Show & Concept Models | YAMAHA MOTOR DESIGN

MORPHO

Machines More Closely Resembling Humans
Under the theme of “man and machine as one,” the MORPHO was the result of the idea of anthropomorphizing machines to bring them closer to their human counterparts. From the idea of a rider-machine interface, the handlebars, seat and footpegs—the touchpoints with the rider—could change positions to suit different rider physiques and adapt to different riding scenes. The design for its movable handlebar mechanism was inspired by a camera tripod. This was Yamaha’s first exhibition model conceived entirely by designers.

MORPHO Ⅱ

Then, Society and the Environment Become One
The MORPHO Ⅱ took the concept of anthropomorphization proposed by the 1989 MORPHO and enhanced it, going a step further by proposing a feeling of unity with society and the environment as well. It was equipped with artificial intelligence, a self-diagnostic system and other interactive functions, thus predicting that such technology could be viable in motorcycles.

MT-01

The Aesthetics of Removal and the Feel of Sound and Pulse
From the time that the XV1600 Road Star development project began, there was already the assumption that it would be used as a platform for future derivative models. Taking the Road Star engine as a base to work from, the MT-01 was designed to be a highly original model with a uniquely Yamaha design approach that included the Japanese aesthetic of minimalizing by removing all unnecessary elements to achieve beauty, and designing the machine’s sound and sense of pulse.

Racer 01

A Dynamic and Original Design for Cycling at 60 km/h
Receiving an R&D commission from the Bicycling Popularization Association of Japan, Yamaha developed the Keirin PAS in 1999 mounting a special PAS electric power-assist drive unit for use as a pacer in keirin racing. It was also used in the keirin events at the Track Cycling World Cup. The Racer 01 introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2001 took the Keirin PAS and modified it with a dynamic and original design.

Sea PAS

Tackling Environmental Problems with Our Other Business Resources
This project was aimed at expanding the potential of personal watercraft while raising questions about environmental issues. For a marine product, it was a novel idea in itself to forego mounting an engine. From the idea’s conception through to the research and testing stages, the engineering and design team worked together to move development forward, breaking from traditional methods of product development and aiming to create new value.

Dolsa Wind

Ride on the Wind While Playing an Instrument
This 2-wheeled electric vehicle (EV) proposal was a fusion of the mysterious feeling of riding on the wind and the enriching experience of playing a musical instrument. ELM Design oversaw the project while Yamaha Corporation’s Design Laboratory carried out the design work. It had a riding position that let the rider enjoy the slowly flowing wind while enveloped in a “sound space.” In this way, this model envisioned a comfortable and enjoyable ride akin to enjoying a musical instrument performance.

DIVIDE

Taking advantage of an electric vehicle being easy to take indoors, the DIVIDE featured a modern form that could double as an art piece and the alluring beauty of an aluminum monocoque frame. The design concept was “Mechanically Sexy.” A Gadget-like Feel: △□○× Yamaha began to solidify its status as an electric motorcycle pioneer around the time the Passol production model was released. In the process, Yamaha presented the world with a wide variety of possibilities for electric vehicles with the Tokyo Motor Show becoming a principal stage for this. These models’ extreme simplicity was achieved by the static geometry of their design. As more and more gadget-like tools were released, especially electronic devices and the like, Yamaha introduced a series of models with this theme.

BOBBY

The BOBBY was an urban-styled 2-wheeled electric vehicle with a gadget-like design that allowed its seat, rear wheel, handlebars and footpegs to be compactly folded up. It had additional features when paired with various electronic devices. A Gadget-like Feel: △□○× Yamaha began to solidify its status as an electric motorcycle pioneer around the time the Passol production model was released. In the process, Yamaha presented the world with a wide variety of possibilities for electric vehicles with the Tokyo Motor Show becoming a principal stage for this. These models’ extreme simplicity was achieved by the static geometry of their design. As more and more gadget-like tools were released, especially electronic devices and the like, Yamaha introduced a series of models with this theme.

Ei

This model was displayed at the Bangkok International Motor Show as a teaser for the Fiore, which was released in Thailand two years later. When at rest, the goal was for it to have a beautiful rounded shape so that it could be an enjoyable art piece while keeping the seat free of dirt and helping to stave off vehicle theft. The separate but organic use of colors for its iconic egg-shaped interior and exterior body sections was also beautiful. A Gadget-like Feel: △□○× Yamaha began to solidify its status as an electric motorcycle pioneer around the time the Passol production model was released. In the process, Yamaha presented the world with a wide variety of possibilities for electric vehicles with the Tokyo Motor Show becoming a principal stage for this. These models’ extreme simplicity was achieved by the static geometry of their design. As more and more gadget-like tools were released, especially electronic devices and the like, Yamaha introduced a series of models with this theme.

