The vibration and load characteristics of ultrasonic motors having (a) a torsional vibration cylinder with three bolt-clamped Langevin piezoelectric ceramic (PZT) longitudinal vibration transducers (BLTs) installed in the tangential direction and (b) a longitudinal vibration disk with three BLT transducers installed around a circular disk were studied. The center rod vibrates longitudinally and affects the load characteristics of the ultrasonic motor. Vibration distributions along a center rod were measured using a laser Doppler vibrometer. Revolution, electric input power, mechanical output power and efficiency were measured under various rotating torques. Maximum torque, revolution and efficiency of the ultrasonic motor with (a) a torsional vibration cylinder (a) were 0.75 Nm, 205 rpm and 1.68%, respectively, and (b) 0.32 Nm, 84 rpin and 1.68%, respectively, with a circular longitudinal vibration disk.