Yamaha R15 V2 Review after 1 Year of Usage
I was almost
up to tears when my Yamaha R15 V2 arrived after almost a 3 month long wait.
YES, it was worth and even after using this lovely bike for almost a year I
feel satisfied at my choice. Now that I have completed 1 year with this bike it's time to look back at this
bike through my experience.
The Looks: R15 V2 wows most bystanders
even though now it’s become a fairly common bike in Pune. Strangers do
occasionally come up and ask its specs. But then if I had the RED and White
combo I would have probably attracted more eyes.
Build Quality: Yes, its frame is sturdy.
No nuts and bolts jutting out or no lamps falling out till date. Only nagging
issue is that the GEAR BOX vibrates at certain speeds especially above 4th gear.
Secondly you can actually feel the engine jolt or knock hard if you quickly
slow down from 4th to 1st gear. Tried the same on another R15 of my friend, the
result was similar.
The thing
that I don't like, 1 year after riding this lovely machine, is that the plastic
parts do end up loosing color too quickly, within a month sadly! A glaring
example is the front console area and buttons and thank god they are not
visible from the front.
The handle
color, the area near the keys and the tank too are prone to discoloration. The
tank is prone to scratches and sadly cheap tanks pads for R15 are still not
around.
A big issue
for me is the positioning of the LEG BRAKE LEVER. For one, it’s higher than
usual and I end up occasionally braking when not needed at all. Trying to keep
your feet off the brake might cause your ankles and knees a bit of pain.
Secondly, if you have the habit of riding too close to the tank or too close to
the back seat you might yourself missing the brake! ODDLY, gear shift lever
seems correctly positioned! The clutch lever needed a retune which is fine I
guess.
Another bad
thing, the heat near the ankles might scare any sane rider. Some better form of
heat dissipation is needed. I noticed this problem especially on long drives.
Ride Quality: Smooth! Even after 1 year
I find driving the Yamaha at 100+ an easy job. No niggling or frustrating
grunts from the engine. I wish I could say the same for my pinion riders. Even
after 1 year in the market the R15 makers haven't provided us with grab rails
for the pinion riders. Its might be a bit frustrating for your girlfriend to
climb up this bike. You can't drive at high speeds either as the person behind
you may simply fall off!!! But then who said this bike was for "double
sit".
Cornering
becomes easy as you get used to steering the handles and shifting weights.
Brakes glide you easily on smooth stop. But given its weight and limited
steering movement (due to the fairings) it may be safer to say Pulsar or a KTM
Duke is easier to steer through the maddening traffic jams.
The bike is
at its best on straight, low traffic roads. I would suggest you buy KTM Duke or
Pulsar 220 for off roads or if you drive inside the city.
The larger
tyres do make you feel better on normal roads but one thing I fear most is driving
the Yamaha R15 v2 on wet, sandy or gravelled roads. The tyres simply don’t
inspire the confidence to drive on slippery and wet roads. I almost had a few
slides!
Suspension Quality: Looking back I feel
the suspension needs a lot of tuning up, but then do I blame Yamaha for an
average shock absorption system or Pune Municipal Corporation for the really
bad roads? The front handles can give your a wrist pain. Yes I prefer KTM Duke's suspension. I had to
get it retuned twice.
Be prepared
for back aches and shoulder aches after long distances not just due to the
suspension but also partially also due to the hard seat.
Electricals: NO, the head lights aren't as bright as they are meant to be. Especially a pain when using both the lamps
at high speeds as the light throw is too shallow and short.
Indicators
are really SMALL but then they are fairly bright too!
The horn is
louder than the one provided on the previous R15 version. Having said this, the
FLASHER is a nifty feature but I would still prefer to buy brighter lamps.
Service: Yes I ended up paying huge
amounts even for a "Free servicing". Dear Yamaha if you can't provide
free servicing please don't dupe customers with misleading "free
servicing" coupons and booklets
Average Fuel Consumption: Obviously
these kinds of bikes are not purchased for their good averages. The Yamaha R15
V2 does give a respectable 38-40 kms on highways and 35-37 in city. Off roads
this can drop as low as 30-32 kms to a litre.
So my verdict: Buy the Yamaha R15 V2 if
you drive mostly on highways or low traffic roads. Avoid, if you end up driving
mostly through the city or high traffic. The good part is girls end up grabbing
you.
Do check out
some of my bike pictures on My blog.
If you like these photos or review do let me know!
Kunal Waghmare
