This came out a year ago, but it's news to me. Yamaha developed a glow-in-the-dark motorcycle.




Read the full article here...
http://www.vnunet.com/...?vnu_lt=vnu_art_related_articles

The technology is a luminous coating that makes vehicles glow in the dark without requiring a power source.

Designed more for aesthetics than high-visibility, it's available on Yamaha's EC-02 battery-powered motorcycle. According to the article linked above, the EC-02 began selling in Japan a year ago.

I imagine much of the glow will be hidden by the rider's legs.

Labels: EC-02, Strange Stuff, Yamaha

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA has filed the following recall notice with the National Traffic and Highway Safety Administration:

Make / Models / Year:
YAMAHA / XV250 / 1996-2005 (Virago 250)
YAMAHA / XVS11 / 1996-2005 (V-Star 1100)
YAMAHA / XVS65 / 1996-2005 (V-Star 650)

Manufacturer: YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION, USA

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 05V067000

Recall Date: FEB 25, 2005

Component: SEATS

Potential Number Of Units Affected: 190,000

Summary: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE MOUNTING HARDWARE HOLDING THE PASSENGER SEAT TO THE FENDER COULD LOOSEN DUE TO THE PASSENGER'S WEIGHT SHIFTING ON THE SEAT.

Consequence: IF THE MOUNTING HARDWARE BECOMES LOOSE ENOUGH TO FALL OFF, THE PASSENGER SEAT CAN FALL OFF THE REAR FENDER. A PASSENGER ON THE MOTORCYCLE COULD LOSE BALANCE AND FALL, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT'S MOUNTING HARDWARE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT YAMAHA AT 1-800-227-5963.

Notes: CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236.

Labels: Recall Notices, Yamaha

Yamaha Motor Co., the second largest motorcycle builder in the world, announced yesterday that it is forecasting a 15% increase in worldwide motorcyle sales. Sales are increasing at a fast pace in Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe. Sales in Japan are expected to drop.

The record forecast comes a month after Yamaha announced that it has partnered with Chinese companies to build motorcycles for them.

Yamaha is aiming to sell one out of every five motorcycles sold in Asia by 2008.

Labels: Motorcycle Sales, Yamaha

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. announced that it will build a new subsidiary in in Hanoi, Vietnam, to produce engine parts for motorcycles. Yamaha made the decision in response to increasing sales of motorycles in Vietnam. The new plant will have the capacity to produce one million die-cast motorcycle engine parts, such as cylinder heads, and 900,000 steel parts, such as gears and transmissions.

Construction will begin in February 2005, and operations are expected to start in January 2006.

Labels: Manufacturing, Vietnam, Yamaha