[flickr size=”center” float=”medium”]http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorbeam/49092745008/[/flickr]
Cushioning is soft for the rider but a struggle for the pillion
I had already tested the 155cc motor and was very impressed with the VVA tech which meant it did have a linear-pull from the mid-range to the top-end. But riding in the city showed that it does have a very decent low-end grunt while the motor does not have heating issues even in stop-go traffic. One of the weekends, I was able to take it out for a breakfast ride and the R15 would cruise really well at 90 km/hr while the VVA would just kick-in on the console at 6500 RPM. The throttle response became very sharp post 6500 RPM considering this was just a 155cc motor.
[flickr size=”center” float=”medium”]http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorbeam/49093256896/[/flickr]
The R15 is front heavy and yet it is a kickass machine to lift a wheel
Tipping into corners is like a walk in the park, the R15 does it effortlessly
The R15 would return a city mileage of 35 km/l while on the weekends and highway runs it jumped to 43 km/l! The VVA tech does let more air and fuel inside the engine but right at the edge of it, the motorcycle returns the best possible fuel efficiency. The extended visor did help quite a few times but the LED headlights weren’t the best at stock projection setting. They had to be adjusted in an angle so you could get the best visibility at night.
[flickr size=”center” float=”medium”]http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorbeam/49092745533/[/flickr]
Getting used to the riding posture might take some time
The tyres were impressive and so were the brakes as the ABS unit worked really well on the track the first time I tested it. But in everyday riding situation you need ABS more than ever. The braking feedback wasn’t as sharp now so you could grab the brakes harder and the feedback improved. But the best part while braking was downshifting with the assistance from the slipper-clutch as it didn’t let the rear step out. There were times when I would push the R15 close to its limit but the hardware onboard did keep me in control.
