Yamaha Passola 50

Yamaha  

Motor  

Company  

Limited  

(Yamaha  

Hatsudōki  

KK),

is   

a   

Japanese   

manufacturer   

of   

motorcycles,   

marine

products  

such  

as  

boats  

and  

outboard  

motors,  

and  

other

motorized products.

The   

company   

was   

established   

in   

1955   

upon   

separation   

from   

Yamaha   

Corporation,   

and   

is

headquartered  

in  

Iwata,  

Shizuoka,  

Japan.  

The  

company  

conducts  

development,  

production  

and

marketing operations through 109 consolidated subsidiaries as of 2012.

Led  

by  

Genichi  

Kawakami,  

the  

company’s  

first  

president,  

Yamaha  

Motor  

began  

production  

of  

its

first  

product,  

the  

YA-1,  

in  

1955.  

The  

125cc  

motorcycle  

won  

the  

3rd  

Mount  

Fuji

Ascent  

Race  

in  

its

class.

The  

company's  

products  

includes  

motorcycles,  

scooters,  

motorized  

bicycles,  

boats,  

sail  

boats,

personal  

water  

craft,  

swimming  

pools,  

utility  

boats,  

fishing  

boats,  

outboard  

motors,  

4-wheel

ATVs,   

recreational   

off-road   

vehicles,   

go-kart   

engines,   

golf   

carts,   

multi-purpose   

engines,

electrical  

generators,  

water  

pumps,  

snowmobiles,  

small  

snow  

throwers,  

automobile  

engines,

surface  

mounters,  

intelligent  

machinery,  

industrial-use  

unmanned  

helicopters,  

electrical  

power

units  

for  

wheelchairs  

and  

helmets.  

The  

company  

is  

also  

involved  

in  

the  

import  

and  

sales  

of

various   

types   

of   

products,   

development   

of   

tourist   

businesses   

and   

management   

of   

leisure,

recreational facilities and related services.

Passola scooter

Yamaha   introduced   the   SA50   M   Passola   in   May   1980.   It   represented   the   first   serious   attempt   by   a major   motorcycle   manufacturer   to   exploit   a   previously   untapped   market.   The   Passola   was primarily   marketed   to   women   and   commuters   as   a   way   of   getting   to   and   from   work   cheaply   and economically.   Due   to   motorcycles   being   predominately   male   transportation,   a   lot   of   women wouldn’t consider a motorcycle as a means of transport. So   to   try   and   attract   these   potential   buyers,   Yamaha   chose   to   opt   for   an   extremely   economical and   fully   automatic   moped.   Nearly   all   the   mechanical   components   are   hidden   behind   body panels,   which   mean   the   result   is   a   blend   of   Japanese   technology   and   Italian   scooter   styling   and layout.   The   number   of   controls   has   been   deliberately   kept   to   a   minimum,   often   at   the   expense of   astonishing   complexity   beneath   the   body   panels;   a   good   example   of   this   is   the   sophisticated vacuum   controlled   fuel   tap   and   cold   start   system,   both   of   which   are   fully   automatic   in   operation and have no manual controls, but instead rely on a complex network of tubes and valves. The   Passola’s   major   handlebar   controls   are   limited   to   a   throttle   control   and   two   brake   levers. The   bike   also   features   a   fully   automatic   transmission   system,   so   the   bike   is   as   simple   to   operate as it can be; open throttle to go, and apply brakes to stop, hence the term; Twist & Go. The   UK   version   has   a   two-speed   transmission   which   is   governed   by   road   and   engine   speeds, being   fully   automatic   in   operation.   This   provides   brisk   acceleration   up   to   about   30   mph;   the prescribed   maximum   speed   for   mopeds.   The   version   supplied   to   certain   Europeans   has   a   single speed transmission but has similar performance overall. The   Passola   was   so   successful   in   its   intended   market;   it   induced   production   of   machines   from   a few rival companies. One machine that springs to mind is Honda’s 50cc Melody. In   July   1982,   Yamaha   released   the   Passola   SA50   ME.   This   was   also   known   as   the   Passola   Electric, and   it   differed   in   detail   to   the   pre-1982   model   by   featuring   an   electric   starting   system   and minor   specification   modifications.   Included   in   these   modifications   were   a   larger   capacity   battery and   uprated   charging   system   to   cope   with   the   new   starting   system.   The   starter   motor   is   located behind   the   transmission   cover   and   drives   through   a   modified   1st   speed   clutch.   Other   detail changes   included   restyled   speedometer   and   handlebar   plastics,   restyled   leg-shield,   a   redesigned oil tank and modified wiring and hose routings. Production of both the SA50 M & SA50 ME Passola finally ended in 1985.

1980

Engine 50cc 2-stroke Quoted from PassolaPassion.com