EC-f

Two versions of this model were displayed at the same time. The EC-f had a modern art appearance from its organic and dynamic form that was strikingly familiar to many people. The EC-fs was more like a tool, constructed as a type of “mechanical art.” It was possible to transform it into various shapes via its “module unit” construction. A Gadget-like Feel: △□○× Yamaha began to solidify its status as an electric motorcycle pioneer around the time the Passol production model was released. In the process, Yamaha presented the world with a wide variety of possibilities for electric vehicles with the Tokyo Motor Show becoming a principal stage for this. These models’ extreme simplicity was achieved by the static geometry of their design. As more and more gadget-like tools were released, especially electronic devices and the like, Yamaha introduced a series of models with this theme.

Air Tricker

Stimulation Born in Japan and Shaped for Europe
Inspired by the “Tricker” models displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show, this model was a redesign with a more European orientation and was put on display at Intermot and the IMOT Show in Munich. Its features included a handlebar structure that could rotate a full 360 degrees and a super-lightweight carbon-fiber frame designed with attention to every detail, giving it a real feeling of production-readiness despite being an exhibition model.

Tesseract

Movement Like a Creature Never Seen Before
With four tires and six connecting arms, the Tesseract had an outstanding feeling of stability and functionality that surpassed even four-wheeled vehicles. At the Tokyo Motor Show, the display exhibited the mechanical movement of its arms, which resembled an arthropod. It gave those who saw its curious motion an indication of an all-new form of mobility.

XS-V1 Sakura

Visualizing a Nostalgic yet New Japanese Style
This model’s design went beyond eras; it radiated nostalgia as well as newness, and gave visual form to Japan’s sense of beauty and emotion. The craftsmanship that gave great attention to even the smallest detail resulted in styling with a refined elegance not seen in a traditionally styled motorcycle. With the design keyword of “fluidity,” the various detail areas of the fuel tank, fuel cap, tail assembly and muffler were given streamlined shapes. Even the engine’s cooling fins used alumite processing colored in the pink of Japanese cherry blossoms.

XTW250 RYOKU

A Reliable Tool Focused Solely on Functionality
The XTW250 RYOKU suggested the possibilities of a tough, heavy-duty “SUV motorcycle.” The focus on a low center-of-gravity and the fat tires gave this motorcycle the off-road performance to awaken a thirst for adventure, and be unrestricted anytime, anywhere. It featured an engine guard that doubled as a spade, kickstands on both sides, a collapsible windscreen, a front carrier rack, removable fog lamps and AC 100V battery sockets, making it one reliable “tool.”

Y125 MOEGI

The Dynamism in Small Vehicles
Emphasizing the simple beauty in the structure of a motorcycle, the Y125 MOEGI had an appearance that conveyed the unique sense and style of Yamaha no matter what angle it was viewed from. It was easy to handle like a bicycle and had excellent fuel efficiency, all put into a beautiful package that removed whatever was unnecessary. Its slim, lightweight chassis expressed the idea of “small but powerful,” the dynamism of small vehicles. It was a beautiful motorcycle with a refinement, grace and aesthetic that could only be produced by the Japanese.

Royal WaveRunner

An Art Piece Connecting Traditional and Modern Industry
As the market for personal watercraft matured, this exhibition model sought to cast a new light on Japanese craftsmanship and elevate the image of Yamaha products. For customers to better visualize the possibilities of order-made manufacturing and production, it was also put on display at the Paris Boat Show. From urushi lacquer finishing and hand-drawn Kyo-yuzen dyeing to Nishijin weaving, Yamaha enlisted the cooperation of various master artisans of traditional arts to create the exterior while providing the craft’s weather resistance testing data to them in exchange. This model thus played a greater social role in connecting traditional industry with modern industry.

01GEN

This personal vehicle concept was designed around an “On & Off Crossover” theme, referring to the two meanings of “on-road and off-road” and the “On & Off” of switching between sporty riding and more relaxed cruising. The beautifully flowing body lines are created by a seamless connection of structural surfaces without distinction between front and back, thus creating a form that embodies the “On & Off Crossover” concept. The external surfaces make effective use of the characteristics of light, highlighting the powerful forward motion of the machine.

02GEN

Based on the technology accrued since the Yamaha PAS was introduced as the world’s first electrically power-assisted bicycle, this design concept model for an electrically power-assisted wheelchair was “GENerated” by new design ideas. Yamaha Motor also worked with Tamae Hirokawa of SOMA DESIGN—a Japanese fashion designer active on the global stage—to simultaneously unveil a collaborative model based on the 02GEN that drew on her proposals for colors, materials and finishes. The result expressed how a wheelchair goes beyond being mere machinery and becomes an extension of the user’s body in true partnership.

