A data storing device of the present invention includes a cylindrical or hollow cylindrical data storing medium rotatable about its own axis and having a storage layer formed on its circumferential surface for storing data. A head adjoins the storage layer for writing or reading data in or out of the storage layer. A head moving mechanism causes the head to move back and forth along the axis of the data storing medium. A drive motor includes a stator and a rotor spaced from the stator and directly coaxially connected to the data storing medium.