The ‘R’ series has finally arrived in India. We bike enthusiasts cringed every time we saw an imported R1 on the street and cursed the rich kid for his luck of riding the beauty. Now we have our partial revenge at least. The YZF R-15 officially started rolling out of Yamaha showrooms this July.
Yamaha motors has not delivered a competent product in India after its superb 2 stroke bikes were slowly phased out. The hugely successful Rx- 135 and the Rx -100 are still going strong in the second hand market,they stand testament to the people’s belief in Yamaha bikes. But Yamaha delivered us pregnant duds like the Libero. But with the R-15, Yamaha is sure to bounce back strong in the Indian market.
The R-15 is touted as the spiritual successor of the Legendary bike, RD-350 (I am still saving up to buy the 350 
). Whether it really lives up to the RD’s legacy is any one’s guess. But it is sure give ZMA (Karizma) and the Pulsar Brothers (180, 200, 220) a run for its money.
See the specs Below
Other Info
- Top Speed i achieved is around – 128 kmph.
- Mileage claimed is around – 35-40 kmpl. I doubt it. May be 28-30 in city conditions.
- Cost on road (Bangalore) – 1.15 lakhs +
- Available Colors – Blue and Black.
Best things about the Bike
- Pick Up is amazing for a 150 cc bike. But then its 17 bhp and also Light Weight.
- Superb Brakes. Both Front and Rear are Disks. You need to get used to it. But once you are, its great.
- Headlight’s Blending into the body design. The Pulsar’s Front looks awkward and ugly compared to the R-15.
- Great Cornering ability and nice seating position.
Deficiencies
- It’s too costly. The price will come down by 10k, mostly by December, but Yamaha needs to bring it lower than the psychological 1 lakh barrier.
- Tyres are a problem. They are too small and skid on intensive braking. If you change them you will get even lesser mileage.
- No Center Stand !! . This is weird but its not present in the test bike i rode. Parking in crowded places will be difficult.
- Mileage will be less. And in this high fuel cost times, this bike is not for the middle class.
Anyways the R-15 will be a trend setter in the Indian market. It looks much more cooler and has better performance of any high end bike. Next to watch out for is the Kawasaki Ninja 250R .
Great times ahead for the Sports bike enthusiasts in India.
Watch This Video, Review of R15 by Overdrive magazine.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeGMn8f-1PI
[poll id="4"]
The Yamaha R15 looks ultra sporty with Comfortable Seating Position. But it being 150 cc is a complete disappointment. How is the bike Stability at high speeds?