Yamaha today launched the all-new YZF R15 in India at the Auto Expo 2018 and has instantly laid claim to the title of the most powerful motorcycle in its segment in the country. Being a completely new motorcycle, it gets fresh styling, new features, improved rider assist technologies and more powerful engine. The R15 in its first version had quickly become a hit among motorcycle enthusiasts as there was no other sport bike in the segment at that time. With the version 2, the Yamaha R15 got improved features but wasn’t updated then for a long time. Now though, the new version has been launched at the Auto Expo 2018 but doesn’t come cheap at Rs 1.25 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi. That, however, should not be considered as a drawback as the Yamaha R15 comes loaded with some interesting and useful features. So here are the top things about the Yamaha YZF R15 that make it one of the hottest bikes on sale under Rs 1.5 lakh.
Engine & Gearbox
The new Yamaha YZF R15, that has been launched at the Auto Expo 2018, is powered by a 155 cc liquid-cooled engine. The motor is mated to a six-speed gearbox, which is now easier to operate because of a lighter clutch. Yamaha’s new Assist clutch is claimed to reduce the weight of the pull by 18 percent, which should make riding in traffic easier. The engine develops 19 hp and hence is 16 percent more powerful than the older model. While power has gone up, fuel-efficiency too has improved by 4.7 percent, thereby lowering the running cost by a small margin.
Design
When Yamaha launched the YZF R15 today at the Auto Expo 2018, the first thing we noticed was the inspiration it draws from the mighty YZF R1. The sharp and angular fairing houses sleek split headlamps, which are full LED units. The tail lamp too is LED and the split seats add a lot to the sporty appeal of the R15. Disc brakes at the front and rear along with a wide rear tyre give the R15 dynamic proportions. The only odd-looking part id the telescopic front suspension, which should have been upside down for a more sporty appeal.
Brakes
The Yamaha YZF R15 comes with a single disc brake at the front and a smaller disc at the rear. However, when the motorcycle was launched at the Auto Expo 2018 today, we were disappointed by the lack of ABS. Yamaha is not offering ABS even as an option right now, which is a downer in our opinion.
Convenience
While the Yamaha R15 is positioned as a sport bike and offers a committed riding position, it does come with a useful convenience feature now in the form of USB charging provision. This feature will come in handy for charging smartphones and action cameras on the go.
Price
The Yamaha YZF R15 was launched today at the Auto Expo 2018 at a price of Rs 1.25 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi. While the price might seem hihg initially, we can assure you that once you have a look at the feature-list and the quality of materials used in the bike, you won’t feel disappointed. The R15 has always been praised for its handling and we expect the new model to be even better. We’ll review the new Yamaha YZF R15 soon after the Auto Expo 2018 ends so stay tuned for the same.
