The Yamaha R15 V3.0 will boasts of new hardware coming from the M-Slaz while boasting of the sleek new design language as showcased in the new rendering.
The Yamaha R15 was first introduced in 2008 which was followed by a comprehensive facelift, the R15 V2.0 in 2011. Interestingly, 2015 saw the pre-facelift R15 come back to life as the ‘R15 S’ with the single-seat option. Amidst the old and new, Yamaha lovers have been waiting for V3.0 which will further bring improvements to the styling and dynamics of the highly capable motorcycle. With reports rife of the new model indeed brewing, folks in Indonesia have rendered the R15 V3.0 based on the newly launched M-Slaz.
The rendering uses the M-Slaz as the donor model with influence coming from a lot of Yamaha offerings including the R125. Most noticeable is the new twin headlight setup with the centre air intake while the side fairing and fuel tank have a more slender profile over the outgoing version. The split seats have been retained but the pillion seat isn’t positioned as high as the one seen on V2.0. The M-Slaz was highly appreciated for its sharp design and if the rendering comes close to the production model, the R15 V3.0 won’t disappoint either.
Now, the Yamaha M-Slaz is essentially the naked version of the R15, albeit with improved hardware. The street-fighter went on sale in South East Asia late last year and comes equipped with the same 149cc single-cylinder motor tuned to produce 17 PS and 15 Nm of torque. That said, the M-Slaz boasts of USD front forks which will be highly appreciated on the updated R15. The V3.0 could also boast of an all-LED headlamp setup, which was introduced on the street-fighter.
Give the improved hardware, the M-Slaz was priced at a premium over the R15 and V3.0 could see the price increase further. Yamaha India has not indicated of introducing updates on the R15 anytime soon, but with the 2016 Auto Expo kickstarting next month, we could see the automaker make some announcements about introducing the new model in the country. Almost 5 years since the last update, it’s time the R15 went under the knife.
Rendering Source – MotoBlast.org