This page contains a year by year description of the Yamaha’s scooter lineup. For detailed information on a specific Yamaha scooter use the menu to the right.
While Yamaha’s history with scooters includes the 1960 SC-1 (175cc 2-stroke available only in Japan), the V-series (think pedal-less mopeds) and the 1977 Passol (Japan only scooter), this section deals with only the Yamaha scooters which made it to North America.
1982
The Salient (CA50) and Beluga (CV80) scooters hit the market in Canada, one year before Honda arrived in North America with their Aero 50 and Aero 80 scooters.
MODELS: Salient (Canada only), Beluga (Canada only)
1983
A year after going on sale in Canada, Yamaha
Yamaha also introduced the larger Riva 180 (XC180) scooter in both markets for ’83. This scooter was capable of impressive top speeds around 75mph. The Riva 180 is a good scooter but it is infamous for starting difficulties. Yamaha designed overly complex auto choke systems for many of their Riva scooters, which often don’t work if you are pulling one out of a garage after sitting for a decade.
MODELS: Salient / Riva 50, Beluga / Riva 80, Riva 180
1984
Canadians got an updated version of the CV80 Beluga scooter with a host of improvements resulting in a significantly higher top speed (45mph instead of 38mph). These improvements include a larger carburator, new cylinder and redesigned exhaust. American’s would have to wait another year for these upgrades. These upgrades may have been a response to Honda’s Aero 80 scooter, which was significantly peppier.
MODELS: Salient / Riva 50, Beluga / Riva 80, Riva 180
1985
The major Yamaha scooter news for 1985 was the introduction of the all new Riva 125 (XC125). Overseas this scooter was often
called the Beluga 125 but in Canada and in the USA it received the Riva 125 name plate. American’s could now choose from four members of the Riva family while Canadians were offered the same scooters with a more random assortment of names. Both the Riva 50 and Riva 125 were actually sold under the Beluga 50 and Beluga 125 names in Europe, so it’s baffling why Yamaha couldn’t decide on a consistent family name for the Canadian market.
MODELS: Salient / Riva 50, Beluga / Riva 80, Riva 125, Riva 180
1986
After a three year run the Riva 180 was dropped for 1986, but it would return for 1987 in an updated form.
Yamaha also added a deluxe ‘Z’ version of the Riva 125 with upscale paint, rims and seat.
MODELS: Salient / Riva 50, Jog, Beluga / Riva 80, Riva 125
1987
The Salient / Riva 50 was replaced for 1987 by the new Razz (SH50). Like the Jog, Yamaha considered the Razz a member of the Riva family and often called it the ‘Riva Razz’ in their marketing. The Razz was the entry level scooter in Yamaha’s lineup so unlike the Jog, the Razz had a only one mirror and a single speed transmission. The single speed transmission meant a top speed of just 30mph and this could not easily be raised.
After a years absence, the largest Riva returned in an updated from. Yamaha bumped this Riva to 200cc and fittingly changed the name to the Riva 200 (XC200). With the extra 20cc, this scooter was now a better competitor to Honda’s 250cc Elite. In addition to the increase in displacement, this scooter got different front forks and a few other visual and mechanical tweaks. Yamaha also made a deluxe version available (XC200Z) with upgraded paint, wheels and seat.
MODELS: Jog, Razz, Beluga / Riva 80, Riva 125, Riva 200
1988
The 80cc Beluga/Riva 80 scooter was dropped for 1988. Perhaps it was licensing regulations that made 50cc’s more appealing or maybe customers simply preferred Yamaha’s newer scooters. Whatever the case, Yamaha has not sold an 80cc scooter in North America since.
MODELS: Jog, Razz, Riva 125, Riva 200
The CW50 was released to the North America market for the 1989 model year under the now legendary Zuma badge in the USA and BWs in Canada. There were no lineup changes for 1990.
