Rememberance of early 80's Yamaha Ad Campaign?

[Virago]

Does anyone recall a Yamaha ad campaign that started in the early 80's with the slogan of "Don't follow anyone?" Presumably it was in response to Honda's "Follow the Leader" campaign. I can't seem to find very many references to "Don't Follow Anyone" or "The Way it Should Be" relative to Yamaha advertising on the web, or in the newsgroups.

When the ad campaign came out, in the early 80's, I think, it was some of the best motorcycle advertising I'd ever seen, then or since (simple visual themes focusing on the bike and rider, cool and memorable music with lyrics incorporating the slogans, and a rebuttal to Honda as good as Avis's "We're #2, so we try harder" rebuttal to Hertz).

Does anyone have any sources of radio or TV commercial recordings, theme song lyrics, information about the artists, etc., for this campaign?

[Wayne]

You might try e-bay for print advertising. Lots of mag and print ads for sale there. May even find a recording or video, ya never know.

[sixtysix]

I have (or have seen) almost every ad for XS11's there is, do not recall the 'don't follow anybody' line. Must have started after the XS's line was done (81) We have some ads here on XS11.com, but not all of them.

http://www.xs11.com/pix/promos.shtml

[Virago]

Thanks for the suggestion to check out E-Bay.

"The Way It Should Be" does appear in one of the ads at the xs11.com site:

http://www.xs11.com/pix/xj11-04.jpg

Stills from one of the commercials for the ad campaign appear at:

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/S.../7908/seca.htm

The commercial features a Seca Turbo outrunning a Porsche. The
site notes that it was a "Chiat Day" commercial and that the rider
was Kenny Roberts.

Snippets of 20-year-old memories I have of the ad campaign include:

- A commercial-length theme song with lyrics like:

"Don't follow anyone, that's the way it should be,
Don't follow anyone, that's the Yamaha (creed?)

...


Yaaaamaaaahaaaa... the way it should be."

played over scenes like a racing bike going through turns and slaloms.

- Another commercial with the Seca Turbo with a rider all in black
stopped at a light and being checked out by a driver in a car.
The announcer says, "If you think the Seca Turbo look good
standing still, just wait 'till the light turns green," then the
camera switches to a close-up of the traffic signal's red light
turning off and the notes of the music corresponding to "The
Way It Should Be" bringing the commercial to fade.

- I also seem to recall a radio commercial with the theme music.

[jtbwings]

The way it should be!!!

I know this is an old thread but I saw it and couldn't resist. I am twenty eight years old and a very proud owner of an '80 XS Special. Now, my Dad bought this bike new for his eighteenth birthday on March 15th. If you avid owners can recall, in the same month and year, (I believe it was) Cycle World magazine named the XS Bike of the year. Also in that year Yamaha started the campaign, "The Way It Should Be." Anway, when my dad purchased this beautifull machine he struck a deal with the salesman and was able to get the banner that was hanging in the store. The original black with gold letters and gold tassles hanging from the bottom. Long before I adopted the bike I basically stole the banner from him, it still exsists. I love this bike and it's history with all my heart and want to see more of them go on living for generations to come...

[exquized1]

Can you post a picture of the banner? That would be neat to see. Welcome to the forum!

[DGXSER]

Welcome JTB, I would love to see that banner and the bike of course.

It is very cool that ou have and know that much history about your bike!!

[Wayne]

Howdy jtbwings and welcome.
Nice piece of history you have there. Would indeed love to see a pict.

Wow, looking at the original date on this thread, we are gettin' old!

[jwhughes3]

Wayne...

Based on your comments, I was just noticing your age - about same as my younger sister's - have you been in Shenandoah a long time? We went to McCullough back when it was the High School and Shenandoah was just a subdivision. Interested if we may have crossed paths. Her name was Christine (Chrissy) Hughes.

Anyway - hope you get another ride soon.

John

[Wayne]

Dont think i know the name. I have been in Shenandoah for a tad over 4 years now. Great place to raise a family.

Once my daughter gets a little older i will be getting another bike. She is only 3 now so it will be a bit yet.

Cheers

[STEPPENWOLF]

Yuppers I remember that add campaign...I can still remember the song on a square vinyl( I think) advertising the Venture. Catchy tune with a guy(manly type) talking about the bike.
Don't follow any one...... Yamaha( the chorus)
Got a free USA map with the mailing also.
Think that was back in'82

[jtbwings]

The Way It Should Be.

So I need to dig through my storage for the banner. I recently moved and everything that was in my garage was put in storage. I think I have the week end off so I will try to find it, I really want you all to see it. BTW a little hint, the "Black and Decker fix" for a slipping second gear, is not the real fix. There is a washer between second and fifth gear that really should be on the other side of fifth (the small gear). It's a factory flaw. I have done one out of frame and one in. Both took me about six hours. Something that helps, remove the kick starter gear. Anyway that is just my tip for the day. HUGE difference. Never slip second again and the tranny shifts noticably smoother.

[xsroadrunner]

The only ad campaign I remember back in the 80's (I think) was "Yamaha...Go your own way."

[STEPPENWOLF]

The only ad campaign I remember back in the 80's (I think) was "Yamaha...Go your own way."

I thought it was Don't Follow anyone
One of us is getting old
Dang..first mistake I made this year......

[DGXSER]

BTW a little hint, the "Black and Decker fix" for a slipping second gear, is not the real fix. There is a washer between second and fifth gear that really should be on the other side of fifth (the small gear). It's a factory flaw. I have done one out of frame and one in. Both took me about six hours. Something that helps, remove the kick starter gear. Anyway that is just my tip for the day. HUGE difference. Never slip second again and the tranny shifts noticably smoother.

OK, so Second gear is a stationary gear on the shaft. It is bound on one side by a machined shoulde rin the shaft, the other by the large C clip. The washer swap we mention often is perhaps what your refering to, take the washer from the 5th gear side and move it to the shoulder side of second gear, moving second closer to 5th. The smaller gear here is 5th, but it moves by the shift fork, so there is no washer to be installed there.

It has been debated by many that simply moving that washer will resolve the second gear slipping issue. However, many also experience this issue with first gear. There is no washer involved for first, so no way to move it.

Also, you can purchase new gears for the bikes, and they all have the back cut on the gears that the dremel fix applies to them.