Bike tested: Yamaha R15
Price OTR Mumbai: 1,15,000/-
MotorBeam rating: 
Yamaha R15! Yamaha R15! Yamaha R15! Those are the words that have been ringing in the minds of bike enthusiasts since the day Yamaha announced the R15. It was a long wait indeed as Yamaha did take some time launching the bike. But when they did launch it, they did it in style, on the track. We got our hands on the Yamaha R15 and a test ride of the bike has made us fall in love with it.
There is no denying that the R15 is the best looking bike (Leaving the higher capacity bikes aside) in the country. Inspired by the R1, I have heard some not so knowledgeable people comment on the R15 calling it a modified Pulsar. The rear is a bit disappointing. The small tail lamps and thin tires can confuse the R15s rear with a Unicorn. The Quality of the bike is superb though and fit and finish is top notch.
Performance of the R15 is a little disappointing for a bike costing 1+ lac. Surely it has very good performance for a 150cc engine but still as the old saying goes “There is no replacement for displacement”. Low end grunt is missing, you need to revv the engine to extract the best out of it. This makes it not so easy to ride the R15 in the city. However as the revvs climb higher this Yamaha justifies why it has a “R” in its name. Once above 5000RPM the R15 really starts to pull and once past 6500RPM the Yamaha motor comes in its own. The power comes in beautifully at higher revvs, something no other bike in our country can boast of. Top speed depends on your weight and your leaning ability :) I also noticed the test bike to have some sort of vibrations and the engine didn’t feel as smooth as would have expected from a Yamaha that packs such a punch of technological innovations. However i have been told that once the bike finishes run in there won’t be any such issue. The 6 speed gearbox is easily the best you will find anywhere and shifts very smoothly.
The tires may be thin but they are very sticky and offer good enough grip. Braking is fantastic and handling is easily the best in the country. Overall i find the R15 to be a very good bike. It is light at 120kgs and thus with less power it can keep up with higher CC bikes. But at the price Yamaha is selling it, it could have been better. We would have loved it if Yamaha would have tweaked the engine to atleast 20bhp and given this bike split seats and a better rear. However there is no bike in India which can give you such a wide smile on your face and make you feel like Rossi and still keep you smiling when you fuel up. This Yamaha is easily the most fun to ride bike available today. It looks great, rides like no other, handles like a train on rails and gives good mileage too. Easily the pick of the segment and the best performance bike in our country by a fair margin.
Whats Kool 
- High End Power
- Braking
- Handling
- Gearbox
- Mileage
- Looks
- Technology
Whats UnKool 
- Could do with more power
- A better rear end
- Could have a fatter rear tire (looks asthetically pleasing)
- No Safety Stand
- No Split seats
R15 Specifications:
- Engine: 150CC liquid-cooled, four-stroke, single-cylinder, SOHC, 4 valves
- Power: 17PS @ 8500rpm
- Torque: 15Nm @ 7500rpm
- Transmission: 1 down 5 up
- Top Speed: 135kmph
- Fuel Consumption: 45-50 kmpl (City), 50-55 kmpl (highway)
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 12 litres
- Fuel Type: Petrol Unleaded
- Fuel System: Electronic fuel injection
- Tires: 80/90/R17 (F), 100/80/R17 (R)
- Brakes: Hydraulic, single disc (Front/Rear)
R15 Dimensions:
- Overall length x width x height: 1995mm x 670mm x 1070mm
- Seat height: 790mm
- Wheelbase: 1,290mm
- Minimum ground clearance: 160mm
- Dry weight / Curb weight: 120 kgs / 131 kgs
Official Website – Yamaha R15
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September 22, 2008 at 11:51 pm
R15 is the best bike to be launched in the country. Its so good, it makes the awesome FZ16 look totally lackluster in comparission.
September 25, 2008 at 9:02 pm
i want to test draive R15 fz in cochin
September 25, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Why don’t you contact your Yamaha dealer?
October 1, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Yamaha has launched some accessories for the R15
October 1, 2008 at 5:36 pm
I love the R15 but i feel its a bit small for tall riders.
October 1, 2008 at 6:11 pm
A very good test ride review. If Yamaha had given it more power and cc then i would surely have bought it. If Bajaj prices the Ninja 250R then the R15 wont be the best premium bike.
October 23, 2008 at 7:39 pm
-Could do with more power not needed as the weight to power ratio is the best
-A better rear end that would have increased price much higher and left lot of yamaha fans deprieved of owership of one
-Could have a fatter rear tire (looks asthetically pleasing) this is not a street bike it is for performance and with much wider tyre who will be standing in a queue for fuel after each 10-15kms
-No Safety Stand again bcoz its a sports bike
-No Split seats reason cost was main restriction as they have to make a good package for indian market
so go ahead and own one and enjoy with yamaha
November 14, 2008 at 9:59 am
yes the bike is amazing but can you let me kno that does it vibrate or not n how much milage it givs in cities..
