Dear readers, this will probably be a long series and I will add also larger pictures to this file when time permits. That will be informed on the Homepage.

Yamaha chose the DKW RT125 as guideline for their first motorcycle. This was not only a management decision but also an engineering instinct to take this model. The RT125 was one of the best motorcycles of its time and the Yamaha engineers learned a lot from its design. Within their limited possibilities the engineers made some subtle changes to the original bike. The painted parts were even hand-rubbed down by craftsmen from Nippon Gakki's piano division! The tuning-fork emblem on the fuel tank was executed in cloissonne and very expensive to make. The YA1 was produced at the rate of 300 per month and in the 3 years of its production reached a total of 11.088.