MODELS: Jog, Razz, BWs / Zuma, Riva 125, Riva 200
1991
Yamaha strangely dropped the CW50 after 2 years. It would be six years before we’d see it again.
MODELS: Jog, Razz, Riva 125, Riva 200
1992 - 1996
A sharp new third generation of the Jog arrived for 1992 (code CY50). Yamaha dropped the Riva 200 after a 5 year run and ceased to offer the deluxe version of the Riva 125. Yamaha’s remaining lineup of 3 scooters remained unchanged through the 90’s right through the 2001 model year.
MODELS: Jog, Razz, Riva 125
1997 - 2001
After a brief 2 year stint from 1989 - 1990, the CW50 Zuma/BWS returned to North American for the 1997 model year.
MODELS: Jog, Razz, BWs / Zuma, Riva 125
2002 - 2003
For 2002 Yamaha dropped the Jog, Razz and Riva 125 and replaced the aging BWs / Zuma with an all new ‘bug eyed’ generation (code YW50) shown above left.
The other big news for 2002 was the introduction of the all new vintage styled 2-stroke Vino (YJ50) (shown above right) to complete with the new Vespa’s that had returned to the market in 1999 and were gaining in popularity.
MODELS: Vino, BWs / Zuma
Yamaha re-entered the 125cc market segment with a new 125cc version of the Vino scooter, dubbed the Vino 125 (YJ125). Capable of 60mph, this scooter was considerably cheaper than Vespa’s ET4 and thus was a popular choice.
MODELS: Vino, BWs / Zuma, Vino 125
2005
Yamaha added it’s largest scooter yet for the 2005 model year, the 400cc Majesty (YP400). The Majesty (below left) was double in size of Yamaha’s next largest scooter, the Riva 200 and it was the first real maxi-scooter from Yamaha.
MODELS: Vino, BWs / Zuma, Vino 125, Majesty
2006
For a third straight year Yamaha introduced a new scooter model, this time in the form of the 250cc Morphous (CP250). Considered by some to be the ‘spiritual successor’ to the Honda Helix, this maxi-scoot is quite popular in Japan where it is called the Maxam (above right).
In response to increasingly stringent emissions regulations Yamaha did not release a 2006 version of their BWs/Zuma scooter but they did continue selling the 2005 for some time into the 2006 model year. Rather than cut the 2-stroke Vino, Yamaha
updated this scooter with a great new 4-stroke, fuel injected 3-valve engine. This new engine is more powerful than Honda’s current 50cc engine’s and a step ahead technologically.
Interestingly, Yamaha released a 2006 model of the presumed to be dead Riva 125 which hadn't been sold since 2001.
MODELS: Vino, Vino 125, Morphous, Majesty, Riva 125
Yamaha attempted to fill the void left by the BWs with the unique looking C3 scooter (XF50). Boasting the same great 4-stroke engine as the Vino and cavernous storage space, the C3 is a super practical choice for scootering around town. If you’re fine with how cute it looks, the C3 is a great choice.
The Riva 125 was not carried over for 2007.
MODELS: Vino, C3, Vino 125, Morphous, Majesty
2008
After working to reduce emissions via a new catalytic converter, Yamaha re-released the 2-stroke BWs / Zuma to the North American market in a more restricted form. These new restrictions are fairly easy to remove.
MODELS: Vino, C3, BWs / Zuma, Vino 125, Morphous, Majesty
2009
Surprisingly, Yamaha’s cut the Morphous after just three models years. I think it would have made more sense to cut the Majesty since it’s so close in engine size to the TMAX but I’m sure Yamaha has done the bean counting.
MODELS: Vino, C3, BWs / Zuma, Vino 125, BWs 125 / Zuma 125, Majesty, TMAX
2010
After a 6 year run, the end of the road has arrived for the Vino 125. The rest of Yamaha's scooter lineup is unchanged for 2010 except for some new colors.
MODELS: Vino, C3, BWs / Zuma, BWs 125 / Zuma 125, Majesty, TMAX