air-cooled two-stroke parallel twin with a six-speed gearbox. Developed with European and American highway riding in mind, it was sold in Japan as the Colleda 250 T20, in the United States as the X6 Hustler and in the UK as the Super Six.

Introduced in 1968, the DT-1 established what Yamaha calls the "trail bike" category at a time when on-road and off-road machines were not clearly distinguished. It was equipped for off-road use, with what was then the longest-stroke front fork on any Japanese model, block-pattern tyres and an engine guard. Engine: air-cooled 246 cm³ two-stroke single.

Suzuki’s first 750, introduced in September 1971 as the flagship of the GT series. Its 738 cc liquid-cooled two-stroke inline triple used a pressurised system with an aluminium radiator and electric fan, and in the United States the model became known as the “Water Buffalo”.

A production replica of the YZM250 (0W12) works machine that won the 1973 Motocross World Championship and All Japan Motocross Championship titles. It was the first production model with Monocross suspension, hence the name YZ250M. A competition-only machine with an air-cooled 246 cm³ two-stroke single and a 5-speed gearbox.

A road-racing machine developed by Suzuki for the 500 cc Grand Prix world championship. It used the square-four two-stroke layout proven in Suzuki’s 1960s Grand Prix programme and was designed by Makoto Hase. It finished second on its debut at the 1974 French Grand Prix and took its first win at the 1975 Dutch TT.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A GP500 factory machine used in 1994 and 1995. A change of frame material optimised rigidity balance, and moving the air intake from the nose to inside the cowl improved aerodynamics; the 1995 version adopted ram-air pressurisation of the airbox. Liquid-cooled 499 cm³ two-stroke V4 with crankcase reed induction and a 6-speed gearbox.