Driven #8: Yamaha YZF R15 V2.0

In the not so distant past, Yamaha’s Indian arm was in a total state of bother. Though they had a rich legacy and a brand image to die for internationally, their Indian product line-up looked old and tired and the sales expectedly, were not great. In fact, their very commitment towards the Indian market was being questioned by the critics and the public. But, in just a single stroke of genius, Yamaha brushed aside all skepticism and made the Gen X population of our country knock on their dealerships like there was no tomorrow. A major contributor for that was the predecessor of what you see in this post, the YZF R15.

The YZF R15, along with the FZ series did the unthinkable for Yamaha in India. They not only succeeded as individual products, but also turned around the fortunes of the whole company which was reeling under tremendous pressure owing to a string of failures and uninspiring models. The R15 especially, came, pioneered and popularized the concept of affordable sports-biking in India with a host of technological advancements that were 'firsts' for a bike manufactured in India. It would be no exaggeration to state that the YZF R15 was the first ever affordable motorbike in India that was tuned as much for the track as it was for the road. Fittingly so, it not only became a sales success but also scorched to supremacy in the racing circles. So, when Yamaha launches the successor of such a mighty product, we ought to sit and take notice. And notice, we did and how!

TO LOOK & FEEL:

The Yamaha YZF R15 was always a looker and the new model, dubbed Version 2.0 is no different. The V 2.0 retains the same frontal look as its predecessor with the twin trapezoidal headlights, the sharp front visor and the slightly beefier full fairing on the sides giving it a big-bike look and feel that many Indians crave for. In fact, a major USP of the R15 would be the fact that it looks a whole lot similar to its bigger cousins, the R6 and, in some angles, the R1 too. A major negative point that the earlier R15 had was that it’s rear end looked rather disproportionate and meek compared to the rest of the bike. It was considered too run-of-the-mill and the relatively thin tires that it came shod with didn't go down well, given its extraordinarily sporty intentions.

Those complaints have been well taken care of now. A combination of the R6-inspired LED taillights, the aggressively up-swept silencer, the split saddle, the naked frame that holds the license plate and indicators and the chunky rear tire makes sure that the bike turns heads wherever you go. Additionally, there are a few really upscale design touches throughout the bike like the matte-carbon look alike panels in the side and rear cowls, the aluminum swing-arm which is a first for a 150cc bike in India, the uniquely shaped exhaust end can and the brazed-silver R15 motif in the silencer. Overall, the R15 V2.0 is an absolute stunner.

The R15 V2.0 has an instrument cluster that is a perfect mix of conservative, modern and sporty. The console has two distinct divisions with the right side housing a circular analog tachometer with black on white fonts that looks beautifully upmarket when lit. The left side has a rectangular digital display with all the tell-tale lights and also features the odometer, twin trip meters and the fuel level indicator. Like all other modern bikes, all the lights blink once and the tacho needle does a full swipe of the meter when the ignition is turned ‘ON’. The switchgear is not very dissimilar to all other bikes out there and is made of good quality materials that are built to last.

ON THE ROAD:

The R15 is powered by a 149.8 cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 4-stroke engine that churns out a maximum power of 17 PS at 8500 rpm and a maximum torque of 15 Nm at 7500 rpm, figures that stack up well with other bikes of similar engine capacity. Acceleration and pickup are nothing exceptional though and you have every right to feel disappointed, given the bike's sporty looks and image. The gear-ratios are well spaced out and the shifts in the 6-speed gearbox are seamless and smooth. What is noteworthy is that the remapped ECU and the tweaked ratios have given the R15 V2.0 a new-found character. The bike is equally comfortable trundling along in second or third gear in congested city traffic as it is cruising all day long at 100 kph in sixth gear. The driveability inside the city seems to be significantly improved over the previous version.

Once astride the bike, get ready to forget about everything else and think just about owning the road all to yourself. You could have driven something else all your life but when you drive the R15, you unknowingly tend to stretch your physical limits with far from normal lean angles and twists that comes so effortlessly courtesy the bike's near-perfect handling. Yamaha's famous Deltabox frame has worked wonders here and the all-new aluminum swing-arm has also aided in handling by reducing the weight and improving the rigidity of the chassis. The ride is absorbent enough and filters most of the irregularities that our cities have in abundance but it is definitely not the best in class. The braking though is top notch with discs at front and rear providing the bike with ample stopping power. The stock MRF tires coped up well and never felt uncomfortable in any conditions with the wider 130/70 radials at the rear providing vice-like grip of the road beneath.

What really made the whole experience uncomfortable was the excessive engine heat that could be felt in the legs. Though it could well be because of our test bike being brand new, it was found to be unusually higher. Another issue would be the sporty seating posture which, if you are not used to before, could make you feel tired after just a couple of hours. Things get worse for the pillion rider with a high-set and steeply raked seat that makes do without grab rails. Though Yamaha claims that the rear seat is made of anti-slip material to aid grip, things doesn't look all rosy out there. What comes out as an unexcusable miss from Yamaha is the lack of ABS even as an option, now that Honda and even TVS offering one in their sporty models.

SPECIFICATIONS:

* Engine Type: SOHC, 4-stroke, Liquid Cooled
* No of Cylinders: 1
* Displacement: 149.8 cc
* Maximum Power: 17 PS @ 8500 RPM
* Maximum Torque: 15 Nm @ 7500 RPM
* Transmission Type: 6-speed, 1Down 5Up
* Tires: 90/80 R17 (Front), 130/70 R17 (Rear)
* Brakes: Hydraulic, Single Disc (Front & Rear)

WHAT'S COOL:

* Stunning Looks
* Supreme Handling
* Composed Ride and Stability
* Nirvana of sports-biking at an affordable price

WHAT'S NOT SO COOL:

* Excessive Engine Heat
* Lack of ABS even as an option
* Expensive for a 150cc bike

TO SUM UP:

After spending a couple of days with the bike, I really did not want to let it go. The head-turning looks, the near-perfect handling and adequate power to tackle the city traffic and open highways in equal measure had grown on me and I can assure you that it would be no different for most of you out there. Be advised though that the R15 V2.0 will not make sense as your everyday commute to the grocery shop or to drop your kids at school. Yamaha makes the SZ-R for chores like that. The R15 V2.0 is a gift from Yamaha for the young and young-at-heart who toils at work in weekdays and scorches the track on weekends and doesn't mind spending a little extra money for doing that. In that sense, it is truly perfect!