Destination Discoveries

In 1984 a team from Yamaha Motor Company head office in Japan, travelled down under to produce an Aussie special of the 55MPH staff magazine. 40 years later we retrace their steps, visiting the same locations, and revealing how much has changed in four decades.

Bathurst's National Motor Racing Museum celebrates the wonderful 85 years of racing on the 6.1km road circuit. While vehicles of the four-wheeled variety dominate the display, the circuit's rich motorcycle history is not forgotten, and is well celebrated.

In 1961 a racing circuit opened just outside the Blue Mountains city of Katoomba. While its heyday was during the 1960s, the circuit remained operational until the mid-1990s. Incredibly, the track still exists, hidden by the thick scrub that has been reclaiming the area.

Sydney's Harbour Bridge, the picturesque coastal roads that hug the coastline south of Sydney to the Illawarra, and the winding roads through the Southern Highlands can all be discovered in one epic day of riding. Join the Yamaha crew as we discover some of the best riding roads in Australia.

More than a century ago, Edgar Meller won the very first motorcycle Grand Prix of Australia. The race was held at the Yetholme circuit, located just outside Bathurst. However, the site of this important piece of Australian racing history is often overlooked.  

The Ténéré is a name synonymous with Yamaha Motor's adventure models. The famous name inspired two great pals, Rowland Kirishima and Kawanishi, to head out on a grand tour of Europe and Africa, riding their Ténéré 700 motorcycles.