Yamaha Trademarks TY-E, Possibly for a New Electric Trial Bike - Motorcycle.com
Yamaha Trademarks TY-E, Possibly for a New Electric Trial Bike
Yamaha has filed a trademark application for “TY-E,” which we suspect will be used for a new electric trial bike.
The TY name is used for Yamaha’s trial bikes, produced since 1973 in various displacements, from 50 to 350cc, though in recent years the bikes have had little notice outside of Japan. While the FIM Trial and X-Trial championships are dominated by the likes of Montesa Honda, Gas Gas, Beta, Sherco, TRRS and Vertigo, Yamaha has a much larger presence in the Japanese national championship, currently fielding a factory team on the TYS250fi (pictured above).
The trademark application, filed today with the European Union Intellectual Property Office, is for use of the TY-E name for “Motorcycles, motor scooters, mopeds, three-wheeled motorcycles, three-wheeled motor scooters, three-wheeled mopeds,” like almost all other Yamaha motorcycle trademark filings, but also for “electric motorcycles, electric three-wheeled motorcycles, electric scooters, electric three-wheeled scooters and parts and fittings for all the aforesaid goods.” It’s clear from these additions, plus the “E” in the name, that the TY-E will be an electric model.
A new electric trial bike suggests Yamaha is looking to enter the FIM’s Trial-E Cup. The electric class was introduced last year at a single event, but expanded this year to two events, one in Auron France and the other in Comblain au Pont, Belgium. The Trial-E class has riders competing on the same course as the 125 class.
At the moment, the Trial-E ranks are filled with electric motorcycles from brands such as Electric Motion, SoREV and Mecatecno, plus 2017 Trial-E Cup winner Gas Gas. The Gas Gas TXE (developed by parent company Torrot) claims to be the only electric trial bike with a mechanical clutch and a six-speed transmission.
As with most trademark applications, there’s no clear timeline as to if/when we can expect to see a finished product or even a concept. Motorcycle.com will have more information as it becomes available.
More by Dennis Chung
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