From the Archives: Yamaha 1996-"The power to satisfy"

Just days before we turn the calendar to 2026, we can see that Yamaha's 1996 models are immediately joining the ranks of the veterans. This year offered Yamaha a whole 23 models, from the smallest 50cc BW50S, to the heavyweight Royal Star which had a price tag of exactly a quarter of a million. The slogan in the model catalog for 1996 was: "The power to satisfy". And with the rawhide Thunderace, and the brutal custom V-Max the audience got power in buckets and pails.

Just days before we turn the calendar to 2026, we can see that Yamaha 's 1996 models are immediately joining the ranks of the veterans. This year, Yamaha offered a whopping 23 models, from the smallest 50cc BW50S to the heavyweight Royal Star, which had a price tag of exactly a quarter of a million. The slogan in the model catalog for 1996 was: "The power to satisfy". And with the rawhide Thunderace and the brutal custom V-Max , the audience got power in buckets and pails.

Yamaha offered 5 models in the off-road class, 3 models in the sports segment, 7 models in the sports touring class, and 8 models in the custom class.

Yamaha offered 5 models in the off-road class, 3 models in the sports segment, 7 models in the sports touring class, and 8 models in the custom class.

Perhaps the model that attracted the most attention was the sports machine YZF1000 Thunderace, a fantastic riding machine that paved the way for the legendary R1 that came 2 years later. Naturally, the model graced the cover of the sales brochure in 1996.

Perhaps the model that attracted the most attention was the sports machine YZF1000 Thunderace, a fantastic riding machine that paved the way for the legendary R1 that came 2 years later. Naturally, the model dominated the cover of the sales brochure in 1996.

The 1000cc bike with a price tag of NOK 189,900 was new that year, and the bike was a further development of Yamaha's first modern superbike, the FZR1000, which came out in 1987.

The 1000cc bike with a price tag of NOK 189,900 was new that year, and the bike was a further development of Yamaha 's first modern superbike, the FZR 1000, which came out in 1987.

Yamaha's custom model XVZ1300A Royal Star topped the price list in 1996, costing 250,000 kroner.

Yamaha 's custom model XVZ1300A Royal Star topped the price list in 1996, costing NOK 250,000.