Yamaha Unveils TY-E Electric Trials Bike

Yamaha has released information about its all-new TY-E electric trials bike, which is a concept model. The TY-E is powered by a high rotation-type compact electric motor and is equipped with a mechanical clutch. The electric bike uses a high-output battery pack that is mounted in its carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) monocoque frame.

The new electric MotoTrials machine comes from the Japanese brand’s Evolving R&D program, which allows employees in the department to work outside conventional frameworks and devote up to 5 percent of their working hours developing innovative new concepts.

According to Yamaha, the R&D employees faced many challenges when designing the bike, including managing the high output from the small-size and lightweight components as well as harnessing the high torque output in order to create an easy, responsive, and controllable riding character.

The TY-E will be on display in the Yamaha Corporation booth at this year's Tokyo Motorcycle Show, held at the Tokyo Big Sight and will see its first competition this summer in the 2018 FIM Trial-E Cup, the only FIM-sanctioned event where electric trial machines alone can compete. Events will be held in Auron in France July 14–15 and Comblain au Pont in Belgium July 20–21.

Yamaha Factory Racing’s Kenichi Kuroyama, who is currently competing in the IA Super class of the All Japan Trial Championship, will pilot the all-new electric bike at these two rounds.