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Little bike, big ambitions – Yamaha Rotary Jet 80
Yamaha's 1965 ads for the humble and
wonderfully-named Rotary Jet 80 offered plenty of
variety and creativity. See the top three
(Jan 2024, Guy 'Guido' Allen)
The first to catch our eye was the
ambitious association with Carroll Shelby's most
valuable baby, the AC Cobra. Shelby was in the throes of
launching the 427 version of the Cobra in 1965.
Next up is the Captain Sensible
approach, providing all the justifications for splurging
US$350 on such a wonderful machine. It's designed to be
low maintenance, technically advanced, you can do the
lifestyle thing with your favourite pillion on the
weekend and it's race-bred!
We particularly like the Samurai warrior waving the
chequered flag – there should be one at every race
meeting.
If the intention was to get 'cut through' in a crowded
ad landscape, this astonishing image should have been a
roaring success.
Of course the central message is your
Yamaha doesn't need pampering. To quote the ad: "This
potent rotary-valve two-cycle engine doesn't require
pre-mixing of gas and oil. Or oil changes. And there's
always clean, fresh oil to lubricate its seven moving
parts." Compelling stuff.
Want to know more about this series?
See this post
from an owner/aficianado on advrider.
And the Rider
Magazine review of the Trailmaster derivative of
the series.
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