November 14, 2008 at 12:10 pm
@Deepak
No vibrations frm engine. the bike is very quiet and smooth at higher rpms. Mileage 39kmpl (city), 44-46 (long rides)
January 6, 2009 at 10:48 pm
r15 doesnt look gud to me. looks like just a kit added to rx-135. fz16 styling is awesome. ethnu dnt compare r15 wid best beginner motorcycle award winning ninja 250r. its has a 100cc,14 bhp,very good looks n much advantage over r15.
March 29, 2009 at 4:16 am
this bike is really awesome ….no compromise!…
you can really purchase it ..its far better any bike in
its range
March 31, 2009 at 10:21 am
i agree…………..the bike is awesome..the bike that have changed the meaning of two wheelers…in India…..this lil devil will definitely burn the roads of India……
April 11, 2009 at 3:01 am
The tires are very thin and no one provides a test drive in Raipur,C.G.
April 11, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Vishad, just tell the dealer you are going to buy a Karizma or Pulsar 220, if he doesn’t give you a test drive of the R15. Tell him you can’t buy it till you test drive it.
April 20, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Guys I’ve got Yamaha YZF R15 for last 1 year……
This machine has got superb Power of 18 bhp…. Awesome bike
April 22, 2009 at 10:11 am
i got dis bike before a few days…..really guyz its an awesome machine,,,,and above all its a real head turner!
May 29, 2009 at 3:33 pm
love the R15 but i feel its a bit small for tall riders
May 29, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Saheer, yes the R15 is a tad small for tall riders.
July 9, 2009 at 11:18 am
r15 is nice.great product
October 19, 2009 at 8:43 pm
hey ppl… i heard that the r15 is going to be cheaper by 10000 soon…??? is it true or its jst another myth?? i personally like the bike very much and plan to buy one very soon… i also wanted to know how the bike is going to be affected by the racing kit launched recently…as in the mileage and the top speed and obviously the pick up..how much is the bhp gonna increase with the performance kits installed?…. also i wanted to know whether the rear tyre cud be replaced by a fatter one for better grip?? plz provide me with ur precious advice…. fas?? do reply.. nd others too… nd also i wish to know wherther the bike is gud enough for long term use?? as iv heard about the pulsars that PULSAR TOH KHADAK JAATI HAI… this is what i have noticed in my friends bikes… do comment ppl…ur advice wud help me decide if yamaha r15 is the bike i am looking for??? can it cope up with the pure and abundant racing instinct within me??? coz i have it in abundance….
October 20, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Paras, those are all rumours. There is no price decrease of the R15 expected in the near future. More features maybe but no price reduction.
November 5, 2009 at 2:26 pm
hi frndz pratap here i m decided to take r15 can u give me some information
November 9, 2009 at 2:59 pm
HI GUYZ… This is an iron devil…..moreover the wiser made up by fiber… I love to ride it. I bought this on 2nd Nov, really a stunning preformer with a marvelous style…. Just want to say that its a real headturner…. You will feel it once you hit the road with this dashig machine… Trust me, m feeling quite amazed while riding… Price not much, Rs/- 103500 on road in Delhi…Rear type not as expected…but don’t forget, No One Is Perfect… :-)
Happy to have this…quite balanced machine, run as a JET. Everyday i drive it to office through NH8…. Obsessive performance folks…. Don’t wait, just get it…. This is what I would suggest… Coz Pulsar, Karizma, Apache RTR now become common, but R15 is a real headturner…. I feel good, when people stare at me, when I m with my Queen R15…. :-)
Cheers……!!!!!!
December 1, 2009 at 6:47 am
i need a test drive for R15 as the dealer just refused d same…bluntly..is thr any way
December 3, 2009 at 12:53 am
Ujjwal, contact Yamaha directly for a test drive, they will ensure the dealer comes to you.
December 9, 2009 at 8:26 am
unfortunately this bike doesn’t came down in Indonesia…we just have vixion which is unfairing R15 called Vixion..it’s soo bad :(..know i lookin for the front part to facelift my vixion
December 14, 2009 at 10:45 pm
how i can buy fairing yzf r 15 in Indonesia??
April 10, 2010 at 2:55 pm
which bike i should buy krizma zmr or yahama r15
April 11, 2010 at 10:33 am
go & buy r15 ravinder bhai,u vl not b disappointed.r15 is much more advanced bike technologically.zmr is a nice bike too but it has same engine that of the original karizma with added Fi.the looks of r15 is better.
