The brand offers a range of affordable, commuter-friendly modelsAs much as most Yamaha enthusiasts would love to have a YZF-R1M sitting in their garage, the reality is that for many people, a motorcycle is simply an affordable means of getting from A to B. Budget-conscious buyers are also well served by Yamaha's current lineup, with its cheapest models available for a starting price of $5,000 or less excluding fees.The cheapest road-oriented model in its range is the Zuma 125 scooter, which starts from $4,249 including a compulsory $450 destination fee. It's powered by a 125cc four-stroke engine and boasts chunky tires and capable suspension that are both designed to deal with roads in poor condition.The Zuma 125 is best suited to urban commutes, but anyone looking for an entry-level cruise could also consider the similarly affordable V Star 250, which starts from $5,399 including a $600 destination fee. It offers a larger 249cc engine with retro-inspired styling, plus its low 27-inch seat height makes it a great choice for shorter riders.Its off-road range is equally comprehensiveAnyone looking for a trail, motocross, or cross-country motorcycle also isn't short of options. In addition, Yamaha offers several models within its range for younger riders too. The cheapest of those is the PW50, designed to give kids their first taste of riding off-road, while the TT-R110E is a solid entry-level option for older beginner riders. The bread and butter of Yamaha's off-road range is its 125cc and 250cc bikes, but for the most dedicated riders the race-ready YZ450F motocross bike tops out the range.The YZ450F is compatible with Yamaha's innovative Power Tuner app, which allows riders to make on-the-fly adjustments to their engine tuning on race day using their smartphones. The app also provides maintenance records, guides on how to optimize the suspension for different surfaces, and a lap timer. The app is available for all YZ450F users at no extra charge. The ZF250F is also compatible with the Power Tuner app, alongside the WR450F and WR250F cross country models.Yamaha has been making motorcycles since the 1950sIt should be no surprise that Yamaha has a long list of classic models in its back catalog, as the brand has been building motorcycles for over 70 years. Yamaha's president Genichi Kawakami first instructed his engineers to begin the development of a motorcycle in 1953, but it would take until February 1955 for the first finished example — the YA1 — to leave the factory. From there, Yamaha set about establishing a reputation for reliability, taking its early prototypes on a 10,000 km (roughly 6,200 mile) public demonstration to prove their quality.Within just a few months of building its first production motorcycle, Yamaha had already entered into its first national race competition, the Mt. Fuji Ascent Race. It was the largest motorcycle race in Japan at the time, and was a baptism of fire for Yamaha's freshly assembled race team. It proved to be a highly successful gamble for the company, with Yamaha taking the win in its first ever race entry and dominating the list of top 10 finishers. The company has remained keen to prove its mettle in racing ever since, and has taken over 500 Grand Prix wins at world level since then.