Yamaha News,ENG,No.4,2003,7月,7月,Making of a Classic ... · mean opportunity and...

Yamaha News,ENG,No.4,2003,7月,7月,Making of a Classic,Motorcycle,Up Front,Two Stories,Scottish Six Days Trial,SR400,About Two Classic Yamaha 4-stroke Single-cylinder Machines,XT500,The XT500, a child of the desert And then the evolution to the SR400 and 500,SR500,The 1974 development of a Yamaha Big Single,TYS125F,The SR and 25 years of answering user needs,TTR125,About Two Classic Yamaha 4-stroke Single-cylinder Machines,Challenge Spirit and the 2003 SSDT in Scotland,SR Birthday Celebrations,Kimura's idea and the Scorpa company,Reliability tested and proven in regions all over the world,International Focus - Serial 38,The achievements and challenges of a leader brand,Corporate,Industria Colombiana De Motocicletas Yamaha S.A.,José Luis Arango,Colombia,Antioquia,What Kando means in the Colombian market,Incolmotos,Claudia Ruiz,Market strength built on 3S,Motorcycles mean opportunity and security,Yamaha, the Winning Brand,Cultural Contributions,Brand Strategy to meet the challenges of a new environment,This Is My Country,A Country of great growing development,Shades, colors and charms of a magic land,Cultural wealth and people of kind and happy spirit,A cuisine of diverse aromas and flavors,What's New,The YZR500, a 30-Year Challenge to the Top,A Challenge to the Top of WGP Racing – The 30-year History of the YZR500,YZR500,Communication Plaza,World Topics,Unveiling the New LIBERO,Yamaha Motor India Private Ltd.,Neha Dhupia,LIBERO,India,Another Road Star Sensation!,Yamaha Motor Corp., USA.,Road Star,U.S.A.,XV1700,US Technician Scores Perfect 100,YamahaTechnical Academy,Motorcycle Mechanics Institute,24th Bangkok Motor Show among Asia's biggest,Bangkok Motor Show,Thai Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.,NOUVO,Thailand,New Generation Technology,Europe's best set sights on World Technician GP,Euro Technician GP,Yamaha Motor Europe N.V.,Tony Vromant,The Netherlands,D'leteren Sport of Belgium,Tony Vromant,Jean Claude Durand,YMI launches support program for motocross racing,Gulf Dirt Track Challenge,Team Yamaha India,Where there is snow, Yamaha sleds will go,Snowmobile,Russia,R6 first in world's largest comparison test,Masterbike of the year 2003,Motociclismo Spain,YZF-R6,Spain,YMA Introduces Anti-Theft Initiative,Yamaha Motor Australia Pty. Ltd.,Australia,DataDot,Ocean Rafting's triple power comes from Yamaha,Outboard Motor,Mark Cleave,New Zealand,Voice from Sweden,Sweden,Stars come out for U.S. business meeting,ATV,U.S. Dealers' business meeting,Doug Henry,Rhino 660 four wheel drive,Yamaha provides support for a flood relief,AssociatedMotor (Lanka) Company Ltd.,Ajita de Zoysa,Sri Lanka,Tilak de Zoysa,Yamaha Fights the Black Tide,Marine,Náutica de Galicia S.A.,Enrique Lago,Yamaha Motor España S.A.,Yamaha Air-lifts in Earthquake Aid Package,Generator,ETC650,Algeria,Yamaha PWC Evaluated for Rescue,PWC,Yamaha Motor New Zealand Limited,Racing Express,MotoGP enters European Rounds as the YZR-M1 moves up,Racing,Gauloises Yamaha Team,Alex Barros,YZR-M1,Continental Circus,Marco Melandri of Fortuna Yamaha Team,Shinya Nakano,Stefan Everts,Carlos Checa,Zoom In,The secret behind the YFZ450, Yamaha's first liquid-cooled DOHC 5-valve ATV,YFZ450

YAMAHA MOTOR CO., LTD.JULY 1, 2003 ENGLISH

No.4BIMONTHLY

MMaakkiinngg ooff aa CCllaassssiiccInnovation and cutting edge technologies are hallmarks ofthe Yamaha brand. But, we also know the art of not changinga good thing when our customers love it. As owners of theclassic SR400 and 500 gathered to celebrate the models’25th birthday recently, we talked to the engineers whodesigned them to find out what makes a good thing last.

2 YAMAHA NEWS JULY 1, 2003

UP FRONT

This year is the 25thanniversary of the birth ofthe Yamaha SR400, a mile-stone which has been com-memorated with the releaseof a special 25th anniver-sary special edition of thislong-selling model. In thisissue of Yamaha News wewill recount the story of theXT500 that was the prede-cessor to the SR400. Theother story we have comesfrom a participant in theworld-class SSDT trial com-petition in Scotland in May,where much attentionfocused on the Yamaha125cc 4-stroke poweredmodel called the ScorpaTYS125F. Both of these mod-els have roots that go backabout 30 years.

U.S. for testing in the actual race envi-ronment, which was in itself a newchallenge for Yamaha. And indeed, thetest data gained there was invaluable infine-tuning the machine’s perfor-mance. The threshold for endurancetesting was also upped 2.5 times thenormal level. Those tough tests at firstresulted in broken pistons and conrods,but the final product that emerged hada previously unprecedented level ofdurability that would make the XT500stand out from the rest. This is the XT500 that would beunveiled at the 1975 Tokyo MotorShow the following year. Also appear-ing at the Yamaha booth that year werea group of new machines like theDOHC 3-cylinder GX750, the DOHC4-valve 2-cylinder GX500 and the 2-stroke RD series models, all of whichsignaled the arrival of a new age ofmulti-cylinder motorcycles. But thisfact also served to focus even moreattention on the XT500 as a deliberatepursuit of single-cylinder enginepotential that ran against the trends ofthe day.

The 1974 development of aYamaha “Big Single” It was three decades ago in the autumnof 1974 that Yamaha engineers under-took the development of the XT500.The project leader at the time recallsthat the image they started with wasone of the Enduro races that werebeing held at the time in the wide-openspaces of America. Two machineswere developed simultaneously, theTT500 (code named the 043) con-ceived as an Enduro model, and theXT500 (code 043A). What the projectteam sought to do was basically tobring the exciting world of off-roadpotential that the 2-stroke DT-1 hadopened up into the 4-stroke category.The Enduro races that were being runin the wilderness and desert areas ofthe U.S. demanded machines withstrong engine torque. That is whatmade the big single format an obviouschoice. And, to make sure that themachines they were developing trulymet the needs of Enduro riding at avery high level, Yamaha’s develop-ment team sent their prototypes to the

The XT500, a child of the desertAnd then the evolution to the SR400 and 500

Two StoriesTwo Stories About Two Classic

The XT500 was Yamaha’s first big single and it was developedwith American Enduro racing in mind

famous Paris-Dakar rallies that areknown today as the world’s toughestrally. (As we introduced in our #5issue of Yamaha News in 2002, teamsled by Yamaha Motor France’s Presi-dent J-C Olivier would come to domi-nate this rally in later years.)This is the XT500 that would eventu-ally evolve into today’s XT600E, amodel that continues to be loved for itsdurability and glorious history of per-formance. Even today it remains themost popular model in the larger dis-placement class in places like southernEurope.

