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Unnoficial Model Year Differences
Yamaha has done an excelent job distinguishing the year models with
different colors. But, they have done very little to change or enhance
the motor and chasis. Here's a rundown of changes from way back when I actually paid attention to this stuff.
Yup, it's way out of date now, and that's the way it's gonna stay:
1987 - Color: Red tank plastic, red seat, white
fenders, red frame and gold anodized wheels. This was the introduction of
the banhsee to the US market. It started with 22" rear tires and 9" rear
wheels.
1988 - Color: Blue tank plastic, white fenders, blue
frame and gold anodized wheels. No other changes to my knowledge.
1989 - Color: Grey tank, grey seat, red fenders, silver frame
(still silver today), polished aluminum wheels. Fist year of minor frame
changes. Changed the configuration for the swingarm/axial carrier bolts.
Instead of 4 separate bolts that always came loose, Yamaha
inserted a cross tube on the top and bottom of the axle carrier and
used bolts thought these tubes. This made it easier to adjust the chain
tension as well as solving the problem of the individual bolts coming
loose (very bad problem). Changed the lame spanner nuts on the rear axle and used
real hex nuts.
First year they introduced the 20" low profile tires on the rear and changed
the gearing accordingly.
1990 - Color: Red tank, blue seat, white fenders.
Introduced the footboards/fender guards that everyone takes
off after they take it home from the dealer.
1991 - Color: Grey tank, grey seat, blue fenders. This
year had the most significant change, in my humble opion. They finally
got rid of those lame "J" arms on the upper front suspension. I know from
experience that they are wimpy and have three tweeked ones to show for it.
The new "A" arms are not overly beefy, but, the load on the frame is
spread out over a larger distance now. An additional frame member was
added to make room for the "A" arms. Also, they introduced progressive
rate front springs and improved the shock cartridges up front. .
1992 - Color: Blue tank, blue seat, white fenders.
1993 - Color: Purple/lavender (whatever you want to call it!) tank, purple/lavender (ditto) seat, white fenders.
1994 - Color: Yellow tank, purple/blue seat, dark blue/purlp fenders,
1995- Color: Yellow tank, black seat, light purple fenders, yellow wheels.
1996 - Color: Variant #1 Yellow tank, red fenders. Variant #2: Red tank, white fenders. Both: gold wheels.
1997 - Color: Variant #1: Red tank on black fenders, or Variant#2: Red tank on yellow fenders. Both schemes have black seats and gold wheels.
1998 - Variant #1: Blue tank on white fenders with black seat and silver wheels. Variant #2: Yellow tank on gray fenders with black seat and gold wheels.
1999 - Variant #1: Blue tank, seat and fenders with silver wheels. Variant #2: Black tank and seat with red fenders and gold wheels.
I'm by no means an expert on all the changes and modifications that
Yamaha has made over the years.
Supposedly there were a few changes in the ignition system,
but, what and when they changed it, I'm unknowing.
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