Before the 1980s, cruisers were mostly American territory. Then came Yamaha’s Virago, the first Japanese V-twin cruiser. It offered classic looks, electric start, and bulletproof reliability, showing that comfort and custom style didn’t have to mean constant wrenching.
10/11/2025
First with a Monoshock
In 1974, Yamaha changed motocross forever with the Monoshock rear suspension on the YZ250. Instead of two shocks on each side, a single central shock absorbed the hits better, offering better traction and control. Every dirt bike since has borrowed the concept.
10/11/2025
Yamaha’s three tuning forks symbolize music, technology, and people, a reminder that their goal is to create harmony between man and machine.
It’s a nod to their musical roots and their commitment to engineering balance and rhythm in motion.
10/11/2025
The First Bike: YA-1
In 1955, Yamaha released its first motorcycle, the YA-1, nicknamed “Aka-Tombo” (Red Dragonfly).
It had a 125cc two-stroke engine, and it immediately proved itself by winning Japan’s Mount Fuji Ascent Race and the All Japan Autobike Endurance Race. Yamaha’s very first bike was also its first champion.
10/11/2025
From Pianos to Pistons
Yamaha didn’t start as a motorcycle company at all, it began in 1887 as a musical instrument maker.
Torakusu Yamaha built his first reed organ in Japan, and the tuning-fork logo still honors those origins today. When the company finally entered the motorcycle business decades later, they carried that same obsession with precision and harmony, just traded strings for engines.
10/11/2025
Honda’s adventure bikes, like the Africa Twin, have explored every corner of the planet. Inspired by their Dakar Rally success, these bikes are built for riders who want to go anywhere, on road or off, with reliability that’s second to none.
10/11/2025
The Gold Wing Took Touring to a New Level
Honda introduced the GL1000 Gold Wing in 1975, and it quickly became the king of long-distance rides. It was smooth, quiet, and comfortable, with a flat-four engine that could run forever.
Later versions added radios, cruise control, and even air conditioning, turning motorcycle touring into luxury travel.
10/11/2025
The CB750 Was a Game-Changer.
When the Honda CB750 launched in 1969, it changed everything.
It was the first production bike with a front disc brake, a four-cylinder engine, and electric start, all features unheard of at the time. It was so advanced and affordable that it basically invented the term “superbike.”
10/11/2025
The Super Cub Changed the World
Introduced in 1958, the Honda Super Cub became the most produced motor vehicle in history.
With over 100 million units built, it’s still in production today. Its friendly design, step-through frame, and reliability made it the bike that literally put the world on two wheels.
The slogan “You meet the nicest people on a Honda” came from the Super Cub’s massive success.
10/11/2025
The First Honda Wasn’t Really a Motorcycle.
Honda’s very first product wasn’t a full motorcycle, it was a bicycle with an engine attached. Called the “Honda A-Type,” it used leftover war-time generator engines.
It was basic, loud, and smoky, but it gave people freedom to move again at a time when gasoline and public transport were limited.
10/11/2025
Honda Motorcycles started with one man, Soichiro Honda, a mechanic with a wild imagination and a love for machines.
After World War II, Japan was short on transportation, so he began strapping small engines onto bicycles.
Those improvised motorbikes became so popular that he founded the Honda Motor Company in 1948, turning a postwar survival idea into a global movement.
10/11/2025
The “Evo” That Saved the Brand
By the 1980s, Harley’s image had suffered from years of poor quality under AMF. Then came the Evolution engine, the “Evo.”
Introduced in 1984, it was smoother, more reliable, and far less prone to oil leaks than its predecessors. The Evo helped rebuild Harley’s reputation and attracted a new generation of riders.
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About Us
Lnspltblvd is founded by a group of friends who are into custom motorcycles: transforming your average stock motorcycles into one-off machines.
The name Lnspltblvd comes from the art of Lanesplitting which is only legalized in the state of California; therefore, people immediately know when hearing ‘Lnspltblvd’ that we are California Boys— Northern California to be specific.
We're a group of self taught garage builders with a "chop whatcha got" mentality. You'll see a mix of foreign and American bikes amongst the group. Building our bikes is like an episode of Wheel of Fortune: keep the budget low because there's no way we can afford to buy the vowels. So we chopped off the vowels like how we'd chop unnecessary bike parts.