Bike Colors

[RangerCharlie]

What year did Yamaha go from Yellow to Blue? IIRC the IT bikes were blue. And why did they pick that color?

Also what year did Honda go from Red to that pick color? 91??

[Kev_XR]

Didn't Yamaha go from Yellow to White to Blue?

Yamahas in Europe were white with red and black striping

vs yellow with black and white striping in the USA.

[baddaytogo]

Don't forget white and majenta

[tjjordan]

Yamaha YZ's went from yellow to white and red in 1985, IT's from white to blue in 1982. Then in about 1993 (?) the YZ's went to "navy" blue. In 1997 they changed to "reflex" blue with the white strobes.

Honda's went from red to "orange" (flame red) in 1985 or 1986. They later changed again to blaze red (pink in the early 90's).

At least thats the way I remember it, you know the old saying "of all the things I have lost, my mind is the one I miss the most."

[hometheaterman]

Honda had some white in there also as my 95 XR100 is white with purple side number plates and I have seen some bigger bikes that are also white.

[Rodzilla]

Yamaha YZ's went from yellow to white and red in 1985, IT's from white to blue in 1982. Then in about 1993 (?) the YZ's went to "navy" blue. In 1997 they changed to "reflex" blue with the white strobes.

Honda's went from red to "orange" (flame red) in 1985 or 1986. They later changed again to blaze red (pink in the early 90's).

At least thats the way I remember it, you know the old saying "of all the things I have lost, my mind is the one I miss the most."

Not sure but I had a 1979 IT400 that was blue plastics and black frame

[cardiffdrz]

Don't forget white and majenta

ahhhhh, that is what it is called, i always been refering them to the girlie pink yammies thought they were trying to appeal to the thumpettes ?

[tjjordan]

Know your going way back. Yes the late 70's IT's were blue. Changed to White in 1981 then back to blue in 1982 when Yamaha introduced the new link mono shock.

[Chiefan]

The original Honda MX'ers were Silver and green in '73. The first fire engine red Honda's were in '76, I believe. Yamaha YZ's were Silver and Red when they first came out. Suzuki and Kawasaki have always mainly stayed some shade of yellow and green.

[Doug.]

LOL you guys know alot about bike colors. All I know is when Yamaha's were yellow, Bob Hannah was racing the machines, then when they went to white Doug Dubach was the factory man...then they went to blue with Doug Henry.

I dont see any teams changing their colors again though. I think KTM's would look sweet if they were silver instead of orange.

[Harry Paratestes]

Honda's corporate color is silver. They changed in '76 because a focus group liked red better. Yamaha USA was yellow and black, Yamaha's corporate colors are red and white,they changed the YZ in the mid 80"s. But as has been pointed out they have been all over the spectrum. Suzuki and Kawasaki have been very consistent. I do miss those yellow YZs.

[Green Goblyn]

Honda went from red to orange in 1983, from orange to red in 1988, from red to white/red in 1991.. and so on.

[OldBrokeBikeless]

The original Honda MX'ers were Silver and green in '73. The first fire engine red Honda's were in '76, I believe. Yamaha YZ's were Silver and Red when they first came out. Suzuki and Kawasaki have always mainly stayed some shade of yellow and green.

Those first silver Yamahas were not YZ's as I recall. They were MX's. MX125, MX250, and I believe MX360. ?

YZ was the name first given to their factory (works) bikes. Later they used the YZ moniker for their machines sold to the public.

As recalled by "Old" broke bikeless ?

[OldeDude]

Know your going way back. Yes the late 70's IT's were blue. Changed to White in 1981 then back to blue in 1982 when Yamaha introduced the new link mono shock.

Just to add to the Yamaha IT info, the first IT was the 76 400. Blue with black and white trim (man I loved that bike ? ). They added the 250 and 175 in 77, and in 77 or 78 I think they were blue with yellow and black trim.