The SR and 25 years of answer-ing user needsSoon after the emergence of theXT500 in 1976, Yamaha began hear-

ing calls for an on-road model mount-ing the same big-single engine. Thiscall led to the birthof the SR400 and500 in 1978. Takingthe XT500 as theirbase, the SR modelsappeared with mod-ifications in the

intake and exhaust systems, the crankmass and the chassis components tomeet the needs of on-road riding. Withthe natural handling feeling derivingfrom the slender chassis design and theunique appeal of the distinctive enginepulse that only a big-single can pro-vide, the SR models soon won highpraise in countries around the world.The renowned German motorcyclemagazine Motorrad confirmed thispopularity by naming the SR its“Motorcycle of the Year.”Although these models stopped beingsupplied to Europe around 1995 afternearly a quarter century of continuedsales, their popularity remains high, asevidenced by the SR clubs still activein places like Germany. And sales con-tinue of the Japanese market modelstoday. The unchanging SR look andthe special flavor of the pulse that onlya single-cylinder engine can offer areamong the reasons for these models’undying popularity. Still, there were times during those 25years when the proposal came up tostop production. But, in the end theongoing SR popularity prevented itfrom happening. Even as the timesbrought high-performance develop-ments to the motorcycle industry, theSR has kept a place of its own with itssimple single-cylinder engine and clas-sic good looks. This is what won theusers, hearts and what made true fanswho wouldn’t let the SR die for allthose years. As the engineers whoactually worked on the development ofthe SR remind us, a big part of amaker’s responsibility is to constantlydevelop and introduce products withinnovative new technologies, butanother part is to protect models likethe SR that have won a devoted fol-lowing among the users. Theybelieved that the individuality of theSR is one more asset of the Yamahabrand, and an asset worth preserving. In today’s world where innovations inmechanisms and technologies often

YAMAHA NEWS JULY 1, 2003 3

When the XT500 went on sale the fol-lowing year, 1976, it quickly won highacclaim in markets everywhere. InColombia, in South America, it washailed as the “Rolls Royce of motorcy-cles.” And, what people inevitablypraised was its smooth and linearpower development characteristics andunique riding potential different fromthe multi-cylinder models. ThisXT500 also proved to be a winner inrally competitions. It soon became themachine of choice for French and Ital-ian riders competing in beach ralliesand the North African desert ralliesthat were becoming popular. When theParis-Senegal rally was held in 1979,Frenchman Cyril Neveu would win onan XT500. This would prove to be theinaugural competition of the now-

Yamaha 4-stroke Single-cylinder Machines

Many of the SR users today are younger than the model itself

The final German-market model of the SR500

4 YAMAHA NEWS MARCH 1, 2003

UP FRONT


The 4-stroke makes its soundheard at the world’s top trialcompetitionOur second story comes from Scot-land, where a Yamaha 125cc enginebecame the focus of attention. TheScottish six days trial (SSDT) eventis one of the world’s leading trialcompetitions with a 100-year historyat the small town of Fort William onthe west coast of Scotland about 500kilometers north of London. Travel-ing over a total of about 150 km, thecompetitors must clear 30 sections ofnatural rock formations in a day. Thepaths they must travel between thesesections are also tough and the com-petition goes on for six days. The2003 holding of the six days trialgathered 280 top competitors fromcountries around the world in May,and one of the things that drew atten-

tion was a machine with an enginesound no one was used to hearing attrials events. This was the first event that saw a 4-stroke machine competing side-by-side with the conventional 2-stroketrial machines. The machine was theScorpa TYS125F prototype and as itpassed the gallery, it frequently drewappreciative comments from thespectators with its pleasing 4-strokeexhaust sound. In fact, the engine onthis model is basically the same

SOHC 125cc Yamaha engine thatfirst appeared on the TTR125 in2000. It may also be familiar tomany of our readers as the enginethat now powers the YBR125 beingproduced and sold in Brazil byYamaha Motor Do Brasil Ltda.(YMDB) and in China by JiangshuNanfang Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd.(YMJ), and also the “LIBERO”manufactured by Yamaha MotorIndia Private Ltd. (YMI). As a mat-ter of fact, it is the engine that pow-ers more Yamaha motorcycles, withthe exception of scooters, than anyother. The Scorpa prototype at the SSDTwas ridden by Takumi Narita (Japan)and Martin Crosswaite (UK), andthey were joined by Haruo Kimuraof the Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.(YMC) support staff from Japan. All

three riders finished the demand-ing six days of competition, withMartin placing an impressive20th overall, the highest finish byanyone in the under 200cc class.(The three competition classesare under 200cc, 200cc~250ccand over 250cc.) Besides these results, however,what attracted the attention tothis machine was its 4-strokesound. At one of the tougher sec-tions, when Kimura was about toskip part of it to make sure hecould finish the day, he was

greeted by an excited fan who said,“I’ve been waiting here all day justto hear the great sound of your 4-stroke.” Encouraged by this, Kimuramade another valiant attack on thesection once again to the cheers ofthe fans in the gallery. In a competi-tion where the 2-stroke sound haslong been the norm, the fans hadclearly found a new reason to cheer.

Kimura’s idea and the Scorpacompany

Challenge Spirit and the 2003 SSDT in Scotlandchange the face of products complete-ly, the history of the SR is an exampleof the art of not changing a good thing.But, that doesn’t mean that the SR hasnot continued to mature in importantways. Yamaha engineers have takenall the necessary steps to keep the SRin pace with the demands of new noiseand emissions regulations, while alsoimproving reliability in significantways. Still, these improvements havenever been allowed to change thatunique but unassuming SR look and itsdistinct flavor. That is why most peo-ple never even notice the SR’s ongoingmaturation.

SR Birthday CelebrationsConsidering how devoted SR fans are,it is no wonder that owners turned outfrom all over the country in unprece-dented numbers when events wereheld in Japan in May and June of thisyear to celebrate the models’ 25thbirthday. More than 3,000 peopleshowed up with 1,250 SR machinesfor the birthday meetings that wereheld in three locations around Japan,namely Yokohama, Kobe and Fukuo-ka. This represented an unprecedentedattendance for a meeting of this kindfor owners of a single model. Likeother events of this type, the ownersspent much of their time admiringeach other’s machines and buildingnew friendships. But there were alsoscenes that spoke of the unique loveowners have for the SR, like whenowners at the Yokohama event gottogether to present the representativesof the original SR development teamwith flowers as a token of their appre-ciation. Slimness and compactness are idealsthat Yamaha engineers have pursuedendlessly in their product developmentover the years, and perhaps few mod-els reflect this ideal better than the 30-year history that started with theXT500 and matured through theSR400 and 500.

Two StoriesTwo Stories About Two Classic

Mr. Kimura and TYS125F prototype


There is an interesting story behindthe birth of this TYS125F prototype.It originated with an idea of Kimu-ra’s. “About three years ago, I hadmounted the engine from theTTR125 on a prototype machine andtested it out in a trial competition inJapan. At that time, I was surprisedat how well the torque-y, tough per-formance of the 4-stroke engine suit-ed trial competition. It had alsoaroused a lot of fan attention as amachine that looked light andtorque-full and one that almost any-one could feel comfortable with forcasual enjoyment of trial riding. Iwas hearing numerous people saythat Yamaha should make it into aproduction model,” Kimura recalls.That was enough to make him deter-mined to bring the great features ofthis engine to trial competition. Butthere were some issues that had to bedealt with in the developmentprocess. What engine specs would bebest? What factory could it be manu-factured at? Could the same settingsbe used?At that time, Yamaha was alreadysupplying the chassis constructorScorpa with its 250cc 2-stroke trial-

bike engines. Kimura got the idea topropose a 125cc 4-stroke modelbased on this working relationshipwith Scorpa. “The first thing I knewI should do was to get the people at

Scorpa to ride our 4-stroke prototype andexperience it forthemselves. I took itto a Japanese trialevent the year beforelast and had themtest ride it. The presi-dent of Scorpa triedit and loved it. Hetook off on a rideand didn’t comeback for the longesttime,” laughs Kimu-ra. That was the turn-ing point, and soonthe project gotunderway. It was eventuallydecided to have theengine for theTYS125F producedat the YMDB factory in Brazil and asystem was worked out to have theengines shipped to Minarelli in Italyand then to Scorpa in France forassembly of the finished machines.They say the orders are pouring infor this new production model thatgoes on sale this summer, and it willbe interesting to see if there are any

differences with the engine per-formance compared to theTTR125 or YBR125.

