If problem persists. Change your ride. Back problem is a very serious problem that will haunt you for the rest of your life. My office chair used to give me backache. So I simply purchased a different one for 4.8k from my own pocket, now no more backache.

Some people are more prone to back/wrist pain than the other. So I try not to pay too much attention when someone say "I have no problem".

Its your back. Not someone's back.

+1 to that. I also had backpain initially&started doubting my R15's posture since I was used to the regular commuter bike posture before this. Later I realized it was nothing to do with the bike, but with my chair&seating posture at work! Changing the chair eliminated the problem completely.
So, it just might be something else, check everywhere you sit, not just the bike. Time spent while riding the bike is very less compared to time spent warming the chair oops working at office!

I do this:

On highways -
Hands parallel to the tank
Bend stoop over the tank.. vision half way through the visor.
Ass high over the seat.
No tight gripping on hands.
Tank tightly gripped with knee

In city (I bring her rarely in city) -
Hands form an arc (its not straight to handle bar at 45 deg .. I see many people do that)
Ass comfy in between seat.
No tight gripping on hands.
No tight gripping on tank.

R15 v2.0 ^

Re: [Help]: Troubled with Yamaha R15 Riding Posture!

Dear R15 riders,

Agree to the fact, we all got attracted to R15 v2.0 beast look but forgot to test it as per Indian Riding styles (traffic riding to be precise) and bought this FOOLISH machine.

I tried multiple handle bars, sitting position..still lower back pain (precisely GROIN pain will never go). Once this pain gets severe one will have stop driving bikes as orthopedics will suggest the same.


Yamaha has rolled out its worst piece of work & we bought ti !!

Re: [Help]: Troubled with Yamaha R15 Riding Posture!

Nope, if it was worst piece of machinery, every single rider would have the pains. That is not the case, is it??
There are people who have taken their R15 to Leh and back without any back trouble and then there are some who get back pain, wrist pain and shoulder pain in just 10-15 kms.

Did you even read the comments of this page, one of the riders changed his office chair and the pain went away. There maybe other causes of back pain.
There is a high chance that your posture on the bike is not good. Try getting in shape, exercises that makes your back and shoulders strong. they will help.
If you still have pains, then you have a weak back and should listen to your doctor and get rid of the R15 and buy something with more relaxed seating.
you cannot expect a cruiser like seating on a super sport. If you bought something without researching properly, its not Yamaha's fault.

PS. I own a 2 year old R15 V2 and tour extensively on it. A 400 kms round trip every month is the minimum, it may be more but not less, so I know what I am talking about.

Re: [Help]: Troubled with Yamaha R15 Riding Posture!

R15 was introduced in our Country in the year 2008. This was the first punny sportsbike we were introduced with. A bike having a gem of a engine, very reliable and robust. Yes the only thing odd was that we were still not used to this riding style. The Engine being rev friendly everyone who bought it were making the optimum use of the right wrist and with the braking system one of the Best in 150cc segment, they never scared from hard braking.

Now this bike had a unique riding style to which we Indians were not introduced. When I bought her, I faced the same problem, as I was riding RX100 before this. RX was an upright position sitting whereas R15 has a crouching sitting position. Now I own R15 for past 6yrs clocked approx 110000kms on the ODO with numerous tour in Himalayas including twice to Spiti Valley. What I have learnt about the riding position, I will pen it down here and hope it would be helpful.

1. In R15 when you sit, you need to make sure one thing that you are not sitting very close to the tank (depending on the height of the individual)

2. While sitting you have to be flexible on the upper part of the body, i.e. your thighs hug the chassis of the motorcycle, and above waist you are flexible. You can move front and back on the bike without moving your lower back.

3. Never put your body weight on your wrist, or else even 5kms will be curse for you.

4. Never let your shoulder be in stress or strained while riding or again you will not enjoy the ride.

5. While riding the motorcycle, try to adjust your hip position (by moving a bit ahead and backwards on the seat) to see which position is relaxed and not straining your Back.

6. Never keep your elbow fixed it should always be slightly bent.

So just take care of these things and see the improvement. I have done non stop riding on this bike for more than 2hrs many times, and it has never given me any discomfort. You just need to be able to find that right riding spot and trust be you will enjoy.