April 28, 2010 at 9:40 pm
i own a r15 and i say itz really an awesome bike .i felt tat any bike(p150,rtr,cbz) can put r15 behind below 7000 rpm (feelz wheezy), but once it reaches 7500 rpm vroooom datzz called heaven . maaaan u can see any bike either 220 or zmr far behind tired up .yamaha rulezz in racing and i wish yamaha pack upz n releasez 200 cc bikezz and too all the guyzz who compare p220 or zmr or ninja 250, im tellin u heh bein a 150 cc engine it iz bein compared wid 200+ bikezz dat showzz da range of r15.and fr few foolz r15 iz meant fr racing buh fz iz just a naked street bike u cant race with fz, and wen ther iz lookz speed goes down n wen derz speed lookz go down .whoever sayz watever R15 rulezzzz try da 6th gear in highwayz yull know watz r15 n those tyres are thin buh are made up fr r15 if itz a fatter one the mileage will go down ta save it yamaha have used thin 1s
;;if ur a lover fa bikez look go fr fz if ur a guy searchin true speed n racing style go frr the YAMAHA YZF R15 i love ma baby r15 i knew it cause i own it … get it den ulll know bout it
April 29, 2010 at 9:34 pm
hi guys i have surfed in net and found out some cool modification in r15
its done in Indonesia on the bike called Vixion it shares the same engine and the delta frame of r15 only the styling changes check out this
http://samy-bikes.blogspot.com/
May 24, 2010 at 12:31 pm
hi guyz,tht’s cool to hear from you guyz about yamahar15,even i love this bike alot and will buy soon…and by though the tyres are so thin,but they are much sticker and steady than tyres of any other bike…if it’s p220 or karizma zmr…and these are only thing that makes it’s handling so superb…so no -ve comments should be given abou this skinny legs..and i just want to know, i’ve jus drove this bike to a small extent so any r15 owner could temme,that is this bike can compete p220 on highways..and can win…..!!
May 25, 2010 at 12:54 am
Vibhu, yes the R15 can compete with the P220.
May 24, 2010 at 2:47 pm
r15 can’t compete with p220 dtsi on highway as wel as mid range.but it beats zmr & apache.
June 11, 2010 at 1:36 am
i drove r15 its ausam bike i took itto102 in 6 seconds with no wibrations
best bike on indian roads beating p220 in every face and torq is just ausam
but th setting posetion is not so good new biker can have back pane
June 11, 2010 at 10:33 am
@ parantak,r15 is awesum bt can’t compete with p220dtsi on highway as wel as mid range.but it beats zmr & apache.
August 7, 2010 at 7:29 am
hey frndz! I just bought this beauty, yamaha r15 in impact yellow and after some rides around the area, i learnt why it’s called impact yellow! It does turn heads more than any any other color of r15. I got used to it’s sitting posture in some 30 minutes. Before buying, i thought that it wud be a very hard weighted one for me(my weight is 45), but it felt like a toy to me. I ‘ll recommend it to anyone who wants a world class bike with awesome styling and mileage.
October 29, 2010 at 6:03 pm
i drove r15 its ausam bike i took itto102 in 6 seconds with no wibrations
best bike on indian roads beating p220 in every face and torq is just ausam
but th setting posetion is not so good new biker can have back pane
December 6, 2010 at 12:04 pm
Guys m researching alot and finally is confused between fazer and r15. Plz help me . According to me r15 is stylish and small sports bike with great performance , and fazer is bold and healthy machine. I reside in mumbai . M 19yr old , plzzzz help me …my friends couldn’t do so .. i will be riding bike daily to college. Plz lemme know d milage of both …FAZER or R15??
December 6, 2010 at 2:35 pm
Harshesh, your in college, so you need a sports bike. Get the R15.
December 7, 2010 at 10:13 am
but as u ppl said r15 will be hard to ride in city , and mumbai has lots of traffic so will r15 be suitable , even it dont have main stand , or i should ignore this fact abt r15 and should go with it?
December 7, 2010 at 10:42 am
Harshesh, ignore that fact. As a college student you can manage that, can’t you?
December 9, 2010 at 8:31 pm
ok but which bike out of this two gives more mileage?
February 25, 2011 at 11:18 am
JUST MAKE THE REAR TIRE BIGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
May 28, 2011 at 9:11 pm
hi, i’am vichu frm chennai..
am 21yrs old.. n .am 5’10tall n i weight 78kg….
will r15 suit me r’else which will suit me??
hlp needed pls..