IN
THE
WIND
P50
YAMAHA RELEASES ELECTRIC TY-E
CONCEPT TRIALS BIKE
Y
amaha Motor Company has
taken the wraps off their
brand-new TY-E electric trials
machine that will compete in the
2018 FIM Trial-E Cup, scheduled
for two rounds in France and
Belgium later this year.
The machine is a concept that
will (all fingers and toes crossed)
form the basis of a new range of
trials motorcycles from the com-
pany that saw enormous success
in the discipline a generation ago.
The TY-E is the product of what
Yamaha calls its "Revolving R&D
Program," where "Yamaha R&D
employees are given the opportu-
nity to work outside conventional
frameworks and devote up to five
percent of their working hours to-
wards developing innovative new
concepts," says Yamaha Motor
Corp, USA.
As such, the TY-E is loaded with
cool bits, like a mechanical clutch
to help control the electric motor
in tight riding situations, a carbon
composite monocoque frame, and
a brand new high-output electric
motor with a new battery pack and
lightweight components.
Overall, the TY-E weighs "less
than 70kg," which equals about
154 pounds, ready to ride with 13.8
inches of ground clearance.
Trials bikes have been slowly
moving towards electric pow-
ertrains and the platform has seen
great success with Spanish brand
Oset, which manufactures electric
trials bikes for junior riders. The
Japanese manufacturers have
been slow to adapt to electric
powertrains with brands like KTM
leading the way with their Freeride-
E range, but should this Yamaha
make it into production, it could
open the floodgates for much more
than just electric trials bikes from
one of the world's biggest motor-
cycle powerhouse brands.
Check out the video of Japanese
trials star Kenichi Kuroyama show-
ing just what the TY-E can do in the
right hands. He will also be Yama-
ha's representative in the 2018 FIM
Trial-E Cup on the TY-E. CN
Yamaha made a hit with
their TY trials bikes
40 years ago; they're
hoping to do it again
with the new TY-E
electric trials bike.
