VOL. 39 ISSUE 40 OCTOBER 9, 2018 P115
a huge bonus—though it is only a
short test, I cannot deny I got off
my third and final session wanting
to take the TY-E home with me.
HANDCRAFTED, CARBON
FIBER MONOCOQUE FRAME
Aiding the TY-E's nomination for
the most extraordinary bike of
2018 award is its handcrafted,
carbon-fiber monocoque frame.
Up close it is very much a work
of art curving and changing
shape from headstock down to
footpeg mounts.
The dimensions and basic
geometry (a 51.6-inch wheelbase
for example) are based upon Ya-
maha's existing trials bike, which
Kuroyama campaigns in the
Japanese Trials Championship.
The unique and bespoke carbon-
fiber, monocoque frame houses
the electric motor and battery
with the swingarm, suspension
and steering components extend-
ing in a very conventional way.
The hydraulic brakes have power
and feel needed for this delicate
sport, too, and come across from
the machine Kuroyama rides.
The suspension, too, is set up
by Kenichi and is perhaps the
most sublime element of the
TY-E's chassis. Progressive, soft
in the initial stroke but firm and
responsive when you needed it
to be for a bigger rock step or
drop off, the suspension makes
the handling of the TY-E easily
better than most standard trials
bikes. Incredible handling is
amplified by the glorious frame,
and I can't say enough about the
rider feel from this chassis.
HYDRAULIC CLUTCH
The TY-E has a conventional trick
up its sleeve too: a multi-plate, hy-
draulic clutch. From a riding point
of view, it makes all the difference
in transforming this electric bike
into a "proper" trials bike—if you
understand the point.
WHAT IS SixONY?
SixONy is a highly resistant
coating capable of withstanding
up to 1292°F or down to -58°F
temperatures. It is also salt water
and acid resistant plus it improves
the hardness of the base material it
is applied to. SixONy gives options
for colors, too, which is partly why
this blue Yamaha looks so good in
the Belgium sunlight.
YAMAHA'S
TRIALS HISTORY
Yamaha doesn't currently
produce a trials bike for the global
market but it certainly has a
healthy history. Yamaha TY trials
bikes stretch back to the early
1970s when big names of the
sport like "Magical" Mick Andrews
were campaigning the twin shock
models. Yamaha also produced
among the most iconic of trials
bikes in the '80s—the red-framed
TY250, which was among the
first off-road motorcycles to run
monoshock rear suspension and
in time a disc brake, too. It was a
hugely successful model certainly
ahead of its time.
Things get awfully
quiet as soon as you
chop the throttle.
