1st XS11S on assembly line, 1977

[DaveT]

I was a Yamaha dealer for many years. In 1977 I was awarded a two-week trip to Japan and the factory. The two weeks in Japan is a story unto itself but I think you may be more interested in the pics I took as the first XS11s came down the assembly line. Please excuse the quality of these images as the are images of film prints from 1977.

[DaveT]

More factory pics.

[madmax-im]

Fascinating pics Dave..Thanks for sharing...

[nezzer]

Those are amazing pictures. If only I could grab one of those brand new engines off the assembly line.

[Radioguylogs]

Those pictures are amazing. It's a real treat to see them.

Looks like another westerner was also able to enjoy the tour:




I just finished 36 years with Mitsubishi Electric, so I traveled to Japan about 25 times since 1984.


-Mike

[Eastcoaster]

Fantastic thank you for posting,

[DaveT]

I remember being taken out to the assembly lines and being told that something that we (the dealers) had never seen was being made. Then that first frameset came down the line with that monster 4-cylinder motor gleaming from it. It took us by surprise because so little had been said about it previously. I recall we all cheered!

[LenB]

Oh so cool! Thanks for sharing!

[Charka120]

Wow. Very cool!

[dbbrian]

Great photos! Those parts look delicious

think I see my 78E

[Nommadd57]

So very cool! Thanks for sharing!

[Hydroman]

Thanks for posting, those are great pictures. Very cool history.