Bike India

Best Bikes in India | No.1 Two Wheeler Magazine

  • Home
  • News
    • Upcoming Launches
    • Latest News
    • New Bike Launches
  • Reviews
    • First Ride
    • Road Test
    • Comparison
  • Features
  • Our Bikes
  • Videos
  • Subscribe
  • NG Auto
    • AUTO COMPONENTS INDIA
    • CAR INDIA
    • COMMERCIAL VEHICLE
  • Brands

Yamaha YZF-R15 version 4.0 Tested Review – The Price of Progress

January 27, 2022 by Joshua Varghese Leave a Comment

In its latest iteration, the Yamaha YZF-R15 comes equipped with the upside down (USD) fork that everybody wanted and something nobody did

Yamaha YZF-R15 version 4.0

Story: Joshua Varghese
Photography: Apurva Ambep

“Creating something new is difficult and it is tougher to improve something that is already good, because if it is not better, then it is only a waste of time.” This was something that crossed my mind a little over three years ago when I was testing the third version of the popular Yamaha YZF-R15 at a racetrack. This déjà vu was triggered by the latest R15 that stood waiting to be tested on the humbler tarmac of Pune city. Oh, don’t worry, it is more than a cosmetic makeover; well, slightly more.

Yamaha YZF-R15 version 4.0

The fourth generation of the R15 features the most radical styling yet. The front cowl that used to derive inspiration from previous generations of the R1 and R6 is now the spitting image of the latest YZF-R7. The traditional twin headlamps have been replaced by a single LED projector lamp flanked by daytime running light (DRL) strips and they are visible in the same frame as the new golden USD fork that fans have been asking for. Winds of change have swept over the bodywork as well, because this motorcycle has a reworked fairing and fuel-tank panels; updates that have contributed in spades to the R15’s aesthetic and it looks more aggressive than before.

Yamaha YZF-R15 version 4.0

The seating position of the R15 has become slightly more committed but, thankfully, not so much as to affect long rides or everyday use and the larger, contoured visor allows better wind protection. The instrument cluster has levelled up as well, because the fully digital console has a layout that is easier to read and packs in more information as well with a separate display for Track mode. My favourite bit about the new console are the gear-shift lights that light up in succession. It complements the R15’s attempt to resemble the R7 and is a good party trick.

Yamaha YZF-R15 version 4.0

There have been no changes to the engine and this motorcycle continues to draw power from the 155-cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine which has lost about 0.2 hp and gained 0.1 Nm as compared to the previous model. This one develops 18.4 hp at 10,000 rpm and a peak torque of 14.2 Nm at 7,500 rpm while being mated to a six-speed transmission. Oh, but the way you shift gears will put an even bigger smile on your face now because the top variants of the R15 come equipped with a quickshifter for upshifts. Blasting up and down the twisties, it was fun to just click in the gears without reaching for the clutch and I am happy to report that it works well in the city too. When shifting through lower gears at low rpm, I found that it gets progressively smoother through the rev-range.

Yamaha YZF-R15 version 4.0

In everyday life, the R15 continues to handle the way it always did and the USD fork has barely made any noticeable difference in that regard. Where it has had its say is in the braking department. Haul on the anchors and this version is definitely more stable and inspires the confidence to brake hard. Are all these changes worth the increase in price?

Yamaha YZF-R15 version 4.0

Conclusively, the new R15 is an improvement on its previous models albeit only slightly. The biggest disappointment of this version comes when you consider buying it because you have to deal with a price tag of Rs 1.76 lakh (ex-showroom). The extra kit has pushed the price up by a little more than Rs 18,000 over the previous model.

Also Read: Yamaha Aerox 155 Tested Review

Joshua Varghese – who has written 581 posts on Bike India.


Email

Related posts:

2023 Triumph Street Triple 765 R and RS First Ride Review
Reise Moto TrailR Tyre Test
Ducati Diavel V4 Review – Devil of the Mountain

Filed Under: Review, Road Test, Yamaha Tagged With: bike, India, latest, motorcycle, new, news, test, version 4.0, yamaha, YZF-R15

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

AlphaOmega Captcha Classica  –  Enter Security Code
 ⟲    ➴
 


MARCH 2023

Bike India - India's no. 1 two-wheeler magazine

17TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL

Bike India - India's no. 1 two-wheeler magazine

Anniversary Ride to the Isle of Man with Freddie Spencer and Sid Lal

TVS Ntorq Ncounters I – Navigating the Night

BMW G 310 GS Explores Nagaland

SPECIAL Featured Story

Yamaha MT-10 SP – Ready for Road, Track, and Touring

Yamaha MT-10 SP – Ready for Road, Track, and Touring

In recent years, however, the MT-10 has begun to show its age, especially in terms of technology and rider aids. It was always on the thirsty side, too, and, by modern standards, the brakes were lacking. It was time for an update, which is why for 2022 Yamaha introduced a new MT-10 earlier this year.

More about this.

Car India and Bike India Awards 2019

Recent Posts

  • California Superbike School – Taming the Track
  • Royal Enfield 650 Twins Get Cast Alloy Wheels and Other Updates
  • Bajaj Pulsar NS200 And NS160 Gets USD Forks
  • MARCH 2023

Car India

Car India Magazine - Get your Digital Subscription

Latest News

Royal Enfield 650 Twins Get Cast Alloy Wheels and Other Updates

Bajaj Pulsar NS200 And NS160 Gets USD Forks

Hero MotoCorp And Zero Motorcycles Collaborate For Premium Electric Motorcycles

Massive New Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle 135 Crate Engines

Subscribe to Car India

Subscribe to our Car India Magazine

Bike India: India’s no. 1 two-wheeler magazine

BIKE India covers the two-wheeler industry in its entirety, both from the local and the international perspective. Also delivers the most definitive verdict on machinery and performance by explaining the hows, whys, and whats on every new bike in a lucid and user-friendly manner. BIKE India is the India’s most authoritative two-wheeler publication, a magazine for people with a passion for bikes and everything to do with their history and heritage.
SiteMap

Copyright © 2023 · BIKE INDIA INDIA’S NO. 1 TWO WHEELER MAGAZINE, BY FAR! ·