Hi guys,

After months of indecision I have finally decided to get myself an R15. I had gone to Panache motors (Blore) yesterday for a test ride. Initially they gave me a 2 minute test ride and when I said I want a longer ride, they told me to come on weekdays (!!!!). I asked them whether they expect people to pay over a lac for a bike after getting a 2 minute ride. They were like no long distance test rides on weekends sir. I told them I am not taking your test bike to Shivasamundaram (a waterfall thats 100kms away from Blore) I just want a test ride before deciding. Finally they agreed (as if they are doing me a favour)

After the ride I wanted to find out about the finance options. I asked the sales guy Manjunath to get someone to explain it to me. He calls this other dude who sits down and then starts telling Manjunath that some customer who bought a bike in November has'nt given his documents and so he has to find it (I was like wtf????) So he gets up and goes looking for it! I told the sales guy that if they didnt want me to buy it from them it was fine as I could always go buy it from Orion. Terrible experience with Panache to say the least.

Anyways the costs above and beyond the cost of the bike include
hypothetication - Rs 250
affidavit - Rs 250
NoC - Rs 100
Emmission Test - Rs 250

I told him that an emmission test is not more than 50 bucks, he was like actually we have to show it to the RTO and then get it from there and what not. I am not aware of the actual costs involved with these other things since my last bike was bought in 2002. Are they charging too much for these or are these charges genuine ?

Yo, Dude! Would you believe that I booked my R-15 without taking a test-ride? I don't think they were giving test-rides in Pune in those days. Morever, I never felt the need to. I just went & paid advance & booked her...

I booked my R15 in April end last year even before they were taking bookings officially! I got a slip on the name of Yamaha Libero G5! I was one of the first batch customers&took the delivery directly from the godown as there was a truck strike.
That aside, I had not even seen the bike in the flesh, but the day I was booking it I saw it near my place at a Yamaha service camp. Never even took a testride. Sad but alls well that ends well! Luckily, I happened to get a 2min.testride from the 1st customer whom I befriended on the roadside! My vehicle delivery took place after 3 days...
Anyways, this was all last year when the R15 was not even launched officially. For you I would say: forget about the testride, you can never know the bike well in such a short stretch. Take a testride of one of your friends' bikes, on a relatively open stretch&also in heavy traffic.
I don't think new vehicles require pollution test for the 6 months.
There are some handling charges which you can negotiate.
Also do not forget to ask them to make an inclusion in your Invoice saying that you have bought a helmet from them, as that is mandatory nowadays! All the best!

ya,..i know ,..tell me about it,.bangalore wheels still dosent give test rides,..i was like F*** it,..and paid the cash and booked it straight up,...by the way guys,..I am tripping over my bike,..im so busy riding it,that i havent posted anything yet,..so plan to write up with some pictures...just 1 question,since im in the running in period and all,..is it ok if i hit 6k rpm's once in a while,..all im doin now is varying throttle al the time within 5k rpm's,im mostly in the 4k-5k band,..that ok?

My advice: Though the manual doesn't mention it, don't cross 4K mark (60kmph) till 1K service. I didn't do it&my bike is butter smooth.

wait a minute !!!,..are they supposed to give a helmet with the bike free or something ?

Not free-they'll make you pay for it coz its supposed to be mandatory!

o man,..4k is too less,..but i shall try,..thanx for the advice

o well,..i had my old lid,..and they did not put it on my invoice,..but i am planning to take a new helmet,..any good suggestions within 2k rs ??,..also Guys,..Can i use Castrol or do i stick to yamalube only,I have done around 250 kms and i want to flush the oil once now

Dude... I've heard that the engines from YAMAHA are pre-run. You can cross the limit. Showroom guy will tell you not to, but that's just to be on safer side...

I would say stick to Yamalube for the time being.
Helmet I would suggest Vega Boolean (1850 matt, designer extra) or Studds Rhyno full face for 1700 (only available at Castrol Bike Zones). If you can stretch to 2500, there is an import quality Vega.
P.S. This should be on the Helmets thread!

Affidavit thts wat they take...Emission n NOC are nt required i feel. Wts the hypothetication.. feels fishy. U can check with other dealers. I had same prob with panache. I called tht showroom on a weekday 3 times. Nobody picked the call. Finally some one put me wait more thn 2-3 mins. Finally I gave up and went to orions. At least they give some response.

Well,this a hugely debatable topic.Logically thinking,NO,..I do not think Yamaha runs in the R15 because there are only 3 ways to run in the bike,either on Dyno,which is Expensive to run and is usually reserved for racers and the second is the normal street running in,and the third is track running in.Well I do not think Yamaha India has the time or resources to employ a Pre-run in for a to be-commercially viable option like the R15.

Hi Samarr,

How was your experience with Orion ? Most xbhpian have given pretty bad reviews for their support & pre-delivery checks. For me Orion & Panache are the closest showrooms. Could others who have bought their bikes from Orion also help ?

Hypo is coz your vehicle is hypotheticated to the financer. It will be mentioned on your RC. The charge seems justified. What you need to do is once your instalments are over, you have to go to the RTO&hand over a no-due certificate from the financer. Following which, you will be given another RC which does not have any hypo details mentioned in it. Another 250 charge would be applicable then.