Yamaha to compete with off-road bike in FIM Trial-E Cup (video)
Yamaha presents an electric off-road motorcycle designed to compete for the first time in the 2018 FIM Trial-E Cup at races in France and Belgium. Professional racer Kenichi Kuroyama will represent the Yamaha Factory Racing Team on the TY-E motorbike.
The TY-E electric trial bike has come out of Yamaha’s ‘Evolving R & D’ unit, a programme that allows developers to spend 5 percent of their time on creations of their liking. The designers and developers focused on an all-electric dirt bike for competition and worked on high torque at low speeds combined with lightweight components. So their whole electric motorbike weighs less than 70 kilo and is entirely geared for nimble off road riding.
While technical details are scarce as of yet, the TY-E features a high rotation, compact electric motor that achieves said high off-road performance with both powerful low speed torque and extended acceleration, according to Yamaha. The power unit is equipped with a mechanical clutch that secures instantaneous power and control, and an electric motor and optimised flywheel that realises excellent traction performance.
Additionally, the press release speaks of a newly designed compact high-output battery pack with compact and lightweight components, a lightweight CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced polymer) monocoque frame that offers rigidity and battery storage space, and slim styling that does not interfere with a racing rider.
The TY-E will spring into action in the FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) Trial E-Cup. It is FIM’s only event, where electric trial motorbikes alone can compete. This year, two races are scheduled for Auron in France July 14-15, and the Comblain au Pont in Belgium July 21-22. For 2019, however, FIM plans to start the electric Moto GP reportedly.
For now, the TY-E electroc off-road motorcycle is a concept for Yamaha to trial the all-electric terrain ever deeper.
Another example for electric off-raod riding is being set in Sweden, where startup Cake will launch the Kalk electric motorbike this summer although in a less competitive fashion.
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