I wanted to write this post from last few days, but was a bit busy. Yes, there was a bit of work in office, but main thing I was busy was test drives. Monday while sitting in office I said to myself its hightime that I took TD of FZ. Immediately searched for Yamaha at Koramangala (Orion Motors) and called them up. I guess call was taken by their owner or some manager and he said he will arrange for a callback within 5 min. I got a call and asked the person, Manu, that I am looking to buy FZ or R15 and want a TD for both and that too a long one. He hesitated for a long TD to which I mentioned that I already had a good TD of P220 and I need to understand the difference between the bikes then only I can decide. He said I can come anytime in afternoon and he will arrange for one. I said I will be there in 30 mins.
Since I had never driven FZ I wanted to drive it first. Also I had a feeling that I would not like it if I drive R15 first. So asked him for FZ. He went and came back saying its gone on servicing and I could drive it only tomorrow. I was disappointed. But R15 was available for TD and thats it I was riding it. Man!!! this bike is an amazing machine. I had taken the TD of R15 earlier but that was a very short one. But this time it was longer and I knew what I needed to check, how the bike revs at higher rpms, how it accelerated, stability, bracking, rollon/drivability (how it performs at higher gears at very low speeds). TD distance was 12.6 km and route was half of what I cover daily, only difference being the time as the traffic was bit low compared to peak hours.
R15 is a very refined bike. Refined being the keyword here. Does not make you feel the speed at which you are driving. For I had the yamaha person Manu as a pillion. I would easily go speed of 25 in first gear without noticing it. Engine does not feel like it is much strained even at 10k rpm. Now some figures. Went till speed of about 110 kmph speedo, could have done more on this bike but traffic and road did not allow. For in gear speeds, did around 40+ in 1st gear, 55+ in second, 85+ in 3rd gear. Probably you go to more speeds in these gears if you have proper time and place to test it. Engine sounded as if its ready to take more of it, though was getting strained a bit but in positive way. Don't know how to describe it. Now for in gear low speeds. How I tested this was put bike in a gear go to a low speed and try to accelerate without pressing clutch. R15 pulled from 6th gear at speed of 25 without using clutch. Great I would say. It pulled from 22 in 5th gear and something around 15-18 in 4th gear. Most of the other 4 strokes I have driven would not allow that. They would stall. And mind you I was sitting with a pillion. I was pretty impressed and thought this is the bike I would not regret, infact would like to have. Forgot braking also felt good and did not feel it getting unstable while braking. Did not feel if I was going on bad road. Took it through a few small potholes and speed breakers (humps) and it felt good. Though I was very much impressed I decided I would come next day and TD FZ.
Next day I went to take TD of FZ-16. Though sitting position is more upright, I felt more comfortable in sitting position of R15. But I think this is personal opinion and I guess except me everyone feels other way round. That may be because psychologically I am more inclined towards R15 because of looks and technology. So did TD of FZ-16 on same route that I did R15 a day earlier. Had the same pillion. Max speed I reached was 90kmph. The guy mentioned without a pillion you could reach higher speeds. In gear acceleration and speeds were also good. Similar to R15 this engine also does not mind revving hard. I could easily rev it to 8k rpms, after engine felt like losing breath, but still it did not mind revving. You can easily reach 85 in fourth gear and can easily rev it high speeds in gear like R15 though may be a marginal lesser than R15. I don't remember the exact speeds which I took it to. The in gear low speeds figure were also similar to R15. Can pull up in 5th gear from around 25 without pressing clutch. I have driven friend's Unicorn and I know you cannot do this in Unicorn. But may be the age of the bike and Kms done also makes a difference here.
After driving FZ I felt there is not much difference in R15 and FZ except for top speed and sitting posture. But I was mistaken here. Since top speed was not a criteria I almost zeroed on FZ. But then I thought of TDing R15 again for a small distance, because I thought I was understand the difference when I drive both at the same time. Thats what made a difference. R15 felt so smooth compared to FZ and that was time I decided that between the two Yamahas I need R15.
Now the other bike left in contention was P220 and I immediately went to a probiking showroom. I was informed that they do not give test drives and best I could do was ride on dynamo. He told me not to go above 60kmph as the bike is new. I thought then whey is it kept on dynamo
. I did and felt that the P220 vibrates a bit more and was not as rev happy as R15. But I could not understand how the bike behaves sitting on the dynamo and again requested the person for a TD, to which he obliged. I got a naked P220 with odometer disconnected - means it was some other customers new bike. Again the request no to go above 60, which I could not make out since odo was disconnected. Only thing working was rpm meter. This bike was truly an uncontrollable wild beast. Acceleration was excellent, just a turn of the throttle and the bike flies. Though it is not as rev happy as FZ or R15, I guess you don't need it as the acceleration comes at lower rpms because of high torque. Suspensions were also soft and to my liking as you don't fell bad roads. Now I was confused and it was then that I had to do a suddent braking and felt a bit unstable. It was braking and vibrations which were a bit let down in P220. Though it was both disc brakes, while braking I did not feel that connected and confident as I felt on FZ and R15. Since this was a new P220 I decided that I will TD a P220 which is used a bit and then form an opinion.
I went to used bike market on saturday and TD a used P220 and similar used R15. Though it was a short TD I did not find that much difference in their acceleration. This used P220 was not flying the way new one was.
So ultimately I have decided to buy the
R15. Please note this is not meant to offend anyone. My decission is based on my observations and can be subjective. Also, I have tried my best in stating the information but I might be wrong somewhere.
So now I am looking for a used R15. I found one looked good to me except the fact the tyre has been changed. Its fitted with 120/80 I guess. He mentioned that he has not changed the rim. The owner mentions that he checked with Yamaha service center before fitting it and it will not affect the bike and he can give me the original tyre also.
I want to know does bigger tyre of this size (120/80) cause any other part to wear out?