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about looks—the Bobby was a around the streets of 1970s
fun and surprisingly zippy little Japan.
ride, with either a 50cc or 80cc Yamaha Tracy
engine powering its 160-pound Yamaha took a fresh approach
frame. with the Tracy in 1983. Powered
by a 123cc engine, the Tracy
was faster and sportier than
anything Yamaha had made
before in the scooter category.
With angular bodywork, a
futuristic design, and a focus on
fuel efficiency, the Tracy was
Yamaha Vogel built for riders who wanted a
more dynamic experience. It
The 1980 Yamaha Vogel was a wasn't just another scooter—it
tiny off-road bike that combined was a glimpse into the future of
Yamaha Passol quirky proportions with a compact, sport-oriented two-
distinctive design. Sporting
The 1977 Yamaha Passol was a wheelers.
step-through scooter aimed chunky eight-inch tires and a
squarely at women. With its low small cargo rack, the Vogel Yamaha Gear
1 0 0 - p o u n d w e i g h t a n d looked like a mini-motorcycle The Yamaha Gear, released in
automatic clutch, the Passol straight out of a child's the mid-1990s, was a practical
was meant to be an easy, user- imagination. Its unusual fuel bike designed specifically for
friendly ride. But the bike's tank shape and short, compact urban deliveries in cramped
design was where things got proportions made it a true Japanese cities. With a 50cc
weird. The rear of the bike, with oddity, but the Vogel was engine and a large rear shelf for
its slanted bodywork and practical too, with a 50cc engine carrying goods, the Gear was
upward-tilted seat, looked like perfect for short trips and trail about function over form. It didn't
something out of a futuristic art rides. have the flash or personality of
museum. Despite the odd look, some of Yamaha's other
the Passol was popular, and offerings, but it was undeniably
Yamaha later followed it up with efficient. Its simple, no-
the Passola in 1978. nonsense design made it an
essential tool for delivery riders
navigating narrow city streets.
Yamaha Niken
Yamaha Towny
And then there's the Yamaha
After the success of the Passol, N i k e n . A c o m p l e t e l y
Yamaha created the Towny—a unconventional three-wheeled
“soft bike” designed for men. motorcycle that made its debut
With a more robust frame and in 2019, the Niken features two
slightly more power, the Towny front wheels and Yamaha's
Yamaha Carrot followed a similar design “ l e a n i n g m u l t i - w h e e l ”
Y e s , y o u r e a d t h a t philosophy but added a bit more technology. Designed to offer
correctly—the Yamaha Carrot. bulk. Looking like a motorized more stability and confidence in
Released in 1979, this 50cc bicycle with a chunkier frame corners, the Niken was part
mini-bike was yet another and a dash of '80s retro, the futuristic motorcycle, part
attempt by Yamaha to cash in on Towny was an interesting take snowmobile. Powered by a
the “soft bike” market that began on the simple step-through bike, 847cc three-cylinder engine, it
with the Passol. We're not sure if and it even won a Japanese G wasn't just about the unique
Yamaha intended to name it Mark award in 1980. design—it also offered a thrilling
after the vegetable, but the r i d e . T h o u g h i t ' s b e e n
Carrot did have a charmingly discontinued in North America
quirky design. With a frame and Japan, the Niken remains
reminiscent of a motorized one of Yamaha's most daring
bicycle and a basket option, the experiments. LHR
C a r r o t w a s l i g h t a n d
practical—ideal for pottering
32
LHR Motorcycle Magazine Issue 13 May 2025