Reliability tested andproven in regions all overthe world“The carburetor retains the samesettings as the base engine. Theonly major difference is the gearratios which have been set withconsideration for the demands oftouring trial type competition tohave a closer ratio between 1st and2nd gears and a higher 5th gear.Over the six days of the recent

SSDT competition it has proven itselfto be a machine that can take every-thing from wet rock sections to high-speed transition legs with no problems.And, I think a lot of the credit goes to

the fact that it is powered by an enginethat has been matured and proven intough use conditions in all parts of theworld. I was convinced once againwhat a well-built and well-tuned powerunit this is,” comments Kimura. Looking back, Yamaha introduced itsfirst trial model, the TY250J, in 1973.It won the SSDT competition two con-secutive years in 1974 and ’75 riddenby Britain’s Mick “The Magician”Andrews. After that, Yamaha contin-ued to expand the market with theintroduction of the TY250R, TY250Zand the TY250 Scottish. But, due to anumber of factors, Yamaha is notbuilding any production trial bikes atthis time. Still, the fact that Scorpa isnow producing bikes with Yamahaengines is certainly an extension of theYamaha trial challenge that began 30years ago.

Yamaha 4-stroke Single-cylinder Machines

All the sections on the tough SSDT course are rock formations. Also, the transitionlegs that must be covered between sections are long and high-speed

The SSDT competition in Scotland, birthplace of trial competition

Mr. Kimura and team staff


ply of spareparts. In otherwords, theYamaha “3S”program hasbeen anotherimportant factorin our growth.Thanks to ourpursuit of the “3S” program with its empha-sis on a fully integrated foundation of SalesService and Spare Parts, the Yamaha brandis recognized as No. 1 in technical servicehere in Colombia, and Incolmotos-Yamahahas also been recognized as one of the tenbest within the worldwide Yamaha Group.We have made Colombia a center for theYamaha Technical Academy (YTA) train-ing program for mechanics in Latin Ameri-ca, and we were the first company in theregion to participate successfully in theTechnician Grand Prix.

Motorcycles mean opportunityand securityIn Colombia, the excellent performance ofYamaha motorcycles as transport vehiclesoften expands people’s work possibilities,both on a personal or commercial basis.For example, in the cities of the coastalregion many people have found a viablework opportunity as motorcycle-taxi dri-vers, offering passengers a very economi-cal public transportation alternative tobuses and taxis. In Montería, a city of

won a reputation for durabili-ty and performance on parwith the product assembled inJapan. This is an importantreason why Colombian cus-tomers choose Yamaha overthe competitor brands. It alsocontributes to the high resaleprice Yamaha motorcyclescommand here, which isanother fundamental elementour customers are looking

for, because more often than not theirmotorcycle is an important economicinvestment and an integral part of their lifeand livelihood. In the Colombian market, where 80% ofthe customers have an income underUS$220 per month, motorcycles are thevehicles of choice thanks to their outstand-ing economy. This is also the reason whythe Kando we aim to bring our customers

may have a slightlydifferent meaningfrom some other mar-kets. To customerslike these, for whomprice is a fundamentalfactor, Kando meansknowing that you aregetting real Yamahaquality at an afford-

able price. This knowledge has also been afactor in preventing a greater penetration ofthe cheaper import models from makers incountries like China.

Market strength built on “3S” Besides the fundamental points of qualityand price, customers choose our Yamahamotorcycles because they know that wehave the most extensive distribution net-work, the fullest services and a ready sup-

What Kando means in theColombian marketThe motorcycle market in Colombia isdominated by the work and transportationuse categories, which make up roughly95% of the total demand, while only 5% ofthe bikes sold here are for leisure or recre-ational use. This means that what the largemajority of cus-tomers are lookingfor above all else arequality products andservices they can relyon. The key toYamaha’s leadershipin the Colombianmarket has been ourabsolute commitmentto quality, beginning with the types ofproducts we choose to market and extend-ing to our close work with YMC in theselection of national and international sup-pliers for components for the CKD (Com-plete Knock-Down) Yamaha products weassemble here in Colombia, and our ongo-ing pursuit of excellence in the assemblyprocesses, sales and post-sale service. As aresult of these efforts, the Yamaha motor-cycles we assemble here in Colombia have

The achievements and challenges of a In Colombia, the Yamaha brand has been the leader in sales for more

than six consecutive years, surpassing all the other Japanese makers.Managing this leadership is Incolmotos Yamaha S.A., a company ownedby Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (YMC) and Colombian investors, with awork team deeply committed to the satisfaction of the customers and cre-ating Kando. And at Incolmotos-Yamaha we believe that satisfaction andKando for our Colombian customers translates as the best cost-benefitrelationship, that is to say, greater quality, design and after-sale service,for less money.

INTERNATIONAL FOCUS SERIAL 38

Industria Colombiana DeMotocicletas Yamaha S.A.(Incolmotos Yamaha S.A.)

Headquarters and assembly plant in “La Estrella,” near toMedellin

The board of Directors during the visit of Mr. Hajime Yamaji fromYMC

Colombia is the center of trainning for theYTA Program

Police authorities often choose to carry out their duties on Yamahamotorcycles

Our reporter, Ms. ClaudiaRuiz of CommunicationDepartment, Incolmotos-Yamaha

Location: La Estrella, Antioquia, Colombia

President: José Luis ArangoEmployees: 429


390,000 inhabitants, there are now some2,500 motorcycle-taxis in operation.Also, the police authorities, who areresponsible for the security of the countryand the protection of the citizens, oftenchoose to carry out their duties on Yamahamotorcycles. Two years ago, Incolmotos-Yamaha established an office especially toserve this important customer segment.Our staff from this office travel all over thecountry to submit their bids and win com-missions for the supply of police bikes.Yamaha motorcycles find different but alsoimportant uses in rural towns and villages,where they may be used by ranchers forherding cattle or car-rying fresh milk con-tainers to the milk-processing factories. But, no matterwhether the user is abig business, a gov-ernment agency or aprivate user, anyonewho purchases aYamaha motorcycle, in any part of thecountry, has the assurance of knowingthere is an authorized Yamaha distributornearby. These distributors offer genuinespare parts and the qualified, professionaltechnical service of Incolmotos-Yamaha.And they also know that they have gotten“the best vehicle, at the best price.”

Yamaha, the Winning BrandWhen we talk about extreme sport inColombia, motocross is a popular example,and the Yamaha–Pirelli team is Colombia’sbest, boasting as its top rider Juan DavidPosada, seven-time national champion inthe 250cc category. Four more promisingriders are also on the team.

The following for this sport has been grow-ing. In fact, an event held at the Incolmotos-Yamaha tract in Girardota, Antioquia,attracted more than 5,000 fans who discov-ered the passion and emotion of the motor-cycling. Many of these were children andteenagers, who are the seeds for the devel-opment and growth of the sport ofmotocross nationwide and therefore thegrowth of this segment of motorcycles inColombia.In Colombia we also have scooter races inwhich the top places are usually won byYamaha JOG and BW´S riders. Because ofthe strong following of the sport, Colombia

has created a new cat-egory, RX–115. Thiscompetition fills thestreets in the citiesand even small townswith emotion andexcitement.

