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12 Of The Weirdest Yamaha

Motorcycles Ever Produced

For over 60 years, Yamaha has been cranking out motorcycles that have shaped the industry, from the
legendary YZF-R1 to the popular MT-07. But while performance and cutting-edge tech often take center
stage, the Japanese manufacturer has also dabbled in some truly bizarre creations. These oddballs are
far from the sleek, race-inspired designs you might associate with Yamaha. Instead, they represent the
weird, the quirky, and the downright strange side of Yamaha's two-wheeled legacy.
Here's a roundup of 12 of the strangest motorcycles ever to bear the Yamaha name—from copycat
designs to futuristic three-wheelers that defy convention

scooter, the 1960 Yamaha SC-1
will likely throw you for a loop.
While other companies were
busy mimicking the classic
Vespa, Yamaha took a different
route with its boxy, angular
design. The SC-1's futuristic
aesthetic, complete with a bird- Yamaha Chappy
Yamaha Mate like front and a surprisingly The 1973 Yamaha Chappy was
advanced list of features
When you think of Yamaha, the (including an electric starter and a n o t h e r m i n i b i k e w i t h
last thing you probably expect is personality. Originally marketed
a direct knockoff of one of its two-speed transmission), made as a fun, easy-to-ride bike for
competitors. But that's exactly it a standout in the scooter world. women, the Chappy featured
While it didn't have the charm of a
what the Yamaha Mate and its small 8-inch wheels and a
successor, the TownMate, were: Vespa, the SC-1's oddball look colorful design that could have
still holds some appeal today.
a clear attempt to out-Honda easily come straight out of a '70s
Honda. ad campaign. Powered by a 50cc
engine, the Chappy offered
Inspired by Honda's wildly surprising torque for its size.
successful Super Cub, the
Yamaha Mate was a 50cc Although it wasn't going to win
any races, it was a compact,
underbone that debuted in 1965.
Yamaha followed up with a series quirky bike that captured the
of iterations, from the 50cc U5 to spirit of Yamaha's playful side.
the larger 73cc U7, right through
to the Town Mate in the 1980s. Yamaha Zippy
Though the Mate was never quite Released in 1973, the Yamaha
as iconic as the Super Cub, it Zippy was a quirky 50cc minibike
carved out its own legacy in the that perfectly embodied the funk
50cc market with simple, no-frills of the '70s. With its tall
design and humble powertrains. handlebars, oversized rear tire,
and a frame that felt almost like it
was designed for a cartoon, the Yamaha Bobby
Z i p p y w a s n ' t e x a c t l y
practical—but it was fun. The 4.4 Following the Chappy, Yamaha
hp engine and automatic released the Bobby in the mid-
centrifugal clutch made it easy to 1970s—a bike that was similar in
r i d e , w h i l e t h e o d d b a l l spirit but had a unique twist. The
combination of thick tires and Bobby wasn't as crazy as the Zippy
skinny wheels made it look like or Chappy, but it still stood out
something out of an alternate thanks to its unconventional frame
reality. design. Yamaha packed the fuel
Yamaha SC-1 tank, oil tank, and battery into a
If you're expecting a traditional central backbone, creating a bulky,
odd aesthetic. But it wasn't just

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LHR Motorcycle Magazine Issue 13 May 2025