03GEN

These two concept models explore the potential fun of mobility based on themes that express expectations for the future, the allure of a racing machine, respect for time-honored forms and styling, and the exhilaration that comes from experiencing the cutting-edge. With a design theme of “Future Racing,” the 03GEN-f expresses a visual fusion of the futuristic feel of Yamaha’s LMW structures and the Yamaha racing image. The 03GEN-x features a timeless design based on a “Cross” (crossover) theme that combines classic scrambler elements and culture with the latest LMW structure.

Sports Ride Concept

This was a design study for a new type of sports car. In a design method Yamaha calls “Elementalism,” where each part and component has a design that is complete in itself (“the one”) but also harmonizes well overall (“the whole”) to bring forth the same aesthetic beauty of Yamaha motorcycles—fusing “the one and the whole.” It expresses the “Live & Ride” concept by embedding the factors of a rider-motorcycle relationship, with its contact with the open air, into the driver-car relationship.

MWT-9

A look and configuration nobody has seen before and a ride like nothing experienced before. Under a design concept of todoroki (a resounding roar), the styling fuses dynamic and seamless bodywork with aggressively themed high-precision mechanisms, telling of a new horizon of riding enjoyment to come.

Resonator125

Affinity with your bike only grows with the passage of time, and whether you are riding or simply gazing at the Resonator 125, it strikes an emotional chord. This authentic sport bike was conceptualized as a fusion of the old and new that suggests what life with a motorcycle can be. Its chassis was designed for qualities that stay true to the long-held Yamaha sport bike principles of lightweight, slimness and compactness while also adding some new spice, with everything melded together with the craftsmanship that goes into creating the finest musical instruments.

04GEN

Designed in the image of women with an air of dignified elegance in mind and body, this concept design for a new commuter vehicle showcases the beautifully engineered interior through its finely crafted exterior. The innovative design synthesizes the interior frame that evokes vibrancy and inner fortitude with the light exterior designed in the image of a swan. The sense of stability from its trapezoidal stance and the long-and-low overall form create a relaxed appearance.

05GEN

This completely new form of electrically power-assisted mobility was created based on the idea of a vehicle that fits around you like clothing. With a user-friendly design that blends in well with the surrounding environment, the 05GEN encourages new encounters. Its compact body has roughly the same size as an umbrella one would walk under, and the sweeping roof protects the rider from light rain and the sun. These and other features make it a vehicle that encourages you to get out and about while making it easier to strike up a conversation with others.

06GEN

A traditional Japanese engawa veranda creates a space that is neither indoors nor outdoors, but in-between both. The 06GEN adapts this Japanese architectural device to mobility, providing a space to connect the indoors and outdoors and naturally encourage people to engage in conversation. The design uses materials that have a look and feel reminiscent of a living room in the sofa-like seats and the floor, and the design makes abundant use of curved surfaces and corners for a softer appearance.

07GEN

The 07GEN three-wheeled electric commuter vehicle concept features a modern classic design with a stylish form and high-quality feel. Proposed as a form of mobility that encourages users to get out and about, this vehicle focuses on making the slower journey that brings the rider closer to the natural environment and to enhance the sense of excitement felt as you move closer to your destination. The 07GEN was tailored to provide support for comfortable outdoor mobility for seniors who know and value authenticity.

Power Assist Cargo

From providing electric power in commercial or leisure use to functioning as a backup power source in emergencies, generators have a wide range of uses. This concept model builds on the generator’s role of supporting daily lives and proposes a new tool for aiding people affected by natural disasters. The “Locomotive” in front is equipped with electric-power assist technology and pulls the “Cargo” units behind it that mount “containers” housing communications equipment, food and beverages, etc.

MOTOROiD

MOTOROiD is a proof-of-concept experimental motorcycle aimed at new forms of mobility in which the rider resonates harmoniously with the machine. Equipped with high-precision balance control via artificial intelligence and autonomous technology, it can stand up off its kickstand and remain upright unassisted, as well as recognizing its owner and moving forward to meet him/her or responding based on rider actions. The traces of the cuts left on the exterior are proof of the ongoing trial and error the machine has undergone at the hands of its engineers and designers. MOTOROiD is a snapshot of future mobility that goes beyond being a “tool” and behaves more like a partner to the rider.

YNF-01

This low-speed mobility concept model was designed to stimulate the user’s desire to go wherever they want and do whatever they want. From its basic structure of a tough chassis, with large-diameter tires and 4-wheel independent suspension, and a bucket seat that comfortably envelops the rider, the designers made countless design sketches in search of the ideal direction to proceed in. From these sketches, the final design chosen had compatibility with a wide range of users, but also packaged styling that sparked the user’s adventurous spirit with a high-quality look and feel.

YPJ-YZ

This e-bike concept model was inspired by Yamaha’ s YZ brand of off-road motocross bikes, and visually expresses its connection with their history, reliability and high performance. The model features the magenta first used with YZ models in the 1980s and pop-styled graphics to deliver styling that suits a new age.