Cultural Con-tributions

In support of cultural and musical develop-ment in Colombia, Incolmotos-Yamahawith the cooperation and guidance ofYamaha Corporation andYamaha Music Foundationof Japan, started marketingmusical instruments andoffering musical educationthrough the YamahaSchools of Music in 1990.Today we have six storesthat sell directly to the pub-lic in the main cities, 55distributors throughout thecountry and schools ofmusical education inMedellin, Bogota and Cali. Furthermore,we offer technical assistance in authorizedcustomer service centers that cover theentire Colombian territory.Incolmotos-Yamaha is deeply involved inthe cultural development of Colombia,offering instruments for peace with thestrong belief that “ a child that embraces amusical instrument will never hold a gun.”

Brand Strategy to meet the chal-lenges of a new environment

leader brand

Maintaining market leadership today is agreat challenge. As a motorcycle marketerwe have to face with creativity and enthusi-asm the challenges of assertive competitorsand the America’s Free Trade Agreement(ALCA). For Incolmotos-Yamaha, ALCAmeans we will have to compete directly inour local market with, for example, motor-cycles assembled in Brazil, where largerproduction volumes could create an advan-tage in pricing strategies. There is alsostigmatization of motorcycle users in thelocal market and, as a result, the authoritieshave often reacted by implementing legalprocedures and actions, in many cases arbi-trary, that negatively affect the motorcyclemarket. These actions have made it moredifficult for people to take advantage of thebenefits a motorcycle can offer and havealso had a negative effect on the sales ofmotorcycles. Our competitors are increas-ingly more aggressive in their pricing strate-gies, discounts, and financing alternatives,which have permitted them to expand theirmargin in the market for economic motor-cycle models for transportation and work

use, where the majority ofthe motorcycle sales con-centrate. In order to main-tain our leadership, we arebuilding a new brand strate-gy to consolidate our mar-ket positioning and allow usto grow as a business. It is astrategy that incorporatesthe central values of YMC,while adapting them to theconditions of the Colom-bian market.

Today Incolmotos is the sales leader, butwe know that difficult times lie ahead. Toface them, Incolmotos-Yamaha relies onthe Spirit of Challenge that Yamaha isfamous for and our experience of 25 yearsin the market. To this we add a new compa-ny vision and a business strategy thataddresses the new business environment.With these we are confident that we cancontinue expanding the horizons of theYamaha brand and our customers in theregion.

Incolmotos-Yamaha is deeply involved in the cultur-al development of the country

Incolmotos Yamaha sponsors Colombia’s six-time motocross champ,Juan David Posada

The front of the Incolmotos-Yamaha direct-sales store in Medellin

Stigmatization of motorcycle users negatively affect sales in the localmarket

Basic metals

Machinery and equipment

portation equipment,chemical products andbasic metals, as well asmachinery and equip-ment, utilities, telecom-munications and othersThe export market is animportant factor in ourmanufacturing growth. The main tradeassociate is the United States, followed bythe countries of the Andean Group, theEuropean Community, and of course, coun-tries such as Japan, Argentina and Brazilamong others. Regarding the export sector,raw materials and capital goods can bementioned as important elements. Thedynamic export market is a favorable factwhen considering the future with ALCA,taking into account that many Colombianenterprises are adopting important strate-gies to face the open global market.

Shades, colors and charms of a magiclandColombia is the country with the greatestbiodiversity in fauna and flora due to itsvaried topography. During the year, periods

of three months of rain andthree months of summeralternate. Along the coast ofthe Caribbean Sea growmangroves and coconutpalms; while forests withcommercially valuable treescover the intermediate eleva-tions. As for Colombia’swild animals, some of thelargest mammals of theAmericas are found in thesouthern parts of the coun-try. These include jaguar,

puma, tapir, peccary and several species ofmonkeys and deer. Among the birds can befound the condor, vulture, toucan, parrot,cockatoo, crane, stork and hummingbirds.

Cultural wealth and people of kindand happy spirit To speak of Colombia is to speak of cultur-al regions, in which the Native, Black andEuropean (especially Spaniard) influencesare diverse. The official language isSpanish, although several native dialectsare also spoken. Colombia’s ethnic mosaic is of coursereflected in its culture and folklore. Thedifferent African, Spanish, and Indigenousroots have produced interesting fusions inall the forms of artistic expression in thecountry. Colombia has given birth to manygreat writers and thinkers, among themGabriel Garcia Marquez, novelist andNobel laureate in literature. It is also homeof renowned painters and sculptors like

■ Name of the country: Republic of Colombia

■ Capital city: Bogotá ■ Area: 1,141,748 Km2

■ Population: 43 million ■ GDP: US$225 billion (2001 est.) ■ Currency: Colombian peso

COLOMBIA

Fernando Botero; important people in thefield of medical research like ManuelElkin Patarroyo; and world-famous sports-men like Formula-One driver Juan PabloMontoya and the cyclist Santiago Botero. The music really lives in Colombia; and isan essential part of the people’s daily life.Our music incorporates African andCaribbean rhythms along with Andeanrhythms also influenced by Spain. The typ-ical music varies with the regions ofColombia. Notable among them are the‘pasillo’, the ‘bambuco’, the ‘vallenato’and the ‘mapalé’ styles. Today, Colombianmusic is recognized worldwide thanks toyoung artists like Shakira, Carlos Vivesand Juanes.

A cuisine of diverse aromas and fla-vors The ethnic diversity is also present in theColombian cuisine; the Spanish andIndigenous ingredients get mixed withSpanish, Arabian, and African forms ofpreparing different dishes.The main ingredients in Colombian cuisineare pork, potatoes, red beans, corn, chickenand rice. Some of the typical dishes are:‘Ajiaco’, a soup prepared with chicken andpotatoes, the ‘Bandeja Paisa’, a mixture ofred beans, fried egg, ground meat, rice,fried plantain and ‘chicharrón’ (bacon). Colombia is a country of contrasts, charmsand enchantments; it is a country wherepeople do not lose their hope to achievepeace, in order to enjoy its beauty anddiversity reflected in the thousand and oneshapes, smells, and colors of its geogra-phy, of its culture and mainly of its people.

From Ms. Claudia Ruiz of CommunicationDept., Incolmotos Yamaha S. A.

This Is My Country

Colombia lies between the Caribbean Seaand the Pacific Ocean. In spite of its con-flicts, it is a magical country of marvelouslandscapes with abundance of flora andfauna, diversity of climates and very warm,supportive, and kind people who enchantits visitors.

A Country of great growing develop-mentColombia has had important industrialdevelopment and its economy, contrary tosome other countries in South America,now shows constant growth in the industri-al sector, not only in the domestic market,but also in exports. Within this industrialsector the following industries can be high-lighted: food processing, the textile indus-try, tobacco products, iron, steel and trans-


Traffic laws

Minimum age for driver’s license 16 years old

Minimum age for motorcycle license 16 years old

Minimum age for boat license 16 years old

Cost of living

Regular Lunch US$1.05

Cup of coffee US$0.17

Bus ticket

Gasoline (1gallon) US$1.50

General image of Yamahaproducts

High quality and technology, excel-lent post-sale service and high

trade-in price.

With what products isYamaha associated

US$0.30

Total exports 11,900.47

Petroleum and its products 3,275.01

Coffee 772.20

Coal 990.16

Ferro-nickel 272.46

Non-traditional exports 6,590.63

Agriculture, livestock, forestry, hunting and fishing 1,193.41

Mining 10.79

Industry 5,348.14

Foods, beverages and tobacco 936.23

Textile and clothes 872.39

Yamaha Motorcycles, musicalinstruments, audio equipment,music schools, and outboard

motors.

