Yamaha R15 V3 Review
Bike Tested: Yamaha R15 V3; Road Test No. 917
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 1.39 lakhs
The new Yamaha R15 V3 has the R DNA all over it but the lack of ABS is shocking
The Yamaha R15 started the 150cc supersport segment in India back in 2008 and did turn the fortune tables for the Japanese automaker. Three years later came the R15 V2 which promised to be sharper and an aggressive motorcycle than the previous generation R15 and now fast forward to 2018, Yamaha has launched the R15 V3 which borrows its styling cues from its larger siblings the R6 and the R1. So is the R15 V3 only about the styling from the bigger R bikes or is there more. Time to find that out.
Motor Quest: The India-spec R15 V3 may not be the same as the one offered in the international markets but let us not blubber at that. The R15 V3 promises to be more fun, be it on the race track or the city roads or even the highways for that matter.
[flickr size=”center” float=”medium”]http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorbeam/26931033398/[/flickr]
The R15 V3 looks better than ever
The Yamaha R15 V3 looks better in person than in pictures
Styling – The Yamaha R15 V3 looks sharper and borrows its styling and design cues from the larger sibling, the R6. The motorcycle gets slim LED headlights and a faux air duct between them. There is a large and tall windscreen which helps in cutting out the air while riding on the highways. Underpinning a new Deltabox frame, the motorcycle gets subtle tweaks to its fairing and the fuel-tank. Like the R15 V2, the ‘R15’ and ‘Yamaha’ decals can be found on the fairing itself. The Yamaha logo on the tank has been moved from the side to the top of the fuel-tank.
The bike gets new 10-spoke alloy wheels and a distinctive exhaust. The clear-lens effect on the LED tail-light has given way to a regular (red lens) LED tail-light. The design of the rear tyre hugger has also been changed. In terms of dimensions, the R15 V3 is longer by 20 mm, wider by 50 mm and taller by 65 mm than the previous R15. While the wheelbase is down by 20 mm to 1325 mm, the motorcycle also boasts of an increased ground clearance of 20 mm, now at 170 mm. The R15 V3 is available in two colour options – Thunder Grey and Racing Blue. Overall, the R15 V3 is a great looker with proper attention to detail everywhere.
[flickr size=”center” float=”medium”]http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorbeam/40759052632/[/flickr]
The tall visor is effective at controlling windblast; quality of switchgear is also good
Instrument Cluster and Switchgear – The R15 V3 gets a new fully digital LCD instrument cluster which looks much better than the one on the FZ25 or the Fazer 25 primarily because of the larger display. The instrument console features a speedometer, tachometer, odometer, trip meter, fuel-level indicator, average speed, instant fuel consumption, average fuel consumption, clock and a gear position indicator. The tell-tale at the side of the console includes shift light, VVA indicator and engine temperature. The RHS features an engine kill-switch and a self-start button while the LHS gets the usual horn, indicator and a low/high beam button. The positioning of the buttons are accurate and the quality of plastics used are also good.
Ergonomics – The Yamaha R15 V3 carries the sporty and aggressive riding position from the V2 which isn’t a bad thing at all. The rider does have to lean forward to reach the handlebar while the foot pegs too have been rear-seat to complement the sporty riding position. The seat does offer a good comfort and is padded quite generously. Like on the previous R15, the pillion doesn’t get a grab rail and the pillion seat is quite high set (but not as high as the R15 V2). The R15 V3 is comfortable for city commutes, occasional short highway stints and is definitely fun on a stretch of mountain roads and the race track.
