Family & Leisure Bikes 1970s – 1980s

In the 1980s, Japan was in the midst of an unprecedented "bike boom." The emerging popularity of the gentsuki (50cc class scooters) in the mid-1970s, and the popularity of the racer replica models that appeared at the beginning of the 1980s, overlapped and served as catalysts for this growth. In the 50cc class, there was a rush of models for around-town riding that came to market offering both ease of use and fresh, new stylish designs that completely changed the old image of the gentsuki as a vehicle for commercial use and to be ridden by men. All of a sudden, the streets of Japanese towns were filled with women and young people on these stylish, easy-to-ride bikes.
This exhibition gathered together Yamaha's representative 50cc bikes of the 1970s and 1980s in the two categories of "Family bikes," and "Leisure bikes," the latter's miniature size giving them distinctive styling. How the bikes were at the time were explained with over 20 models on display, panels showing their advertising and sales tools, a chart showing their progression over time and more.