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 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
How does it Move:
How does it Look:
How does it Ride:
How does it Handle :
How does it Go:
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 22nd, 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 25th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
i want to test draive R15 fz in cochin
September 25th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Why don’t you contact your Yamaha dealer?
October 1st, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Yamaha has launched some accessories for the R15
October 1st, 2008 at 5:36 pm
I love the R15 but i feel its a bit small for tall riders.
October 1st, 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 23rd, 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 14th, 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 14th, 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 6th, 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 29th, 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 31st, 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 11th, 2009 at 3:01 am
The tires are very thin and no one provides a test drive in Raipur,C.G.
April 11th, 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 20th, 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 22nd, 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 29th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
love the R15 but i feel its a bit small for tall riders
May 29th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Saheer, yes the R15 is a tad small for tall riders.
July 9th, 2009 at 11:18 am
r15 is nice.great product
October 19th, 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 20th, 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 5th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
hi frndz pratap here i m decided to take r15 can u give me some information
November 9th, 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 1st, 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 3rd, 2009 at 12:53 am
Ujjwal, contact Yamaha directly for a test drive, they will ensure the dealer comes to you.
December 9th, 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 14th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
how i can buy fairing yzf r 15 in Indonesia??