100

27.52

6.49

8.32

2.29

55.38

10.03

0.09

44.94

7.87

7.33

millions ofdollars %

Colombian exports in the economic sector

Timbers 68.47

Paper manufacturing 369.05

0.58

3.10

Chemical products 1,478.95

Non-metallic minerals 287.99

12.43

2.42

245.26

911.10

2.06

7.66

Other industries 178.70

Diverse and non-classified 0.02

1.50

0.00

Other sectors 38.27 0.32

Traditional exports 5,309.83 44.62

Source: DANE (Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadía tica)

2002

Colombia is a country of contrasts, charms and enchantments

Cartagena, a city on the Caribbean coast of Colombia and an important maritime port

class, which has long beenthe pinnacle of internationalmotorcycle racing, has inreality been reborn as a com-petition of 4-stroke machines.Taking this occasion, the pre-sent exhibition has been put together to cel-ebrate the three glorious decades ofYamaha’s WGP challenge with the 2-stroke YZR500 that began with its firstappearance in 1973, and the spirit of theYamaha people who made history on thatgreat stage.

Looking back over the history of the WorldGP that began with the Isle of Man TouristTrophy race in Britain in 1949, the earlyyears were dominated by British single-cylinder 4-stroke machines by makers likeAJS and Norton. The mid-1950s saw theemergence of multi-cylinder machines byItalian makers like MV Agusta and Gilera.Beginning in 1956, MV Agusta would rulein the WGP for more than 15 years.It wasn’t until the 1960s that the fourJapanese makers began to take up the WGPchallenge, only to withdraw again in 1968.The first of the Japanese factories to returnto WGP racing would be Yamaha in 1973,entering the 500cc class for the first timewith a 2-stroke machine, the YZR500. Thisbold move would mark the start of a big

change in 500cc WGP racingfrom a largely 4-stroke compe-tition to one dominated com-pletely by 2-stroke machines.Over the ensuing three decadessome 20 riders would pilot the

YZR500 to victory in a total of 115 WGPraces while claiming 11 rider championshiptitles and nine manufacturers titles. Andmany of the technologies born of this ongo-ing challenge would eventually be fed backto Yamaha’s production motorcycles andother products.

In the exhibition visitors can see a rich arrayof YZR500 machines ranging from the veryfirst model right up to the final 2002 model.Among these, one model that particularlystands out is the machine that EddieLawson rode to the World title in 1986,code named the OW81. The reason is thatthe V-4 twin crank engine on this modelwould be the first to adopt a system wherethe two cranks revolved in opposite direc-tions. This revolutionary design would latermature into the standard format for allYZR500 machines that would follow. Thiswas just one example of a three-decadechallenge during which Yamaha engineersthrew out conventional ideas time andagain to come up with revolutionary newtechnologies that redefined state-of-the-art.

The YZR500, a 30-yearChallenge to the TopThe YZR500, a 30-YearChallenge to the Top

Fans filled the display galleries on the daysthey were open to the public

WGP500

YZR500 30年の進化

In late June, an exhibition event titled “AChallenge to the Top of WGP Racing –The 30-year History of the YZR500”opened at the Communication Plaza at theYamaha Motor Co., Ltd. headquarters. Ondisplay are a dozen YZR500 machinesfrom over those three decades, includingones that won World GP championship

titles and some prototypes like one adoptinga “semi-shared-axis pivot” that never sawactual use in a GP race and are on publicdisplay for the first time ever. Also part ofthe exhibition are videos and panels intro-ducing many of the technologies born of theWGP racing and the memorable momentsin Yamaha’s WGP racing history that havedrawn many enthusiastic racing fans to theexhibition on days it is open to the public. As of the 2003 season, the WGP 500cc

The prototype (OWE2) with semi-shared pivot axis that never saw actual GP action

The OW23 was the first YZR with an engine designed specifically for the500cc class

The first 2-stroke V-4 engine for GP500(OW61)

We always welcome your contributions.

Write to Chief Editor Shigeharu Maruhashi of the PR Division,

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.

2500 Shingai, Iwata, Shizuoka 438-8501 Japan,

<[email protected]>


Regardless of the recent economic slowdown, the U.S.market for large-displacement cruiser type motorcycleshas remained strong. And now Yamaha has a strong new

entry to keep sales rolling. From May 3 to 12 Yamaha MotorCorp., USA. (YMUS) hosted a press test-ride event for the newRoad Star XV1700 cruiser at the scenic resort area of Morro Bayon the California coast between Los Angeles and San Francisco.The event drew some 45 motor journalists from the U.S. andaround the world anxious to try out the re-designed Road Star.Taking the existing XV1600 as its base the new Road Star XV1700 mounts aneven more powerful 1700cc engine while at the same time brushing up theexterior specs considerably. The journalists were given free rein to put the newRoad Star through its paces over a 250 km course that included both bayside

USA

Another Road StarSensation!

Japan

High-tech Yamaha surface mounters center of expo attention

T he Electronic Manufacturing Process Technology Exhibition(Protec Japan) is an event that showcases the latest state-of-the-art technology in the field of electronic circuit-board mounting

equipment, the sophisticated industrial robots that drive the increasinglyhigh-tech consumer electronics industry. Yamaha’s IM Company is anindustry leader in the field of mid-size surface mounters and visitors tothe Yamaha booth at this year’s expo grew by 25% despite an overall15% drop in expo attendance on the whole. The highlights at the boothwere the brand new YG200 and the industry standard Xg series models.The YG200 is the top-of-the-line model of Yamaha’s series of mid-sizemodule type high-speed surface mounters that with rapid technologicaladvances in recent years have achieved productivity comparable tolarge-size high-speed models at a much lower price. With models likethis, Yamaha is leading a shift in the industry away from large-sizemounters to more versatile mid-size module-type models betterequipped to handle today’s rapidly diversifying production schedules.

The latest model YG200 drawing lots of attention

Yamaha proudly unveiled the“New International LookLIBERO” on May 21, 2003, in

Delhi, India. The ceremony took place inthe New International Look Showroom,inaugurated on the same day, making theevent even more special.The LIBERO is the object of much atten-tion from dealers, with orders pouring inever since the first units began rolling offthe lines at Yamaha Motor India PrivateLtd. (YMI) in October, 2002. The

LIBERO is a potent package of fuel economy, performance and versatility, andis also designed to easily handle urban speed bumps and performwell in tandem riding, which is important for Indian riders. Withthe new LIBERO, Yamaha’s already excellent brand recognitioncan only be strengthened. The famous film actress and former Miss India, Ms. Neha Dhupia,who endorses the LIBERO in YMI’s advertising campaign, addedglamour to the event. The inauguration and unveiling ceremonywas performed by YMI’s CEO Mr. Shibuya and Ms. Neha. Mr.Y. Konishi (COO) and Mr. Taneja (Executive Director) were alsopresent to grace the occasion.

India

Unveiling the New LIBERO

Film star Neha Dhupia will bring promotional glam-our to Yamaha’s new 2-wheeled star, LIBERO

cruising and hilly winding roads inland from the coast. Journalist Kevin Ashfrom the UK was impressed to find the new model had even stronger-pulsingengine performance and a sportier ride than its predecessor. American journal-ists echoed with equally high praise.

The New XV1700 Road Star drew consistently high praise from journalists


Thailand

24th Bangkok Motor Show amongAsia’s biggest

USAUS Technician Scores Perfect 100

W hile many finet e c h n i c i a n shave becomecertified in the YamahaTechnical Academy(YTA) program, only onehas done so with a perfect100% score in all avail-able YTA categories.Yamaha is proud to recog-nize Todd Rutledge of

Easy Living Yamaha in Rome, Georgia, for his exceptional per-

formance as the “Top Technician for 2003.”YMUS established the YTA program as part of an ongoing

commitment to the highest customer satisfaction. This series of

technical training courses is open to technicians at Yamaha

motorsports dealers nationwide. “By successfully passing each

level of YTA,” said Bill Kubes, National Training Manager for

YMUS, “the technicians become certified, earning themselves

and their Yamaha dealership greater prestige, as well as helping

to ensure customers enjoy the very best service possible.”Rutledge, who is from Resaca, Georgia, is a 1996 graduate of

Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI) in Orlando, Florida. He

has been at Easy Living Yamaha for about two and a half years.

