Yamaha announces TY-E to race FIM Tril-E Cup
It’s just a matter of time before we accept or embrace another possible shift in motorcycle technology. It was not too long ago four-strokes were trail bikes, then they had their own championship and not long after that a four-stroke won its first supercross with Doug Henry aboard. Yamaha later took advantage of a longstanding rule that allowed 250cc four-strokes to race against 125cc two-strokes and we know what happened a few years later to that class. From there the rest is history and valves and pistons pretty much took over motocross and supercross. The question is, will E-Bikes do the same, or will government sanctions also force the hand? E is here and will not be going anywhere soon. The question is, will electric have their own series before being allowed to race in AMA or FIM pro races against displacement bikes? For now E-Bikes like Alta can race in amateur events with open displacement classes like vets or college boy, for example. The FIM now has a trials cup just for E-Bikes.
We had four-stroke-only events, now we have two-stroke-only events. In time we will have an E-Moto Championship. For now this is the latest information from Yamaha regarding their E technology.
Media Release from Yamaha
IWATA, March 23, 2018—Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (Tokyo: 7272) announced today that it has developed the TY-E electric trial bike—taking advantage of the unique features of electrical power—and has been working toward competing for the first time in the 2018 FIM Trial-E Cup with scheduled appearances at the Auron in France through July 14-15, and the Comblain au Pont in Belgium through July 21-22.
In participation of the competition, Kenichi Kuroyama—who is currently competing in the IA Super class of the All Japan Trial Championship—will represent the Yamaha Factory Racing Team. The TY-E will also be on display at the Yamaha Motor booth in this year’s Tokyo Motorcycle Show, being held at the Tokyo Big Sight from today.
The TY-E is an advanced development deriving from the company’s “Evolving R & D” activities. The “Evolving R & D” uses 5% of its working hours at the Research and Development Division, and at the discretion of its staff, is used as an opportunity to provide voluntary and autonomous activities for creating innovation while not being bound by conventional frameworks. It is here that we focused on a trial model for competition and worked on its development to help overcome EV development problems such as high output from small sized and lightweight components, and the ease of riding that responds as the rider would intend.
TY-E features include 1) a high rotation type compact high-power motor that achieves high off-road performance with both powerful low speed torque and extended acceleration, 2) motor control technology that achieves an excellent response and a power feeling from extremely low to high speed ranges, 3) a power unit equipped with a mechanical clutch that secures instantaneous power and control, and an electric motor and optimized flywheel that realizes excellent traction performance, 4) high-output of a newly designed compact high-output battery pack with compact and lightweight components, 5) a CFRP monocoque frame that is at the lightest possible weight, while securing optimal rigidity and battery storage space, and 6) extreme slim styling that does not interfere with dynamic rider action.
