Yamaha Golf Car

Yamaha Golf Car is golf cart product line produced by Yamaha Motor Company.

Yamaha golf cars are presently manufactured at two factories, the Kakegawa factory in Japan, and the Atlanta factory in the USA. In 2000 the factories produced 8,000 and 40,000 carts, respectively. Yamaha has maintained a domestic market share of about 57% in Japan. [ [http://www.yamaha-motor.co.jp/global/news/2001/02/23/golfcar.html Yamaha Golf Car production tops 800,000 mark in 25th year] ] In the USA Yamaha ranks behind Club Car and E-Z-GO who each have 42% and 40% market share. [ [http://www.burris.com:16080/ideastudies/yamaha/index.htm#content Burris - An Idea Company] ]

History

The first model, G-1, was produced in 1979 with a gas engine. An electric version was later available in 1980. [http://www.yamahagolfcar.com/corporate/golfcartimeline.aspx Yamaha Golf Car Time-Line] ] The last of the G-series was the G22. Their newest platform is "The Drive" golf car (YDR) available in 2007.

pecifications

Gas Powertrains

The Yamaha G1 had a 2-stroke engine. The G2-G9 models had a Yamaha-built 4-stroke 285cc 8.5hp, single cylinder engine. It has been said to have been a basic copy of Yamaha's motorcycle engine. After the 285 grew long-in-the-tooth, a 301cc was built on the same design platform, but it pumped out 9.5hp. The newest engine of the Yamaha engine lineup is a 357cc, named the 357F, 11.4hp engine, however, this engine is not on the same engine family platform. It is all new. All of Yamaha's engine except the G1's are 4-stroke, overhead valve (OHV) engines. All Yamaha carts except "The Drive" have a Dana/Spicer rear transaxle.

Frame

All Yamahas have had a steel, tubular, whether in full or in part, frame. They are, however, in salt-water coastal areas, notorious for premature rusting.

uspension

Ever since the G2, Yamaha golf cars have had a strut front suspension/coilover swingarm rear. Up until the G22, they were live control arms with coilover struts mounting on the arm and to a tower welded to the frame. The G22 and The Drive models have an actual, automobile-like strut setup; in which it keeps the front wheels virtually vertical at all times. This design, though better handling and riding, is substantially weaker and "obsoletely designed" than the older styles were. The rear suspension has a dual coilover shock, live axle/swingarm setup.

Trivia

*A Yamaha G9 has been seen in Seinfeld in "The Cadillac"

References