Dealership owner John Cummings demonstrated his support for

service excellence by paying all expenses for Rutledge’s YTA

training.In addition to earning his YTA Silver certification, Rutledge

won a Yamaha Factory 40" Toolbox made by Snap-on○R, and

was also given passes to the AMA road races at Road Atlanta.From Bill Kubes, National Training Manager, YMUS

I n its 24th edition this year, the Bangkok Motor Show has becomeone of the biggest and liveliest in Asia. And this time, when the showopened from March 27 to April 6, the booth of Thai Yamaha Motor

Co., Ltd. (TYM) was one of the big attention getters with its theme of“New Generation Technology.” On center stage at the Yamaha booth,the spotlight was on the new model NOUVO. Combining the best quali-ties of a scooter and the mopeds that are so popular here in Thailand,the NOUVO is the first moped-type model in the ASEAN market tofeature an automatic transmission. Adding to its appeal is the way it fitsinto the present boom in bike customizing, and the many of the visitorsjust couldn’t take their eyes off the smartly cus-tomized versions of the NOUVO that TYM pre-pared for this show. It was clear that theNOUVO is fast winning the hearts and minds ofThai users. How about the outlook for sales?TYM is confident the NOUVO will be a big suc-cess, and advance sales at the booth reinforcedthat feeling, as a record 115 customers placedtheir orders on the spot. From Hirokazu Yoshimitsu, Sales DevelopmentDiv., TYM, Thailand

An appealing variety of models were displayed atthe Thai Yamaha Motor booth

Todd Rutledge (right) receives his “Top Technician”certificate from YMUS

The Netherlands

Europe’s best set sights on WorldTechnician GP

F or the third time, Yamaha Motor Europe N. V. (YMENV) orga-nized the Euro Technician GP, the European regional champi-onship contest in Yamaha’s worldwide technician GP program.

The contest was held from April 14 to 16 at the YMENV service work-shop and was supported by Snap-on, the tool manufacturer, and it wasattended by the winners of national Technician GP contests held ineight countries, all vying for the title of the best motorcycle technicianin Europe. The competition was close in the practical troubleshooting part of thecontest using YZF-R6s and TDM900s, so it was the written test, withits focus on things like basic electronics and Customer Satisfactionitems, that decided the winners. Mr. Tony Vromant of D’leteren Sportof Belgium took first prize, with Mr. Tom Lischitzki of Yamaha MotorDeutschland GmbH and Mr. Jean Claude Durand of Yamaha MotorFrance S. A. placing 2nd and 3rd respectively. At a party after the con-test, the three were presented their awards by YMENV’s President Inu-maru, along with an official invitation to the 2nd World TechnicianGrand Prix to be held at Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (YMC) in Japan – atrip that will also include a VIP invitation to the Motegi round of theMotoGP, tours of the Yamaha factories and a good taste of Japaneseculture. Since the 1st World Technician GP was won by Switzerland’sBeat Burkhalter, this year’s three European reps will be looking to bringanother title back to Europe.From Raymond Coolen, PTW Service & Testing Dept., YMENV

President Inumaru, and the three winners: TomLischitzki, Tony Vromant and Jean ClaudeDurand

Contestants troubleshoot on the TDM900


In recent years there has been a growing interest inmotor sports among people in India, especially inthe country’s southern region. The attention of

young fans is focusing especially on motocross com-petition. On April 18, YMI showed that it is behindthe sport all the way by holding a press launch eventto introduce the riders and machines (YZ250F) of“Team Yamaha India” that the company will be giv-ing its full support to. In his address to the gathering of about 30 journalists, YMI’s Director Sakurai said that,“We want to share with everyone the kind of excitement and dreams that only motorsports can provide. And we want to do this with our 4-stroke technology and our sup-port of this team.” The next day, Yamaha riders on the YZ 4-stroke and 2-strokemachines shut out the other makers’ machines and swept all the podium positions inthe 1st round of the “Gulf Dirt Track Challenge” held in Mumbai.From Minoru Itou, Marketing, YMI, India

India

YMI launches support program formotocross racing

At the start of a practice run

More and more people are discovering that the famous Russian winter isn’t asimposing as it once was if you have a snowmobile. And YMC’s OverseasMarket Development Operations (OMDO) is out to make sure that people in

the rapidly growing Russian snowmobile market get to know the outstanding productvalue and unsurpassed technologies of Yamaha snowmobiles.

From February 14 to 17, OMDO organized a full-scale press event to introduce the 2004 Yamaha sledsat a Bolen Resort ski area outside of Moscow. Divid-ed into a Press Day, a Distributor Day and a DealerDay, the event gave press and industry representa-tives a chance to really get to know the Yamaha sledsand their performance through a full agenda of prod-uct explanations and test rides. The models intro-duced and made available for test rides included theutility models VK540III and BR250T and the sportsmodels RX1ER and RXWarrior. From the satisfiedsmiles of the journalists and dealers coming off the rides, it was clear that they had gotten a true appreciation of the perfor-

mance and comfort of the Yamaha sleds. Expectations are higher now than ever for significant growth in sales here in the Russian snow belt.From Kanichi Tsunamoto, Russia Div., OMDO, YMC

Russia

Where there is snow, Yamaha sleds will go

Many press and industry representatives got achance to appreciate the product quality of theYamaha snowmobiles

All new motorcycles, outboard motors, ATVs and WaveRunners sold byYamaha Motor Australia Pty Ltd. (YMA) are now protected by DataDotanti-theft technology. Yamaha is the first motorcycle/marine company in

the Australian market to adopt the DataDot technology, a revolutionary sprayidentification system that applies thousands of tiny DataDots, each containing amotorcycle’s unique Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or personal water-craft’s Hull Identification Number (HIN), to all the key components. Officials inAustralia and around the world have hailed the DataDot system as a huge step for-ward in combating professional vehicle theft. YMA held a successful media launch to announce the new system in Sydney Har-bour, which featured all Yamaha DataDotted products in an action display. Thetheme was James Bond to reflect the microdot spy technology roots of the Data-Dot system. A water ski display was followed by stunt riding and freestylemotocross jumps to show off the Yamaha products.Ian Allen, Executive Chairman of DataDot Technology Ltd. says:

YMA Introduces Anti-Theft Initiative “Yamaha is to be congratulated. This is a tremendous step forward on behalf ofbike and boat owners across the country to apply DataDots across their entirerange. This partnership shows confidence in the effectiveness of DataDots, and areal commitment by Yamaha to protecting their customers.”The DataDot system utilises existing government registration databases, not sec-ondary private ones. This means DataDot is the only system to meet the very strictrequirements of Australia’s National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council(NMVTRC). The Council, backed by the Federal Government, all State Govern-ments and the Insurance industry, is tasked with leading the battle against vehicletheft. Analysis by the Council of theft rates of cars fitted withDataDots has found that DataDots are an effective deterrentto professional car thieves. YMA believes that the peace ofmind Yamaha customers will haveknowing their vehicles are pro-tected is well worth the effort. From Sean Hawker, Advertis-ing and PR Co-ordinator, YMA,Australia

Spain

R6 first in world’s largestcomparison test

Australia

It is virtually impossible to remove all the thousands of dotsbearing the vehicle serial number. The sticker lets thieves knowthe vehicle is protected by DataDot technology

Fifteen top motorcycle magazines from Europe, the USA,South America, Australia and Japan, sent their best riders toJerez in April for the Yearly Masterbike event organized by

