Yamaha's favorite road bike for commuting? Yamaha's electrically assisted bicycle "YPJ-R" [enuchi.com]

The "YPJ-R" is a new type of electrically power assisted bicycle. With a design that minimizes the presence of the drive unit and battery and running performance as a road bike, it maintains the original enjoyment of riding a bicycle.

In Japan, electrically power assisted bicycles are mainly for women who carry children. Few are for those who want to use it for their daily commute.

But this situation may change. The road bike "YPJ-R" with electric assist function will be on sale from Yamaha on December 10, 2015. It's an electrically power-assisted bicycle that may make it easier for commuter tired from work to return home and get home a little faster.

Road bike with electric assist function "YPJ-R"

The "YPJ-R" is a new type of road bike equipped with a small drive unit "PW series". With a design that minimizes the presence of the drive unit and battery and high running performance as a sports bicycle, it maintains the original enjoyment of riding while being an electrically power assisted bicycle.

Is your family happy when bicycle commuter can go home a little earlier? Or ...? ??

Taking advantage of electric power assist to smoothly connect to the cruising area from start / acceleration, we aimed to shift the value from "electric power assist for enjoyment" to "electric power assist for more enjoyment".

SHIMANO 105 is used as the main component.

The battery can run 14 kilometers in "HIGH" mode on a single charge. It can drive 22km in "STD" mode and 48km in "ECO" mode. I have to evaluate that the cruising range is quite short, but the body weight of the "YPJ-R" is about 15 kg, which is the lightest for Yamaha's electrically power assisted bicycles. Even without assistance, you can run as a normal road bike.

The cruising range of 14 km is quite short, but it can run as a road bike even if the battery runs out.

The handlebar is equipped with a liquid crystal multifunction display. Speed, power meter, cadence, clock, battery level meter, etc. are always displayed.

Below the liquid crystal display is a switch unit equipped with a Micro USB port, which allows you to charge your smartphone.

The body features a "hydroforming tube" and a simple design without covers. There are three color variations, "Black x Gray", "Tricolor", and "Black x Blue".

Black x gray

Tricolor

Black x blue

The price is 248,400 yen (including consumption tax), which is a little higher. People who run seriously on weekends for exercise will not buy it, and many commuter users will not be able to afford it at any price they want. If the version is changed to a cross bike specification and the price is lowered, it may become a "favorite" for bicycle commuters.