Let’s get one thing straight: I’m not even gonna try to hide my bias here—I love Yamaha. Over the years, I’ve owned a number of tuning fork bikes: three MT-07s, an MT-10, a Yamaha scooter, and right now, I’m head over heels for my XSR900—a bike I ride pretty much everywhere.
And it’s not like I’ve owned only Yamahas, either. I’ve had lots of other bikes, too—KTMs, a Triumph, Kawasakis, and even a CFMoto.
And so I’m convinced that Yamaha is the best motorcycle manufacturer in the world bar none. Sure, that’s just my opinion, but it’s based on cold, hard facts. OK fine, maybe not facts, but surely years of grinning ear-to-ear behind Yamaha handlebars, and reveling in their (most of the time) bulletproof reliability.
That said, even I must admit that Yamaha can feel a bit… stiff. For all the eargasmic, adrenaline-pumping thrill machines they build, there’s something undeniably corporate about the brand. It’s as if they’re wearing a suit and tie to an MX event, while everyone else sits on their camping chairs in tank tops with beers in hand.
Speaking of suits and ties, Yamaha HQ, over in Iwata, Japan, recently announced a "new" corporate logo. Now, if you’re expecting something big—a complete reinvention—you might want to take a seat.
And that’s because the supposed brand-new logo looks, well, exactly like the old one, except it’s been flattened into a 2D design. Yep, that’s it. Same iconic three tuning forks arranged in a circle, but now it’s rocking a vector-art vibe instead of the 3D gloss of yesteryear.
Honestly, it’s the corporate logo equivalent of switching from glossy to matte paint. Still Yamaha, just with fewer reflections.
So, why the change? According to Yamaha’s press release, this flat design was created with digital applications in mind. You could also say that it’s attuned to the times. Graphic design has transitioned away from ultra-realistic elements and into flat, monotone, 2D layouts. It’s a clean look—very Gen Z.
The timing also aligns with Yamaha’s 70th anniversary, a milestone they’re celebrating with yet another logo that’s a nod to their racing heritage. Now, this logo is simple, and it puts the revised Yamaha logo to shame when it comes to this.
It doesn’t have any Yamaha branding, and it looks like a third-grader designed it on MS Paint. But Yamaha says it’s actually based on the number plates from their first-ever motorcycle race back in the 1950s. Nostalgic? Sure. Exciting? Try again.
Yamaha says this shift marks their transition from simply selling products to offering value through both products and services—very corporate. It’s a glimpse into the future of what Yamaha has planned for the multiple industries it operates in. Sure, it’s a forward-looking strategy, but let’s be real: it’s the bikes we’re here for. And those bikes? Well, they’re still pretty badass, logo update or not.
Now, I was actually expecting something a bit wilder—maybe a logo reboot as dramatic as Jaguar’s controversial new design a while back. But what was I thinking? This is Yamaha, after all. And there’s actually something reassuring about the brand’s understated approach. It’s simple and no-nonsense—just like their motorcycles. So, while the new logo might not “rev your heart,” it’s still unmistakably Yamaha.
Source: Yamaha