Motociclismo Spain.During this “test of all tests” sixteen bikes in four categories battledfor the title “Masterbike of the year 2003.” Winning this title, it allcomes down to lap times: which is the fastest bike on the track?The magazines did not send their regular journalists but insteadasked recently retired or still active racers to attend the Masterbikeon their behalf. And that’s how men like four-time Spanish Super-Sport champion Orilo Fernandez, three time German SuperbikeChampion Christer Lindholm, Dutch Super-Sport ChampionBarry Veneman and the Japanese rider Kei Nashimoto, manytimes in the top 10 at the Suzuka 8 Hours, rode the test bikes onthe Jerez circuit.In the 600cc Super-Sport class, the Yamaha YZF-R6 claimed firstplace. In the battle for title of “Masterbike of the year 2003” (theoverall fastest bike on the track) the YZF-R1 finished 3rd. This year’s victory brings the Yamaha YZF-R6 wins in the Mas-terbike to a total of four,and the 600cc Super-Sporttitle means a tremendousboost for the image of theR6. YMENV and theEuropean distributors arevery happy with this vic-tory and will do theirutmost to promote it on apan-European basis.From Bas Hawinkels,PTW Communications &PR Manager, YMENV

Riders celebrating their Masterbike results


New Zealand

Ocean Rafting’s latest high speed adventure ride is powered by threepowerful Yamaha outboards.With 600 reliable horsepower available atthe stern, Ocean Rafting’s newest ride is a spectacular success in every

sense.The “raft” is a Protector 12m RIB specially modified as a high speed adventure

Ocean Rafting’s triple power comes from Yamaharide, and powered by three 200hp Saltwater Series Yamaha 2-stroke outboards.Every day up to 28 people are aboard for excursions such as the “The HarbourHighlights” and “Grand Slam” that depart daily from the Viaduct Basin andcruise Auckland waters in the Hauraki Gulf.Mark Cleave, Ocean Rafting’s CEO, says he chose Yamaha engines because

they have proven to be the best and most popular engines around.“The engines we use in the adventure business have to be in pristinecondition for daily commercial operations. Reliability is critical andwe’ve found the Saltwater Series to be simple, reliable and powerful.The raft offers daily fast-boat adventures so they need to be ready torock and roll every day,” he says.Mark Cleave adds that using just one type of motor from one agentalso simplifies maintenance.“We’ve had no problems so far and Yamaha’s after-sales support hasbeen reliable, consistent and all-round superb,” he says.From Greg Fenwick, Marine Sales Manager, YMNZ, New Zealand

On June 4th, some 3,000 Yamaha dealership representatives and theirfamilies from across the country attended the 2004 U.S. Dealers’ busi-ness meeting at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. Deal-

ership personnel were there to learn all about most of the new 2004 modelmotorcycles and ATVs and prepare their business plans for the year ahead.Included in the introductions, was an all-new category of ATV that Yamaha ispioneering, spearheaded by the all-new “Rhino 660 four wheel drive.” The meeting opened with speeches byYMC President Toru (Tim)Hasegawa, YMUS President SteveKato and YMUS Motorsports Presi-dent Jim Gentz. In their addresses thespeakers detailed plans for streamlineddistribution, dealership profitabilityand building the strongest brandimage for Yamaha in the U.S.A. Mr.Gentz himself introduced the new“Rhino 660,” with ATV product man-ager Mike Martinez in the passengerseat. Meanwhile the revolutionarynew sports ATV “YFZ450” powered

USA

Stars come out for U.S. business meeting

Fast, exhilarating and fun ocean rafting attracts not only Kiwis but also tourists

Voice from Sweden

A Yamaha snowmobile customer in Sweden

reports that this female fox comes visiting

every time he goes fishing at his cabin on his

Yamaha 20 CMS Outboarder snowmobile. It

seems that the appeal of Yamaha products is

no longer limited to humans.

From Ewald Tkofilusson, Sweden

by an engine based on Yamaha’s YZ450F motocrosser was ridden on stage byAMA motocross legend Doug Henry. Other Team Yamaha racing stars likeWorld Supercross champ Chad Reed were also on hand to introduce the 2004machines and meet the dealers in the large display hall adjacent to the meetinghall. From: Terry Beal, Public Relations, YMUS, USA

The 4-wheel drive Rhino pioneers a whole new category of ATVs


Spain

The wreck of the petroleum tanker Prestige last December turned outto be one of the worst manmade ecological disasters in history, asthousands of tons of oil spilled into the sea off the coast of Galicia in

northwest Spain. No sooner had news of the spillreached towns along the coast than volunteersbegan gathering to fight the black tide of crudeoil approaching the shore. One of the leaders inwhat would turn out to be an amazing turnout ofvolunteer fighters was Mr. Enrique Lago, theowner of the local Yamaha marine dealershipNáutica de Galicia S.A. (NAGASA) in Ponteve-dra. The job of scooping the terrible lumps ofcrude out of the water was tough for the fleet ofsmall fishing craft that had mobilized for the task,putting special strain on their outboard motors.Mr. Lago immediately put his whole staff towork servicing the boats whenever needed all upand down the coast. Later, Mr. Lago’s promptand valiant efforts were highly praised by President Jorge Lasheras ofYamaha Motor España S.A. (YMES), who offered any necessary economicassistance and technical support to keep the NAGASA team in action. From: Jordi Bracons, Communication & PR Manager, YMES, Spain

Yamaha Fights the Black TideYamaha provides supportfor a flood relief

Sri Lanka

I n southern Sri Lanka,extended rains have causedthe worst flooding in 50years, which has been aresponsible for a reported 300deaths and destroyed morethan 200,000 residences. Inorder to assist with rescueefforts in this natural disaster,YMC has donated 10 EK15Noutboard motors (15 horse-power kerosene engines) tothe Sri Lankan government. Yamaha made the donation through the local importer as quickly aspossible in order to get the engines in operation quickly and save asmany lives as possible. The donation ceremony was held on May 21 at the presidential res-idence and attending from Associated Motorways Ltd. Group, thelocal Yamaha importer, were chairman, Mr. Ajita de Zoysa, vice-chairman, Mr. Tilak de Zoysa and director, marketing, DeshabanduPatrick Peiris. Also in attendance were executives from AssociatedMotor (Lanka) Company Ltd. This simple ceremony was veryeffective in further strengthening relations with the governmentand creating even more trust for Yamaha in the local area.These engines will be utilized in the areas hit hardest by thefloods and will play a vital role in alleviating some of the damagecaused by this tragedy of historic proportions. From: Yoshiyuki Ito, Overseas Project Div., OMDO, Japan

On June 6, OMDO’s senior general manager, Mr.Shibata, pre-sented a list of the relief items sent to Ambassador Bendjama atthe Embassy of Algeria in Tokyo

Associated Motorways Ltd. Chairman Ajita(on left) donation ceremony at the presiden-tial residence

Taking a break after the hard jobof scooping the terrible lumps

Algeria

On the night of May 21, 2003, northernAlgeria and the capital city of Algierswere struck by a devastating earthquake

that measured a magnitude of 6.7. More than10,000 people were injured or killed and count-less homes destroyed in the wake of the tremor.YMC’s OMDO responded to the disaster bysending 30 sets of Yamaha ETC650 electric gen-erators and 50-meter extension cords by airfreight to help bring emergency power to thestricken areas until public electricity can berestored. The aid package arrived in Aligers onJune 5 and was immediately handed over toAlgerian Red Crescent, the local branch of theInternational Red Cross. Everyone at YMC praysfor the souls of the victims and for a rapid recov-ery for the people of Algeria from the devastationwrought by the quake.From: Michiru Wajima, Area Marketing Div.,OMDO, YMC

Yamaha Air-lifts inEarthquake Aid Package

New Zealand

L ifesavers in Auckland are looking to thelatest technology in their quest forgreater rescue capability – by evaluating

a Yamaha WaveRunner personal watercraft.PWC’s are a key component of rescue opera-tions in many countries – clubs throughoutAustralia are being equipped with YamahaXL700 watercraft – but they have not yetbecome a feature of New Zealand lifesaving.That may be about to change.Yamaha Motor New Zealand Limited(YMNZ) recently provided a WaveRunnerXL700 three-seater watercraft for evaluationby Surf Life Saving North Region. The XL700was slightly modified with a plastic skid down

Yamaha PWC Evaluated for Rescuethe keel, hooks to attach a rescue sled and grabhandles fitted along the sides.Trials have been undertaken by representativesof the 16 Northern Region surf clubs. After afamiliarisation session at the Auckland MarineRescue Centre, the craft was trialed in the morestrenuous conditions of Bethells Beach on thewest coast.Among the evaluation criteria were ease of get-ting to and from the water, low speed maneu-verability and stability, turning at high and lowspeeds, responsiveness, handling in waves andon the face of waves, cavitation, white waterhandling, the kill switch cord, functional layoutof controls and overall impression.

Matt Yallop, Lifesaving Manager forSurf Life Saving North Region, saysthey will evaluate whether the PWC canperform rescues that no other craft isable to do, like a rapid long range res-cue.He says the evaluation will be exhaus-tive and may lead to a PWC being pur-chased for further trials and learning. From Greg Fenwick, Marine SalesManager, YMNZ, New Zealand

Surf Life Saving representatives evaluating the Yamaha XL WaveRunner 700 atBethels Beach on Auckland's West Coast

YAMAHA NEWS MAY 1, 2003 15YAMAHA NEWS MAY 1, 2003 15

EXPRESSRA

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The 2003 MotoGP seriesthat began on April 6 withthe Japan GP has nowentered the European roundsas of May 11, with the thirdround held at Spain’s Jerezcircuit. This marks the startof what has long been calledthe “Continental Circus” inwhich the GP riders andteams travel from one city toanother across the Europeancontinent in their mobilehomes and trailer trucks like circus per-formers have long done. From round three, two leading YamahaYZR-M1 riders, Alex Barros of theGauloises Yamaha Team and MarcoMelandri of Fortuna Yamaha Team haverecovered from early season injuries andwere back in form. This meant that all fiveYamaha M1 riders from three teams wereparticipating in top condition. And theirresults improved gradually, with Barrosbattling Honda’s Japanese riders TohruUkawa and Makoto Tamada to finish 5thhere in round three and d’Antin Yamahateam’s Shinya Nakano finishing 8th.

Round four of the series was the FrenchGP at Le Mans. Here, Barros continued his

hot streak by mounting thewinners podium for the firsttime this season with a 3rdplace finish while movingup to 4th in the series rank-ing. He was followed in 4thplace at Le Mans by histeammate Olivier Jacque,offering solid proof not onlyof the competitive spirit ofthe Gauloises YamahaTeam but also that the M1 isbecoming a more competi-

tive machine as the season progresses.Entering June, the Italian GP (round 5) andthe Catalonia GP (round 6) were held onsuccessive weekends on the 8th and 15threspectively, and it was Nakano who washot among the Yamaha riders for these tworaces. In the Italian GP at Mugello he qual-ified for a front-row position on the startinggrip and ran as high as 2nd position as hebattled the three Italian stars, V. Rossi, L.Capriossi and M. Biaggi on their own turf.Returning to Spain for the Catalonia GPNakano was again in contention for a podi-um spot right down to the final lap beforefinishing 5th as he did in Italy, his highestfinishes this season. In round six it was fel-low Yamaha rider Carlos Checa of the For-tuna team who came past Nakano to take

MotoGP enters European Rounds as theYZR-M1 moves up

MotoGP enters European Rounds as theYZR-M1 moves up

Nakano ran in second for a good part of the race at Mugello

Former World Champ Everts won both the 125cc and 250ccclasses at the Italian GP (Motocross)

Barros mounted the winners podium withhis 3rd-place finish

4th place by just 0.068seconds at the finish. Thiswas good news for theFortuna team, which hadnot been getting the per-formances it was capableof in the early stage of theseason, and it means thatnow all three Yamahateams are within reach ofpodium finishes. The sec-ond half of the season issure to get even moreexciting for Yamaha fans.

Meanwhile, in the GP classof the World MotocrossChampionships, StefanEverts of the L&MMotocross Team has been

burning up the track on his YamahaYZ450FM machine. In round four of theseries he put an end to the winning streakof M. Pichon (Suzuki) and then jumpedinto the 125cc class on a Yamaha YZ250Fto win the first 2-class victory ever in thehistory of the competition. Everts cameback to win again in round five, the Bul-garian GP, and moved into 3rd position inthe season ranking, just 11 series pointsbehind the leader, Pichon.

Printed in Japanhttp://www.yamaha-motor.co.jp

YAMAHA MOTOR CO., LTD. Public Relations Division 2500 Shingai, Iwata, Shizuoka, 438-8501 Japan Telephone: 81-538-32-1145, Facsimile: 81-538-37-4250

Z O O M I NZ O O M I N

tics to suit the terrain orpersonal preference. And, to ensure sta-ble performance the shocks featurepiggy-back type aluminum sub-tanksfront and rear. And there are other important featuresof the new YFZ450 that you won’tnotice unless you take a very closelook, like the high-spec front discbrakes with twin-pot calipers. Anotheris the advanced-design sub-frame madepossible by Yamaha’s break-throughCF (Controlled Filling) aluminum die-casting technology with its capability toproduce larger aluminum parts withthinner sections and more intricateforms. This combines with the alu-minum swingarm, A-arms and wheelsto help make this probably the lightest,sharpest cornering ATV in its class.Cornering capability is also boosted bynew-style radial rear tires and the low-est center of gravity in its class. In fact,you could say that the YFZ450 createsa whole new class of its own. Call it the“pure performance sport” category.

With their characteristic low-pressure balloon tires, power-ful engines and tough sus-

pensions, ATVs are go-anywheremachines that people use for work andplay on any kind of off-road terrain,from grasslands to rocky hills, fromsand dunes to snowfields. About threemillion of these vehicles are used andloved by people around the worldtoday, and Yamaha offers these users alineup ranging from 50cc to 660cc. Now Yamaha has unveiled its latestaddition to this lineup, the sports model“YFZ450,” which is the first YamahaATV to mount a liquid-cooled DOHC5-valve 4-stroke engine. This model hasbeen designed primarily to answer theneeds of the North American and Euro-pean markets, where environmentalconcerns have led to growing calls for4-stroke ATVs. The first thing thatstrikes the viewer about this new model

is its distinctive styling. The sharp frontcowl, sports type seat and low profilegive the YFZ450 a look suggestive of asleek animal coiled and ready to springinto action. Then, when you lookinside, you’ll find a state-of-the-artengine featuring Yamaha’s latest tech-nologies that couple performance withgreat fuel economy and low emissions.In other words, this is another modelthat fulfills Yamaha’s goal of providingboth excitement and environmentalfriendliness. This power unit is characterized by itstitanium valves, FCR carburetor, platedcylinders, its close-ration 5-speed trans-mission, and more. Both the front andrear suspensions feature separate pre-load adjustment for damping force onthe compression and rebound strokes tolet the rider set the damping characteris-

The secret behind the “YFZ450,”Yamaha’s first liquid-cooledDOHC 5-valve ATV

The secret behind the “YFZ450,”Yamaha’s first liquid-cooledDOHC 5-valve ATV

Yamaha News,ENG,No.4,2003,7月,7月,Making of a Classic ... · mean opportunity and...

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Transcript of Yamaha News,ENG,No.4,2003,7月,7月,Making of a Classic ... · mean opportunity and...